Wilde Storm Read online

  Watson sighed. “Time is something we haven’t quite mastered, Penelope. Perhaps this has something to do with the serum and your DNA being mixed into it.”

  I shook my head. “We need to find my dad.”

  Cass flipped off the television and turned worried grey eyes to us. “What in the hell is going on? This has something to do with you two, doesn’t it?”

  Watson’s gaze was innocent. “Don’t look at me. I rarely get involved in preposterous things.”

  “Thanks, dude.” I snorted. “I think you can thank Aaron for what we’re watching right now.”

  Her eyes widened and regret flashed through them. “Oh.”

  I motioned everyone out of the room. There would be no rest for me for a while.

  We found my father in his office, his back turned to the door. One long, elegant finger stroked his chin in thought. A wall television was quietly reporting the story again.

  “Curious, indeed,” he said once he realized we were there. “Penelope, love, you, Watson, and Aaron must leave at first light. Start with the last place the woman was seen. You must retrieve that serum. Immediately.”

  He turned to face us and I started at how haggard he looked. Normally my father’s appearance was a little haphazard, but today he looked like a man who hadn’t slept in weeks. “We cannot risk the general public knowing about this. This news will not do us any favors.”

  Watson sunk into one of the leather chairs. “We still have the problem of the people she sold it to.”

  My father waved his hand. “From what I understand, they only have a small amount. We can steal it back at a later date. This woman, though…she may have all of it. And she might be experimenting with it. We need it back. Immediately.”

  Aaron stepped into the office.

  “Ah, Aaron, just the person we needed to see. How well do you know this culprit?”

  Only my father could use the word culprit and make it sound cool.

  I happened to be staring right at Aaron and watched a myriad of emotions pass over his face before it settled into a blank mask. He was about to lie to us.

  “I know her fairly well. We’ve worked together for several years.”

  There was a pause while my father digested his words. You didn’t get to be Sherlock freaking Holmes by being easily lied to.

  “So, tell us about her please.”

  “What would you like to know?”

  “Everything,” my father said, offering him a terrifying grin.

  I pressed my lips together to stifle an answering grin and sat down next to Watson.

  “She’s petite and has long blonde hair,” he began.

  My father held a hand up. “Spare us the tiny details, especially since you are traveling with them. Tell me her likes, her dislikes, what she majored in during college. Why she wants your serum so bad.” My father paused and casually studied a nail. “And do tell us the truth about how well you know her please.”

  Aaron froze. A tic thumped in the side of his eye.

  “We all are armed and have been itching to shoot you for weeks now,” Watson said with a deadly calm. “I wouldn’t make any sudden moves if I were you.”

  My grin broke free then.

  “And,” Watson continued, “I would answer the man’s question. Truthfully, this time. Sherlock Holmes is not a man to play with, boy.”

  Aaron glared at Watson. I would have bet money he was going to take off running, but just as soon as his muscles clenched to flee, he relaxed, blew out a long breath, and sank down onto the couch next to my father’s desk. “Fine. Fine,” he repeated.

  “Good,” my father said in a cheery voice. “We are all ears.”

  “Her name is Gwynne. I’ve known her all my life. Because she’s my sister.”

  I sat up straighter and my father’s attention became that of a bird of prey. The few conversations I’d had with Aaron made it difficult to put some of the pieces together and though I knew his mother was sick, I never knew he had a sibling. “Why would she steal it?”

  Aaron buried his face in his hands. “Our mother does not have that much time left. Gwynne thought I was procrastinating, not doing enough to halt her illness.”

  “Parkinson’s has no cure,” Watson reminded him quietly.

  I bit my lip. I didn’t remember telling Watson any of what Aaron told me.

  Aaron let out a bitter laugh. “I know that. Hell, she knows that! But we had this serum in our hands, one that came at a great cost.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “A great cost to me, but especially Penelope.” His voice shook with regret. “I know I’ve said it before and I know the words ring hollow, but after everything, I wish I could somehow change this. I am truly sorry I ever went to that length to procure it. It has done nothing but cause pain and grief.”

  Sympathy welled in my heart for him. “You made an incredible breakthrough.”

  “The cost was too high,” he said.

  “Perhaps,” I agreed. “But if we can work together and create something that will cure her and anyone else who needs it, I think eventually there can be amends.” I stood and walked over to him. “Maybe even forgiveness.” I held out a hand and he stared at it, hope flaring on his face for a moment. He grasped it and held on tightly.

  “I would like that.”

  Watson cleared his throat. “As touching as this has been, we need information and we need to move. The faster it’s off the market, the sooner we can all go back to our own beds and sleep for a week. Keep talking, Aaron.”

  He continued to tell us her story and as he wove through it, I became even angrier, yet also strangely more sympathetic. Gwynne had been a brilliant up and coming Neurophysiology major at a top tier school when their mother had taken ill. Instead of finishing school, Gwynne allowed her scholarship to slide so she could spend time with her, against Aaron’s wishes. Parkinson’s get progressively worse, so Gwynne wanted to make sure she had the best of those years. And then, she’d thrown everything into studying the disease and finding a cure for it. When she’d found out about Sherlock’s immortality serum through Aaron, it became her single-minded focus.

