Retribution (SSU Trilogy Book 3) (The Surgical Strike Unit) (29 page)

“You really think that hearing a recording of Kaufmann is going to open up your memories?” Kai asked.

Gabby’s friend Laurel, the one who’d helped plan the initial escape, had smuggled several of Kaufmann’s dictation tapes out of the lab, hiding them in the clothing of the escapees. The tapes had been given to the SSU’s top techs and they’d put together a new tape following the script Rafe had written.

“What if his voice sends you into attack mode instead?”

Rafe shot Kai a sideways glare. “You vetoed my other suggestion,” he reminded his friend. “So this is our best shot.” He would’ve cut the knowledge out of his brain and handed it to Ryker if he could. Anything to save Gabby.

“More drugs are not the answer,” Kai shot back. “You’re already on a dose that’s barely safe. So yeah, making a tape of Kaufmann’s voice seems sane in comparison.”

Rafe yanked open the door to the psychiatrist’s office. Dr. Steuart and Ryker were already in the room.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Dr. Steuart asked as Rafe moved toward the cell phone resting on her desk. The phone had been set up to connect directly to a computer that would play the fake message from Kaufmann. “There’s still a chance that hearing Dr. Kaufmann’s voice might send you into a rage. Or worse.”

Rafe gave an impatient shrug of his shoulders. “Objections noted,” he growled. “Can we pleases get the fuck on with this?”

He picked up the cell phone and dialed a number from memory. The cell phone was programmed to connect to the computer message no matter what number Rafe dialed. After the “call” the SSU’s techs would take a look at the numbers Rafe had actually dialed and see if they could get any information on the lab’s location from tracing the phone number.

As the last number went through there was a second’s pause, then the phone rang three times, just like in his dream.

“Who is this?” Dr. Kaufmann’s voice answered.

Rafe froze, swamped by fear and rage. His hands started to shake as he fought back the instinctive need to grovel and obey.

Waiting for orders. Waiting for punishment.

Then Kai elbowed him, bringing him back to the moment.

“This is subject 82431, sir,” Rafe said crisply. “I’ve completed my mission.”

“Good. Listen for my order.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You will now remember how to return to your cell. If you are not in your cell within forty-eight hours, your memory will lock again and you will be terminated. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir!” he replied.

The other end of the line clicked as the call ended.

Rafe staggered as the dam inside his head burst open. He caught himself with a hand on the desk, fighting against dizziness. Then his eyes cleared and in his mind he saw a clear image of the compound.

He gestured for Kai to give him paper and pencil. Grabbing the pad his friend set before him, Rafe sank into the doctor’s office chair and started scribbling.

Ten minutes later, he not only had the coordinates of the compound, but had drawn a rough map of all the paths through the forest toward the facility, how they were guarded, the best way to enter the building, and the fastest route to his cell.

“Amazing,” Kai breathed when Rafe stopped writing. He pulled the paper toward him, then held it out to Ryker. “Take a look at that. He actually remembered.”

Rafe scowled, not liking the surprise in Kai’s voice.

“Good job, Rafe,” Ryker said.

“I’m not a second-grader you need to praise because my drawing finally resembles a real person,” Rafe grumbled.

Ryker raised his eyebrows at his outburst, making him feel even more like a child called before the principal for rude behavior.

“Is there anything more you want to tell me before I take this to our research department?” Ryker asked.

Rafe glanced at the drawing. “It was humid and hot outside, but the interior was naturally cool. I think, like in the Adirondack compound, part of the structure must have been built into the rock itself.” He struggled to make sense of all the images that now crowded his head. There were almost too many for him to assimilate.

“I remember lots of trees. Like…maybe it was in or bordering a state forest. Someplace far away from people, so that our outside activities wouldn’t be noticed. That’s all for now.”

Ryker nodded, then clapped Rafe on the shoulder. “Thank you.” He turned toward Dr. Steuart. “Are you done here?”

She shook her head. “I’d like to have a brief session alone with him, please.”

Rafe struggled to keep his annoyance off his face. He was damned tired of her poking around in his brain. When would he earn the right to keep his thoughts to himself? But knowing he needed to continue earning Ryker’s trust, he nodded agreement.

