Kate Donovan - Exit Strategy

She shrugged. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Nothing’s threatening us. And if something tries to, we’ll deal with it. You need to relax, Jonathan. This is a fortress, remember? We’re perfectly safe. In fact, I don’t think this is a good test of your power drug. It’s too safe here.”

“Jennifer?”

“Yes?”

“If you could change one event in your life, what would it be?”

“I already told you. Dad’s accident.”

“How would that help you?”

She considered the question cautiously. “Well, obviously, my life would have been better. Because my father would have been happy. And he and my mom would have stayed together, although…”

She thought about the custody hearing and sighed. So much had come out that day, mostly about her father’s infidelity. Not that that had really been a secret. Her mother had apparently always known about it, and accepted it as part of his nature. Even Miranda had begun to notice the way other women hung around him, too, although she hadn’t been quite ready to accept the implications. Not at the age of fourteen. And then, after the accident, any opportunity for running around had been closed to him.

“I guess eventually, Mom would have left him. They had other problems besides the accident. You know what’s strange?” she added wistfully. “I probably would have gone with her under those circumstances. I never thought about that before, but it’s true.”

She shook her head, then gave Kell another glare. “You know what, Jonathan? It doesn’t matter what I’d change if I had the power. I don’t have the power. I can’t change the past.”

“But if you could-”

“Pay attention! It’s insane to dwell on it. Change one event? Or two? That’s nuts. Changing the accident wouldn’t change the fact that my father didn’t care about anyone but himself. And even with Ortega…” She stopped herself, then muttered, “You talk too much, Jonathan.”

“Even with Ortega, what?”

“There are things I would have done differently. But if I had, I might not be here right now. And I like being here. So thank God I don’t have the power to change the past. I’d probably screw it up!” She grinned, proud that she had salvaged the situation, and also impressed with the truth. If she hadn’t been duped by Ortega, she never would have gotten pulled into the Brigade operation-an operation that was going to make her famous!

Kell was clearly trying not to laugh out loud. “Shall we test your claustrophobia?”

“No. I’ve only got a few more hours before the drug starts wearing off. I want to accomplish something, Jonathan. I don’t want to waste a minute of it.” She grabbed both of his hands up in her own. “Let me take you into town. I’ll protect you, I promise. We’ll have lunch and shop.”

“And if someone tried to bother us?”

“You have no idea who I really am,” she told him solemnly. “I would kick their ass. And believe me, I know how to do it. You’ve never been safer than you are right here, right now, with me. Watch.” She picked up the bow, drew a second arrow, and shot again at the tree. This time, the arrow hit-two feet from the ground, dead center. “See? I can do anything.”

“And you’re humble, too,” he said with a chuckle. “I know you’re having fun. So am I. But I’d like to take your blood pressure again.”

“You have got to be kidding. Do I look sick to you? I feel great. You need to try this, Jonathan Kell. I insist. Take a pill while I’m still under the influence, okay? So we can have fun together.” Before he could object, she told him, “You’ve created a miracle here, Jonathan. Do you know how many lives you can improve with this? I’m talking dramatic improvement. Phobics, like you. But also people who are too submissive, right? Children who’ve been abused. Battered women. You can give them this taste of power…”

As her voice trailed into silence, Kell cocked his head to the side. “Jennifer?”

She turned away, not wanting him to see her expression, which she was certain was jubilant because she had just figured something out. Something amazing. Even more amazing than the revelation that she didn’t want to change the past.

Battered women. The idea of empowering them. It had made her mind flash on Angelina Carerra. Hadn’t Kristie said it? That victims like that didn’t easily become powerful, self-confident women? But somehow Angelina had.

Angelina had stood in that laboratory, the picture of empowerment. Thinking clearly. Living in the moment, with no regrets. Zero baggage…

It was either the biggest coincidence in the world, or she had been taking the power drug that night. Except Jonathan believed Miranda was the first female to use it. So Jonathan didn’t know about Angelina…

“Jennifer?”

“Shhh! Let me think.”

Kell laughed. “Be my guest. Can we start walking back to the lab while you do so?”

She nodded, trying to keep her face expressionless as she sorted through the maze of half facts and suppositions that she was sure could lead her to the truth.

The next few hours were a strange mix for Miranda as she enjoyed her euphoria, entertained Jonathan Kell and slowly unraveled the mystery of Angelina Carerra’s connection to the Brigade.

It had all started back there in the jungle, she surmised. Kell and Ortega and the Carerras. Under torture, Kell had talked-in fact, screamed-about his phobia research. And maybe he had talked about his political theories as well. Angelina had heard it all, either firsthand or afterwards. After Ortega’s arrow freed her from her abusive husband, Benito, she had inherited their cocaine empire. She had slowly divested herself of the illegal elements, investing her millions in legitimate enterprises, becoming one of the world’s wealthiest women.

But still afraid, deep down inside. So she kept her eye on Kell, thinking he might find a cure-a way to free her from her demons. But she wouldn’t offer him money, because he didn’t need or want any more than he already had. What he wanted was to vindicate his political theories-to see the system that had betrayed him collapse.

There was a piece of the puzzle missing. That was obvious. Still, Miranda was sure that somehow, when Kell had supplied samples of his power drug to the mysterious “Brigadier” who shared his political philosophy, Angelina had gotten her hands on the pills. Either she and the Brigadier were associated, or she herself was the leader of the Brigade, fueled by the power drug.

“Mr. Kell? We’ve got a serious problem.”

Miranda snapped to attention at the sound of the guard’s voice. A serious problem? Danger? Bring it on! The power drug, more inspiring than adrenaline any day, made her crave excitement in any form. She could almost taste it!

Kell’s reaction was precisely the opposite. His face turned ash gray, and the tick under his eye began to beat as rhythmically as Miranda’s metronome. “What’s wrong? My God, I knew we shouldn’t have come outside again.”

“Don’t worry, Jonathan. I’ll protect you,” Miranda reminded him. Then she gave the guard a hopeful grin. “What’s wrong, monkey boy? You look so serious.”

He gave her an annoyed look, then told his boss, “I need to speak to you alone, sir. Right away.”

“You can talk freely in front of me,” Miranda insisted.

Carl’s voice took on a hint of panic. “It’s about the visitor, sir. The special one. He’s here.”

“The visitor?” Kell’s face went from gray to snow white. “What are you saying? He’s here? Today?”

“Joe’s driving him up right now, sir. I told them you’d meet him in the drawing room. And I told the other guys to go to their rooms and wait for further instructions.” Carl’s manner grew defensive. “It’s not like I had a choice, Mr. Kell. I mean, it’s him.”