He laid a hand on his father’s cold brow. They resembled each other so much. His mother used to comment on how alike they were with each other and that was why they couldn’t mix without combusting.
His parents were newly dead now. The FBI was just letting him view the bodies before they were wheeled off to the morgue for post-mortem.
Rust turned to Alyssa.
“Kate?” he asked.
“They’re still trying to save her.”
He nodded. He was numb all over. Like someone had dabbed anesthesia on his skin and forgotten to put him under.
Then he noticed something strange. His father’s lips were turning purple.
“Rust,” Alyssa cautioned, “please don’t touch anything . . . more than necessary. We’re going to need all the evidence for the post-mortem.”
But Rust opened his father’s mouth. His father’s tongue was also turning purple.
Rust pulled in a sharp breath.
Not many knew it, but this could only mean one thing.
20
Alyssa was watching Rust very carefully as he examined the body of his father. She had to remember that this man – who had fucked her own willing body so forcefully and masterfully – was a doctor. A seasoned professional.
And there was a look on his face which suggested he knew what had killed his parents.
Rust moved to his mother and began the same examination. Once again, Moira’s lips and tongue were slowly turning purple. Alyssa had seen a purple tongue before – on a chow-chow.
“You think they have been poisoned?” she said.
“Without a doubt.”
“You know who did this?”
He did not answer the question directly.
Instead, he said, “I know how to cure Kate.”
*
There was no time to lose.
Alyssa knew this was not a time to question Rust. They had to act – swiftly.
“I have to depend on you,” Rust said, “seeing as you won’t let me out.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” she assured him.
He told her exactly what to do. Then she turned heel and strode out of the room. Dan was waiting outside.
“I need a private jet. Maximum fuel. Now,” she instructed.
“I’ll need the Director’s permission – ”
“I said now. I’ll do the explaining later.”
Dan took one look at her face, and scrambled away.
The jet was ready soon enough. The car sped to the private airfield.
“Where are we going?” Dan asked.
“Honduras.”
21
Rust had not slept a wink for the last twelve hours. He could only watch through the glass of the intensive care unit.
Kate was on a ventilator. He knew they weren’t in a real hospital, but it was the best care they could get under the circumstances. They wouldn’t take any chances moving her. Kate was tethered with more drips and sensors and monitors than he had seen on a living person for a long time.
It pained him so much to look at her. At the shoal which was her belly, apparent under her thin blanket.
The doctor came out of the room. He stood there, and Rust knew what he was going to say.
The doctor said, “I need to discuss something with you.”
Rust’s chest was very heavy.
“Sure,” he said.
“It’s the baby. It’s taking too much from her. She might stand a better chance if we . . . terminate the pregnancy.”
A dagger pierced Rust’s chest. To think you didn’t want a baby with Shamilar before. And now it’s a part of you – like a limb you have to wrench off.
He had to say something fast . . . before he lost his nerve.
“Do whatever you can to save her, please,” he said quickly.
The doctor held up a pad with a form on it. “Are you sure, Professor O’Brien?”
“Yes.”
“Then sign the consent form here, please.”
Rust took the pad and the proffered pen. He scribbled his name on the dotted line. His hand shook badly.
He gave the form back to the doctor before he could change his mind.
“We’ll start the oxytocin now,” the doctor said. “It won’t be long.”
Rust nodded, his eyes suddenly blurry with tears.
“She’s young,” the doctor added. “She’s strong. She might have a chance to pull through.”
Unlike my parents, Rust thought.
He turned his face to the wall, afraid to show the doctor his helplessness and grief.
*
He finally fell asleep. He woke up to the sound of the bed being wheeled out of the operating theater.
Kate lay there, still assisted with a pump.
Rust scrambled to his feet. The two agents assigned to watch him got up too. Frankly, he didn’t know why he warranted armed guard. He wasn’t going to go anywhere or do anything as long as Kate was in a coma.