might be in the programming. If he tampered with the automatic restraint settings in addition to fraying the straps–"
"Either method would've been enough."
Petra nodded. "Using both insures the fatality."
"Our boy's been nothing if not thorough."
A bell rang out over the lot and Petra scrambled out of the van.
"Where are you going?" Kincaid asked.
She pointed to the speaker mounted high on a nearby pole. "Time's up."
"Says who?" Kincaid checked his watch. "We've got two more minutes by my count. Get in here and help me collect the box."
Petra blinked and climbed back in to help Kincaid. Hearing things, even bells, couldn't be a good sign. She made a mental note to call Kelly as soon as possible. Maybe her desperate un-anchored flight had made her more vulnerable than she suspected.
Chapter Four
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. –Albert Pike
It shouldn't be this easy, but he wouldn't scoff at such an unexpected pleasure. He'd planned on a challenge, but he could create other challenges if she continued to play the fool.
Naturally, he expected stupidity from her handlers, they were but average humans. He hadn't expected she'd hold herself to their uninspired view of her potential.
Leo Kristoff toyed with the memento he'd saved from the day he'd created Petra Neiman Burkhardt. He closed his eyes and brought her face into focus, as clear as a hologram in his mind's eye.
He modified the image to the memory of holding her in his arms moments after her birth. Her parents were thrilled with their baby girl, thrilled with him for helping them conceive.
Now it was time for her to be reborn to her higher purpose.
Who better to baptize her, than her maker?
Kristoff opened his eyes, rang the tiny silver bell once more, and waited.
* * *
Gideon was surprised to beat Kincaid and Petra to the wreckage lot, but he made the most of the advantage, taking a parking space across the street with full view of the only entrance to the facility. He watched Kincaid and Petra arrive, check in with the guard, and walk inside. As soon as they were out of sight, Gideon took his time to approach and attach a bug to Kincaid's car. Programmed for a twenty-four hour degrade, he'd get anything of immediate importance and by the time this listening device ate itself and stopped transmitting, he'd have something more permanent in place.
While he waited for Kincaid and Petra to return to the car, he used his laptop to continue researching Petra's parentage, or rather the doctor who'd made Petra possible.
Turning up Leo Kristoff's name made the hair on the back of his neck snap to attention. It was just too close to be coincidence, though the good doctor had never hidden his cutting-edge obstetrical work. To the contrary, he'd launched his political career with the accolades from the many satisfied families that wouldn't have existed without his help.
The current Health Chairman's name had recently appeared on a highly guarded black list–one that Gideon had seen while sorting through the Intel for Nathan's current op.
Gideon now had to wonder if Nathan knew about Kristoff's role in his birth. He had to wonder if the connection had impacted Nate's selection to the elite squad currently trying to squash a corrupt prison juicing ring.
"What next?" Petra's voice flowed from the receiver in Gideon's laptop.
Gideon didn't move, waiting for Kincaid to settle into the car and answer her.
"For you? Rest."
"Sounds great."
Petra's easy acceptance surprised Gideon. Apparently, it surprised Kincaid as well.
" Wow, that was too easy. You must be drained."
"More than a little," Petra confessed. "I'm sorry I couldn't read any more back there. This guy is so nasty, it shadows his physical features. He thrives on creating pain and chaos."
"Don't they all?"
Gideon grunted his agreement with Kincaid on that point.
"I'll take this to the lab and
"Either method would've been enough."
Petra nodded. "Using both insures the fatality."
"Our boy's been nothing if not thorough."
A bell rang out over the lot and Petra scrambled out of the van.
"Where are you going?" Kincaid asked.
She pointed to the speaker mounted high on a nearby pole. "Time's up."
"Says who?" Kincaid checked his watch. "We've got two more minutes by my count. Get in here and help me collect the box."
Petra blinked and climbed back in to help Kincaid. Hearing things, even bells, couldn't be a good sign. She made a mental note to call Kelly as soon as possible. Maybe her desperate un-anchored flight had made her more vulnerable than she suspected.
Chapter Four
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. –Albert Pike
It shouldn't be this easy, but he wouldn't scoff at such an unexpected pleasure. He'd planned on a challenge, but he could create other challenges if she continued to play the fool.
Naturally, he expected stupidity from her handlers, they were but average humans. He hadn't expected she'd hold herself to their uninspired view of her potential.
Leo Kristoff toyed with the memento he'd saved from the day he'd created Petra Neiman Burkhardt. He closed his eyes and brought her face into focus, as clear as a hologram in his mind's eye.
He modified the image to the memory of holding her in his arms moments after her birth. Her parents were thrilled with their baby girl, thrilled with him for helping them conceive.
Now it was time for her to be reborn to her higher purpose.
Who better to baptize her, than her maker?
Kristoff opened his eyes, rang the tiny silver bell once more, and waited.
* * *
Gideon was surprised to beat Kincaid and Petra to the wreckage lot, but he made the most of the advantage, taking a parking space across the street with full view of the only entrance to the facility. He watched Kincaid and Petra arrive, check in with the guard, and walk inside. As soon as they were out of sight, Gideon took his time to approach and attach a bug to Kincaid's car. Programmed for a twenty-four hour degrade, he'd get anything of immediate importance and by the time this listening device ate itself and stopped transmitting, he'd have something more permanent in place.
While he waited for Kincaid and Petra to return to the car, he used his laptop to continue researching Petra's parentage, or rather the doctor who'd made Petra possible.
Turning up Leo Kristoff's name made the hair on the back of his neck snap to attention. It was just too close to be coincidence, though the good doctor had never hidden his cutting-edge obstetrical work. To the contrary, he'd launched his political career with the accolades from the many satisfied families that wouldn't have existed without his help.
The current Health Chairman's name had recently appeared on a highly guarded black list–one that Gideon had seen while sorting through the Intel for Nathan's current op.
Gideon now had to wonder if Nathan knew about Kristoff's role in his birth. He had to wonder if the connection had impacted Nate's selection to the elite squad currently trying to squash a corrupt prison juicing ring.
"What next?" Petra's voice flowed from the receiver in Gideon's laptop.
Gideon didn't move, waiting for Kincaid to settle into the car and answer her.
"For you? Rest."
"Sounds great."
Petra's easy acceptance surprised Gideon. Apparently, it surprised Kincaid as well.
" Wow, that was too easy. You must be drained."
"More than a little," Petra confessed. "I'm sorry I couldn't read any more back there. This guy is so nasty, it shadows his physical features. He thrives on creating pain and chaos."
"Don't they all?"
Gideon grunted his agreement with Kincaid on that point.
"I'll take this to the lab and
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