Free 3 Thank God it's Monday by Robert Michael Page A

There
were so many. Several resisted, I am afraid.” He looped a finger around in a
circle near his head, the kerchief dangling from his fingers, a wicked smile
across his face, “Tends to scramble the insides when they do that, doesn’t it? Bloody
mess, really.” He shrugged. “I suppose we win some and we lose some.” He
glanced back at Giselle. “Did she, you know, resist ?” He asked, a look
of fake horror mocking Eilif.
    “It is a stasis program. She is functioning normally but
cannot speak or act on her own.”
    Clarence nodded in appreciation.
    “Well yes. I see now. Well, it looks as though she has wet
herself. How embarrassing. Perhaps this program needs some modification.”
    “She is scared,” Eilif said defensively.
    “Scared? Well, I suppose that would be an appropriate
response to death.”
    “What are you going to do?” Eilif asked. He was desperate. He
was almost sitting on the chrome and maple table behind him. His legs could no
longer support him.
    “Good question, Mr. Nicholaisen. Maybe that should have been
your first response. Perhaps we could have dispensed with much of this...unsavory
behavior.”
    “You have my loyalty. I will...”
    “We don’t need your loyalty. I thought you knew that by now.
Tsk. Tsk.” His voice was high-pitched and grating. “But, rest assured, Eilif. I
think we can find some creative uses for your good daughter. Maybe when this is
all settled, we can tell her the truth. How would you like that? Some
father-daughter time where your daughter learns of your manipulation of her
life, of your lies, your betrayal, and your petty revenge for a woman who used
you for your wealth and your political ties in Europe.”
    “I will not allow you to talk about Barbara like that!”
    Clarence looked shocked.
    “I was not aware that I needed your permission. I will leave
you here now to your pet project. See to it that the testing goes well. I will
leave you in the good hands of our newest recruits. It seems they have a high
level of loyalty. The kind that even money cannot buy.” He raised his eyebrows.
“I have to say that I am most impressed, really. It is shame you cannot have
more credit.”
    With that, Clarence turned and began to walk back toward the
door.
    “Wait!  What about Giselle?”
    Clarence shrugged.
    “She will not be faking her loyalty, I am sure. We will just
manufacture it.”

Chapter 8

With or Without You
    H allie waited impatiently for the elevator door to open. She
did not want to be in New York. She had no choice. She knew of nowhere else to
go. She could have called. Should have called. It was late. Barney at
the front desk said that, to his knowledge, Mr. Evers had not left. Hallie had
waited forty eight hours and then when she did not hear from Jake, she went
into action.
    Of course, the burner cell phone was disconnected. She had
no other way to track Jake. Kyle was the only one she could ask. She was not
sure she could even trust him.
    Finally, the chime sounded and the doors opened. Immediately,
she could tell something was wrong. A light flickered at the end of the hall
and papers littered the receptionist’s lobby.
    She pulled her sidearm from beneath her jacket and leaned
against the wall. She controlled her breathing and listened carefully. All she
could hear at first was an electronic buzzing. She resisted the urge to cry out
for Kyle.
    Then she heard a groan. Hallie crouched down low and crept
down the hall toward the lobby, her eyes scanning ahead. Her heart pounded in
her chest.
    The glass entry was broken, the glass scattered on the floor.
Hallie was glad she did not take off her heels. The glass crunched under her
shoes and she grimaced. She worried that whoever had attacked the office was
still here. She would rather have the element of surprise.
    In the back of her mind she was dreading having to use her
weapon again. She knew it was necessary, but she was still recovering from the
psychological scarring of taking a life.