Girl Undercover 12: Showdown Read online

  Neither of us said a word as we awaited Ian’s arrival to the study. It took less than a minute before there was a soft knock on the door to the study, then the door opened.

  The same square-faced man from before stuck his head in, saying that he was bringing Ian Armory.

  “Please send him in,” Stenger said to the man. “It’s my eldest son, who’ll be your boss when I’m gone. Take a good look at him. Remember him.”

  I stared at Stenger, stunned by the confidence he displayed when speaking about the future. What made him so sure that Ian would want to take over the horrific empire he was only days short of realizing? He must be completely mad. Or think he had an offer too attractive for Ian to ever be able to reject. He clearly didn’t know this son well.

  Well, I thought. Mad or not, he was in for a rude awakening when he got to know Ian a little better.

  Ian came in to the big room, his cheeks flushed and his blond hair ruffled, like it was windy out and he didn’t care if he looked neat or not. He must have hurried like crazy to get here.

  Squareface left the study and the three of us were alone. Ian’s eyes found me first where I sat in the stuffed leather armchair. “Are you okay, Gabi?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I said.

  Ian marched up to me, stopping before Stenger, his hands on his hips and his chin high. “So you are my real father then? I can’t say I see much of myself when I look at you.”

  “That’s because you look more like your mother, but also because your genes were slightly altered when you were only an embryo,” Stenger replied.

  Ian’s face got tight. I couldn’t blame him; I myself stiffened significantly. Was Stenger trying to tell him that he was a hybrid?

  Stenger must have been able to sense what both of us were thinking because he quickly continued, “There are no animal genes in you, son. At the time you were an embryo, using animal genes were still not considered entirely safe. We only used them sparingly. All we did to you was making sure that you didn’t carry any defective genes—I didn’t want you to inherit your mother’s schizophrenia, for example—and that you looked more like my father, who was more handsome than me. Let’s just say, I was looking out for you. Jonah, on the other hand, does have animal genes in his genetic makeup. Sadly, he didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. But you’re a gem. Brilliant and strong, as well as handsome and charismatic. A true leader. The people will love you, every one of them.”

  Ian snorted and shook his head. “You’re one insane little man, aren’t you?”

  Stenger chuckled good-naturedly, which made me think of Santa Claus. “I take that as a compliment, dear son. No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”

  He rolled his wheelchair around the desk and over to Ian, stopping right before Ian, who was towering over him. “It’s so good to meet you at last, Ian,” he said. “Together, you and I, we’ll change the world. We’ll make it a beautiful place. We’ll eradicate all that’s ugly and sick.”

  “You’re one twisted bastard, aren’t you?” Ian hissed between clenched teeth, looking down at Stenger’s shining face. One could clearly tell how much he loved Ian from the look in his eyes. Stenger looked over at me then, around Ian’s body.

  “It’s so sad that he doesn’t appreciate what he’s being given. All I want is for him to be happy, which is why I decided to keep you alive in the end. I realized he loves you, you see. Wouldn’t you like to be first lady, Gabi? That’s what you would become when I’m gone and Ian’s leading the world?” Stenger gazed up at Ian and said, “She’s smiling and nodding yes, son. She was always a smart girl. Look for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

  Ian turned around to look at me. It was only then that I realized how Stenger was playing us, and my cry of warning was meaningless.

  The needle was already deep in Ian’s thigh, the plunger pushed all the way in.

  Chapter 10

  In a matter of seconds, I had pulled my gun and was behind Stenger, who had removed the emptied syringe from Ian’s thigh and thrown it on the floor beside him. I held my gun to the man’s head at the same time as I removed the blanket from his legs in case he was hiding more needles there. But his lap was empty.

  “What did you do to him?” I demanded while pressing the mouth of my gun to the evil man’s temple, dreading the answer. Ian himself was grabbing the area on his thigh that had just been assaulted, stumbling backwards until his knees suddenly gave out and he crashed to the floor.