  “She’s the reason you betrayed us all,” Watson said with frost in his tone.

  Aaron shook his head. “No. I did this for my mother. I would have never dreamed of doing something like this before, but she’s always been our backbone. If there was a way to help her, I wanted to make sure we used it.”

  My father sat down heavily. “And the thought of coming to me and speaking to me never once occurred to you?”

  Aaron swallowed hard. “There are…stories about you, Mr. Holmes.”

  “I’m sure most of them are entirely true,” he said without an inch of arrogance in his tone.

  “Then I’m sure you know exactly why I didn’t come to you.”

  “On the contrary, son. The measure of a man is not taken when he hides behind others and uses lies and deceit to get his way. It’s taken when he stands up no matter how terrified he is or how low the odds are against him and makes his request known. Nothing gained by lying is worth keeping.” He gestured to me. “The trust you lost with my daughter and your intense regret shows you these words are true.”

  Aaron bowed his head in shame. “This will always live with me.”

  “Yes, well. Now is the time for redemption.” Sherlock stood. “I will leave you three here to plan. I trust you will lock the door behind you when you are finished.”

  He leaned down and touched my shoulder. “Take care of my daughter.” His gaze touched both Watson and Aaron. “Both of you need her alive and well. For reasons I am well aware of but neither of you are.”

  And with those cryptic words, he left the room.

  A tense silence followed him until Watson cleared his throat. “Yes, well, strange prophecies aside, we do need to discuss our next steps of action. Penelope and I have already eaten. If you wish to call in a meal, please do so.”

  Aaron’s gaze flashed with that information and I
knew Watson had given it to him on purpose. Glad to see the testosterone was still alive and well in these two. He called down to the cafeteria and while he was placing his order, Watson leaned over.

  “Do not let your guard down so easily around him. I’ve known good actors in my day. They can make you believe they are poor beggars while you watch them lounge in silks.”

  I offered a short nod. “I have learned my lesson.”

  “What he did to you was no lesson. It was debased cruelty.”

  I did not disagree.

  We left the room two hours later with some semblance of a plan. I left with a headache. Watson made his goodbyes and stepped into his quarters while giving Aaron a wary glance. Aaron offered to walk me back to my room, but I declined. I didn’t want guests and the hour had grown late. If we were to leave first thing in the morning, I wanted to make sure I was well rested.

  I unlocked the door to my room, slipped my shoes off, and washed my face before I changed into pajamas. Minutes later, I set my alarm for way too early and curled into sleep.

  6

  Aaron shoved a cup of coffee under my nose the next morning and I accepted it with a grateful heart. It earned him a glare from Watson, but I’d accept a cup of coffee from a serial poisoner and not blink an eye over it, so his annoyance went right over me. There was something about that moment when a sip of java first touched your soul. The warmth flowed into you and all the ills of the day before and the sleepless nights just faded away, if only for a little while.

  I sighed heavily and muttered my thanks to him.

  “My pleasure.”

  Aaron, to my extreme annoyance, looked handsome and well rested. I, on the other hand, looked exactly like a person looked when they first rolled out of bed—not great. I managed to tame my hair into a messy bun, but Watson was staring at it in distress, so I figured I should find a bathroom and a way to tame it so it stayed closer to my head. I had no idea what we were getting into, but when I thought about it, it wasn’t a good idea to chance anything. My hair was long enough to use as a weapon and if it weren’t so damned early, I would have remembered that. I made a motion with my finger and slipped into one of the student bathrooms.

  Moments later, I emerged and Watson gave me a quick nod of approval. I’d braided my hair tightly and wound it around securely to my head. I would have a headache later, but someone would have to work to get it free.

  “Gwynne was last seen at a Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Austin.”

  I blinked. I was expecting something cool like Stark Headquarters or maybe the Batcave. “Was she hungry?” I ventured.

  Watson snorted in amusement. Aaron did not.

  “The restaurant serves as a front for multiple criminal organizations and black market goods,” he said shortly.

  “Oh.” Properly chastised, I took another sip of coffee and tried to get my brain to work. “You never saw her leave?”

  Aaron fiddled with the top of his coffee lid. “No. I’ve replayed the tape numerous times and switched to different camera angles. If she left, I would have seen it.”

  “Is there another exit?”

  “It’s possible. In fact, it’s probable. To have that many criminals slipping in and out, there are bound to be ways to avoid notice.”

  “If this area was so hot with crime, why haven’t the police shut it down?”

  Both stared at me in amusement and I blushed crimson. “I get it. That was a dumb question.”

  “There are no dumb questions,” Watson said, but his teeth gleamed in the low light. He was laughing at me.

  “So, the cops are corrupt. But wouldn’t someone take notice when someone like Gwynne goes missing?” From everything Aaron told us, she was pretty, well-liked, and brilliant.

  “I never reported her missing.” Aaron’s jaw clenched. He knew his actions were a mistake.

