Generation 18 (Spook Squad 2)

She tried a slightly different tack. “You know, Orrin, if you don’t cooperate, we’ll have nothing to hold you with. I’m afraid we’ll simply have to hand you over to Hopeworth.”

He scowled. His bottom lip dropped, almost touching the end of his chin. It was not a pretty sight. “You can’t do that. You know they’ll kill me.”

“And why would they want to kill you, Orrin? You just said you were a reject.”

“A reject who knows too much about their projects. They’ve wanted to get their hands on me for some time.”

He was obviously paranoid, if not psychotic. “Orrin, Hopeworth has known all along where to find you. They could have picked you up at any time.”

“Not true.” But he licked his lips and regarded her a little fearfully.

“Very true, I’m afraid. Hopeworth bugs its rejects, you see.” She stepped forward and pressed two fingers against his side. “Feel that lump? It’s a microchip capable of transmitting voice and location.”

Orrin growled. He lunged forward, teeth bared, and Sam jumped back out of reach. The chains creaked as Orrin’s full weight fell against them. They held, but

she wondered for how long.

“You lie,” he hissed, flexing his massive shoulders again. “They would have picked me up if they had known.”

She shrugged. “Maybe you rate yourself a higher threat than what they actually think you are.”

“I know things.”

“So do I.” She started pacing, more to settle her rising nerves than anything else. “I know for a fact that Hopeworth has been monitoring both the rejects and the retired scientists. I know for a fact that they’ve been aware of your involvement in the murders for quite some time. I know that each of the victims evolved from eggs taken from Emma Pierce. I know Rose Pierce is responsible for those deaths. I also know that Rose Pierce and Michael Sanders are one and the same person.”

“You know nothin’.”

She stopped and quirked an eyebrow. “I know that the military want to get their hands on you. I know that you don’t want to go. But unless you start cooperating, I have no choice but to turn you over to Hopeworth.”

He snarled, his arm muscles tensing as he flexed his shoulders. She watched warily, certain the chains wouldn’t hold much longer.

“You help me, I’ll help you,” he said, after a few minutes.

She resumed her pacing. “Is that the sort of deal Rose offered?”

“Maybe.”

“In what way do you think you can help me?”

“Rose has insurance. One of your own.”

Alarm slivered through her. That was why no one could get hold of Gabriel. Rose had him.

“The SIU does not bargain for the life of its operatives.”

“No? Then he dies.” Orrin shrugged, but the gleam in his eyes was malicious.

Sam stepped closer. “If you know what is good for you, you’ll tell us where he is—right now. The SIU is not bound by the same rules as the police. We play a whole lot rougher, believe me.”

Orrin snorted. “Like I’m really afraid.”

“Well, that’s a shame.” She glanced to the mirrored wall on her right. “Briggs, get a break team in here immediately, please.”

“Will do.” The metallic edge the speakers gave Briggs’s voice could not disguise her enthusiasm.

The big man frowned. “What’s a break team?”

She crossed her arms. “What does it sound like, Orrin? You had one chance to play fair, and you declined. Now we get nasty.”