  I stared at Ian where he lay in a heap on the expensive-looking Persian rug that covered most of the hardwood floor. He appeared lifeless, his eyes closed.

  “What did you do to him,” I hissed in the old man’s ear, my eyes glued to Ian’s motionless body on the floor. Had the bastard killed him?

  “I did to him what I did to your captain,” Stenger replied calmly. “The two of you gave me no choice. He gave me no choice.” He tskd. “He’s such a pigheaded individual, only able to see one side of things. Now he’ll actually want to do what’s best for him and the world. When he comes to, he’ll be as pliable as a blind old lady. He’ll do exactly what I want him to do because he’ll want to do it. And there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”

  I released the breath I’d been holding from the moment I saw that Stenger had stabbed a syringe into Ian’s leg. So he was alive then at least…

  I tried to think as quickly as I could, figure out what to do next. It didn’t seem like Stenger had any idea that I had found a way to undo what they had done to Brady. I needed to use that to my advantage. Thankfully, Ian would need to undergo the second part of the transformation, take Zoc 2 pills, until he became like Brady, an empty shell they could fill with evil. I had to find a way to get Haldol into his system before that happened.

  “What do you think you’ll gain by holding that gun to my head, Gabi?” Stenger asked then, interrupting my thoughts. “I know you won’t kill me.”

  “How do you know that?” I said with scorn. “How do you know that I won’t kill both you and Ian, then kill myself? I don’t want to live in the kind of world you’re creating, with Ian being like you, so there’s little that’s preventing me from using the bullets in my gun.”

  I made sure I sounded crazed so that Stenger wouldn’t doubt that my threats were serious. “Of course, if the two of you are dead, there won’t be any coups… Plus, no one will know just how much I know. On second thought, maybe I won’t have to kill myself...” I let out a mad laugh. “Yes, what was I thinking? It’s enough if I only kill you two. Fortunately, I have a silencer on my gun—a really good one—so your guards won’t know that you’re dead until I’m long gone from your house.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  Ignoring him, I found my phone that I had stuck in my hoodie pocket and texted Brady’s cell, telling him to text me right away, that I needed help. Ian and I had spoken to the captain late last night, informing him of our plan so that he could assist us if we needed help was something to go wrong. Like it just had. During our conversation, I told Brady where Stenger’s mansion was located and that he should start thinking of who could come to help us. He told me that the man in his head had made another appearance finally, but that he instantly chased him away by having his wife inject him with a shot of Haldol.

  I realized it was best if Stenger didn’t get that I was communicating with someone on the outside, so I turned off the sound as soon as I sent my message. Brady’s response arrived only seconds later.

  Longoria? What’s going on? Are you okay?

  I had typed with my left hand which was awkward since I was right-handed. Before I replied I put the phone in my mouth and switched the gun so that it was in my left hand instead, then put it back against Stenger’s temple.

  I typed as quickly as I could: Have little time. Can’t talk. In Stenger’s house. Have him at gun point. He injected Ian with the virus. Need someone to come here with Haldol to cure Ian. Before I pressed Send, I included that the delivery p
erson must use the main entrance.

  Brady’s response arrived seconds later. My sister lives in Jersey and should be at home. I’ll call her now and have her come over with the Haldol. Her husband is an MD, so they can get it from a pharmacy. As soon as I have an answer, I’ll text back.

  Ian stirred on the floor then, moaning lightly. I glanced in his direction. He moved his head slowly back and forth, but he didn’t open his eyes.

  “I’m not sure what it is you’re trying to do, but I can assure you that you’re wasting your time,” Stenger said, his eyes on Ian as well.

  I pushed the gun harder into his head. “Did anyone tell you you could talk?”

  Stenger didn’t reply, just kept staring at Ian on the floor.

  I returned my attention to my phone, texting Brady the following: Get men to hide near the mansion to have on standby. Men you can trust. Use your contacts, avoid the FBI. The higher the office, the bigger the chance they’re involved in the conspiracy. Low-level cops better. If you don’t hear from me again, I may be dead, but you must proceed. You can still save Ian and the world. He needs the Haldol.

