“But they will be, brother.Just let me do my job.”
Once again he was successful at convincing them that he could heal the imaginary, and not so imaginary, diseases.Willingly, each person took the oral dosage, from the oldest all the way down to the youngest child who was barely one.
The little, brown-eyed child smiled, willingly swallowing the pink liquid substance.Isaac never blinked but something inside of Leo crumbled a bit.Staring at the innocent faces that would soon be dead, he was questioning everything in his life.
He’d allowed Isaac to guide him and convince him to do things he’d never done before, never considered before.
When he joined the military, he thought he could distance himself from his older brother.The guilt of having played a part in the deaths of not only their parents, but the four siblings that died, was almost too much for him.In the Army he could think of things other than family.That is until Isaac came around threatening his career.
“I know you, Leo.I know you better than anyone and I have a way to stop what happened to us.”
For years he allowed Isaac to bully him into finding the equipment he needed, access to certain laboratories, and finally to access military bases as the kindly Dr. Isaac Wadston.He’d conducted unnecessary blood work on thousands of soldiers to see if they had the biomarkers he was looking for.
There weren’t many but to his surprise there were enough to use in his studies.Young men and women, some who were aware, others who were not, of their family history.
Leaving the small village behind, the driver said there was one more they could visit to give their needy medical advice and assistance.Then, they would need to rush back to the train.
With less than sixty people in the remote site, it was a quick discussion and examinations.But there were no signs of what Isaac was looking for.It didn’t matter.They’d seen him and his brother, so they needed to die.
“Let’s leave them, Isaac,” said Leo.“They’re fine.”
“They expect medical care, brother and I’ll give them medical care.We cannot leave witnesses anywhere.”Leo heard the familiar ringing of a cell phone and turned to see the taxi driver speaking to someone.Isaac turned now, as well.They could see the concern and fear on the man’s face as he slowly started to back up toward the taxi.He yelled something to the villagers and they all gasped, running back to their homes.
“Well, damn,” said Isaac.“Just when I was beginning to like him.”
Two hours later, with the taxi parked near the train station, Isaac and Leo boarded their car.No one was the wiser.
“You didn’t have to kill him or all those people,” said Leo.
“You know, brother, I’m getting tired of your whining and back-pedaling.We agreed to all of this.If you’ve suddenly lost the stomach for it, I suggest you get off this train now.”
“Give me half the money,” said Leo.“I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.”
His brother gave him a sickening, perverse smile and handed him an envelope full of cash.Just as the train started to move, Leo stood and walked toward the exit, prepared to step from the train.As he did, he felt the needle in his shoulder and turned to see his brother’s smiling face.
“It’s never a good sign when you can’t even trust family.Goodbye, Leo.I wish I could tell you that death will come swiftly for you but it will not.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Why is the train stopping here?” asked Logan of their personal train master.
“There is a man dead on the platform.They are asking for assistance,” he said.
The team looked at one another, then moved toward the doors as they finally came to a stop.A man stepped off the train and nodded as the locals began peppering him with information.
“What’s wrong?” asked Sor.
“A man fell from the last train or was pushed.He’s been in agony since,” he said.“I’m a physician in training.I will try to help.”
“Some of us have medical training as well,” said Moose.They walked toward the man and stared down at the ashen face.Pools of vomit and diarrhea were around him, women trying to clean the mess.
“Don’t touch it,” said Pax.“It could have a contagion in it.”
“It doesn’t,” said Leo.“I knew you were coming for us.”
“Where’s your brother?” asked Logan.At first Leo said nothing, just staring at him.“Yes, I’m alive and for attempting to kill me I should let you rot right here on this platform.But for once in your fucking life, do what’s right.Where is your brother?”
“In-India,” he gasped wincing in agony as his stomach cramped, nothing left exit his body except excruciating pain.
