Jackson (The Love Family Series Book 8) (8 page)

Avery stood. “Marsh Corp. has been nothing but good to us over the years. They never tried to test Landon or Reed. They work to help people and save them, not subject unwilling people to tests.”

“They saved me,” Alice, Landon’s wife, interjected. “Why would they do that if their main goal was to control people with abilities? It doesn’t make sense.”

The room broke out into arguments and conversations, and Scarlett walked to the front of the room, slipped her fingers between her lips, and let out the loudest whistle she could to draw everyone’s attention. “Regardless of what Marsh Corp.’s intentions are, here are the facts. Regina Storm is the FBI director’s sister, and she
is
the one conducting the experiments. She’s also head of the lab division in Marsh Corp. We have video proof she’s involved in the tests being run on some of the patients. At least one person died trying to give me the information because she cared about Jackson. Now, we can either sit here and bicker with each other, or we can figure out a plan to fix this. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of running from men who are trying to kill me, and I’m tired of sitting around waiting for the next thug to show up.”

Scarlett took a calming breath and continued. “I may not have abilities like you, but I know your secrets, which makes me a target, and I, for one, have had enough. Even if I have to march into Marsh Corp. and ask them straight out what the hell they’re doing, and what end game they’re after, this has to stop.”

“No. You’ve already got a big enough target on your chest,” Jackson argued.

Declan, who had been standing quietly in the back with his arms crossed over his chest, spoke. “Her idea could work if we tweaked it.”

Jackson’s gaze whipped to his cousin. “She’s not doing it.”

Declan shrugged. “Marsh Corp. helps people in trouble. She could pose as a new client in need of service. And, if we made the situation dire enough, Landon or Avery can get their boss to come to us and give it the home court advantage, especially if we throw in that the FBI is after you guys. That should be enough to peak his interest.”

Declan grinned. “I’ll be able to tell if he’s telling the truth. Gabe could read his thoughts. Alexis could do her thing to make sure no one else is nearby, and if they are, deter them with an electrical storm to fry their communication. I think if we all work together, we could actually pull this off and get to the truth. Then we’ll know where and how to proceed.”

“You forgot one major factor.” Jackson folded his arms over his chest. “There are still rogue FBI agents after her. They’ll still come, and I would venture to guess they’re already on the Island looking to see if she came back home.”

Alexis’ husband, Cole, rose from his chair. “I’ll handle them. I’ll call some of my guys, and we’ll run interference while you sort it out.”

“I can leave an electronic trail sending them away from the Island.” Reed rose from his chair. “I can make it look like she’s used her credit cards anywhere in the world. We could give them a fake trail to follow. Somewhere off the island with just a matter of a few clicks. That should buy us some time.”

“It’s worse than that.” Alexis stood. “We went through some of the patient files last night. There is a three-page list of potential patients. Granted the list is old and faded, but it’s as if they were using it as a shopping list. If we don’t take care of the lab and the testing, then they’re just going to continue. We need leverage over the FBI to get them permanently off our backs and over whoever is running the testing and labs. We need to find something to hold over their heads; something big enough that they’ll stop testing altogether. We can’t let them continue, or it is just a matter of time before they look to use our children, and I’ll burn the place down to cinder blocks before I let one of us get hurt.”

“Get me the video and names, and I’ll start digging into the backgrounds,” Reed said in answer. “If these people have skeletons, I’ll find them, and I’ll start with the lab and securing all of their electronic files and documentation. Then maybe I’ll work on their accounts and freeze them. No cash, no progress. A zero bank account should slow them down.”

“Anyone without abilities needs to watch from the sidelines,” Jackson said, making the room erupt with arguments again. Scarlett glanced at him and raised her brow. She whistled again. “I think each of us without abilities can choose if they want to help.” She glanced at Jackson. “We have a right to protect the people we love, just like Martin and Mary.”   

Chapter 9

Scarlett sat in the police conference room with Gabe and Declan. Declan was letting her ask the questions, so he could gage Marsh’s answers for the truth. Mr. Marsh was a good-looking man with dark hair and brown eyes. He projected a regal air while he sat in his tailored three-piece suit and held Scarlett’s gaze. “You seem to be in a little pickle, Ms. Denton.”

