Chemical Attraction (34 page)

“They found a twelve-foot electric fence and followed the perimeter. Well, Mrs. Connor saw Simon Baker. She and Madeline squeezed through a portion of the fence to check on him.”

“They what?” Matt asked.

“Is Tim with them?” Joe asked, wanting to strangle them.

“No, he couldn’t fit through the gap.”

“Damn it, who’s got the address?” Matt asked.

Matt drove his cruiser with Joe, Ray, and Brayland while Bobby drove another with Ethan. They raced through South Monterey and slowed as they approached Tim, who stood by Eva’s car. Joe jumped out of the car, staring him down.

“How long have they been in there?” Joe demanded.

“Twenty minutes. The buzzing around the electric fence stopped ten minutes ago. I think they turned it off.”

“How did this happen?” Joe asked, putting on his protective vest. Matt approached already wearing his.

“I just wanted to see where this place was. We followed the fence to catch a glimpse of the building. I thought they’d listen and wait for backup. They fit through a two-foot gap before I knew it.”

“What made you think they’d listen to you? They don’t even listen to us,” he replied.

“Joe, I’m sorry.”

“Let’s go. Who’s got the wire cutters?” Joe asked.

After opening a section of the fence, they jogged cautiously up the drive. The men stopped short of the clearing. Joe motioned for them to follow the tree line to the barn. He and Matt led the way. About halfway, he heard a loud reaching noise behind them. Approaching Ray puking, his anger intensified until he saw the mangled body propped up against an oak tree. The skull was smashed and brain mush dripped down the bark. Stomach bile rose to the back of his throat. He recognized what remained of the sheriff by his badge. He looked at Matt. They felt each other’s fear. The men continued to the barn while he and Matt ran for the house.

They checked all the rooms and met in the back by the basement door. Entering the first door of the basement, they saw the bloody horror of dead mangled rats. Chunks of fur and flesh in pools of red covered the entire floor and table. Matt immediately spotted Madeline’s purse on the table with two guns mixed in the gore. Joe cringed when he saw Madeline’s sandals and bloody footprints.

“Simon, what has he done to you?” Eva cried out.

“I’ve protected him from the police. They don’t understand that he didn’t mean to kill those men,” Dr. Ellis said as Simon stood behind him.

“Simon, Matt knows you didn’t mean it.” Eva stepped toward him as he stared blankly at her.

Dr. Ellis pointed the gun directly at her heart. “Step back, Eva. I want to demonstrate Dr. Pierce’s research, so you can see firsthand my power.” Dr. Ellis slipped the gun in his lab coat pocket and pulled out the portable ultrasound machine from the other. He flipped the switch. “Simon, she’s hurting you,” he said, dialing the box.

They saw the pain in his face as his hands pushed on his head. Eva spoke carefully while they backed up. “Simon, it’s me, Mrs. Matt. I want to help you.” She saw a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes. “Remember at the banquet. You protected me from those men. You were very brave. Dr. Ellis is trying to make you hurt us.”

“Simon, kill them.”

In the middle of the center table, Madeline found the right machine. Standing behind Eva, she flipped the switch to the larger ultrasound. “Simon, you protected me from that man in the car at BennTech, didn’t you?” He hesitated and she continued. “Simon, see that box Dr. Ellis has? He’s making your head hurt.”

Dr. Ellis followed Simon and turned the dial. “Kill them and the pain will stop.”

She quickly dialed the larger ultrasound on the table to counteract the mini-box. They watched the tension ease from his face.

Eva spoke as calmly as she could. “Simon, Dr. Ellis is causing your pain with that box. Madeline is using that big machine to make it stop. He’s the one who’s hurting you.”

Simon turned to face the doctor. Dr. Ellis dialed his frequency of death while she continued to counter it.

“You hurts me?” Simon slurred.

