Morvicti Blood (A Morvicti Novel Book 1) (26 page)

Angelique sensed he was only masking a big dose of fear.

Dr. Wilson sighed. “The test on the two fingers should be completed, and I expect the results will show that both victims were twenty-five percent from an unknown hominid species, or more. We need proof. Once that’s in hand, the person or persons responsible for keeping Austin under ice for so many years will come out of their hiding place to squelch the truth. They’ve proven again and again through their actions what extreme lengths they will go to in order to protect their secrets. They took my research from Guatemala. They burned down the lab in China. They stole the sample my tech found. And they likely are the same who blew up the safe house today. They’ve always been one step ahead of me, but this time I’ll be ready. Together, we collect the evidence and then we can set a trap for them. What do you say?”

Austin stood. “My sister and I can give you our samples and you can show us the results of the tests on the two victims’ fingers. But I am not going to put Angelique in jeopardy to set a trap, Doc. Once her husband arrives, you and I can work together to make that happen. Not before.”

She didn’t like his tone. “I have a say in that, Austin.”

Gita walked back into the room with her arms full of plates. “Not until you eat.”

“Smells delicious,” Dr. Wilson said, as Gita placed the meal on the table. “But you’ll have to keep it warm for us. We have important business in the lab.”

Gita frowned. “Don’t be long.”

“We won’t.”

As they walked to the lift, Angelique dialed Michael’s number once again.
Still no answer
. She became even more shaken. “Austin, I need to find Michael.”

“Sis, after we give our samples to Doc we’ll go to the U.S. Embassy. He might be there, or they might know how we can find him.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Dr. Wilson asked. “You told me there’s an APW out on you. Every constable in the city is looking for you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Michael is her husband and he’s my friend. I won’t let him down.”

“I’ll call his office first,” she said. “Then we can try our flat.”

“A much better plan.” Thomas placed his hand on Austin’s shoulder. “If you’re intent on going outside, after we get your samples I better see if I can help disguise you. A hat might help with that, and I have many.”

The lift stopped on the floor below Wilson’s private quarters. They stepped over to the door of his lab, which was wide open.

“Damn,” Wilson said. “This cannot be happening to me again.” He examined the frame surrounding the door, visibly disturbed by what he saw. He walked into the lab, and Angelique and Austin followed.

After pulling a few cabinet doors open and typing frantically on a laptop, Dr. Wilson sighed. “The fingers are gone and the data has been wiped out of my system. We’ve come too late.”

Engulfed in dread, Angelique realized the vast reach of their invisible stalker. She frantically dialed Michael again.

CHAPTER 44

6:39 PM

With his gun in hand and pointed at the entrance, Octavian watched the Bathry woman placing the last bag of blood to Belisarius’s lips.

“He’s coming around, Majesty,” she said. “His breathing is much better. It’s a very good thing the stake missed your cousin’s heart or he would have instantly slipped into slumber.”

“Thank you for your help, Phoebe. It will be rewarded.”

She lowered her gaze. “Your will is my—”

“Please, don’t.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No. It’s just that the old ways seem out of place in this age, my lady. My ancestor, King Astoroth, ruled the Morvicti with an iron fist, but what did that get him? Killed on the battlefield during his third reign.” Octavian thought about how Astoroth had devastated the once noble Bathry Bloodline, and his own blood turned cold. “Perhaps a gentler hand is better suited to the times we live in now.”
Though I still want to see David Bathry’s head on a spike.

“Always thinking about the future, cousin.” Belisarius sat up, still weak but much improved. “Your progressive thoughts are going to get you into trouble.”

“So you and Rom have told me a thousand times.” He had said it without thinking, and the off-handed mention of his brother cut him to the core. He bent down to get a better look at his cousin’s condition. “It’s good to see you above ground.”

“I would not call The Sanctuary of the Forgotten ‘above ground,’ Majesty.” Belisarius glanced at Albert with the stake sticking out of his chest. “Where is David?”

Octavian told him everything that happened since he had lost consciousness.

“I should have heard Albert approaching.” Belisarius closed his eyes. “Please forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. We weren’t expecting an ambush. Can you stand?”

Before his cousin could answer, two Bathry men carrying L85s assault rifles ran into the space.

Octavian charged, firing his gun.

He hit one, but the other remained on his feet, swinging the gun in their direction.

Phoebe dropped the ladder on top of the man before he could pull the trigger.

In a single fluid motion, Belisarius jumped to his feet, pulled out the stake from Albert’s chest, and rammed it into the second attacker.

“I guess you can stand.”

His cousin nodded. “And I can fight, too.”

“Good thing, because we are about to go into battle.” Octavian turned to Phoebe. “You’re coming with us.”

“I cannot leave now, Majesty. It is my duty to make sure the Forgotten are provided for. I must replace the bags of blood we gave your cousin and administer the life-giving drops to those entrusted to my care.”

Belisarius touched her cheek. “Your selflessness and kindness are the only things that compare to your incredible beauty, my lady.”

Her face reddened as she looked down at her jeans and T-shirt.

“But the others will have to assume your responsibilities until things are made right.” Belisarius seemed to be smitten with Phoebe. “If you stay, they would have your head. It isn’t safe for you here now.”

“I must stay.”

“Phoebe, I am not asking,” Octavian said, fearing for her life. “I command you to come with us.”

She lowered her eyes. “Your will is my duty, Your Majesty. Always.”

Octavian sighed. He picked up both of the fallen Bathry men’s weapons, keeping one for himself and handing the other to Belisarius.

