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“NuQuesCor should serve well enough,” Pierce said after Marcus hung up with Kristi. He glanced at Dr. Nikas. “Are you all right with that?”
“No, not personally,” he said, expression placid. “However, from the larger perspective it is a win-win. She won’t work in the Tribe lab, and I do not want her there. The NuQuesCor facility has most of the equipment and supplies we need. The rest can be transported.” He let out a soft sigh. “I will curb my fear.”
Pierce regarded him for a long moment. “Ari . . .”
Dr. Nikas held up a hand. “Dr. Charish—understandably—left no other option, and short of remaining at my lab, there is no better alternative for me. NuQuesCor is a smart choice for a neutral research base. I can do this.”
Pierce dipped his head in acknowledgement. “As Pietro’s heir, Marcus has an ownership share in the facility, which means we have full access. Moreover, we can easily manufacture a reason to clear out personnel and have privacy.”
Marcus crossed his arms. “We should send some people over now to make sure there are no nasty surprises lurking. Just in case.”
Pierce looked briefly surprised at Marcus’s input then nodded in approval. “Good call. We’ll get moving on that and make security arrangements for the facility.”
Everyone departed except for Dr. Nikas who had a thoughtful look on his face.
I put a hand on his arm. “Are you going to be okay?”
He covered my hand with his. “There will be only a few people there. My irrational fears shouldn’t hinder the work.”
“That’s not what I mean.” I met his warm brown eyes. “A year ago, Kristi tried to kill Philip in the cruelest way she could manage, by brain-starving him. When you found out, you said you’d made a huge mistake trusting her and that you would never do so again. I don’t deny that we have to accept her offer. And I know you’ll be on your toes. But you never . . .” I groped for the right words. “You never stopped admiring her
abilities as a scientist. And that’s okay,” I hurried to add. “I mean, even I have no trouble admitting she’s brilliant. I just worry about you.”
Dr. Nikas exhaled a long breath and folded to sit again. “I do admire Kristi—her knowledge, her skills, and the facile ease with which she draws conclusions and discovers new paths to explore. I have seen her at her very best, and for so long I could not help but feel as if there was still a chance to reach what might be left of her soul, bring her to care for how her accomplishments could aid others rather than how she would benefit, whether from power or money.” He passed a hand over his face. “I despised having her imprisoned here, coerced to work toward our ends. I know she is a murderess and kidnapper and worse, yet it never ceased to feel vile to use her. It was not justice. It was convenience. And after that incident with Philip, when I lost my temper and commanded she be starved as she starved him . . .” Self-loathing crawled over his face. “I returned to my rooms and wept. The next morning, I rescinded the punishment.” He looked at me with heart-breaking sorrow. “How can one blame a slave for striking out against her masters?”
“Do you think she can still be . . . saved?”
He shook his head. “I am neither foolish nor blind. She was a self-serving narcissist long before she encountered our people. But we destroyed what little hope there was for her to rein in her antisocial proclivities. I grieve for the woman—the person—Kristi might have been, but I have accepted that she is who she is. I will take full advantage of what she offers, and I will not waste efforts or energy attempting to redeem the irredeemable. And I will never trust her.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t imagine how agonizing it must be to give up on someone.” I surrendered to the urge and hugged him. There were certainly people who’d had given up on me, back when I was in full-blown Loser Mode.
“Thank you, Angel,” Dr. Nikas said softly. “Putting voice to my angst has loosed its stranglehold upon me. I am grateful for your insight and empathy.”
“I learned from the best.”
Chapter 19
I headed home, sick and unsettled about Kristi being back in our lives, despite my reassuring words to Dr. Nikas and despite our desperate need of her expertise.
But what if it wasn’t enough? What if animals other than alligators could get infected? What if mosquitoes really were transmitting the “zombie encephalitis” and this mess turned into an outright pandemic?
A shiver crawled down my back.
My dad. I needed to get him someplace safe. Out of town, preferably, until this all blew over and the danger was past.
If it ever blew over.
And what about the other people who mattered to me? The Tribe zombies were safe and immune, but not the cops I’d become friends with. Or my classmates. Or co-workers at the Coroner’s Office. Allen and Nick knew what to watch out for, and the other death investigators and morgue techs knew the basic procedures around bio hazards. But Reb, the secretary, might not. She was so kind-hearted that if someone shambled up to her, she’d give them a hug and buy them a hot meal. And get infected in return.
Yet I couldn’t warn everyone without coming off as batshit crazy.
So warn the ones you can.
I plugged my earbuds into my phone then dialed Randy’s number. The last time I’d seen him was after I kicked him and Coy Bates out of my car, told them to walk to the gas station, call the cops, and tell them everything they knew about the murder of movie producer Grayson Seeger. Not long after that, my arms and legs had decided to fall off, and Randy had been the last thing on my mind. Until now.
“Angel?” Surprise filled his voice.
