Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

Jack laughed softly. “You should have joined me, Sam. It would have been a whole lot easier.”

She snorted softly. “I’d rather mate with a crocodile.”

“Now that conjures up some interesting images.” He studied her for a moment, eyes dilated and hungry. “How did you escape the cell?”

She smiled sweetly. “I opened the door.”

His gaze narrowed. “How? I removed the key-coder from your boot.”

“So you did. Maybe I’m magic.”

He snorted. “Not yet, you’re not.”

And what was that supposed to mean? Just what had those tests revealed about her?

Jack glanced at his watch, then at the two men at either end of the windows. As one, they made their way across to the stairwell doorway. His gaze returned to her. “Where’s Stern?”

“Around.” Where, she had no idea. Hopefully, he or someone else had realized she was in trouble by now and was doing something about it. “You’ll never succeed, Jack. The whole place is under tight security.” His smile was almost serene. “Of which we’re a part.”

As if to confirm his claim, a voice broke into the brief silence. “Flint’s just left the security center. Heads up, everyone. Kazdan’s around somewhere.”

The voice, she realized, was Gabriel’s, and it was coming from both her wristcom, which was sitting on the sat-link desk next to her gun, and Jack’s.

“Indeed he is,” Jack said, pushing away from the radar terminal. “Two minutes, boys.”

The two men near the door raised their weapons. They were more robots than men, she thought.

The wristcom buzzed again. “Redfern, you there?”

Jack smiled as he glanced at Sam. “Indeed I am,” he said, voice several shades deeper than normal.

“Flint’s on his way. I’m heading up the stairs.”

She opened her mouth to scream a warning and found the gleaming barrel of a pistol laser staring her right between the eyes.

“One word and you die. I swear it,” Jack said.

She had no doubt that he meant it. There was something very cold, something less than human, in his eyes. The vampire half of his nature was beginning to override his human sensibilities.

He kept the laser cocked and ready. Sweat trickled down her nose as she stared at the stairway door. The heavy sound of footsteps became clearer. Then the door was flung open, and Gabriel stepped into the room.

To be greeted by two rifles and a smiling Jack.

Gabriel ignored them, his gaze searching the room. Relief ran through his eyes when he saw her. She realized that he’d known about the trap and had willingly walked into it to see if she was safe.

Warmth ran through her, momentarily wiping away her pain.

“And the whole family’s together again,” Jack said sardonically. “Stern, release the weapon and wristcom.”

Gabriel dangled the laser on one finger and allowed the man on his left to take the wristcom. “Nice disguise, Kazdan. Wouldn’t have known you.”

“Obviously not. But here I am, and you’re my prisoner. Check him.”

Gabriel kept his arms raised as one of the men patted down his sides and legs.

“Nothing.”

Jack pointed his weapon toward her. “Sit next to our bleeder, Stern, and don’t try to warn anyone. Mike, watch them.”