Chapter 26
Mark could tell immediately that even though both Oscar and Rudy had their doubts about what they were doing, they stood behind Michael and his treatment - not just because it was their only option, but because it worked. Oscar's teams had simply been too efficient in rounding up the listed people so quickly...and they were about to have a near-riot on their hands. He didn't stop to consider that the agency keeping him locked up because of his treatment methods was now desperately asking for his help. He didn't even take a minute to try and negotiate his freedom.
''Let's get this done!'' he announced firmly.
Steve sat and watched as Jaime jollied Becca out of her stormy mood and he had to smile...if only for a moment. He was finding it harder and harder to 'stay put' and not rush down to headquarters to help sort things out. Russ had requested he remain home and available before leaving with Jess. Steve had then managed to get Rudy on the phone but only briefly, getting the quickest, bare-bones rundown of the situation but being assured he should stay with his family. Then another phone call 'just to make sure he wasn't needed' had left him restless...and worried. He hadn't been able to speak with Oscar that time either (or even with Russ or Rudy) and tension on the part of the person who'd been charged with speaking to him was so thick that Steve could practically taste it.
To try and occupy his mind, he began piecing together what he knew: Michael's discovery, the one that had apparently helped Jaime so dramatically, was being used right now on who-knew-how-many people...because of something Hansen had told them, under Anna's direction! Rudy had told him that Michael himself appeared to have been 'affected' all along but was somehow able to fight it off. That fact, added to Jess having been spirited away and the requests that he stay with Jaime and Becca, told Steve they'd had a very close call, indeed.
Since he'd personally been assigned to help investigate the plane crash, Steve's mind was immersed in those details - and tossed them into the swirling mess of his confusion. If Michael was truly free of Anna's influence and - he was guessing - Jess had been somehow 'affected' (although Steve was still trying to figure out what 'affected' meant), the realization socked Steve in the gut. It was painfully obvious who had (unknowingly) carried the device on board their doomed airplane...
Mark moved calmly and efficiently from room to room, delivering a lot of platitudes but managing to quiet almost everyone's fear and anger. Michael, Rudy and Oscar followed quickly behind him, taking care of what needed to be done - and gradually the noise, stress and confusion was diminished and couriers moved through the hallways delivering coffee and sandwiches.
Then Mark reached a room that had an extra set of Security guards outside...and an anguished wail coming from within. ''I haven't done anything; I'm supposed to be on duty! I could be fired! Please...why can't I leave?''
Mark slipped inside and quickly pulled up a chair next to the panicked nurse. While he had seen the actual list, Mark had only had time to scan it briefly. Her name hadn't jumped out at him any more than the others he knew equally as well (and had work alongside of). To see her sitting there was suddenly no surprise. Who better to (albeit unknowingly) funnel information about the Austins to Hansen - and thus, to Anna - than someone directly IN the Austin's household?
Mark patted her hand and spoke softly to her. ''Steve knows you're here, Jess; you won't be fired.'' (Hurry up. Michael, he thought to himself. Hit this room next.)
Her cries died down to a tortured whisper at the familiar, friendly face with the first kind words she'd heard since leaving the Austins'. ''What's going on here?'' she pleaded. ''Russ just said he needed to talk to me...but then we barely talked at all, the whole way here. I just...I don't understand...'' Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, then as Mark watched, the nurse's entire countenance changed from frightened...to murderous. She shook off his hand and stood up so forcefully that the chair fell back from behind her. ''Get away from me!'' she shrieked. ''They can't make me stay here - and neither can you! I have to get back; Becca needs me!''
Mark tried - and failed - to 'bear hug' her into a chair. The two men who'd been forced to wait in the same room looked too shocked to move. With a wrenching motion, Jess broke free and tugged at the door with all of her strength. It didn't budge until Michael and the others, having heard the struggle, finally arrived. When the guard unlocked the door for him, Michael stood with his device at the ready, discharging it immediately. The afflicted, 'affected' young woman froze in place, her voice dropping off mid-word. Her head lolled forward and her body fell quivering to the floor.
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