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“IT ISN’T WORKING.” Parson slammed his hand against the desk. “Can you spare a minute from your cleaning to look at this?”
Hugh ignored him. He had no intention of helping Parson any more. He’d practically built the damn prototype. All that was left was putting the pieces together but apparently, Parson was a genius with chemical engineering but a moron when it came to mechanical.
“Come on.” Parson’s tone was whiney and then it turned sly. “I’ve noticed you’ve been running some of your reports over and over. I could help you with that.”
He stopped sweeping. He’d successfully replicated the serum but Parson may be able to assist him with understanding how it worked. Of course, that’d mean trusting the other Almighty. Right now, Parson had no idea about anything he’d been doing.
“Are you trying to duplicate what’s in the vials? I’m very skilled with molecular analyses.”
Hugh rubbed his thigh. It’d been over a week but his leg still throbbed by the end of his shift, which meant, he was stuck here a little longer. He wasn’t making any progress understanding the serum on his own. He wandered over to Parson and the other man smiled smugly.
He propped the broom against the desk and put on the loupe so he could see the intricacies of the prototype. Parson had put it together all wrong. Several pieces were backward. He shook his head.
“What? Do you see the problem?”
“Yeah, but this time, you’re going to help me first.”
“I can’t. I don’t have time. I have a deadline.”
“And I don’t?” His deadline, if not met soon, could be deadly.
“You know this is for Conguise.” Parson lowered his voice and looked around the room. “If there are delays he may want to come here. I...I can’t have that. You can’t have that.”
“First, we don’t know this is for Conguise. Second, do you think your boss is going to let some other scientist, especially one with Conguise’s reputation, snoop around his lab?”
“Well...no. The Chapman won’t let anyone in here.” His face paled. “But if I don’t finish on time and he comes and finds you...”
“Look. I’ve already helped you. You owe me.”
The door to the lab opened and he moved away from the desk, picking up the broom and sweeping his way toward the far side of the room where the older equipment was stored. Parson’s face paled as a Handler stepped into the room. It wasn’t Gaar. Hugh moved farther away from the door. The Handler would know in one whiff that he wasn’t a Guard.
“Emmanuel. You’re early.” Parson almost knocked over the microscope on his desk.
The Handler’s black eyes glanced at Hugh, dismissing him. Hugh continued sweeping, moving farther away.
“Is it ready?” Emmanuel’s voice was a low rumble, like thunder in the distance— powerful and threatening.
“Most of it,” said Parson.
“Most? Chapman ain’t going to like that and I don’t like delivering bad news.” Emmanuel stalked closer.
“It’ll be ready on the scheduled pickup day.” Parson crossed his arms over his chest, looking down his nose at the Handler.
Hugh wanted to warn Parson that this creature was dangerous but he couldn’t afford to give the Handler a reason to look at him again.
“Well, ain’t that just too bad”—Emmanuel grabbed Parson by the neck, lifting the taller man off the floor—“because I’m here today.”
“I’ll give you what I have, but it isn’t all done. It’ll be ready next week. I swear.”
Emmanuel dropped Parson who hurried to a locked room on the other side of the lab, Emmanuel following close behind.
Hugh had tried to clean inside the room once, but Parson had made it clear that he was never to go in there. His subtle questions about what was inside had met with silence from the other Almighty. Parson may be a nervous twit, but he could keep his mouth shut. Whatever Parson and the other scientists were doing here, it wasn’t legal.
Parson unlocked the door and the two disappeared inside, coming out a few minutes later. The Handler was carrying several large boxes. Hugh had moved as far away as possible without actually leaving. He wanted to see what the two of them brought out of that room.
“I swear. I’ll have the rest ready next week,” said Parson.
“You better. Chapman expects the product and he’s not one to handle disappointment well.” Emmanuel smiled, showing large canines stained yellow and brown. “You don’t want me to come back with other orders do you?”
“No. No. It’ll be ready.” Parson was almost hyperventilating. “I didn’t expect you today or...”