Stepping back, Dr. Ellis dropped the box and reached for his gun. Simon ran, swinging his arms. The gun fired into the cement floor. Simon lost total control and brutally hit him until Dr. Ellis dropped into a bloody heap. As a provoked animal, he turned and stared. Holding hands, Madeline and Eva slowly backed around the tables for the door. Simon stood with blood on his hands, arms, and clothes. He stumbled toward them, wiping his hand on the side of his head.

“Help, please,” he sobbed.

“Oh Simon,” Eva cried, “I’ll help you.”

He was reaching out to hug her when Matt and Joe crashed through the door. Seeing a known killer grabbing for Eva, they didn’t hesitate. Simon fell to the floor with four bullets through his chest.

Eva knelt beside him and held his hand. “Simon, I’m sorry.”

“I know, Mrs. Matt,” he whispered, before closing his eyes.

With tears in her eyes, Madeline hugged Joe. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Joe pulled her from the pit and saved her from drowning.

“Baby, tell us what happened.”

Stepping back, she explained. “We need to find all the flu vaccines before the town is injected. I have no idea how to counteract it once it’s in the brain.”

Shocked, Eva stood, covered in blood. “It’s better for him this way,” she whispered as Matt put his arm around her.

“Eva, where’s the vaccine kept? We need to account for it,” she said.

“It’s supposed to be in the hospital’s pharmacy.”

“I’ll make a call,” Matt said.

Joe took a deep breath, ready to rant about safety and protocol, but they heard a noise from the partially open door at the far side of the room. He approached it cautiously. Tim swung it open. The rest of the men were behind him with their guns drawn.

“Where does that door go?” Madeline asked.

“To a shed in the woods,” Ray replied, holstering his weapon.

“Did you see anybody leave through that door?” she asked.

They shook their heads as Matt turned back to them. “The hospital’s pharmacist said Dr. Ellis took all the vials yesterday. Security checked the OccHealth department and found nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, she opened the refrigerator. “The four cases are in here,” Madeline said, letting out the breath.

“They’re evidence now. Let’s wrap this up. Agent Orr, you should be fired,” Joe said.

Madeline and Eva jumped to his defense. “What? Why?”

“He knowingly placed a civilian in danger and blatantly disregarded backup protocol,” Joe replied, watching Eva, Madeline, and Tim wince. Matt’s officers and Ray stepped away to avoid Joe’s wrath.

Before the women could respond, Matt added his two cents. “He also neglected his original task of keeping my wife and Madeline safe. I trusted you, Agent Orr.”

Tim looked at the cement floor. “You’re right. I’m sorry, sir.”

“Joe, we explained all that. It wasn’t his fault. I take full responsibility.” Madeline placed her hand on his forearm.

Joe turned to her. “It’s his fault for thinking you’d actually listen for a change. When we’re done here, you will get a very long lecture.”

“Your lecture will be just as long, dear,” Matt said to his wife.

Tim backed away and let out a deep breath.

SATURDAY

“WHAT IF SHE DOESN’T LIKE me?” Madeline asked, shifting her legs in Joe’s car.

“My sister will love you.”

“Not Taylor. Lily. I’m dating her Uncle Joey.” She looked out the window and let her hair fly around her face.

Joe laughed. Yesterday afternoon, she had helped with his paperwork. They were relieved to have the case solved and, with the Bed & Breakfast all to themselves, enjoy the solitude. Ray and Tim had taken more evidence back to Division while Joe sent his report to his supervisor by email. He’d drop off his formal report on Monday.

Last night, Madeline and Eva had shopped downtown for baby gifts. Joe and Matt wandered around the different stores, staying close by. At dinner, they toasted a job well done. Matt had his town back even though they weren’t sure what would happen in the aftermath. Eva had suggested different vacation spots. Since meeting Joe, Madeline’s life had dramatically changed. He would be taking her to his apartment for a few days until they decided where they’d vacation.

Matt followed them in his car to pick up David and Sylvia and to see the newest addition. Joe parked in the drive with Matt pulling in behind him.

