Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

He didn’t miss the odd edge of excitement in Finley’s normally indifferent voice. Obviously, there wasn’t much excitement to be found in the labs of the SIU these days. He smiled slightly, wondering how the young doctor would react if he ever got his hands on a kite. He put the printouts back into order and handed them back. “Where is she now?”

“Room 101.”

“Book her for more tests tomorrow. And arrange a pass for her to get back in.”

Finley nodded and headed for the door. Once the doctor had gone, Gabriel pressed the screen again. “You heard?”

Stephan appeared on the screen. His normally strong features were little more than a pale replica, and there were dark shadows beneath his green eyes. Even his normally tanned skin had a translucent quality to it. Fear stirred deep in Gabriel’s gut. The one thing the Federation couldn’t afford, the one thing he didn’t want, was for Stephan to get any sicker.

“Yes,” Stephan said softly. “Most interesting.”

He somehow resisted the urge to question Stephan about the state of his health and tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. But it was difficult, especially when Stephan looked so close to death. He’d lost one brother recently. He didn’t want to lose another—and right now that looked like a distinct possibility. “I wonder if these anomalies are the reason Sethanon tried recruiting her last night?”

Stephan shook his head, his expression doubtful. “How would he have known? State insists on medical checks every six months for its personnel. I looked at hers this morning, and they showed no anomalies.”

“Which makes me wonder if someone is altering the results before they are placed in the system. Sethanon wouldn’t risk the life of an operative like Kazdan unless he knew this woman was a threat in some way.”

“That makes no sense. Why would anyone bother altering the results? And why would Sethanon know she was a threat, when, for all intents and purposes, she is human?” He hesitated, his expression thoughtful. “You know, if we do think along those lines, absurd as they seem, then it is always possible that last night was merely some sort of test.”

“Which again implies that he knows more about her than what is showing in the medical workups. I think the SIU needs to assign her a guard. Me, specifically.”

“People will think it strange when an assistant director is assigned guard duty.”

Gabriel smiled thinly. “They expect strangeness from me.”

It was a point Stephan didn’t bother refuting. “I’ll have Hanrahan arrange it.”

“Thanks.” He hesitated, then added softly, “When was the last time you ate, brother?”

Stephan sighed and rubbed a hand across his eyes. His fingers were reed thin. He’d lost a lot more weight in the week since they’d last seen each other.

“My stomach rebels every time I try.”

“What about liquid?”

“Water I can keep down. Anything else—” Stephan shrugged.

Gabriel frowned, not liking the sound of it. Stephan had been ill for close to two months now, and he was literally beginning to fade away. And though he’d been under the expert care of the Federation’s doctors, they could find no cause. Time, he thought, for a radical change of direction. He had no intention of losing his last remaining brother without a fight.

“I’m going to send a friend of mine to you. I want you to do as he asks, without question.”

Stephan groaned softly. “Not that spiritual weirdo you hang out with …”

“The very one. I’ve seen him work miracles, so no arguments.” Gabriel hesitated, then added with a grin, “Or I might set Kathleen on you.”

Kathleen was the matriarch of the Stern clan—a spry and bossy three-hundred-year-old woman who tended to sweep into your life like a cyclone. And she was probably the only person his brother was truly frightened of.

Stephan shuddered, a look of mock horror momentarily lifting the tiredness from his eyes. “God, no.”

“Then kindly take note of what Karl says.”

“I will, I will.” Stephan’s smile faded. “And I want you to be careful out on the streets. Attacks have almost doubled in the last week. Sethanon’s up to something, and until we know what it is, I’ve asked that all Federation operations be double-manned.”

“Good move.”

“And that includes you, brother,” Stephan added dryly.

“Yeah, right.” The day that happened would be the day hell froze over. “I’ll send Karl over to your place tonight.”