Chapter Fifty-One
Fifty-One
“They can’t hear us and we can’t hear them,” Luke said. “They’re trapped inside that room.”
On the other side of the glass wall, Deke pointed toward the steel door and mouthed a word that looked a lot like key.
Luke studied the large, old-fashioned iron padlock that secured the door. “We’ve got a problem. It’s not a keypad or a smart lock. My jammer is designed to handle modern security systems. That lock takes a key or a set of bolt cutters.”
Sophy examined the lock. “Hmm.”
He raised his brows. “I know you can handle crystal locks. Is this where you demonstrate the Harper family talent for old-school breaking and entering?”
She shot him a severe look. “Do I insult your family?”
“On a regular basis. But I try to rise above it. Please tell me you can deal with that lock.”
“You call that a lock? It’s not a lock. It’s a toy.”
She reached up and unclamped the large clip that secured her hair. He watched, intrigued, as she opened the clip and withdrew what appeared to be an old-fashioned steel hatpin.
She went to work on the lock. On the other side of the wall, Bea smiled proudly. Deke winked and grinned.
Luke wanted to share the upbeat moment but his intuition suddenly kicked in, stomping out all positive thoughts.
Bruce had been exploring the scents in the hallway. He abruptly stiffened and growled a warning. Sophy went very still.
Deke and Bea were no longer smiling. They were focused on the hallway behind Luke. He slipped the auto-injector out from under his jacket, palmed it, and turned.
Smoking Ghost stood in the opening, a Kaleidoscope weapon in his hands.
“The Alchemist said that if you got inside the lab you’d probably show up here at the old safe room,” Smoking Ghost said. He aimed the weapon at Luke. “Looks like he was right.”
“You do realize that weapon is making you insane,” Luke said. “Every time you fire it, you get another hit of psychic recoil. It’s warping your paranormal aura.”
“That’s a fucking lie.” Smoking Ghost’s face twisted with fury. “The gun is still tuning itself to my aura. I’m the only one left who can fire it now that Hatch’s brother is gone. Grant couldn’t handle the weapon, you see. I had to put him down like you would a mad dog.”
Bruce growled but Smoking Ghost ignored him.
“Not yet,” Luke said very softly.
“You’re next, Wells,” Smoking Ghost said. “We need the Harper woman but we don’t need you.”
He tightened his grip on the weapon. His eyes flared with a sick lust.
Luke aimed the auto-injector and pressed the trigger mechanism. A dart containing a powerful sedative shot across the short distance, tore through the fabric of Smoking Ghost’s shirt, and embedded itself in his chest.
Smoking Ghost yelped in surprise. He dropped the gun and tried to yank out the dart but it was too late. The drug hit him hard and fast. His eyes rolled back in his head. He went limp and collapsed on the floor.
Luke rearmed the auto-injector, tucked it back into his pocket, and went forward to retrieve the Kaleidoscope weapon.
“Is he dead?” Sophy asked.
“No, but he’ll be out for a while.”
She went back to work on the lock. “So, just to be clear, you could have been a CIA assassin.”
“Disappointed?”
“Nope.”
He watched her wield the hatpin, probing gently. The padlock sprang open. She removed it and got to her feet. Deke was already pushing the door open. He and Bea spilled out.
Sophy tucked the hatpin back into her hair clip and wrapped Bea in a huge hug.
“I’ve been so worried,” Sophy said.
“So have I,” Bea said. “I knew that old hatpin would come in handy someday.”
“Gotta love the Harper talent,” Deke said. He glanced at the motionless man on the floor and then looked at Luke. “What kept you? Bea and I were getting damned tired of MREs.”
“Sorry for the delay,” Luke said. “What the hell is going on?”
“Long story.” Deke stepped over the unmoving Smoking Ghost. “But first things first. We need to get out of here.”
“Deke is right,” Bea said. She pulled free of Sophy’s arms. “The fools running this project are trying to tap into serious vortex energy. They have no idea what they’re doing.”
Luke led the way toward the hall that would take them back into the old lab. He glanced at Deke. “Any chance you know where your pistol ended up?”
“No, and we don’t have time to look for it. Is that wimpy little tranq pen all you’ve got on you?”
“Afraid so.”
“How many times have I told you to carry a backup?”
“I worked in data analysis, not in the field like you. Dots. I’m good with dots.”
“Luke is an off-the-charts lucid dreamer,” Sophy said to Bea.
“Is that right?” Bea sounded impressed. “That will be a very useful talent for a CEO.”
“What the hell?” Deke shot Luke a concerned look. “Are you still having those weird dreams like you did when you were a kid?”
“I never stopped having them,” Luke said. “I just stopped talking about them.”
“Why?”
“Take a guess,” Luke said.
“Your parents weren’t serious when they talked about sending you to a shrink because of your dreams.”
“Yes,” Luke said. “They were.”
Bruce growled another warning before Deke could respond.
“Freeze or the women die first.”
Luke recognized the voice of a professional in the security business—someone who knew how to use a gun and would not hesitate to pull the trigger. He knew Deke did, too.
Both of them stopped. Bea and Sophy did the same.
“Turn around. Slowly. Control the dog or I’ll take him out.”
Bruce shivered with anticipation.
“No, Bruce,” he said quietly.
Bruce obeyed but he did not shed any of his battle-ready tension. He was ready to defend his pack.
They all turned around to face Hatch’s private security team. The blondes were armed with high-powered pistols. They wore head-to-toe black—matching uniforms, black caps, and black boots.
“Damn,” Bea muttered. “It’s those two again.”
“Meet the armed Barbies,” Deke said.
“No offense,” Sophy said to the team, “but the tuxes were a better look for both of you.”