Free New Species 11 True by Laurann Dohner Page B

information
were you trying to get from us? What was the angle?”
    “There was none. I just wanted you to have hope and not give
up in that hell. I wanted that for all of you. I was fighting for you whether
you knew it or not.”
    “Are there backup files of the ones you destroyed?”
    “I don’t know.” She slumped in her seat, disheartened by his
lack of confidence in her word. “That was way above my paygrade. I only fried
the computer to keep the New Species alive until the SWAT team arrived.” She
peered into his beautiful eyes. “I’m telling you the truth. I was working with
Agent Terry Brice. You need to call him and clear this up. I was working with
the NSO this entire time.”
    The team member still holding her wrists snorted. “Lady,
stop now while you’re ahead. You’re digging a bigger hole to get buried in.”
    She didn’t bother to glance at him, instead keeping her
focus on 710. He rose to his feet and backed away. “Take over, Jordan. I don’t
want to lose my temper and I’m about to.”
    Jeanie wanted to wake from the nightmare but it wasn’t a bad
dream. 710 thought the worst of her and it didn’t matter that it would be
cleared up in time. Agent Brice would hear about her arrest and show up to set
things right. It still hurt. The task force team member crouched down in front
of her again.
    “Help us link Mercile Industries to Cornas Research or you’ll
be sent to Fuller. The jerks who run it will make you wish you’d cooperated
with us. They aren’t much nicer to prisoners there than your coworkers treated
New Species. You’ll be locked inside a six-by-five cell with bars for walls.
You’ll never see daylight again or know a moment of privacy. They don’t even
have windows there.”
    Hot tears threatened but she refused to cry. “What is
Fuller?”
    “It’s a prison for criminals who commit crimes against New
Species. It will make regular prison seem like a vacation in the Bahamas. You’ll
never get out of there until you’re in a body bag on the way to the funeral
home of your family’s choice. No court dates, no parole, and no visits from
anyone.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his cold eyes. “No phone calls. No
contact with the outside world. No television, radio, or internet. You’ll spend
the rest of your damn life suffering as New Species suffered. Play ball with me
by giving up all the information I want or you’re on the next transport there.”
    “Call Agent Terry Brice. Please? He’ll tell you who I am and
this will be cleared up. His number is—”
    He cupped her side again, his thumb pressing against her
wound enough to make her cry out. “There is no damn Agent Brice. Stop fucking
with me.”
    “Enough,” 710 snarled.
    “Stop, Jordan,” Trey Roberts commanded.
    “There is,” she blurted, leaning closer to Jordan, angry and
in pain. “He’s visited me many times and I’m tired of this bullshit. Find him.
Just call his cell. I know the number by heart. I was too afraid to write it
down in case my apartment was searched again.”
    “Again?”
    “They do that to employees. They search our homes, our cars
and even check our phone records to see who we contact. I’m pretty sure they
even bug our homes and phone lines so they can hear every word we say. I found
a few in my apartment once, at least I think they were bugs. I didn’t dare
touch them. I was always very careful or I’d never have survived this long.
They would have killed me if they even suspected I worked with the NSO.”
    Trey Roberts stepped into the light. “She looks so sincere
and outraged.” He turned his head, stared at 710. “She’s either telling the
truth or she’s the best liar I’ve ever seen. I’ve met CIA operatives with less
talent for staying in character when they are deep undercover.”
    “This is so stupid,” she protested. “Just find Agent Terry
Brice already.”
    Trey took a few steps closer and sighed. “There is no Terry
Brice. Jordan is having a