Revealed (The Found Book 1) (14 page)

“I think I would have been terrified if I remembered. Wasn’t it awful for you? Waking up naked in the back of the cop car?”

Kali tilted her head and decided to give Sarah a much more serious answer than she had ever provided to anyone other than Noah. “I wasn’t scared. I was cold, and I knew the man who had gotten into the car with me was good. I was already in the car when he got in. I was kind of sleeping. Dad explained how he had to unlock it.”

“Then what happened?”

“I just woke up, and I was cold, it was winter in Chicago. He got in, and I remember him saying something to me, and me responding. I understood him just fine. Then he spilled his coffee and said something else and it took me longer to understand, but after I did, I asked for a blanket. Then he started to yell words, but he wasn’t mad and I wasn’t scared. I knew he was good.”

“Can you always tell?”

“Tell what?”

“Tell when someone is good or not?”

“No. I was only ever able to do it with Dad the first time. But there was no doubt in my mind, it was a soul-deep knowing. This man was someone good, someone I could trust. There was no fear.”

“Why was he yelling?”

“He’d spilled his McDonald’s coffee onto his lap. He was swearing in Polish. So it’s how I ended up asking for a blanket and his breakfast sandwich in Polish. Trust me, if there was someone scared in the patrol car that night, it was him, not me.”

“How old do you think you were?”

“They examined me when I was taken to the hospital, and determined I was no more than five years old. God, he was so scared, Sarah.” Kali put down her fork, the baked potato losing its flavor. “He carried me into the hospital and never once left me. He called my mom and she came to the hospital as well. I didn’t know her, but I knew she was important to him. You could see the love.”

“Could you feel it? Like you feel things with Noah?”

“No, the only time I’ve ever been able to feel anyone’s emotions has been with Noah. I’ve never had the ability before.”

“I don’t know if I have the ability, but I definitely get a sense of what’s wrong with someone when they come in and need care. It’s stronger with children. It’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to trauma care, so often a case will come in where they can’t speak for themselves, but it’s almost like I can spend some time with them, touch them, and I almost always know what’s wrong.” Sarah was whispering so quietly Kali had to lean in to hear her.

“Do you have some kind of healing powers?”

Sarah let out a big laugh, ruining the quiet moment. “Girl that would be crazy.”

“Sarah, don’t you think other doctors, I mean people who have a real affinity for healing, can sense things with their patients?” Kali watched Sarah’s brow furl as she thought about what Kali was saying, then her expression lightened, and she gave her a bright grin.

“You know when I was in medical school, there were two different doctors who talked about getting quiet and letting themselves get in touch with the patient. One just flat out said he could feel where the blockages were with the patient. He had tenure, and came from Berkley, so it wasn’t surprising.”

“Is it what you do? Find blockages?”

“There might be swelling in the abdomen, but I can trace it to the liver, or the kidney. I just know where the real problem is. I have a higher clear rate for my cases than other doctor. When I go in to find the underlying problem of a symptom my first guess is almost always right.”

“Dammit, I told my Dad and Noah you were special!” Kali grabbed Sarah’s hand where it was lying on the little room service cart. “Stop looking at this like it’s a bad thing, or something you need to hide.” At Sarah’s wry glance, Kali laughed. “Okay, maybe you shouldn’t shout it from the rooftops, neither of us needs more of a spotlight on us. But still, your ability is something to be treasured.”

“Kali, of course I’m damn grateful I have it. I shoulder check other doctors out of the way when I think there is a case where I’d be more effective. I know this ability is a gift, but I can’t help but think we’re from some other planet and once somebody realizes what I can do, they will come and get me and put me under a microscope.”

Kali felt the sincerity of Sarah’s words.

“Ah Sarah, I think you are blessed with an ability other healers have, you’re just more in-tune with it like the two teachers in med school. I bet if you spoke to some of your other colleagues,
really
talked to them, they all have some sense of what is going on with their patients.”