“Stop worrying.”

She tried to smooth down her hair. “I can’t help it.”

A young girl came running out of the two-story brick house. Joe turned in time to catch his eight-year-old niece as she launched herself at him. Laughing, he hugged her.

“Have you been behaving, my sweet?”

“Mommy says I behave as well as you do, Uncle Joey. Come see my little brother.”

“Where’s my hug, Lily?” Eva asked, holding out her arms.

Lily jumped down and ran to Aunt Evie and Uncle Matt. “Little Joey is so cute.” She laughed and led them toward the house.

During the chaotic hugging and greeting, Sylvia squeezed Madeline tightly. “Is my house still standing?”

“Joe has a surprise for you.”

Sylvia turned to hug him. “What surprise, Joseph?”

He handed her an envelope with cash. “We found you some boarders for a few days.”

“Wow, you’ve been busy. Is my house still standing?” Sylvia asked again, raising her eyebrow.

“Yes, ma’am, and I even helped fold the laundry. But you’re out of whipped cream.” Joe laughed as Taylor and Stuart made their way over to them.

“Madeline, it’s so good to finally meet you. You’ve been a popular topic of conversation around here,” Taylor said.

Madeline looked at Sylvia. “What have you been saying?”

“Oh, I think I hear the baby crying. I’ll check.” Sylvia quickly left.

Madeline blushed again to Joe’s amusement. He reached for her hand.

“Can we keep Sylvia?” Taylor asked, pushing Joe’s sleeve up to look at his stitches.

Joe swatted her hand away. “What are you asking me for?”

When things settled down, Eva and Matt took David aside. He hung his head as Matt spoke. That news of the dead boys hurt them all. Joe carried his namesake around for the first hour until Taylor pried little Joey away to feed him.

Sylvia sat next to Madeline on the couch and patted her hand. “I’m glad it worked out for you and Joseph.”

“You’ve fit in nicely here,” she replied.

“I feel needed. They want me to stay.”

“What do you want?”

“These kids make me feel young again.”

“I guess we’re both making changes. I don’t have a job at BennTech anymore.”

“What will you do?”

“I’ll figure it out. You did tell me to enjoy life,” she replied.

Lily approached her new grandma and Uncle Joey’s new girlfriend. Grandma Sylvia said nice things about Madeline. She hoped they were true. She wasn’t going to share her uncle if Madeline wasn’t nice.

“Uncle Joey says you’re a scientist,” she said, eyeing her. She climbed onto Grandma Sylvia’s lap.

“Yes, I worked in a laboratory. In fact, I have a gift for you in Joe’s car.”

“Really?” She grinned. “All of the gifts have been for little Joey.”

“Well, this one is for little Joey’s big sister. Do you want it now?”

She held Madeline’s hand and they walked to Uncle Joey’s car. In the backseat, Madeline pulled out a wrapped gift along with a smaller one for Joey. They sat on the stoop so she could open it quickly.

“Wow, a real microscope. Cool. Thanks.” She set it down and hugged her.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it. Your Uncle Joe thought you would.”

Knowing Grandma Sylvia was right, she continued. “Madeline, you can call him Joey if you want.”

“That’s really sweet, but he likes it when you call him that.”

“Hey, what’s going on out here?” Uncle Joey said from the doorway.

She held up her gift to show him. “Madeline says you like it when only I call you Joey.”

He nodded. “Eva needs Madeline’s help out back and I need yours out here,” he said, opening the screen door. He kissed Madeline as she passed him into the house. He then joined her on the stoop.

“So you like it?” he asked.

“Yeah. Madeline’s very nice, too. Have you told her you love her?”

“Jeez, what’s with you women? Yes, I told her. Don’t you want to know if she loves me?”

“Grandma Sylvia already said so.”

“Oh really? Well, come and help me.”

