Russo blinked.“A shame.We can all benefit from understanding ourselves.”
“I understand myself just fine.”
“We’ll see.”
Frost busied himself arranging instruments on the cart, still avoiding eye contact.
“Is Detective Ericson alive?”Bryn asked.
“Your partner?Why?Is he important to you?”
Bryn schooled his expression.“He’s a colleague.You had him shot and beaten, so yes, I’m fucking interested.”
“He’s probably dead.One less annoyance for me to consider.Prepare him for transport, Frost.Our flight leaves in three hours.”
“Transport where?”Bryn demanded, though his guts were churning.
“Outside the reach of US jurisdiction or your agency’s interference.That’s all you need to know.”Russo moved toward the door.“The doctor will handle the preparation process.I suggest you use these last few hours of relative comfort to reconcile yourself to your new reality.We’ll talk again at our destination.We won’t be traveling together.”With that, he was gone, leaving Bryn with Frost and one of the guards.
He said ‘probably dead’ so he doesn’t know for certain.I’d know if Gunnar was gone, I’m sure I would.
“I need to begin pre-transport protocols,” Frost announced.
The guard maintained his position by the door, hand resting on his holstered weapon.
“What does that mean?”Bryn asked.“I’ve had all my shots.”
“Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll shut it for you,” the guard snapped.
“Charming.”
“No one said I couldn’t damage you, smart ass.”
“Did they say you could?I doubt you take a piss without a direct order.”Bryn grinned.
The guard took a step toward him but Frost began taking Bryn’s vitals, recording each measurement on a tablet.“Subject shows elevated stress markers but is within acceptable parameters for air travel,” Frost stated.
Of course I’m fucking stressed.Like he’d be chilled in this situation.“You don’t have to do this.”
Frost paused for a second or two but then prepared a series of syringes.“This first compound is a stabilizer,” he explained as he swabbed Bryn’s arm with antiseptic.“It prevents rejection of the subsequent medications and reduces the risk of adverse reactions during altitude changes.”The needle slid into Bryn’s vein.The liquid burned as it entered his bloodstream.“Next, a mild anxiolytic to prevent panic responses during transit.I can’t risk full sedation due to potential respiratory complications at altitude.”He administered another injection, this one causing a cool sensation that spread from Bryn’s arm throughout his body.
“Anxiolytic…are you giving me Xanax?”
Frost didn’t respond but fitted a monitoring device to Bryn’s ankle.“This will track your vital signs throughout the journey.”The band locked in place with a click and a green light began pulsing.
Bryn noticed that Frost wasn’t wearing gloves.Unusual for a scientist handling medical equipment.His bare fingers made contact with Bryn’s wrist as he checked his pulse.He broke contact before the guard could notice.“The final injection will make you compliant for transport while maintaining consciousness,” he said, preparing another syringe.“You’ll remain aware but relaxed and cooperative.”
“Screw you.”
“He’s ready,” Frost told the guard.“Alert me immediately if his monitoring device flashes red.Fifteen minutes then you can take him back to his…room.”
“You mean cell, you fucking traitor.”Bryn rattled his restraints.
The guard nodded, and Frost left with his equipment without looking back.The door closed behind him and, though Bryn wanted to scream after him, instead he focused on himself.He felt strange, like he was wide awake and hyper alert.
Bryn’s thoughts kept circling back to Frost’s touch.The brief contact had been deliberate and enough for Bryn to read his memory and intent.His strongest memory was of coming into the room hours earlier, during the night when it was empty, standing on the same chair Bryn now sat in.He had removed a vent cover, placed a cell phone inside then replaced the cover.A maintenance badge clipped to his coat told Bryn how he’d gained access.He’d been terrified of being caught.His head had been full of panic and remorse.
Bryn had only had a moment to glimpse his intent, which was, as far as he could tell, to attempt to override the security system, though Frost wasn’t certain he could do it.It wasn’t random information, it was a plan and the doctor had wanted Bryn to see it.Frost had taken his job for the money but he hadn’t known what he was really getting into.Now he was in too deep, complicit in things he couldn’t stomach.He wanted out.
