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Cross That Line

Page 63

by Barbara Freethy

"They said I was going to die if they didn't treat me. That's why they got me out of the hospital. They told me I was having a bad reaction or something. I don't know. They kept talking to me, and none of it made sense. I told them I wanted to leave. I had to go home. They told me my home was gone. There was a fire. Everything had burned down. There was nowhere for me to go. When I was well, they'd help me get back on my feet. But every time I woke up, they put a needle in my arm."

They must have been talking about the bomb they'd put in Jack's apartment, Rachel thought. They'd wanted him to feel even more isolated and adrift, to believe there was no place for him to go.

"Head hurts," Jack mumbled.

"I know," Tyler said. "Just a few more questions. Who was there? Who was treating you? Do you remember their names?"

"They were wearing masks and lab coats." Jack squinted as he tried to bring his memories back. "I think Dr. Levitan was there, and there was also a woman. They got into an argument. I'm not sure what it was about, but I kept hearing the word time."

"Was the woman Dr. Prescott?" Tyler asked.

"No. She was taller. She had dark hair."

"How did you get away, Jack? What happened today?" Tyler pressed.

"They took a break." He paused, thinking for a moment. "That's right. Dr. Levitan told her I needed a break or I was going to break, something like that…The next time I woke up, I didn't feel as groggy when I opened my eyes. I could think again. There was a nurse talking on the phone. She had her back to me. She said I was asleep, and she would stay until they got back." He took a ragged breath. "I remember thinking that this was my chance. It was just her and me, and I wasn't tied down anymore. I got up, and for a minute, the whole room spun around in front of me. I wasn't sure I could keep going."

Rachel sucked in a breath as Jack seemed to lose track of the story.

"I'm so tired," Jack said.

"Focus," Tyler told him. "We're almost done. It's you and the nurse. You're alone. You're on your feet. What did you do next?"

Jack stared back at Tyler. "There was a needle on the table next to the bed. It was full. It was waiting for me. I grabbed it, and I stabbed her in the neck. She fell to the ground, staring at me in shock, but she couldn't fight back, she couldn't move. There were keys sticking out of her pocket. I took them and ran to the door. I unlocked it and I was in the warehouse. I heard people talking, so I ran the other way, and there was a door. I went through it, and the sun hit me in the face. It was so bright. It had felt like forever since I'd breathed fresh air. I started to walk, then tried to run. I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get as far away as I could." He paused. "I called you."

"Yes, from a laundromat in Long Island City. I came and got you."

"Wasn't sure you would."

"Unfortunately, you had a tracker on you, and they followed you there."

"They tried to shoot me. I guess they were tired of talking to me."

"What were they talking to you about? You said they had a lot of questions."

"It was all about the past. They said it would help my PTSD if I let it out. But it didn't. Once I got into the intensive treatment program, everything went bad. That's why I tried to get to you before, but I didn't make it."

"What were the questions about?" Tyler asked again, trying to keep Jack focused.

"Missions, bombs, terror cells, battles, and names. So many names. They wanted to know who we worked with in different countries." He licked his lips, his gaze turning guilty. "I knew I shouldn't tell them, but they kept giving me stuff that made the words come out." Jack suddenly straightened. "Mei. They kept asking me about Mei Zheng."

"What about her?"

"If she was alive. What her name was now. Where she went. Where she lives."

Tyler swore under his breath, and Rachel was startled by his reaction. Clearly, the name meant something to him, even if it meant nothing to her. "Who's Mei Zheng?" she asked, drawing his gaze to hers.

"A CIA asset who was spying for us. She was caught and tortured. We rescued her just in time."

"Where is she now?"

"I don't know. And I don't believe Jack does, either." He turned back to Jack. "What did you tell them about her?"

"I think I said she was alive and in the US. I shouldn't have."

"You were drugged. You had no choice," he said. "We're going to keep talking, Jack, but that's enough for now. I need to talk to my team. I need to get people who might know where Mei is to check on her safety." He got to his feet. "I want you to stay here and don't move. Do you understand? You can trust me. I will help you. No one here is going to hurt you. I swear that on my life."

Jack slowly nodded.