Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(84)

My breath caught when the Chief of Staff called time and the ones who'd come for us revealed themselves.





Chapter 18

Corinne

They detached themselves from concrete walls, their clothing blending so well with the surface they'd seemed a part of it. That wasn't the most frightening thing, however.

All eight of them looked exactly like Becker.

Not only had Cutter's cronies developed a way to kill thousands with Becker's blood, they'd learned to create clones, just as the ones who'd sent assassins after the rest of us had. How they'd managed to replicate so many so quickly was a mystery. Each clone held a weapon as they took steps in our direction.

"Becker, that's close enough," Auggie commanded.

"That name has no meaning to us," one of the clones replied. "We are here to collect those two." He nodded in Rafe's and my direction. I worked to keep my breathing even—they had orders to keep me alive and kill Rafe, once they got us away from there.

"How many of you are there?" Madam President's voice quavered. Hal Prentice, still standing between her and the approaching clones, gripped her elbow to steady her.

"That is not our information to provide. Command them to come with us quietly, or we will kill all present."

"That wasn't part of the deal," she snapped.

"It will become part of the deal if they are not given to us willingly."

"Come, cabbage," Rafe urged softly, pulling me with him toward the waiting clones. I had no idea how they intended to get us out of there. It didn't really matter; Rafe would be dead and I'd be a prisoner if they had their way.

Ask them if he's watching—the one who sent them, I mentally instructed Madam President. I worried about the consequences if I refused to cooperate.

Rafe's life mattered most to me at that moment.

"Is he watching? I want to know," Madam President's voice wobbled again.

"You are so shortsighted," the spokesman replied.

And you are so dead, I sent directly to him. He dropped immediately, as did the seven others who flanked him.

Madam President screamed. Yes, I knew someone else was there—someone who hadn't yet revealed himself.

Or, in this case, herself.

*

Ilya

I went cold. Eight clones died before my eyes, in less than three seconds. All eight. I glanced at Corinne. Her nose was bleeding.

Words ran through my mind. Corinne's words, as she sat behind a computer, studying photographs.

Dante Dolsen, dead.

Francis Pike, dead.

Karl Graham, dead.

Langston Coffman, dead.

She'd killed them while she stared at their photographs. While she was in the nation's capital and they were in Canada.

My blood went from cold to frozen. Eight clones lay dead in front of us when the hidden one revealed herself.

Was she human?

Not now.

I blinked, too, at the one she held hostage, a gun pointed at the woman's temple.

Colonel Hunter's wife, Laci.

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

She had arms and legs, like a human. Very little past that resembled any human I'd ever seen. Covered in greenish-brown scales, she appeared more lizard-like than human. She was also dressed in camouflage, to keep us from seeing her until she chose to reveal herself.

She pointed a f*cking gun at Laci's head.

I had no idea how Becker's clones had suddenly dropped dead, but suspicions were forming in my mind. Those would have to wait until later. Yes, Laci had filed for divorce. I still loved her, and it broke my heart to see her threatened like this. Obviously, the enemy had covered all his bases.

Corinne and Rafe had stopped walking the moment Laci and her captor appeared. I could tell that the deaths of Becker's clones disturbed the lizard woman. Greatly.

I didn't have time to dissect that fact. I had to figure out how to get Laci away from her.

"Let her go," Corinne said. "Or you'll end up like the Beckers."

"I will kill her if you do not come with me," lizard woman replied. I could see sharp teeth as she spoke—teeth made for killing, not chewing.

Did she swallow her prey whole or in chunks? I fought down nausea.

*

Corinne

This was my last hand. The ace I'd held until the end, so the others wouldn't be so afraid of me they'd attempt to kill me or run away.

There hadn't been any choice. Lizard lady probably knew her minutes were numbered, but she'd been given strict orders to haul Rafe and me away. The thing that terrified me the most? There were others just like her. And I mean just like her. In every way, down to the smallest scales on her little pinky.

Her boss, though, whoever he was, wasn't going to get what he wanted. Not today. With a narrowing of my eyes, I watched her fall. All of it seemed to happen in slow motion. Lizard woman crumpled. Laci dropped to her knees, sobbing. Auggie ran toward her. I looked past him at Madam President, who was forcefully tossed to the ground by her Chief of Staff, Hal Prentice. Hal then pulled a gun and aimed it at Auggie.

Seeing his face—focusing on it for the first time, told me so many things. He'd been contacted months ago. He was behind the helicopter bombing and the passing of Rafe's information to the Russians. He was kept in the loop as much as possible by the President herself.