Suspicious Minds (Stranger Things Novels #1)(86)

“Yes,” she said. “No problem.”

Terry went through several false elements: Gloria would create a distraction, Ken would help if needed, and then Terry would sneak into Brenner’s office and steal his files. Easy. Simple.

Not the actual plan at all.

“What about me?” Alice asked.

Terry wrote another note: We’ll discuss the real plan outside, later. You’re going to disable the electroshock machine so no one can tell. Hoping Kali will do the rest.

Alice nodded.

Hard knocks sounded at the door downstairs. Terry left the room and stopped at the top of the stairwell, the others joining her.

Becky answered it, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Hello? Who are you?”

A group of uniformed men stood on the doorstep. Terry thrust the notebook in her hands at Ken and said, “Hide it.”

He disappeared.

The man in front at the door said, “We’re here for Alice Johnson. I have paperwork that authorizes us to take her into the custody of Hawkins National Laboratory.”

Before Terry could process what was happening, uniformed men barged in and up the stairs. “Wait a second,” Becky protested below, but they were fast. The leader advanced on Terry and another said, “Careful with the pregnant one.”

“We have a message for you,” the man said. “Be where you’re supposed to this week.”

He moved her out of the way and took Alice. “I don’t want to go,” Alice said.

“Commitment paperwork,” Terry said, realizing. “He said he did it. Alice, don’t worry. We’ll see you soon. I promise.”

“I don’t want to go,” Alice said again as Ken returned. The three of them watched helplessly while Alice was carted down the stairs, her eyes big as stars, and put into a van. The men drove away into the night.

Terry prayed the real plan she’d come up with could save her.





1.


Terry sat on her bed. It was early Thursday morning, and their plans were as ready as they could be. She’d leave to meet Gloria and Ken in a few minutes.

But she wanted to know something first, about herself, her own capability. She closed her eyes and put her hands on her belly, and she forced herself to relax and breathe deep. No drugs, no monitor watching her, nothing but her.

Go deeper, she coaxed herself and her surroundings faded. She walked into the black void, water beneath her feet. She’d almost given up when Alice appeared before her.

Her friend lay on a cot, not seeing Terry’s approach. She wore her hospital gown. Dark circles under her eyes. She looked haunted.

Alice? She sent the thought out as strongly as she could. We’re coming. Be ready.

Alice said nothing. There was no way to know if she’d seen or heard.

When Terry opened her eyes, the lamp at her bedside blinked on and off. She was ready.





2.


Brenner spent the day in his office in a state of excitement. Terry Ives had such high hopes for her plans that dashing them might be enough to make her cooperative in the long term. She’d already proven more stubborn than he’d expected. He almost respected that.

But he couldn’t truly respect anyone who engaged in such futile actions. As if he’d allow everything he intended to build here to be destroyed. Everything he’d worked for up to now. Others might not understand his commitment to the project, but that didn’t matter. He didn’t need their understanding of it; he only needed time to prove he was correct. The only thing that would be shut down today was a rebellion.

A tap came on his office door.

“Sir?” the security officer said.

“Yes. Report.”

“Ives and Flowers have arrived,” he went on. “The man didn’t show up today.”

Ken. Maybe he’d stop coming altogether. His results had been lackluster. “Thank you.”

Brenner didn’t immediately go to meet Terry, but took a detour to one of the pharmaceutical laboratories on the second level of the complex. He’d given specific instructions to the assistant director who ran it.

The lab was always a sterile, quiet flurry of activity. Men and women at large, complex machines, producing a variety of chemical substances to alter the brain or the body. It was for the latter that he came today.

“Is it ready for me?” Dr. Brenner asked.

The lab-coated man nodded. He was pale, as if he hadn’t seen the sun in ages, like a committed staffer should be. “It’ll take a couple of hours to work, give or take,” he said and produced a wide syringe with a cap.

“Perfect,” Brenner said, accepting the syringe and stashing it in his pocket.

He caught himself humming tunelessly on the way to Terry Ives’ room, winding through the labyrinth of hallways that formed his domain. He lingered at the window and watched her. She sat tall, waiting.

Soon, he’d break her spirit.

But first he’d have some fun.

“I see you kept your word,” he said, letting himself in. “I’m a little surprised. Your friend is doing fine here. I detected some serious hostility when we spoke.”

She gave him a fake smile. “Not all of us can afford to be good liars.”

Such spirit. Would her child be the same?

He had intended to take his time, but now that he was here, he found he couldn’t wait. He removed the syringe. “Hold out your arm, please.”