“If you think I’m going to talk to my co-workers about this Whoo Whoo shit, you have another think coming.” Sarah rolled her eyes, making Kali laugh again. “So you don’t think this is some kind of special mastery we have? You think this is a normal human sense maybe hopped up on steroids a little bit?”

“Something like that. Noah has the ability to sense and find things. It’s like the natives in the jungle who can track down predators. But, maybe even more than that.”

“Oh, you just think he’s all that because you’re in love,” Sarah said in a sing-song voice. Kali laughed again. Sarah was a crack up.

“I don’t want to jump your bones, and I think you’re pretty damn special!”

“What do you mean you don’t want to jump me, I’m fiiinnnneee.”

Kali fell back on the bed and laughed at the ceiling. This woman was good for her, why hadn’t she ever taken the time to meet her before, like she had with Alfred. Just that fast, she stopped laughing.

“What is it girl?”

“I was thinking about Alfred.”

“Alfred Hawley? Yeah, Dan told me what happened, but he probably lied. What was the true story?”

Kali sat up straight on the bed again, and looked across the cart to where Sarah was sitting on the other double bed. “You know I was kidnapped, right?”

“And those same bastards tried to kidnap Alfred.” Sarah got up and pushed the cart out of the way, it was obvious neither of them were going to be able to eat any more.

“Actually there are at least two different groups out to capture us. The ones who kidnaped me are different than the ones who kidnaped Mai. Therefore, we’re not sure who was behind the attack on Alfred.”

“Holy shit.” They sat on the beds across from one another. Kali tried to think of something to say to lighten the mood, but couldn’t come up with anything, so she plowed on. “The people who have Mai want to start a breeding program. They think we’re special and our genes will make Uber babies.”

“Fuck Girl! See, I told you I didn’t want to stand out!” Sarah jumped up in agitation and started pacing the room. There was a knock on the adjoining door.

“Come in.”

Nate poked his head in.

“You ladies all right?” Behind his trademark grin his voice held concern.

“Can you come in and help explain the two groups we’re dealing with?”

“Come in and talk to two beautiful ladies? Twist my arm.” Nate closed the door behind him and pulled up the desk chair he barely fit in.

“I’d like you to start from scratch. I’ll assume everything Dan told me is bullshit, and discount it. I hate believing there is more than one group of people out to kidnap Kali and me.”

Nate ran his hand through his short cropped brown hair. “Sarah, you have to remember, they aren’t specifically targeting you and Kali. They would target anyone who appeared twenty years ago. This isn’t because of the person you are.”

“Nate, you’re not making me feel better. Just tell me, okay.”

Kali watched the big man struggle for words for the first time. It was clear he somehow wanted to soften the blow for Sarah. “Tell her Nate, she’s tougher than she looks.”

“Okay. We still don’t have a bead on the group that took Kali. They were obviously concerned with where she came from, it’s why they tortured her for so long.”

“You were tortured? My God, it wasn’t in the papers, not that starvation isn’t torture. Are you okay?” Sarah jumped from her bed, and Kali was wrapped in warm arms.

“It’s okay, I’m okay now. It was tough for a while.”

“Anyway, like I said, we don’t know what group it is. We’re still trying to track them down. We have another team searching for them. The organization that kidnapped Mai and was targeting you wanted you for a breeding program. They think they can make super babies. Based on you, Mai, Alfred, Niko and Kali it’s obvious the
found
are extraordinary, and this organization has people bidding to use your ovum and sperm to mix with theirs to create what they consider a superior race.

“They’re fucking Nazi’s,” Sarah spat out. “You wouldn’t think they’d want my black eggs.”

“Mai’s Vietnamese. This group isn’t the racist group. The splinter group out of Idaho wanted you all dead because you were different. They intended to blow up your hospital,” Nate said.

“Dammit, did you have to tell her that?”

