Page 39 of Healing Creek (Arena Dogs #3)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Feeona had been right about the guards. When they saw that the two women were surrendering, they were brusque and politely efficient.

They led them into the lab and through a set of double doors that led down to a basement.

The moment they reached the steps, the growls and snarls started.

Grace spotted three secured rooms along the far wall.

Each door had a sophisticated looking lock and two narrow horizontal slots, one at waist height and one at eye level.

The top slots were open and she could see angry Dog eyes through two of them.

The third was absent any sign of life. No angry eyes.

No growls. That was the one the guards led them to.

One opened the door and waved them through.

The inside of the room was spartan. Plain white walls, a narrow cot, and a badly battered Jennifer.

As they entered, Jenny scooted up on the bed, putting her back against the wall and folding her legs under her.

Grace lurched across the room, a ball of horror in her gut.

She knelt on the bed in front of her brilliant, always put together sister and gently pushed a tangle of blonde hair off her bruised face.

One eye was swollen and her lip had been busted.

“Oh Jenny, what have they done to you?”

Her sister clutched at her shoulders. “Thank God you’re alive.”

Jennifer pulled her into a hug as the door shut resoundingly and the lock engaged. Grace let her sister cling to her as long as she wanted. The embrace was out of character, but understandable after what she must have been through.

As Grace eased out of her arms, she looked her over for other injuries. “Do you have any serious injuries I can’t see?”

Jennifer shook her head then lifted her gaze to a point over Grace’s shoulder. “Mostly bruises.”

“Oh. Jenny, this is Feeona.” Grace turned and indicated the other woman. “She’s a friend.”

Jenny dipped her chin in greeting. “Thank you for trying to help us. I’m sorry you’re stuck here with us now. You came with the Arena Dogs?”

Feeona acknowledged her with a nod. “Do you know what happened? There were a lot more guards here than we were expecting.” Feeona looked to Jennifer for an explanation.

“A large group of guards arrived a few days ago. Mondo, their leader, is ruthless.

Grace wondered if he was the one who beat her sister.

“The intel we received must have been planted by Roma.” Feeona didn’t mention the resistance directly. She probably wasn’t sure if they could trust Jenny. Didn’t the bruises prove she was on their side? Or was she just worried about the guards outside hearing them.

“If you mean Roma lured you here, you could be right. They were definitely expecting Arena Dogs. They replaced the doors on these rooms and added those sophisticated locks. The guards also started carrying non-lethal weapons. They’ve been keeping me down here at night since Mondo arrived.

” Jennifer hugged herself, rubbing her arms as if to warm them.

Only it wasn’t cold. “I woke up when they were dragging the Arena Dogs into the rooms beside me. Most of them looked unconscious, but they didn’t stay out long. ”

“The latest in dart guns, no doubt,” suggested Feeona. “Fast acting. But nothing keeps the guys down for long.”

“Yes,” said Jennifer. “I know.”

“We have a lot to talk about, but first I need to check in with my mate.” She sat on the end of the bed and tilted her head as if listening.

Jenny frowned. “What—”

Grace held up a hand to stop her sister’s question and whispered. “She does this sometimes. Just wait.”

After a moment, Feeona whispered, but it didn’t seem to be directed at anyone in the room. “We’re both fine. The sister is here with us…We’re still working on the plan…I promise.” Feeona’s eyes popped open and she turned to face them. She met Grace’s gaze. “Creek’s fine. Scratches and bruises.”

She sighed in relief. “What about the others?”

“Our pack is the same. Except Carn. A concussion they think. The bigger they are, as the saying goes. Two other dogs were shot with plasma riffles and have some burn injuries. Sen says it’s nothing life threatening.”

“That’s good.” But her sister wasn’t looking good at all. Grace wanted to tell her sister that their family was coming but knew she couldn’t do that. She reached out and gently touched her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Jenny.”

Jennifer closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. “Nothing for you to be sorry for, Grace. I just wished I’d found something to help you. It’s all been such a waste.”

Feeona stood up and looked out the narrow opening in the door then turned back to face them. She gave Grace a look that said they needed to move on to a more constructive discussion.

