RECKLESS by Carolyn O'Doherty

Author:Carolyn O'Doherty [Family, O'Doherty]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Carolyn O'Doherty

12

The elevator in the Fletcher and Underhill suite pings to herald the car’s arrival. Barnard waves Dr. Ellery forward with a courtly gesture, but before he and Agent Xavier can join her, Chief Ross hurries into the hall.

“Dr. Ellery,” he says, reaching out a hand to prevent the elevator doors from closing, “I was hoping I could have a quick word with you.” He shoots a glance at Barnard. “In private.”

Dr. Ellery takes in both Ross’s easy smile and his calculating eyes. She rather welcomes a tête-à-tête with the new chief. Despite all his denials in their meeting, she’s still not certain how much he knows. Or who he might work for.

“Of course.” Dr. Ellery looks at Barnard, who is hovering just outside the doors, the security agent at his heels. “You don’t mind, do you, Jeffrey?”

The way Dr. Barnard’s lips tighten proves he most definitely does mind, but he steps aside anyway.

“We’ll take the next one,” he mutters.

“Thanks, Jeff.” Ross claims the space beside Dr. Ellery with the confidence of a captain taking command of the bridge. Dr. Ellery presses the lobby button, using the motion as an excuse to increase the space between them. Arrogant men are high on her list of people she dislikes.

“What is it you wanted to discuss?” she asks as the elevator doors slide shut.

Ross flashes his snake oil salesman’s smile. “I have a proposal I think your bosses might find interesting, something that would benefit both of us.”

Her bosses? The elevator begins its descent. Dr. Ellery refrains from gritting her teeth and instead nods to show she’s listening.

“You mentioned in our meeting,” Ross continues, “that you have a limited number of wipers—excuse me, security agents—which seems like a liability at a time when you are trying to round up so many rogue spinners. I thought now that I’m on the inside, so to speak, I could take on a larger role.”

The height of the building means the elevator has an express mode, allowing it to drop half the building’s thirty stories in a single plunge. The pressure makes Dr. Ellery’s ears pop.

“What kind of role were you thinking of?” she asks.

“Why don’t you put me in charge of collecting the rogue spinners here in Portland? I can head up a team with some of your agents plus a few of my own officers, people I know I can trust to be discrete.”

“And you think you would be equally as effective as my trained professionals?”

“I’m sure your agents are good, but the problem with them is that they are steeped in hatred for these people. The spinners know that, which makes it impossible for a wiper to win their trust. I, on the other hand, have worked with spinners a long time, and even if I didn’t always like the job, I did develop a rapport with them. I might be able to get them to come in for the cure without any unexplained ‘accidents.’ Ask Dr. Barnard—he’ll tell you I was the favorite. All the kids wanted to work with me.

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