The Ripple Trilogy Books 1-3 by Swanson Cidney

Author:Swanson, Cidney [Swanson, Cidney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Williams Press
Published: 2013-11-09T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

PAYBACK

“No!” I called as she ran towards the angry man. I dashed after her, my legs pumping crazy–fast. She didn’t have that much of a head start, but I tripped on the irregular surface of the old street and tumbled down, catching myself with my hands.

Raising my head, I watched as something truly bizarre unfolded thirty feet ahead of me. The tall blond man seemed to alter his appearance as completely as possible. His face, which had been twisted with determination, softened and calmed. The mouth that had bared fierce canines a moment earlier relaxed. His shoulders slumped forward, and he seemed to shrink in stature as his gait loosened. Hands that had been clenched in tight fists now uncurled and dropped nonchalantly into his pockets.

He had transformed from a raging fiend into a man without a care in the world. I felt like I’d just watched the Incredible Hulk turn back into a mild–mannered scientist.

“Of course,” I whispered. I had just seen Ivanovich check out for the night and Deuxième come on duty. “Deuxième?” I called as I stood.

Mickie got there moments before I did. Deuxième looked past her at me and then pulled one hand out of his pocket. In the three seconds that it took me to reach him, he grabbed Mickie, pushed up one of her sleeves, and injected her with something. She slumped immediately into his waiting arms.

“No!” I cried. “What are you doing?”

“This way,” he said in English, gesturing towards the alley I’d just left.

“What have you done to her?” I called out, following him into the enclosed street.

“She will be fine,” he said. “It is a short–acting sedative. She’ll awaken in another two minutes.”

“What do you want?” I asked, backing away from him.

“Deuxième wishes to speak with Jane Smith,” he said simply.

“What did you have to go drugging her for?” I asked, my voice sounding angry.

He looked bashful. “Deuxième is sorry for harming Jane’s friend. Jane’s friend will have a bad headache when she awakens.” He fumbled around in one of his pockets and withdrew a small vial.

Instinctively, I jumped back.

“This will take away her pain. Deuxième compounded it himself.” He looked pleased with himself. “It is very strong medicine for pain.”

I took the small vial, doubtful Mick would accept treatment from such a source.

He continued. “Deuxième reasoned that if Jane would send help to a stranger such as Deuxième when he was injured, then Jane is not someone to run away if her very special friend is unconscious.”

I screwed my mouth into a tight knot and glared at him.

“N’est–ce pas?” he asked in French: Right?

“Of course I won’t run off with M—” I snatched back her identity as it dangled, caught in my throat. “With my friend in that condition. So spit it out. What do you want?”

At that moment, Will rippled solid at the mouth of the alley. Swearing, he ran towards his sister and her captor, roaring like a wild thing. “Let her go this second,” he shouted.

Deuxième retreated. “Stop or Deuxième vanishes with Jane’s friend,” he said to Will.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.