Emmanuel’s cold, black stare silenced Parson and after a few moments the Handler left.
Parson turned toward Hugh. “That rotten beast should watch how he speaks to his betters.”
“I’d be careful. Handlers have excellent hearing.” He moved to the computer he used and turned it on.
“I’m not afraid of Emmanuel. The Chapman would never allow that creature to harm me or any of his scientists.”
“Are you sure?” He glanced up from the monitor. “Take it from me, we’re all expendable.” He was pretty sure the other Almighty was recalling just how important High Hugh Truent had been before it’d all crashed down around him.
“He needs us,” said Parson, but the words lacked confidence.
“For what?” He looked back at the computer, trying to appear uninterested.
“He can’t make and prepare these products himself. He’s a business man, not a scientist or a doctor.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but are you the only ones who can do the work?” He wanted to ask what products but that would shut the other man’s mouth fast.
His point must have hit home for Parson was silent for a long time and then he stormed to the door. “I’m done for the night. Don’t forget to clean up and get out of here before anyone sees you.”
Like he’d forget that. Obviously, he still hadn’t regained all his manipulative expertise. Instead, Trinity’s bluntness had rubbed off on him. Araldo, he couldn’t wait to see her. He’d never missed anyone as much as he did her. All plans on waiting until the war was over to be with her had vanished. Sue was right. Life was too short. He was crazy about her and from her kisses she was crazy about him too. He’d win this war for her, but he was done denying his attraction. As soon as she agreed, he’d talk to Tim about making her his wife. He’d be careful not to get her pregnant, but he couldn’t stay away from her any longer. He grinned. Now, he really couldn’t wait to get out of here.
He pulled up the latest analysis on the serum and then hesitated. He was alone. Trinity had given him a few lessons on picking a lock. He had hours before his shift was over. The worst that could happen would be Parson returning and if the other Almighty kicked him off the estate it wouldn’t be horrible. His leg was still sore and the trip into the forest would be painful, but most of his work was done, or done enough. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. He searched the lab and found a small piece of metal he could use as a lock pick.
He went to the door on the other side of the room and started working on the lock. It wasn’t as easy as Trinity made it seem. He tried again and again but he couldn’t get the latch to tumble. He leaned his head against the door, resting his hand on the handle. He stared at the doorknob. He’d been busy trying to blend in with the lab equipment, but he didn’t recall Parson locking the door when they’d left. It never hurt to try the obvious first. The handle turned and a blast of cold air hit him in the face. The room wasn’t freezing but it was close. As he stepped inside, a light automatically came on.
There were rows and rows of shelves filled with boxes and crates. He moved farther into the room. Nothing was sealed. He opened the closest case—bottles of pills. Painkillers. He opened another case, more medication. He moved from box to box. There were legal and illegal drugs and some that were unfamiliar to him. He’d have to tell Townsend about this place. It definitely needed investigating.
He went to the other side of the room and opened a large crate on the floor. It contained bottles of very expensive liquor. One of these would set someone back a fortune. He moved on to the next container, lifting the lid. His breath flew from his lungs as if he’d been punched. Organs were sealed and stacked, filling the crate. He picked up the top package—a pancreas. The entire case was filled with pancreases. Why would anyone want these and where did they come from? They were too small to be Producer. He put it back and closed the lid. He moved to the next crate. More organs. Gallbladders this time. There were dozens of containers like this lined up along the wall. His heart pounded as he glanced out the door. The lab was still empty. If he got caught in here, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be turned over to the authorities.
He left the room, locking the door behind him. He’d considered leaving it unlocked but he couldn’t risk Parson losing his job. He walked to the computer and stared at the blank screen. Bad leg or not, he needed to get out of here. The next time he met with Bruno, he’d arrange another meeting. One they’d have without The Victor because he was leaving. He’d come back to help Meesus’ daughter but he couldn’t stay here. It wasn’t safe.