With a final smile of approval in Rafe’s direction, Ryker walked out the door, followed by Kai. Leaving Rafe with a disturbing sense of abandonment.

That Afternoon

Kaufmann’s Compound

Blue Ridge Mountains

G
abby opened her eyes the next time Kaufmann entered the room. She’d been unable to come up with an escape plan and had decided to stop postponing the inevitable.

“Ah, I see you’re awake.” Kaufmann’s voice lacked even the minimal warmth he’d once used when addressing her and the other scientists. This voice rang with pure, cold cruelty that made Gabby shiver and her stomach cramp.

But she would not let him see her fear. If he’d wanted to kill her, he would have done so. Which meant he needed her.

“I won’t bother with social niceties, Dr. Montague,” Kaufmann continued. “I’ve brought you here for one purpose only. To share the knowledge you’ve gained from working with Rafe Andros and Dr. Nevsky’s notes.”

Gabby shook her head.

“You won’t help me?”

“No.” Her voice was hoarse and the refusal barely audible, but Kaufmann’s lips thinned.

“Have you suddenly developed a conscience? You had no problem helping me before.”

She would not discuss her morals with him. The only thing she had to say to Kaufmann was no. Since she’d already stated her position, she simply returned his stare.

“I take your silence to mean you truly believe you can refuse to help me and I’ll permit it?”

Gabby didn’t answer, although her stomach turned over uneasily. She didn’t like the malicious glint in his eyes, but she’d spent the time since she’d awakened coming to terms with the idea that he’d use pain to control her.

From the moment she left the first compound with Rafe and his men she’d considered the possibility that Kaufmann would come after her. Maybe even kill her. All she could do now was endure his torture long enough to escape. Because once he realized she’d never cooperate, he’d have no reason to keep her alive.

“Speak to me, Dr. Montague. I want to make certain that I understand you. Will you help me strengthen my program with the knowledge you’ve obtained?”

“No.”

“Even if I tell you that I can make you obey me? I would enjoy putting you through our mind control regimen, but there’s not enough time. There are only two more weeks before these side effects must be cured. So I will have to use other methods.”

The slow, thin smile that stretched his lips was pure evil. “I have quite an extensive arsenal of poisons at my disposal. They’re bundled with an antidote which kicks in with enough time to stop the subject from dying. But the results are…excruciating.”

Gabby swallowed tightly but kept her chin up. Rafe had survived Kaufmann for weeks. She was determined to survive as long as possible. “My answer is still no.”

Kaufmann’s eyes lit with anticipation and Gabby trembled all the way to her bones.

“Excellent,” he said. He flicked his eyes over her body as if measuring her. Everywhere his eyes touched her skin felt singed. “I will have to calibrate the poisons for your smaller body. In the meantime, have something to eat.” He gestured to the door and a lab technician brought a tray of food into the room.

“It might be the last untainted food you eat for a while.” With that parting remark, Kaufmann left the room. The tech placed the tray on a low table near Gabby, then followed his boss out of the room.

Gabby’s stomach grumbled. But as tempting as the mashed potatoes, vegetables and meat with thick gravy might be, she didn’t trust that it was safe. It would be just like Kaufmann to poison it. And even if it was safe, it was better to keep her stomach empty.

She was certain that whatever Kaufmann had in store for her, she’d soon be losing any food she managed to choke down. Better not to have anything ready to vomit up.

Closing her eyes against a surge of fear, she concentrated on her breathing and tried to put herself into a light trance. Anything to distract her from the torture she knew was coming.

B
urning, electric pain jolted Gabby awake. The last thing she remembered before unconsciousness had claimed her was being on the bed and smelling a sickly sweet odor.

The pain that had brought her awake receded slowly, as if reluctant to let go of its hold on her. She opened heavy eyelids. Her vision was blurry, but she made out the shape of two figures standing nearby. She blinked furiously again and again until her eyes finally brought into focus Kaufmann and the face of an unfamiliar female in a white lab coat.

The woman held an electric probe in her left hand.

Gabby shivered, and as her skin prickled with goose pimples she realized she wasn’t wearing her clothes. Instead, she was covered in the same easy-to-clean gray coverall she’d seen Kaufmann’s subjects wearing. She tried to sit up, but her hands and feet were strapped down.

