Chapter 41
Part 2 - added 04/09/2023
Part 1 - added 04/06/2023
The sky has already darkened. The time to meet has already passed. It would be impossible to get to the destination on time because the destination has changed and because driving around was necessary to make sure no one is following even though there were no agents waiting at the New Jersey airport just like Petrie predicted. No one else knows her boss better than her so maybe she is right. Maybe her boss doesn't have enough agents that he can trust. More agents would mean more people would know. Agent Drew did say no one else in Petrie's team knows and that he too was caught off guard by the change in the plan. Maybe he is running out of time and out of resources. There is a pandemic. Not enough agents was the reason Dean's guys were all able to escape. Change in the administration is happening so it is very possible that he doesn't have the resources or authorization and didn't want to alert the airport security. That all makes sense but most likely, what changed his mind is realizing the consequences if the whole world knows about the government's secret experiment. Agent Drew did and wished he didn't know about it.
Petrie's idea seems to be working. No one is following. But it's not a good idea to let Aria tag along!
"How much longer? I need to pee!"
Lucy exhaled loudly in frustration unintentionally and spontaneously response since it's not the first time Aria asked.
"Almost there, okay?" There's no need to be rude since she doesn't deserve it even though she has made this ride more difficult than expected. But she needs to know this. "I need you to behave. If you can't, you can get off right here." It's dark. It's freezing out. It's in the middle of road surrounded by a lot of trees. It would be cruel but Amy is already very upset. She would be even more pissed when she sees her.
"Fine. Just hurry up!"
Having Aria here wasn't the plan since there's no need for her to be here but it's the only way to keep her mouth shut. Who knows if she would actually make a scene at the airport and other places? Leaving her with Jake wasn't an option. Jake would not be able to handle her even if she agrees. Jake would want to knock her out just to shut her up. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves to be commended for noticing because this could be a lot worse if she had not noticed. She deserves to be awarded. Would she be satisfied with just 5 mil?
"We're here" Lucy said before taking a turn into the long driveway, then later realized Aria isn't the only one who needs a bathroom break since Petrie and Doc all got out of the vehicle even before she turned the engine off. Looks like Adalyn does too since she's moving in a hurry. Letting her ride in Jake's car is the right decision because as quiet as she was on the plane, she would not have been able to stand Aria anymore if they were both in the same car for hours. Questions for her will have to wait. Instructions for Jake can too. This can't.
Lucy quickly went inside, expecting to see Amy until she saw how big and empty the foyer is. This is a big house but she did expect Amy to be waiting for her here not outside since it's cold out. Where's Zasha? Where are the guys? Who is this clumsy woman who just dropped a tray of stuff while walking down the stairs? Why aren't there anyone outside? "Go take a look around as soon as you can." Jake probably needs a bathroom break too.
"Don't"
Lucy didn't need to turn around to know who that command belongs to. Ohh babe. There's Amy, looking drained, sad and very different from the last time. Lucy quickly moves in for a hug since Amy looks like she needs one. Amy didn't resist but just because she hugged back, it doesn't mean all is forgiven. A kiss would mean all is forgiven. 'You're late' means nothing has changed. That same feeling from that day when Amy said she's not sure she can continue living together instantly came back, so close yet feels so distant. "Sorry" The apology is for not believing her about Max, not just for being late which doesn't make sense after she heard Amy's apology. That's what happens when the brain is exhausted and Amy was speaking softly with the mask on. She didn't say You're late. She said You're too late. There's only one reason why she would say that. Who got hurt? "Zasha?" No? Being held by the hand, Lucy followed without asking any more questions since her heart is pounding and her mind is thinking if it's Danika but why would Danika be here and not in the hospital if she's injured. It didn't take long to get down to the furnished basement in this big house and it's good to see that there is a guy but what is he doing? Shouldn't he be looking at the security cameras or outside? Why is he standing here outside the door? His big size along with his big bald head make him look tough but the way he's trying to hide his tears showed the opposite. What…is this? A room in the furnished basement is usually a bedroom or entertainment room. This has a setup of a hospital room. Who's she?
"Hope, get up. I said get up!"
Hope? I don't know any Hope. Lucy continued to follow closer to the body but still can't understand why because whoever he is doesn't look like a Hope either.
"Help her, pleeease"
Whoever this young lady is must be in shock and in denial. Anyone can see that the soul of this body has already left. "I'm sorry" Lucy said, immediately regretting it after getting a stare of hatred along with 3 strong words(She's not dead!) which instantly brought back memories. If Scud were here, he too would have taken a few steps back since that's what he did years ago when she snapped at him for saying Amy is gone. The difference is she had a lot to drink. This young lady is not drunk and...not familiar at all. She can't be my ex. Who? Lucy asked by moving her lips instead of speaking but couldn't understand the one word response given. If Jake were here, he would've immediately understood Amy's lip movement. It took a whisper into the ear to understand. There was no explanation because Amy doesn't know how this happened and can't be sure because this lifeless body was only able to say a few words before it gave up.
Lucy quickly returned to the same spot, then took a closer look at the body, touching the head and face but still can't tell since the beard is glued on. Taking it off might help but that's not what she's thinking of.
"Get Doc, get Dr. Hazel. GO!" Lucy said to Amy even though she's not sure what the young Doc can do. There's no heartbeat, not one that is audible to the ear. There's no breathing, none that the finger tips could sense. There are no signs of life but that's what happened the last time. "Will…Will. It's me. David. I'm here. Will! It's David!"
Part 2 - 04/09/2023
Amy ran up the stairs, 2 steps at a time as quickly as she can while trying to hold in her tears but couldn't after hearing another scream from Lucy calling for Will. How is this possible? She's not sure but knows that Lucy right now must be blaming herself just like Blake did and still is. Why is she sitting on the stairs?
"Where's Dr. Hazel?" Amy asked, then realized she should've asked for Petrie after getting a question(Who?) since Blake doesn't know who Dr. Hazel is. "Go find Petrie, tell her to get Dr. Hazel down there…Hurry!" Giving her something to do would take her mind off from blaming herself for ZJ's injury. It's not her fault. She wasn't the target. If anyone is to blame, it's…"Put him down!" Amy said to the big bald guy whom she doesn't know much about other than his name is Rocko and he's a friend of Hope's. "Stand back!" He's lucky to let go of Lucy so quickly otherwise he would know what a kick to his knee would feel like. Lucy could've easily gotten herself out of his grasp but apparently, her leg is injured; she couldn't even land on her feet and is now groaning in pain. The young lady Brie over there is still hovering and crying over Hope's body. Rocko is clearly upset but there's no reason to think that he's here to hurt Lucy so why was he grabbing hold of her from behind? "What happened?"
"He was touching her!"
Whaat? Like everyone else, Lucy hates being accused especially of this and when that happens, the only way she knows how to defend herself is by yelling back and swearing but not this time surprisingly probably because she's exhausted and in pain. Brie is the type that she would find attractive but why would she touch Brie and at a time like this. That doesn't make sense.
"You just can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?"
It doesn't make sense for Aria to be here either! Adalyn is here too? Blake is and now she must be thinking that my hubby is a creepy pervert. The look on her face shows. Dr. Hazel is looking the same way.