With Phoebe between them, they cautiously headed for the stairs leading out of the sanctuary.

The iron gates were locked.

“Damn.” His cousin turned to him. “Shall we shoot the lock?”

“It won’t work.” Phoebe turned around and walked to one of the iron sconces jutting out of the wall. She twisted it and the wall moved, revealing a small compartment. She reached in and brought out the satchel that Albert had worn when they entered the space. “The key is inside.”

Belisarius took the black bag from her and pulled out the key. “Our gold coins are gone.”

“We aren’t the only ones who will pay today, cousin. Bathry will answer for this with his life.”

They were able to open the gates and pass through the remainder of the sanctuary without incident. As they ran to their limo they could see Atticus slumped back in the driver’s seat with his eyes closed. He had taken three bullets to his chest.

This is the work of David Bathry.
Enraged by what he saw, Octavian pounded his fist on the top of the limo.

“He needs blood, my lord, or he shall slip into slumber. He’s already in the beginning stages. One heartbeat every couple of minutes.” Phoebe pointed to where they had just come. “I can get some for him.”

“Too dangerous,” Octavian said. “We’ll take him to my home. I have a full supply of blood in my basement.”

“We should get him into the back,” Belisarius said.

The three of them carefully lifted their patient out of the driver’s seat and laid him out in the backseat. Phoebe and Belisarius remained with Atticus.

As he got behind the wheel, Octavian pulled out his mobile phone, knowing he would have a signal now. He needed to send some men out to find and capture Bathry.

He looked at the screen.
Two missed calls. Both from Gita.

CHAPTER 45

7:11 PM

After seeing Wilson’s lab had been breached, Austin’s first instinct was to whisk Angelique away and find a safer location. But there was no sign of the intruders now. And their only allies at the moment were an elderly man and his housekeeper. He had nowhere else to take Angelique.

She was on the phone with the embassy, trying to locate Michael.

In an apparent daze, Doc sighed and pulled out his unlit pipe from his jacket. “They will always be one step ahead of us.”

“Still no answer.” Angelique’s earlier uncertainty about Michael had grown into a total state of alarm.

“Try the embassy,” he told her.

She nodded.

The masked brutes they’d faced at the safe house had attacked with deadly force, wielding automatic weapons and explosives, unlike this robbery, which had been executed with great finesse. There didn’t seem to be a connection between the two events.

Wilson leaned against a long metal counter, looking like a man about to wave a white flag of defeat.

“Who is this?” Angelique asked the person on the other end of the call. She turned to him. “It’s the switchboard operator, Austin.” Into the phone she said, “I’m trying to reach my husband, Michael Remington. Can you help me? Please. I have to talk with him. Yes, I understand that no one answered his office phone and that’s why my call went to you.”

Austin put his arm around his sister, seeing how upset she was. “Hand me the phone, Sis. What’s your name?” he asked the operator.

“Amy.”

“Amy, we have a family emergency and must reach Michael. Switch me to the officer in charge.”

“Please hold.”

After two rings, a man answered. “Sergeant Carter.”

“Sergeant, I’m Michael Remington’s brother-in-law. Can you tell me if he is still at the embassy?”

“Do you have their security code, sir?”

He turned to his sister. “He’s asking for your security code.”

She seemed a little calmer, though only a little. “Seven. Charlie. Echo. Zero. Three.”

He recited the code back to the sergeant.

“Mr. Remington signed out this morning before eleven.”

That was when Angelique called him from her flat. Damn.
“Thanks for your help, Sergeant.”

Angelique shook her head. “He’s not there, is he?”

“No.”

“I don’t know what to do. I’ve called the house. I’ve called his mobile. I’ve called the embassy. God, what can I do? Where is he?”

Austin realized that the only way to find out was to go back to her flat. He thought about leaving Angelique here, with Doc and Gita, but decided against it. He wasn’t about to let her out of his sight until things were sorted out.

He grabbed her by the hand, and turned to Wilson. “Doc, I’m going to take my sister to her flat to see if her husband has been home.” This move was a risk, especially with Commissioner Poole knowing the flat’s location, but one Angelique and he had to take. Of course he would bring insurance—the assault rifle and Glock. Both felt good in his hands.

Angelique nodded. “Good idea.”

Wilson sighed. “You’re coming back, I hope.”

“We’ll try.”

“Brilliant. I’ll get you a hat, Austin, like I promised.” Doc’s dark mood brightened. “Please be careful. Navigating these waters will be tricky.”

“And dangerous,” Angelique added.

“Absolutely. I’ll let Gita know that you had to leave but will return.”

“Tell her we’re sorry about her dinner but it couldn’t be helped.”

“I know for a fact it reheats perfectly,” Doc Wilson said, smiling. “She’s served it to me for three days straight after an argument we had a few months ago. She thought I would grow weary of the same dish, but I could eat it seven days a week. She’s quite forgiving. Has to be. She’s been with me for years. Don’t worry about it, my dear. Go to your flat and see if you can locate your husband. But do come back. While you’re both away, I’m going to give some thought to what our next steps might be.”

“Doc, you’re my kind of man,” Austin said. It was good to see the spark back in his eyes. “A man who never says ‘die.’ ”

The old guy smiled. “
Never Say Die
is my favorite Black Sabbath album.”

He laughed. “I would have never taken you for a heavy metal fan.”

“Looks can be deceiving. Now about that hat.”

CHAPTER 46