  “Gabi, you were always a fighter, weren’t you?” Stenger said in a friendly voice as I sent off the additional instructions to Brady.

  “Shut up,” I snapped at him, my stomach clenching as I wondered why he didn’t appear more nervous, insisting on taunting me instead. I tried to think what to do next. As far as we had been able to tell, only two men were at the front guarding the house, and they were under the impression that both Ian and I were here as friendly visitors. Family, in fact, when it came to Ian. One of them had even been told by Stenger himself that Ian would be his boss one day, being his son. There was surely more security on the premises, and more could likely show up on short notice. Were they able to see what was going on inside the study through security cameras? I scanned the high-ceilinged space for cameras, but couldn’t see any. Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t any there.

  I calmed myself with the fact that they probably couldn’t see us or they would be here by now, taking me out. So, then what was Stenger hiding up his sleeve that made him not even try to yell for help, instead made him so incredibly confident?

  I swallowed hard. I could only pray he was just faking it, hoping that I would screw up somehow.

  Ian’s moaning again interrupted my thoughts. It appeared he was about to wake up any moment now. I cleared my throat, focusing on the task at hand. I needed to get Stenger back behind the desk so that he could use the intercom to let Brady’s sister in with the Haldol. Hopefully, she’d be here shortly. It was hard to move the wheelchair with one hand, however, and I didn’t want to remove the gun from Stenger’s head in order to move it. I felt convinced he’d pull something on me if I did. Then it struck me that he himself could move the wheelchair. All I needed to do was tell him, so I did.

  Fortunately, he didn’t put up too much of a fight, but wheeled around the large desk until he ended up behind it, the intercom only inches away from his right side.

  “Now I want you to let the men at the main entrance know that you’re about to receive more visitors,” I told him. “Tell them you’re expecting a delivery and to get it to your study right away. Remember if you tell them anything besides what I just instructed you, I will blow your head off, and I can assure you that I’ll enjoy it very much.”

  I held my breath as Stenger reached for the button on the intercom, praying that the feel of my gun pressed against his head and my menacing tone would be enough for him to do exactly what I wanted. Only when he was done, having followed my instructions to a tee, did I allow myself to exhale again.

  Then he asked in a mocking, overly confident tone that I really didn’t like, “Anything else you’d like me to do?”

  What the hell did he have up his sleeve? It had to be something or he would be more frazzled.

  I could feel sweat form around my hairline, then coat the sides of my face. My heart hammered against my ribcage. Frantically, I kept chewing on my lower lip. I needed to figure out what he was up to before it was too late. Stenger seemed perfectly content to sit in his wheelchair and watch Ian as he lay there on the expensive rug, while I desperately searched my mind, debating what he must be hiding.

  We remained in silence for a couple of tense minutes when my phone moved in my pocket, telling me I had an incoming text. I immediately found it and read the text.

  My niece and her boyfriend are on their way to the mansion and will bring the Haldol. They’re much closer to Alpine than my sister. My brother-in-law called in a prescription to their pharmacy. They’re picking it up as we speak. Shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes before they get to you. Working on getting men to stand by on the outskirts of the premises. It’s gonna be okay, Gabi. I’ll soon join you. Mary’s booking me a ticket to New York.

  I quickly typed a message back: Thank you. Keep me updated.

  I put the phone back in my pocket and heard Ian moan louder and more frequently now. As I glanced at him over Stenger’s shoulder, I saw that he was blinking against the cloudy daylight that seeped in through the large window.

  “Ian,” I called to him. “Can you hear me?”

  He didn’t answer, just rubbed his eyes and tried to push himself up to a sitting position.

  “Ian!” I repeated. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

  He scrunched up his face as he took me in, his eyes fully open now. “Who are you?”

  I stared at him, instantly worried. “You really don’t recognize me? It’s me, Gabi!”