Scarlett placed her elbows on the table. “Little is an understatement, Mr. Marsh. Your company is running an illegal lab and testing people for special abilities, and the FBI is doing everything they can to silence me.”

Mr. Marsh scanned the occupants in the room. “Is that why I’m here? You believe my company is involved in something shady?”

“Is it true?” she asked, wanting to get him to give them an answer so Declan and Gabe could do their thing.

“That’s not a simple answer,” he said, leaning back in his chair. He crossed his legs and placed his clasped hands in his lap.

“I think it’s safe to say everyone at this table is smart enough to understand your answer. Why don’t you explain exactly what is true?”

“You’re a smart one.” He grinned. “You noticed I was evading the question, so you went straight for the jugular. Ms. Denton, you’ve worked with criminals before. Do I strike you as the criminal kind, capable of doing those things to another human being?”

Scarlett had enough. He was running her in circles, and they weren’t getting anywhere. She slipped a photo out of her folder and slid it across the table. The photo was of Regina Storm and him standing in a hall talking to each other. “This woman works for you.”

He glanced at the photo, and his brow rose as he smiled. “And?”

She pulled another photo from her file and slid it across the table. The photo didn’t need words. It showed Regina inserting the contents of the vial of blue liquid into one of the patients at the facility.

Mr. Marsh’s smile slipped, and his brows dipped.

“Don’t worry. I saved the best for last.” She pulled one of Martin’s stolen vials from her pocket and held it up between her thumb and pointer finger. “I have all the evidence I need to go public, and I don’t care if the FBI tries to silence me.” She bluffed hoping he didn’t call her on it. There was no way she’d ever out the Loves. “The truth will come out. Now…tell me, Mr. Marsh. How much of this are you involved in? There is no denying she’s your employee, and that makes you just as responsible as though it were you injecting the liquid into those patients’ arms.”

Mr. Marsh picked up Regina’s picture and glanced down at it. “Regina Storm is the head of my research department. She’s researching the difference in the genetic makeup of people with abilities and those without, but not for what you might think.”

Scarlett slammed her palms down on the table and rose. “Don’t patronize me. She’s killing people with her research. The enhancer she’s giving them, while she tries to push their limits to see how far she can get, is deadly.”

Mr. Marsh dropped the photo and raised his brow as he met her gaze. “I can assure you that each of her test subjects agreed to the testing. We have written contracts on every single one of them.”

Scarlett smirked and shook her head. “Not quite.” She pulled a news article out of her folder and tossed it at him. “One of the two escapees from your facility was not there by choice. Quite the opposite. He was drugged and kidnapped, which is a whole slew of new charges the courts will throw at you.”

“Ever heard of the Statute of Limitations, Ms. Denton?”

“Ever heard of Agent McIntire, Mr. Marsh. She believed a man was kidnapped by people working at your facility. Can you imagine the backlash when that goes public, regardless of proof?”

“Ah…now it makes sense.” Mr. Marsh nodded and picked up the article. “Mr. Heart…” He gestured to the article. “Mr. Heart, or should I say Martin Love and his wife, Mary, were before my time, when there were little to no procedures in place and the company was run by my father. There were several questionable things that happened during his era, but I can assure you that all the testing now is authorized and legit, and I can guarantee that my employees are not in the business of kidnapping anyone.”

Mr. Marsh placed his elbows on the table. “I can’t attest to why my father wanted to play God, or to the things he’s responsible for. I can only attest that I’ve worked my whole life to right his actions. I’ve known who Mr. Love is for a very long time, and I’ve done everything in my power to help Avery, Landon, and now, Reed. They are some of my best operatives. Why would I endanger them? The testing that my company is doing is to help others who can’t control their gifts. To give them a life where they won’t be worried about harming others with things they can’t control.”

Marsh glanced around the room. “I’ve known about your entire family line, and I’ve yet to do anything to harm any of you. I’ve only ever helped.”

Scarlett glanced at Declan, who had been using his abilities to determine Marsh’s truth. He nodded, indicating the man was telling the truth. Scarlett’s shoulders deflated as she plopped down in her chair. If all of this was before his time, and were the actions of his father, who was probably deceased, then what was the point?

