Replica(9)
“You saw my report.”
“I can’t believe you did it.”
“You don’t believe me, either?”
“I didn’t say that. I just can’t believe you put yourself out there like that. It was a brave thing to do.” He laughed. “Stupid, but brave.”
I shook my head. “Thanks. I think. But there’s a reason for my call.”
“I figured as much.”
Ouch. But Tom had a point. I only called him when I needed something. Every time I swore to myself that the next time I called him it would be just to chat. But it still hadn’t happened. I knew I needed to treat Tom with more care, if only because I did need him.
As a forensic scientist in New York City, he had access to the kinds of information that could help me with my own investigations. I couldn’t officially use it in my reports, but it often either pointed me in the right direction or confirmed facts I’d already uncovered. I’d been in New York for a year and I’d known Tom for ten months. Truth be told, he was probably my best friend in town.
Other than Lea. But who knew when I’d ever see her again.
I definitely needed to treat him better. “I’m sorry. I’m a shitty friend. I’ll make it up to you.”
“You already owe me, remember? The wedding?”
“Of course.” I’d agreed to go to his co-worker’s wedding with him in exchange for his help with the pill.
“Are you gonna have time to go with everything else going on?”
“Of course.” I hoped.
“So what do you need?”
Now I really felt like shit. “I guess it pertains to the favor that got me the wedding invitation in the first place.”
“The fingerprint?”
“No, the pill.”
“Crap. That’s what I was afraid of. What about it?”
“I need to know about the inert compounds in the pill, specifically whether your friend found any blood cells. And anything specific regarding them.”
“Rachel, they test for specific things they’re interested in finding. But he found organic compounds, so he checked further.”
“Wait, you’re telling me the tech knew to look for VX when he ran the tests?” I asked in disbelief. “A nerve toxin that was supposedly completely destroyed in the 1950s?”
“Okay, so I told him to look for the unusual.” He paused. “Do you have any idea what else you’re looking for?”
“I don’t know. Something unusual about the blood cells. If I can tell him what it is, he’ll explain the significance.”
“Him, who?”
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “I don’t know who he is. But he knows things, Tom. I think he can help.”
“Help you do what?”
“Stop the evil people who are behind this whole scheme. If everyone refuses to listen to me, I’ll have to bring these guys down myself.”
“Rachel. That’s crazy.”
“When did that ever stop me? They pissed off the wrong person, Tom.”
“I’m going to regret this, but how soon do you need it?”
“Not to worry, you have a few hours. Midnight.”
He cursed under his breath. “Then I’ve got work to do.”
And so did I, if I was going to be ready to meet the guardian of the underworld.
CHAPTER 5
LEA
“Hold my hand, Cazador.” Ivan reached for me. I plopped my hand in his and bore down, my nerves getting the better of me. He grunted. “Okay, maybe that was a bad idea.”
My eyes were glued on the front door of the hotel. Four lanes of traffic and the sun shining onto the entrance like a veritable hammer. If I thought we could have waited a half hour, I would have done it. “Hurry.”
I’ll give him credit—he didn’t hesitate. With a jerk, he all but dragged me into the road as I struggled along in the high heels. The sun cut into my bare arms and legs, slicing into me like a dull, rusted razor blade.
The blare of a horn, screech of tires and the screams of someone royally pissed off could barely be heard above the thumping of my heart. A hiss slipped out of me.
And it hurt like a motherfucker. “Hurry,” I repeated.
Ivan scooped me into his arms and I curled into his neck to protect my face. “Talk to me, it’ll help block the pain. What’s your name?”
“Lea.” I drew a breath, my body shuddering as I fought to keep my focus. “Are they looking?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck.”
I tightened my grip on him. It was a piss-poor plan, why had I gone along with it? I knew better than to go out without weapons, without being covered. Yet Ivan had thrown this ridiculous outfit at me and I’d jumped into it like he was the one in charge.