“Lucky me.”
Gunnar frowned.“Was there any particular reason you went to the clinic you did?”
“I got an invitation by email with a specific appointment.It seemed legit because I was due my annual blood draw, though thinking about it, previously I’ve had a reminder to make a date with the clinic of my choice.Guess I assumed the process had changed.”
Bryn gave a brief nod to indicate Orwell was telling the truth as he saw it.
“You still have the email?”
“I don’t think my cell or clothes made it out of the clinic.Could be anywhere.But if I log onto a computer, it should still be there on the server.”
“We’ll arrange for that to happen so you can forward it to GCR’s tech people,” Gunnar said.“Might be useful.Thanks, Orwell.Bryn needs to take a look at your vamp friend now but if anything comes back to you that you think might be relevant, you contact the GCR and ask for me, okay?”
“Sure.Think I need a nap.All I seem to do is sleep.”
His eyes were already closing so Bryn and Gunnar moved to the next bed.
The man huddled beneath his covers watched them approach.His eyes, pupils dilated, tracked Bryn’s every movement.Giles vacated the chair.
“I’m going to track down some blood for him.He’s hungry, and I don’t mean he has the munchies.Cookies and milk isn’t going to cover this.”
“I can’t believe it sounds appealing,” Trent said.“I’ve never craved blood before.”
“The effects of the drug should wear off in time,” Giles said.“If you can avoid sinking your teeth into our augur in the meantime, that would be nice.”He grinned and the vamp bared his teeth in response.
“No promises.”
Gunnar growled.
“Oh, and the wolfy one has no sense of humor.”
“Not helping, Giles.”Bryn took a seat.“Giles told you about what I’m going to do?”
“Yeah.You’re a bit of a rarity.”
“I don’t recommend it.You consent?”
“These people need stopping, so yes.Do your worst.”
Bryn grasped Trent’s wrist.“Gunnar, you want to start?”
“How about you tell us what you recall first, Mr.Gordon?”Gunnar said.
“Call me Trent.Mr.Gordon is my pops.Not much.I had an invite to attend the clinic for the annual blood draw.I was due so it seemed fine.”
“Your invite came by email?”
“Yes.”
“Carry on.”
“The only difference to previous dates was that the nurse used a vein in the back of my hand instead of my arm.I remember a scratch as the needle went in, then nothing until I came round in that place you found us.The hunger for blood was all-consuming but I was strapped down.I fought the restraints and broke them—I was much stronger than usual.I think it took three of them to get me on the floor.Then there was a jab in my thigh.It must have been a sedative because everything kind of faded.Next thing I knew you guys arrived and there were tubes coming out of my body.Couldn’t decide if I was dead or alive.”
“I’m sorry you went through that,” Gunnar said.“Bryn is going to take a look at your memories now.It’s not that we don’t believe you, Bryn knows you’re being truthful, but there might be something in there that your brain is protecting you from.”
“Go ahead.”
Bryn concentrated.What he saw was filmed by a blood red haze.Trent’s strongest memory was of Orwell being strapped to a bed, of men in scrubs leaning over him.Bryn picked up a combination of lust and hunger before the memory went dark.