“I assure you he died years ago,” Marsh said.

Scarlett’s mouth had parted before she snapped it closed. Was he reading her mind?

“Yes. I can read your thoughts, which is why my father was intent on finding a cure. The liquid in the blue vial isn’t an enhancer like you assumed. It’s a formula specifically designed to try to cure people like the Loves, and me, should we so choose to seek a cure.”

“And your lies to the families about the patients’ deaths?” she asked.

“Simply requested by our patients, who were well informed of the dangers of being in our trials and who were trying to keep themselves out of the public eye to protect their families.”

None of that explained why the FBI was trying to silence Scarlett. Yes, she had the information and could use it, if she needed to, but why not just tell her the truth? She wouldn’t have outed anyone with abilities that didn’t want help. Not that they knew that about her, but she’d spent years keeping that exact knowledge to herself.

“They are after you to stop you from exposing Regina and her research. She is the person who means the most to the director.” Mr. Marsh answered her unasked question.

Scarlett would do the same for Jackson and Alexis.

“Exactly as you would do for Jackson and Alexis,” he said, reiterating her thoughts. Declan and Gabe glanced in her direction.

“His sister is special like the Loves, and I can stop them from any further pursuit, but on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Gabe asked, joining the conversation.  

Mr. Marsh rose from the table. “Scarlett will have to come with me. There is much for the two of us to discuss.”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Declan said as Gabe and he stood. “She isn’t going anywhere with you.”

“Gentlemen.” Marsh gave a slight nod. “That is not your decision. It’s hers, and I have need of something only she can tell me. I’ll have her returned in twenty-four hours. If she’s not back, then send Avery and Landon to fetch her. I will not hold her against her will.” He turned to Scarlett. “I’ll help you, if you help me. It’s a fair trade, and you can’t tell me that you’re not the least bit curious about what I could possibly need.”

That was an understatement. Scarlett bit her lip. It was a situation like this that had gotten her into this mess. But what choice did she have if she wanted to stop the FBI without exposing those she loved? There wasn’t a choice. She slipped the vial out of her pocket and handed it Declan. “Tell Jackson I’m sorry. This is the only way to stop the FBI so that I can have my life back.”

“You don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way,” Declan argued.

“He’s right,” Gabe answered. “You don’t. Jackson and Alexis wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger.”

“If I stay, the Loves and I are in danger, and in order to get them to stop, I’d have to expose the truth, which we all know would put the rest of you in danger. If I go, I help him, and he’ll make it all go away. There is no choice. I choose Jackson, Alexis, and your family secrets over my spending twenty-four hours answering questions.” She glanced at Marsh. “You swear no harm will come to me?”

“You have my word,” he answered, and she glanced back at Declan. He nodded. That was the only reassurance she needed to take the step into the unknown to protect the people she cared about. She would have done more.

“Tell Jackson I’ll see him in a day.”

Declan nodded as Scarlett followed Mr. Marsh out of the conference room and into the sheriff’s department lobby. Jackson was pacing the room, and he stopped when he spotted her. He closed the distance between them and placed his palms on her arms. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “But I have to go with Mr. Marsh. Declan and Gabe will explain.”

He shook his head. “No. You aren’t going anywhere with him.”

Mr. Marsh waited by the double glass doors.

“I have to do this.” She leaned in and kissed his lips. “I’ll be back in twenty-four hours. Please don’t try to stop me.”

“Why?”

“Ms. Denton, we must go.” Mr. Marsh said, interrupting them.

“It all ends today. I promise; please, trust me,” she said, slipping out of his hold. She followed Mr. Marsh with a backward glance over her shoulder. Declan and Gabe were standing next to Jackson. She couldn’t hear the words through the door, but she could read Jackson’s angry expression as he pointed a finger in her direction.

He wouldn’t understand, but she did. She loved him, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to protect the people she loved. If her life was in danger when the FBI showed up again, they might be caught in the crossfire. She was doing this for Jackson as much as she was doing it for herself. That realization made her pause. She’d always had a schoolgirl crush on him, but when had it turned into love?

Mr. Marsh held the limo door open while she slipped inside.