Chapter Sixteen #3
“Which is why I need another…” It hit her suddenly. Damn. Necessity really was the mother of invention. Though Lou hadn’t thought of this application yet. “Lou’s been working on a way to split the nanites.”
“Yeah, she wanted to be able to separate them in case someone needed clothes or a blanket. She’s working on a bunch of stuff with those little fuckers.
I’m kind of afraid of them since they could become sentient and take over the world,” Tris complained.
“You’re going to wear the suit? It could help.
I could lock it on, and it’s got some defensive utilities. ”
And then she would be locked in a suit, and she didn’t want to think about the bathroom impossibilities. “Back when Lou was working with them as a beta project, didn’t she lose a couple and figure out a way to track singles?”
“Yeah, but that was because she hadn’t figured out how to keep them… Shit, you want to leave a trail of breadcrumbs, something Huisman won’t recognize as a problem. He likely wouldn’t even notice if we figured out a way to peel single nanites off.”
Fate. That was what it felt like. “Lou solved the problem earlier. Her laptop is downstairs. I need you to reprogram the suit. She’s been working with colors and fabric styles. I need all black, something that looks like I’m working.”
Tris stood. “One Black Widow cosplay coming up.” He sobered. “Kenzie, this is dangerous. If he figures out you’re not Kala…”
She knew what could happen. It didn’t matter.
Huisman knew there were two of them, but they were careful.
They’d spent years perfecting being each other.
Kala knew how to plaster on a smile and look like the world was a party.
Kenzie knew how to shut down her brightness and get serious and very sarcastic.
They’d worked hard to ensure every scar matched.
Every one except the burn mark on Kala’s leg, but Huisman hadn’t seen that and there were no medical records.
She could do this.
She had to do this.
“Your parents are going to kill me,” Tris said with a sigh. “Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe this isn’t his plan and we need to look for them both.”
She was certain. There was zero reason to send her that video.
Huisman had played Ben perfectly. He’d set Kala up perfectly, too.
She would bet he wouldn’t consider her a player at all. He’d sent her the video so she would cry and rage and either walk away from Ben or find him because she wanted to hurt him.
What if she did neither? What if she changed the game altogether?
She would need to plan it carefully, and she needed Tris as her accomplice because if the rest of the team found out, they would likely do something to stop her.
She didn’t want to be stopped.
She looked on the security cams, and her parents walked in the door with the Knights in tow. Her mom wrapped herself around Kala so she was surrounded by her and Cooper.
Her sister deserved a wonderful life with Cooper and Lou.
TJ deserved his happily ever after. Lou was the best. She wasn’t going to die at fucking Manny Huisman’s hands.
He didn’t get to use her genius to his own ends. That man thought he ruled the world and that women were walking wombs who should serve men.
It was time to show him how she served him up.
On a silver platter. Or maybe one made of nanites.
“Uh, it looks like Gabby and Claire are trying to get into the air ducts,” Tris pointed out. He gestured to one of the monitors.
“Tell Damon. I’m pretty sure he has a nasty surprise for anyone in his air ducts.” Her dad had tried to pull a prank once and had never stopped complaining about it. She sat back at her desk as the cell pinged.
Kala’s cell pinged.
Huisman was right on schedule.
It was time for the show to begin. It was a part she’d been preparing to play all her life.
Fourteen hours later, Kenzie snuck out of her room.
It was fairly simple since Lucy was in France with Sami, preparing for the rescue of Ben Parker.
Naturally she was supposed to be leading it, but she’d left detailed instructions for her twin, who would be surprised to find herself leading the op again.
But she would do it. She would go into the field.
I know you don’t like him and you think he’s bad for me, but I’m asking you to save him. Play the part Huisman set for me. You know you can do it. Save my stupid, foolish heart, and I’ll save the piece of yours that will die without Lou.
She’d dressed in the nanite “fabric.” Tris had quickly learned Lou’s protocols and had programmed a tactical suit. He’d also programmed the nanites to shed single “cells” every half hour. The nanites would simply make more and fill in the spaces so no one would notice.
Ben was in France. He was at the chateau.
“You’re going in.”
She winced and turned. Sosa stood there looking worse for the wear.
“I’m not to be telling. You are saving your sister,” she said quietly.
“He will kill you if he figures out you’re not her.
How did you keep her from getting his text?