  He shook his head slowly at me, looking like he was in a complete daze. As I took him in, I reminded myself that I didn’t have to be so worried; his demeanor shouldn’t surprise me. The virus was supposed to make him all spaced out and zombie-like. Hopefully, when he got the Haldol in his bloodstream, he would be cured. And would remember who I was.

  Since there was nothing else I could do but wait for Brady’s niece and boyfriend to arrive with the Haldol, I decided that I might as well see what Ian did know. Stenger wasn’t going anywhere or doing anything.

  “Do you know what your name is?” I asked Ian.

  “I’m not sure…” He rubbed his forehead while supporting himself with his other hand. “My head hurts.”

  I couldn’t remember Brady saying that his head ever hurt except when we had given him the Haldol, curing him, so why was Ian complaining about headaches now? Did the Zoc virus make subjects’ heads hurt? I shot Stenger a look; he was watching Ian with interest. “Why is his head hurting? What did you give him?”

  “I told you. I gave him what was given to your captain. Only the version Ian got is more advanced. Safer. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. You’ll soon see how he’ll transform. I would never give any of my kids something that would hurt them. I love my kids.”

  “Transform?” I removed my eyes from Ian and glared down at Stenger. “What exactly are you talking about?”

  “He’ll realize who he is and what he needs to do.”

  My stomach hurt as I sensed what was about to come—Stenger’s trump card. “What does he need to do?” My question came out garbled, barely audible as I dreaded the reply.

  Stenger smiled and said in a dreamy voice, “He’ll do anything I want him to do—help me rule my brave, new world. See now why I told you you were wasting your time? It’s over, Gabi.”

  He’s just making it up so that you’ll trip yourself up, Gabi, I told myself in my head.

  “You’re just trying to screw with my head,” I hissed at Stenger. “It’s too bad I already know that he’ll need to consume the pill version of Zoc 2 for that to happen. One of your doctors told me about it right before he died, and that was how we undid what you’d done to Captain Brady. It worked marvelously, and it’s only a matter of minutes before I’ll get the medication I need to undo what you’ve done to Ian.”

  “That method won’t work with Ian. I told you, it’s a different, more advanced version of the virus.”
He smiled wider. “Zoc 3. The mind control is instant with this version. What we did to Brady was only part of an experiment to finalize Zoc 3. I don’t care about him, whether he remains UT or not. We no longer need him. I only care about Ian. Shortly, he’ll start to hear messages sent out from headquarters that’ll tell him who he is and what he should be doing. Pre-recorded messages. Anyone who gets Zoc 3 in their system will receive these messages. See a man that will give them all the necessary direction. I really wish that I didn’t have to do this to my own son, but he gave me no choice. He’s so incredibly bullheaded!”

  Stenger shook his head and tskd.

  I scoffed at his smirking face. “You’re bluffing. The Haldol will fix him just like it fixed Brady.”

  “Go ahead, try it on him. I’m telling you, it won’t make a difference.”

  “Dad?”

  I swiveled around and saw that Ian was sitting up fully now, looking at me and Stenger.

  “See, he’s already able to pick up the messages sent to him that’s identifying me,” Stenger whispered to me. “Very soon he’ll know that you’re the enemy and then he’ll kill you. Remove the gun from my head and surrender. It’s your only chance of survival. He won’t let you threaten me.”

  “Dad, who is that woman you’re speaking to and why’s she holding a gun to your head?”

  The buzzer on Stenger’s intercom sounded then, and a male voice announced that a man and a woman had arrived with a delivery for Stenger.

  “Tell him to bring them to the study,” I hissed at Stenger, pushing the gun harder into his temple. “Or I swear I’ll shoot you. If you’re so sure the Haldol won’t help him, you won’t have a problem letting my friends come here with it.”

  “I’m happy to oblige you, as it’s most definitely already too late,” Stenger said and pressed the intercom button, telling the man to send the visitors to his study.