Sarah looked at her in shock, then turned to Nate. “Truly, there was a third group wanting us dead?”

“But we got them all, they’re no longer a threat,” he said encouragingly.

“Just how many people hate us, or are after us? And why now?”

“I think it’s because you have all started to become known in your fields.”

“Except for me,” Kali joked.

“Dammit Kali, would you please stop with that shit?” Nate said forcefully.

“What are you talking about?” Sarah demanded. “You are amazing, I’ve been keeping track of you for years. You graduated three years early. Now they are planning on making you a principal in one of the largest school districts in Chicago. You would be the youngest principal ever. I’d say you are outstanding in the educational field.”

Kali stopped to really think about what Sarah was saying, and realized she was probably right.

“So Nate, do you think there are even more groups?”

“No, Sarah, I think that’s it,” Nate assured her. Lie, definitely a lie, Kali felt it clear as day. She watched the relief spread across Sarah’s face. Nate gave her a quick glance, and she realized he might know she was able to pick up on people’s feelings. She didn’t feel any distress, just a little amusement. She really was growing to love Noah’s teammates.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Don’t you dare lie to me Nate. He hasn’t called in and neither has Riley. None of you know where they are.” Kali was livid. She was a grown woman who deserved the truth. This was the man she loved, the man she was going to marry, and he was in trouble.

“This isn’t uncommon, Kali. Things happen in the field, and we all end up going off the grid for a while, it’s the nature of our work.”

“When you’re in the fucking jungle. Not when you’re in Dallas.” She was no longer livid, she was past furious, and moved on to terrified. She watched as Kota packed his duffel, and Sierra’s fingers flew over two keyboards damn near simultaneously.

“I’m going with you.” Everybody stopped and looked at her.

“I beg your pardon, Ma’am?” It was probably the most words Dakota Blackthorne had spoken to her since he had apologized at their first meeting.

“I’m going with you. You need to find him. Don’t you want to use all possible tools?”

Kota looked at Nate.

“Of course we do Kali it goes without saying,” Nate assured her.

“I’ve got a lead on them. One of the partners of the Rixitron Corporation just filed a flight plan to Cancun. For all intents and purposes it looks like a holiday,” Sierra said as she continued to scan her monitors.

“There you go Kota, you and I are going on a fun trip to Cancun together.”

“Kali, you’re not going anywhere.” Kota watched the byplay between her and Nate, as he continued to pack his duffel bag.

“You’re not listening. I’m connected to Noah. I might not be able to find things like he does, but I sure as hell can pinpoint his location. He better not ever think about cheating on me.” Kali said, and Nate barked out a laugh.

“I want that ability, can you teach me?” Sierra called out from the corner.

“Ma’am this is a hot zone. I don’t need a civilian going with me, it will slow me down.” He was finally looking her in the eye, this was a very good sign. “You have no idea how bad things can get.”

She lifted an eyebrow, and he had the good sense to backtrack. “You’re right. Of course you know how bad it can get. But things are going to move fast, and I can’t afford to be worried about you when my focus needs to be on retrieving the Lieutenant and Riley.”

“I get it Kota, I really do. But how much of an advantage is Noah to you when you’re on missions?” Nobody spoke. “Nate, tell me the truth.” She emphasized the word truth.

“He makes a huge difference.”

“Then so will I. Kota, I promise, if you tell me I am becoming a liability, I’ll hole up someplace. But I think you’ll find I can help. Noah is my world, I wouldn’t put him in more danger. You have to believe me.” She watched as he looked from Sierra to Nate. It was obvious they worked as a unit.

“Sierra, get two reservations,” Kota relented.

“Already did.”

* * *

Kali had never been someplace so humid. She and Kota had a cover, they were boyfriend and girlfriend, and they had to walk down the steps from the airplane. He led the way, making sure she didn’t have a miss-step. Her throat tightened, because she knew it would be the exact thing Noah would have done.