Madeline opened the slider to find everyone chatting. The Morgan backyard had a high privacy fence surrounding the small area. A swing hung from an oak in the back next to a Barbie sandbox. Eight cushioned chairs around an oblong table with an umbrella sat on the large deck along with a swinging loveseat. Madeline set the gift next to Eva’s on the table and sat by David on the swinging seat. She reached into her new maroon canvas bag and handed him a set of keys.

“I won’t be around for a while, so I need someone to keep an eye on my apartment and drive my Jeep until I get back.”

“Are you kidding me? Can I put the top down?”

She laughed. “Yeah, you just need to keep it gassed up.”

David kissed her cheek and jumped up to tell his dad and Uncle Stuart the news. Joe and Lily came through the side gate. Smiling, Lily carried an extra large gift bag and stood in front of her.

“What’s going on?” Madeline asked as Joe sat next to her on the swing.

“Uncle Joey has a present for you.”

Lily handed the bag to her as the group watched. Joe grinned as she peeked into the sack. She moved the tissue paper out of the way and pulled out a stuffed Saint Bernard puppy.

“I was paying attention when we window-shopped last week,” Joe said.

She leaned over and kissed him. “You are so romantic.”

Lily wiggled between them on the swing and looked at her gift. “I like your puppy’s collar,” she said, laughing.

Joe shifted over to the edge of the swing. She looked closer at its collar and gasped at the thick gold necklace with diamond ring attached. Joe moved onto his knee beside her.

“Madeline, you’re the love I’ve been searching for. You’ve amazed me from the start. Will you be my permanent partner?” He held his breath and waited.

“Oh Joe, I love you. Yes!”

The group clapped as Madeline wiped her eyes. He unhooked her puppy’s collar, slipped the ring on her finger, and placed the chain around her neck. Setting her puppy aside, she kissed him as Lily continued to giggle. Taylor and Eva cried as the hugfest started again. Matt and Stuart sat back in their chairs and laughed. David rolled his eyes.

“Sylvia, your plan worked,” Joe said while she rocked the baby.

“It’s about time you settled down.” Matt chuckled.

“At least now your sisters can stop with the set-ups.” Stuart laughed. “Who are they going to focus on now?”

They grinned at David as he crouched in his chair. Joe’s cell rang as Stuart patted David’s shoulder. Checking the Caller ID, Joe stepped away from the group and walked to the back of the yard.

“Yes, sir,” he said to Peter Bingaman.

“Agent Roberts, I have a few questions about your report. In one section while you assisted Chief Connor at Alan Shaw’s murder site, you said you helped Amanda Sturgis carry five cases of flu vaccine to her car.”

“Yes, sir, I did.”

“At the end of your report, you found only four.” Joe felt a chill run down his spine as he realized his colossal mistake. “Agent Roberts, this is now an National Security issue. There are one hundred missing vials of a biological weapon. Find them. I’ve talked to Homeland Security again. We still have jurisdiction over the case and they will assist. Until it’s resolved, you will be partnered with Agent Pierce who’s been reinstated. They should be contacting her as we speak.”

He saw Madeline talking on her cell and grasping the back of the chair. “Yes, sir, I understand. You should know I just proposed to her.”

“Can you still work together?”

He smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“Then congratulations, but find that case. Since the FBI is in charge, I want both of you in my office first thing tomorrow morning.”

He hung up and walked toward Madeline as she finished her conversation. Seeing her hands shaking, the group stopped talking.

Her face paled. “I’ve been reinstated,” she whispered.

“Who else could be involved?” he asked, looking at Eva and Matt. “This isn’t over. There’s a missing case of vials.”

Madeline blew out a breath. “Eva, in the closet, we first heard someone go down into the basement, but Dr. Ellis came in behind us.”

“The guys didn’t see anyone leave through that other back door though,” Eva said.

“I did see someone at the gate on the security camera, but I only saw the back of his head.”

Matt rubbed his neck. “Dr. Ellis must have had someone else working for him.”

Joe reached for Madeline’s hand. This was exactly the shit that kept him awake at night.

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