“This is your last chance,” Kaufmann said. “Will you agree to help me?” The anticipatory light in his eyes made it clear he wanted her to refuse. He was looking forward to hurting her.

Gabby wet her lips. “No.”

“Very well, then.” Kaufmann turned his back and spoke quietly to the woman.

Gabby took a good look at her surroundings and realized she’d been moved to a different room. The only furnishings here were the examination table she was on, a tall cabinet, and a long counter with a built-in sink. Sitting in the middle of the counter were a single vial and a syringe.

Gabby’s stomach tightened in dread, but she couldn’t look away from the vial. She barely registered Kaufmann giving the woman instructions. The woman hung the electric probe up in the cabinet and moved to Gabby’s side. Gabby was so focused on trying to keep her breathing calm and even, mentally preparing herself not to beg or cry, that she flinched when the woman grabbed hold of her arm and pushed up her sleeve.

With calm, deliberate movements, Kaufmann picked up the vial and inserted the tip of the syringe. Everything inside Gabby urged her to shout, to scream, to plead with him not to do this. She didn’t like pain. She didn’t deal well with pain at
all
.

But she wasn’t going to break down. She had to be strong.
Sometimes, the only way to fight is just to endure. And that’s the hardest thing of all.
She remembered the bleak look in Rafe’s eyes when he’d told her that. She’d been awed by his strength, knowing that most men wouldn’t have been able to survive what Rafe had. Not and also keep their sanity.

She only hoped she could draw on some of Rafe’s strength.

The needle stabbed into her arm. Heartbeats later the poison hit her system. Gabby’s head went back on an involuntary gasp. Her hands clenched as waves of agony crashed over her.

As the first scream broke free from her soul, she prayed she’d pass out quickly.

Chapter 24

The Next Morning

SSU Compound

Oregon

“S
ir,” Rafe began as he followed Ryker down the hallway of the SSU operations headquarters in Oregon. They’d arrived just hours ago in preparation of meeting up with the team Ryker had requested for Gabby’s rescue. “Send me ahead with Niko and Kai. Put someone else in charge of the men.”

Ryker glanced over his shoulder without breaking stride. “No.”

Hell. Was Ryker crazy? He wasn’t ready. The drugs had brought his intellect and memory back, but now Rafe was dealing with a new set of issues. He processed information almost too fast to handle, causing dizzy spells and small migraines. And he was still prone to fly into an uncontrollable rage if he was pushed too far.

He’d done his best to hide the extent of his symptoms from the doctors, but they were aware he wasn’t fully back to normal.

So he was the dead last man who should be leading Gabby’s rescue team. Besides, what soldier would want to follow a man who got his last team captured, then personally killed several of his teammates while in captivity?

No one, that’s who. Which was why he’d been avoiding his friends since he’d returned to Oregon. Losing his self-respect to Kaufmann ate at him like a damn cancer, but seeing pity or disgust on the faces of his friends and colleagues would hurt worse than all the physical torture he’d endured.

Ryker pushed the release bar on the exterior door that led onto the assembly grounds. “For the record, I didn’t order anyone to join this team. I made it voluntary.”

Which probably meant only Niko and Kai were going to be waiting for—

“Holy shit,” Rafe breathed in awe. Then he muttered a Greek prayer of thanks.

The assembly area was packed with men and women in fighting gear. Rafe did a quick head count and gave up after reaching fifty. It looked like the whole freakin’ roster of available SSU agents had shown up.

Rafe could only stare at them, dumbstruck.

Paul Chin, a well-respected SSU team leader and a former SEAL, stepped forward and saluted Rafe. “All the volunteers are assembled and ready for your selection, sir!” He grinned. When Rafe just stared back, unable to speak past the lump in his throat, Chin winked at him.

“Of course,” Chin said, “maybe picking a team to go after those mad scientists is too tough an assignment for a mere Ranger.”

Rafe gave Chin a mock offended glare, then let his gaze roam over the assembled mass. Niko stood front and center next to Kai. Niko and Kai usually worked undercover, so wouldn’t normally volunteer for an assault mission. Yet because it was such a small agency, the SSU cross-trained all its agents. Rafe had no hesitation in nodding at each of them, indicating he accepted their presence on his team.