Grace took her sister’s hand. “Can you tell us how many guards there are and what their routine is?”

“There were ten guards and Mondo brought ten more, so twenty-one. There are usually two guards in the lab with me and Dr. Smith during the day and two more in the hallway outside the lab. They escort me back here as soon as we’re done working for the day.

” She hugged herself in the self-soothing gesture again. “I’m sorry I don’t know more.”

Grace looked up at Feeona for help. She wasn’t sure what else to ask.

“Where are the computers and terminals in this building?”

“The server and primary coms unit is in Dr. Smith’s office. Just terminals in the lab and they require passcodes for different levels of access.”

Feeona shrugged. “Not a problem. For passcodes it’s just a matter of time. Have they set up any sort of security station or room?”

“Not that I’ve seen.” Jennifer shook her head. “But I haven’t been to the dormitories since Mondo arrived.”

Feeona’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment as she listened.

“Nothing in the barracks. That’s good. They’re still expecting our guys to be low tech all the way.

” She shook her head and smiled. “It’s a little insulting, really.

They know Samantha and I are helping. What time will they come for you in the morning? ”

“I expect Dr. Smith will want Grace and me in the lab soon after sunrise. She’s been anxious to test your blood.”

Grace said, “How much does Smith know?”

“Not much. They had someone hack my lab computer when they kidnapped me.” She managed a close-lipped smile. “It took them a while. But they only found a reference to the comparative DNA analysis I was working on. Not the actual results. I’ve always been very careful with your medical records.”

“Do they know about the medi-bots?”

Jennifer flashed a look at Feeona then back to Grace as she shook her head. “Not yet.”

But they would soon enough.

Grace stood and looked through the narrow hole in the door.

She could see the guards in the hallway.

She wanted to speak to Creek and hear his voice so badly.

She knew he was in one of the rooms nearby.

But she wouldn’t give the guards anything to use against him by letting them know he cared for her.

She could whisper and he would probably still hear her, but she wouldn’t tempt him to answer.

She knew what he would tell her if he could.

Be brave, believe in her own strength, and use the element of surprise.

As she stood there drifting in thought, her vision started to dim around the edges.

Damn. It was a terrible time for the effects of the reduction in medi-bots to start to catch up with her.

Hopefully the nutrition packs she’d been taking would help them rebuild in her bloodstream before the symptoms got too bad.

Grace turned her attention back to the room and the moment in front of her. Feeona was back, sitting on the foot of the bed with her eyes closed. Listening to Seneca? Or guiding her drone? Roma was wrong to underestimate the alliances the escaped Arena Dogs had made.

Carefully, concentrating on her footing and vision, Grace sat back down on the bed beside Jennifer and wrapped an arm around her battered sister. “If we have a few hours, let’s use it to finish making our plan.”

***

Just after sunrise four guards came into the basement to escort Grace and Jennifer to the lab. Luckily her vision was clear, but weakness made her limbs heavy as she stood and walked.

When they told Feeona she was staying locked up, Feeona responded with a laugh. “Oh goody, a bed all to myself.”

There was an answering snort from one of the other rooms.

When Grace stepped out of the room, she looked at the small opening in the other doors.

Creek’s brown eyes looked back at her. That look gave her strength.

He was alive and well. She turned to the guard nearest to her and indicated the Arena Dogs with a jerk of her head. “What are you going to do with them?”

“After the doc gets a fresh round of blood and tissue samples, they’re going back to Roma for the breeding program.”

Her stomach clenched. She was not letting that happen. No way. Creek was hers. But she said nothing. Just walked up the stairs and left her love locked behind that door. She would make sure he didn’t stay there for long.

The guards led them to the lab where a gray-haired woman in a lab coat waited. She looked more like a grandmother than an evil scientist, but the guards had beaten her sister on this woman’s order.

“Good morning. I hope you were able to get some rest. We have a busy day ahead.” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

Jennifer crossed her arms and faced off with the scientist. “Bianca, you have to accept that this research isn’t going anywhere.”

“I doubt you’d be willing to give up so easily if you were working on your own.” Smith’s tone remained calm and even cheerful. “Now, Grace, let’s start with you.” She patted a stool to indicate Grace should sit.