spy. How long had Osric been
lying to them and how often did Barns help him falsify reports? “The truth is a
little less tidy, I’m afraid. The hikers were not released. They overpowered
the guards and took off in their Jeep.” She waited until shock registered on
their expressions but didn’t give them time to reply. “And that’s not the worst
of it. Osric thinks the female hiker was Ava Seymour and the male was Kyle
Lashton.”
“Ava has been desperately eluding capture to avoid coming
here.” Roberto drew her attention away from the screen. “Why would she venture
so near Osric’s stronghold?”
“That was my question as well.”
“And did he tell you?” Tias’ expression remained cautious,
but Carly heard hope in her soft tone.
She’d only been spying on Osric for a short time, but the
backers had hoped for better results. Well, she was about to prove her worth to
her demanding superiors. “Osric had no idea why Ava would intentionally put
herself in such a vulnerable position, but he’s pretty sure Kyle was attempting
to rescue his sister.”
“Osric is hiding his rival’s sister among the test subjects?”
Tias exchanged meaningful glances with her partners then muttered, “That sly
bastard.”
“He didn’t intend to tell me who she is, but—”
“It’s Devon.” Carly wasn’t surprised that Tias anticipated
the punch line. She was shrewdly intelligent and every bit as ruthless as the
men. “It explains his arrogance as well as his obsession with the girl.”
Devon was in her mid-twenties, hardly a girl, but Carly
didn’t correct her supervisor. “He was infuriated by the near disaster and
intended to interrogate Devon, to find out if she was somehow signaling her
brother.”
“Did he damage her?” Milliner scooted closer to his camera,
clearly upset by the possibility. “We’ve accomplished more with Devon than any
other test subject.”
“Yes sir, I’m aware. That’s why I’ve kept Devon sedated
until I could speak with you.”
“Then he hasn’t harmed her?”
“No sir. Intimidation is lost on someone who’s unconscious.
He’s impatiently waiting for Devon to ‘metabolize the new formula’. I told him
it could take several more hours.”
“Excellent work.” Tias offered a rare smile. “I knew you
were perfect for this position.”
Carly refused to think about all of the positions she’d been
in since her stint as spy began. It had been a means to an end, nothing more.
“I can’t keep her sedated much longer. He’s already suspicious.”
“I’ll take her to another complex,” Roberto said.
There were other complexes? A sick feeling took root in the
pit of Carly’s stomach. The more she learned about this project, the less she
liked being part of it. “Osric will be furious and he’ll immediately suspect
me.”
“Which is why Barns is going to take the fall for you,”
Milliner supplied. “I can’t believe that scrawny bastard has been
double-crossing us.”
“Devon will need to be interrogated once she’s relocated,”
Tias reminded. “We need to know if what Osric fears is true.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Milliner volunteered, and Carly
shivered. Would being interrogated by the cold-eyed general be any better than
what Osric had in mind?
“There’s no need for you to exert yourself.” Roberto
grinned. “I’ll speak with her on the way to her new home.” Given a choice
between Osric, Milliner and Roberto, Carly would vote for the soft-spoken
Italian.
“Is there anything else we need to know?” Tias asked.
“That’s all I’ve been able to learn. For now.”
“Avoid him until he learns that Barns betrayed him then be
there to console him,” Milliner advised.
She liked the first part much better than the last, but she
nodded. “I understand.” Tias and Milliner blinked out, leaving her along with
Roberto. “I’ll prepare Devon for travel. Where are you taking her?”
Laughter made his dark eyes sparkle as he
lying to them and how often did Barns help him falsify reports? “The truth is a
little less tidy, I’m afraid. The hikers were not released. They overpowered
the guards and took off in their Jeep.” She waited until shock registered on
their expressions but didn’t give them time to reply. “And that’s not the worst
of it. Osric thinks the female hiker was Ava Seymour and the male was Kyle
Lashton.”
“Ava has been desperately eluding capture to avoid coming
here.” Roberto drew her attention away from the screen. “Why would she venture
so near Osric’s stronghold?”
“That was my question as well.”
“And did he tell you?” Tias’ expression remained cautious,
but Carly heard hope in her soft tone.
She’d only been spying on Osric for a short time, but the
backers had hoped for better results. Well, she was about to prove her worth to
her demanding superiors. “Osric had no idea why Ava would intentionally put
herself in such a vulnerable position, but he’s pretty sure Kyle was attempting
to rescue his sister.”
“Osric is hiding his rival’s sister among the test subjects?”
Tias exchanged meaningful glances with her partners then muttered, “That sly
bastard.”
“He didn’t intend to tell me who she is, but—”
“It’s Devon.” Carly wasn’t surprised that Tias anticipated
the punch line. She was shrewdly intelligent and every bit as ruthless as the
men. “It explains his arrogance as well as his obsession with the girl.”
Devon was in her mid-twenties, hardly a girl, but Carly
didn’t correct her supervisor. “He was infuriated by the near disaster and
intended to interrogate Devon, to find out if she was somehow signaling her
brother.”
“Did he damage her?” Milliner scooted closer to his camera,
clearly upset by the possibility. “We’ve accomplished more with Devon than any
other test subject.”
“Yes sir, I’m aware. That’s why I’ve kept Devon sedated
until I could speak with you.”
“Then he hasn’t harmed her?”
“No sir. Intimidation is lost on someone who’s unconscious.
He’s impatiently waiting for Devon to ‘metabolize the new formula’. I told him
it could take several more hours.”
“Excellent work.” Tias offered a rare smile. “I knew you
were perfect for this position.”
Carly refused to think about all of the positions she’d been
in since her stint as spy began. It had been a means to an end, nothing more.
“I can’t keep her sedated much longer. He’s already suspicious.”
“I’ll take her to another complex,” Roberto said.
There were other complexes? A sick feeling took root in the
pit of Carly’s stomach. The more she learned about this project, the less she
liked being part of it. “Osric will be furious and he’ll immediately suspect
me.”
“Which is why Barns is going to take the fall for you,”
Milliner supplied. “I can’t believe that scrawny bastard has been
double-crossing us.”
“Devon will need to be interrogated once she’s relocated,”
Tias reminded. “We need to know if what Osric fears is true.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Milliner volunteered, and Carly
shivered. Would being interrogated by the cold-eyed general be any better than
what Osric had in mind?
“There’s no need for you to exert yourself.” Roberto
grinned. “I’ll speak with her on the way to her new home.” Given a choice
between Osric, Milliner and Roberto, Carly would vote for the soft-spoken
Italian.
“Is there anything else we need to know?” Tias asked.
“That’s all I’ve been able to learn. For now.”
“Avoid him until he learns that Barns betrayed him then be
there to console him,” Milliner advised.
She liked the first part much better than the last, but she
nodded. “I understand.” Tias and Milliner blinked out, leaving her along with
Roberto. “I’ll prepare Devon for travel. Where are you taking her?”
Laughter made his dark eyes sparkle as he
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