I assume that’s how he did it. He’s trying to lure goth Bratz doll out so he can have her.
He’s using her friend. You have to know he won’t exchange you. ”
“I know.”
“So this is suicide mission?”
“I have plans,” she assured the young woman. “Are you all right?”
Sosa nodded. “I’ll be weak for a while, but I know how to fight for me. They come and take Gabby and Claire away. Will they take me in the morning?”
MI6 had come this afternoon and taken Gabby and Claire.
They were being questioned, and what happened to them was no longer Kenzie’s worry.
Sosa was another story. She did feel responsible for the kid.
“No. My parents have agreed that you should stay here and work with Ariel. Her husband is an investigator. He’s going to look into what happened to your parents and how you got taken. ”
“Your mother is… She is who I hope to be. Maybe if she survives, I can, too. I won’t lie again.” Sosa hugged her arms around herself as though trying to get warm.
“But you will keep your mouth shut.”
Sosa nodded. “You are trying to save your sister. I would never stop you, but I would say that you should keep your eyes open. He’s arrogant and makes many mistakes.
He likes to call his guards his army, but they are mercenaries.
They’re not as careful as they should be.
I hope you are safe. He loves you, you know. ”
That was the rub. “He doesn’t. Or if he does, then he won’t admit it. He can’t.”
She started down the hall again.
“You are good Bratz doll, Kenzie Taggart.”
Kenzie wiped a tear away and walked off to meet her fate.
* * * *
Ben’s fingers twisted around the bars of the cage he was being held in. He could feel the hard press of the gun Kenzie held against the back of his neck. “Do it.”
It would be better than having to face what he’d lost. Her. He could hear it in the ice of her tone, the way she’d mentioned his mistress.
Manny had been hard at work. He still had no fucking idea if Deanna was alive or dead, but it was clear Manny had sent information to Kenzie that made him look bad. Look like he betrayed her in the worst possible way.
His head still ached from whatever drugs Manny used on him. He couldn’t see straight, couldn’t think properly. All that mattered was her.
He knew that now. He’d been a complete idiot. She was the most important thing in his world.
“Do it, Kenz. Do it and get the hell out of here. He wants to hurt you. He thinks hurting you will bring Kala out into the open,” he said. “He’s probably watching us right now.”
She was silent for a moment. “Did you enjoy fucking your mistress? Or do we call her a girlfriend? Fiancée? You take a long time getting to the ceremony, Parker.”
He went still.
Was that Kenzie? Kenzie would never call him Parker.
What game were they playing now? Despite how upset his stomach was, he forced himself to turn. In the moonlight, he saw her standing over him. Avenging angel. Beautiful and cold and not his girl.
He held his hands up. “I haven’t seen Deanna since the day she died.”
Manny was likely watching. If Kala wanted him to believe she was Kenzie, then he wasn’t going to wreck her play. Kenzie would be somewhere in this building, likely doing a far more dangerous job.
“I have a video that states otherwise,” Kala said, her voice dead calm.
That was when Kala was at her most dangerous.
Video?
“Whatever he sent you, it’s a lie.”
She wore all black, her hair tied back and a black cap on to help her blend into the night.
She stared down at him, not a hint of real expression on her face.
“I watched you fuck her and talk about what a moron I am for believing you would care about me. Tell me where she is, Ben. I would like to have a word.”
He was going to throw up. What the hell had Manny done?
“I listened every time you told her you loved her. It makes sense now why you wouldn’t tell me,” she said quietly, every word a condemnation. “I listened to you tell her how you’ll kill me when the time is right and I’m no longer useful.”
“Kala,” a deep voice said. “I didn’t tell you to torture him. We took out the cameras. The place is empty, but I think it’s supposed to be. Tris, turn the lights on.”
The lights came on and Ben had to blink.
“Step back.” Ian Taggart was dressed like his daughter. Tactical pants, black shirt. He’d pulled up his balaclava and looked predatory as he pressed something against the cell door. “It doesn’t make much of a mess, but you can never tell. Fire in the hole.”
Ben scrambled away, expecting an explosion, but there was a small poof and the door swung open.
“Mr. Taggart, I…” Ben began.
Cooper strode in, dropping to one knee and holding up a small flashlight. “Hey, look here. Do you know what he gave you?”
“You didn’t have to be so harsh,” Taggart was complaining. “You know she wouldn’t want you to.”