Free Retribution (SSU Trilogy Book 3) (The Surgical Strike Unit) by Vanessa Kier Page B

She’d analyzed the samples of Agent Styx, then searched for those unique markers in the blood samples of her patients. When she did find veterans with traces of Agent Styx in their blood, she’d gone out of her way to pamper them. Done her best to ease their symptoms, even while she searched desperately for a way to lessen the rages and other symptoms.
    With Nate Ngoro and the other men possibly the latest victims of the deadly chemical, could she really say no to Ryker’s job offer? Gabby carried the damp towel into the bathroom and hung it up to dry. To be honest, she couldn’t turn down Ryker’s offer. She owed it to the victims of Agent Styx and of Kaufmann’s program to help in any way possible.
    Once she regained access to her notes, she expected to be able to continue isolating Agent Styx and working toward a counteragent. She’d also work on reversing the effects caused by Kaufmann’s unique combination of drugs. With live samples from Nate and the others, maybe she’d even find a way to stop the physical deterioration before Rafe’s friend also succumbed to death.
    Then maybe you can get a real life. Gabby shook her head as the voice of her late aunt whispered in her head. It was an argument she’d had too often with the woman who’d raised her after her parents had died in a suspicious car crash when Gabby was twelve. Aunt Leticia felt the past was better left as dead as her sister and brother-in-law.
    But Gabby couldn’t forget the look on her father’s face the night he’d died. The police had ruled the crash an accident. Claimed her father must have experienced one of his rages and lost control of the car.
    Gabby never believed it. Her father hadn’t had one of his fits for months before the accident. He’d been perfectly safe to drive. Otherwise, her mother never would have climbed into the car with him.
    To this day, Gabby believed her parents had been murdered by the men he’d been investigating. Her parents had argued the night of the accident. Her father wanted both Gabby and her mother to stay at her aunt’s house for a while. He’d insisted it was the only way to keep them both safe. Her mother agreed to send Gabby away, but refused to leave her husband. He’d been furious, but her mother had held firm.
    From the way her dad had kissed her forehead before telling her to be a good girl and always listen to her aunt, Gabby had been scared she’d never see him again. She’d cried and begged him not to leave. She’d been mad at him for leaving her with Aunt Leticia instead of staying with her. She’d been equally mad at her mom for going with him when she suspected a threat.
    When the police officer showed up early the next morning with news of the accident, Gabby had told the officer that her dad had known something bad was going to happen. But the police claimed there was nothing suspicious about the accident, and the matter had been dropped. In her heart, though, Gabby had always believed someone killed her parents.
    With any luck, by accepting Ryker’s job offer she’d achieve both her goals. Restore the victims of Agent Styx and the men in Kaufmann’s program to normalcy, and find the one responsible for her parents’ deaths.
     
    Kaufmann’s Compound
    Adirondack Mountains
    “H ow many subjects did we lose?” Dr. Leonard Kaufmann glared at Rufus Cygan, his head of security.
    “Five dead, sir. Eight missing. Three more with injuries that will take them out of the current round of testing.” Cygan paused, then continued resolutely. “Half of sector seven suffered extensive damage from the explosion and will require significant repair before the staff can move back in. One doctor, two staff, and three guards are dead.” He cleared his throat. “And Dr. Montague is missing.”
    Kaufmann stilled. “How is that possible?” Of all the staff, Dr. Montague had proved the most valuable, despite her reluctance to aid him.
    “We believe Dr. Montague planned tonight’s attack