  “Doing so would have put the spotlight exactly where you didn’t want to go.” In a rare gesture of empathy, Watson clapped Aaron on the shoulder. “From what you’ve told me, your sister is quite resourceful. Take heart. If she knew where to go, who to speak to, and was offering something valuable to them, they would not harm her. Especially if she was intelligent enough to leave the serum behind before she knew the interest level. I’m sure they’ve either gone their separate ways or are treating her with some care.”

  “I suppose,” Aaron said, but he didn’t sound convinced.

  “Are we just going to walk into a restaurant full of crime lords and order potstickers?” Aaron hadn’t divulged her last known whereabouts last night for some odd reason, but we did know her regular spots and where she was likely to go. This particular establishment was a new one on us and a surprise I wasn’t all that happy about. Perhaps Aaron hadn’t wanted my father to know the danger we were about to be exposed to. Curious.

  “We aren’t going to walk in,” Watson said, and this time, his smile was wider. “You are.”

  Super.

  We set our DARs back to the date where Aaron had last recorded her going in. We let Aaron go first and after a brief chat, we followed. We had to be extremely careful not to intervene in any of the events from that night. Watson had been doing this long enough to know when and when not to interfere, but I’d barely been doing it a couple months. I was scared I’d send the world plummeting into a black hole if I got within ten feet of her, so it was with major reluctance that I sucked it up and walked into the restaurant like I didn’t have a care in the world. The fact was I cared way too much—about dying. I’d had too many of those experiences lately.

  Watson told me to take my hair down, which annoyed me greatly considering I’d just put it up, but I obliged and let it cascade over my waist past my rear end. Then I swallowed hard at the avaricious look that appeared on Watson’s face.

  Aaron, once again, told me his sister’s physical description and I chuckled to myself. How would I miss a tiny white girl in a sea of crime lords? I was half Japanese, so I fit in a little more than she did, but even I would stick out like a sore thumb in my casual clothing. This seemed like an upscale place, or maybe that was only the outside appearance. Aaron and Watson spoke encouraging words and pushed me forward right before they disappeared around the side of the building.

  I squared my shoulders. This was nothing I hadn’t done before, I told myself. I let out a short hysterical giggle. Who the hell was I kidding? I’d never done anything like this and if I survived it, I promised myself I’d never do anything like it again.

  It was do or die time. I sighed again at my terrible inner voice and pulled open the door.

  It sounded just like a restaurant would on a busy night. The smells of seafood and fried delicacies tickled my nose. It seemed weird to leave somewhere bleary eyed, exhausted, and drinking coffee only to show up in a place where dinner was being served. My stomach, the traitor that it was, growled.

  I was met by a pretty, petite dark eyed woman. She greeted me politely, but wasn’t overly friendly. Although the place was busy, there was a definite undertone of danger. The hostess never let her eyes stray too long from a table in a dark corner of the restaurant occupied by several men. I allowed her to lead me to a table on one of the back walls, thankfully in a place where I could still see everyone. I tried not to be too obvious or let my eyes linger on one person or thing for too long. There was no sign of Aaron’s sister yet.

  I turned a dial on my watch so the camera would turn on and stream info out. They would be able to hear me from the mic Watson had hooked in my hair. He could have told me that before I wasted time messing with it earlier. It was tucked into a spot right above my ear and hidden by the thick curtain of hair falling. If I’d kept my hair up, he wouldn’t have been able to conceal it. Hopefully he didn’t underestimate the sheer awesome weight of my hair and it didn’t garble any of the conversations being sent to the receiver.

  The woman handed me a menu and mumbled something I couldn’t understand. I nodded and pretended to be absorbed in the food choice
s, but every few seconds, I would steal a glance.

  So far, everything looked innocent. Except for the fact that everyone over at that table was wearing dark suits with mysterious bulges I suspected to be guns, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. A few minutes passed and the woman came to take my order. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by ordering food and not eating it, and then realized how lame I was being.

  I was a Time Warden. On an actual mission. And I was worried about not eating food I didn’t want whilst spying on a bunch of people who wouldn’t flinch at filling my body full of holes.

  “Priorities, Penelope,” I muttered under my breath. “Get it together.”

  The waitresses’ perfect eyebrows flew together. “Excuse me?”

  “Potstickers. I said potstickers and then was trying to calculate how many calories they would have.” I gave her a grin full of false cheer. “I’m dieting. Super lame. And I have a headache all the time. Weird, you know?”

  The woman looked at me strangely, but asked if I wanted anything else before gathering my menu and leaving.

  I focused on my cell phone for a little while and was beginning to get fidgety when the door opened and a short blonde woman walked in. If I hadn’t known they were related, I would have realized it right away. She had the same emerald green gaze and full lips as Aaron. How in the world had both siblings hit the genetic jackpot?

  My gaze flicked briefly over to the men in suits. One of them raised a finger and I watched as Gwynne forced a smile onto her face and walked over to them.

  “Come into my parlor,” I whispered to myself.

  One of them, a particularly handsome man, rose and pulled her chair out for her. Gwynne breathlessly thanked him and squared her shoulders.

  Into the fire she went. I couldn’t hear much of what they said, only bits and pieces, but Gwynn’s gaze brightened as she chattered about something I could only presume was the serum. Interest and a whole lot of greed kindled on the men’s faces and so far, everything seemed to be just hunky dory.