Unknown Location
Sherrie White knelt beside her patient, a patient who looked a lot better since she had begun the transfusion. Gravity seemed to be working, and perhaps blood pressure—she had stuck the needle in her left arm, and the other end in Fang’s right, where she presumed pressure would be lower.
She frankly had no idea what she was doing, though Fang wasn’t sweating any longer, and her breathing had stabilized. Her pulse was now steady in the mid-sixties, a level Fang had indicated was her normal. She had no way to test the woman’s blood pressure, which would be the true measure of whether this was working, but she had to assume it was.
Now the question was when did she stop?
She didn’t think there was much danger to Fang in giving too much blood, but there was a risk to herself. She wasn’t feeling lightheaded, or much different at all, and the line she was using was pretty thin, so perhaps not much had been transfused.
You need to stay physically capable.
She was their only hope of defending themselves. Even if Fang was stabilized, she was in no condition to fight. And if Sherrie were to get dizzy from any sudden movements, she wouldn’t be much use either.
She pulled the tube from Fang’s IV, then the needle from her own arm. “Let’s see if that’s enough. We can always try more later.”
“I’m feeling a lot better, thank you.”
“No problem. I’m going to hook the IV back up, though, okay?”
Fang nodded, some color back in her cheeks, life once again behind her eyes. Sherrie inserted the tube from the IV into the cannula then placed the bag on Fang’s chest.
“Okay, that should help keep you going.” She examined the wound once again, the XStat still holding. “How’s the pain?”
“Still there, but not as bad as before. The palpitations have stopped, so I think I’m going to live. Assuming we get out of here.”
Sherrie frowned, staring at the door. Distracted by Fang’s predicament, she had so far spent no time on figuring a way out. “I’m going to do a little exploring, okay?”
Fang gave a weak thumbs up and Sherrie rose, slowly circling the walls, searching for anything out of the ordinary, but finding nothing beyond the door and prison-style bathroom. The floor was poured concrete, probably several inches thick. She knelt down and felt it with her hand. “The floor’s cold.”
Fang turned her head so she could see her. “Basement?”
“Probably, which means even if we could get through it, we’d have God knows how much dirt to dig through. She started tapping the walls, the thuds dull all the way around. “I think it’s some sort of insulated drywall mounted directly to the outer walls. They’re probably concrete too, with dirt behind them. She pursed her lips, her hands on her hips. “It’s kind of a small room to be a basement, though.”
Fang agreed. “Perhaps there’re other rooms like this, side-by-side. You wouldn’t be able to tell if the walls were thick enough.”
Sherrie nodded. “That would make sense.” She motioned toward the bare door, bereft of any hardware. “This door suggests it was built to be a cell, so it makes sense there could be others. I wonder if there’re any other prisoners here.”
“Could be, though if that Katz woman isn’t working for the Assembly, then this place is probably hers. I doubt she’s going around collecting people.”
“Why not? She took us, why not others?”
Fang shook her head. “I think we’re leverage because of who we are, or rather, who we’re dating.”
Sherrie sat cross-legged beside her. “That makes sense.” She smiled at Fang. “And I would hardly describe our relationships as ‘dating,’ would you? I think Chris is going to propose to me soon.”
Fang’s face clouded over and she turned away slightly.
“What’s wrong? Are you and Dylan having problems?”
Fang turned back, her eyes glistening. “I don’t know. He seemed distant when he came back last time. He couldn’t look me in the eye.”
Sherrie frowned, a thought crossing her mind, one she didn’t dare voice. Kane was a spy, and spies were asked to do things ordinary people wouldn’t. It had already been made clear to her she’d be expected to sleep with men if it were necessary. In fact, one of her first assignments had been to seduce Leroux and get him to spill state secrets. It had been a test, and he had passed, greenlighting the accelerated career path he now found himself on. Director Morrison now trusted him, implicitly.
It had broken her heart when Leroux had found out the truth, the betrayal doubly so as he had developed true feelings for her. The worst part was that she too had fallen for the shy, awkward geek, even requesting to be removed from the assignment. Her request had been denied, the mission too important. It was Kane that had brought the two of them back together, Leroux forgiving her, the two of them inseparable since.
Kane loved Fang, though she knew from his lifestyle he wasn’t the commitment type—at least not before Fang. Kane was a changed man, and if he were feeling guilty about something, which was what it sounded like to her, then he still loved her. “What do you think is wrong?”
Fang sighed. “I think he slept with another woman.”
Sherrie’s teeth clamped down on her cheek for a moment. “You think he’s having an affair?”
Fang shook her head, a little too vigorously, wincing and grabbing for her wound. “No, but I think he slept with someone on the job.”
Sherrie decided there was no avoiding the subject, and dove in. “You know it’s part of the job.”
“I do, and that’s not what upsets me.”
Sherrie’s eyes narrowed. “It isn’t?” She thought of how she’d feel if Leroux slept with someone else.
I’d tear his dick off.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Well, I thought we were close enough that we could tell each other anything.”
Sherrie smiled, placing a hand on Fang’s shoulder. “You know he can’t tell you anything about his missions. They’re classified.”
“I know, but he can tell me when something is bothering him. He doesn’t need to give me specifics, just tell me what he had to do so I can tell him it’s okay.” She sighed. “I want his heart exclusively, not his, well, you know.”
Sherrie grinned, patting Fang’s shoulder. “Oh, I know.” She drew a quick breath then sighed. “You know, I think when you see him next, you’re just going to have to confront him. Make him tell you what’s bothering him, and if he won’t, tell him what you suspect. If it isn’t that, then you’ll both feel better, and if it is, and he knows you’re not upset, then he can share his feelings.”
Fang looked at her, a slight smile on her face. “I think that’s a good idea.” Her smile spread. “You’re good at this. You should have your own talk show.”
Sherrie laughed. “Right, ‘Relationship Advice from a Spy.’ I don’t think so.”
Fang grunted. “Well, you’re better at it than some of the people I see on afternoon TV.”
Sherrie laughed. “I can’t remember the last time I watched a show like that. Probably not since I was a teenager.”
Fang huffed. “Try being an unemployable former Chinese Special Forces soldier. You’d have lots of time on your hands to watch those ridiculous things.”
Sherrie smiled at the woman, understanding the frustration. Fang was used to being a woman of action, but now she had to keep a low profile and could never hold down a job that might make use of her former skills. Not that she needed a job. Leroux had told her a generous pension had been arranged for her. She’d never have to work again.
Which was probably the worst punishment a grateful nation could bestow upon her.
Fang stared up at the lights in the ceiling. “I think the only way out of here is either through that door, or through the ceiling.”
Sherrie glanced up at the camera dome. “Yeah, but she’s watching us.”
Fang pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing. “Is she? If she’s working alone, then I doubt she’s sitting on the other side of the wall watching a monitor. She’s off somewhere, doing something.”
Sherrie yawned, eliciting a concerned look from Fang.
“You should get some rest.”
“You should too.”
Fang smiled. “I’m feeling good right now. I’ll take first watch. We don’t know how long this will last.”
Sherrie regarded Fang, not really wanting to sleep in case something happened, though the woman was right. She was exhausted, and wouldn’t be of any use in a few hours regardless. And Fang might not be in any condition to watch over her by then. She nodded. “Okay, but wake me if you need me.”
Fang smiled. “Don’t worry, I will.”
Sherrie lay down beside her and positioned several pressure bandages under her head.
And was out in seconds.