Conspiracy Game (GhostWalkers, #4)(40)

“Let’s go back to the ability to change skin color into camouflage,” Logan said. “If they need a magnet to control the nano-computers, do they carry it? And if hormone levels trigger the capability, how can they keep from revealing their mood swings like the chameleon does?”

“Good question. They’re trained with biofeedback, and both men have amazing control. Dr. Whitney implanted an MRI-like device inside both of the Nortons. It radiates the magnetic pattern outwards to the surface of the body. The device responds to a mental signal the brothers first learned in biofeedback training, but because of their extensive talent, it has become second nature to them.”

“If Briony was adopted, how could they do the same thing to her? Surely he didn’t have this technology before he adopted her out,” Kadan said.

“The parents took Whitney’s money believing he was a grieving husband who had lost his wife. They agreed to educate Briony in the way he wanted and he paid for all medical not only for her but the entire family. Every time she was sick, his doctors treated her. Whitney had access to her the entire time. And I believe he still does. They use his doctor when she’s ill. She has a lot of trouble due to the fact that there’s no respite for her from the continual assault on her senses. Quite frankly I’m surprised she’s survived this long without a breakdown.”

There was a small silence as the enormity of the implications sank in. Ryland pulled Lily into his arms and buried his face against her shoulder. “What impact will all this have on any children?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s done to any of the rest of you. And I sure don’t have a clue what would happen if Jack Norton and Briony Jenkins have a child together. The one thing I can say for certain is that it will affect the baby.” Lily placed both hands protectively over the small rounded evidence of her pregnancy.

“If Ken Norton carries the same genetic code,” Kadan said, “why is it so important to Whitney that Jack, not Ken, meet up with Briony?”

“I’m guessing the pheromone reaction is specific to one man and one woman. I haven’t run across a mention of that in the files yet, but there is no other explanation. Dr. Whitney”—deliberately Lily distanced herself from the man she’d known all her life as her father—“is looking for a second-generation soldier and wants Jack Norton and Briony Jenkins to provide him with one. With their enhanced olfactory systems, the chemistry between them would be zinging off the charts.”

“Well,” Logan said, “he looked to the wrong man. No one controls Jack Norton. He’s a dangerous man and Whitney made the mistake of making him more so.”

“Maybe so, Logan, but if what I suspect is true, he wouldn’t be in control, he’d be at the mercy of his body’s demands—and so would Briony,” Lily explained.

“How is it going to help the Nortons to change skin color when they’re wearing clothes?” Flame asked pragmatically.

Lily sent a small, wan smile in her direction. “I forgot to tell you about the ‘smart’ shirts Georgia Tech developed to monitor soldiers and patients for medical problems. The Natick Soldier System Center in cooperation with Crye Precision developed the MultiCam Multi Environment Camouflage system. Companies have a line of personal clothes as well as combat clothes. The hottest thing is microscopic mirrors sewn into the fabric to reflect the environment around them. You’ll never guess who is testing these clothes.”

“Jack and Ken Norton,” Flame said. “Of course. And Whitney had to pull some strings to make that happen.”

“Whitney seems very adept at pulling strings,” Kadan agreed. “You’re right. He isn’t alone in this.”





CHAPTER 7





“You’re pregnant.”

Briony stared at the doctor in shock. “That’s impossible. I’m on birth control pills. You prescribed them yourself.” She detested the man; the way he looked so reptilian, she often thought scales would erupt all over him at any moment. He had the coldest smile, almost a smirk when he looked at her. She didn’t trust him—had never trusted him. Even as a child, she had wanted to run screaming from the room whenever he entered. When she left the office, she was going to go out to the car and wring Jebediah’s neck for calling him. She’d only agreed to come because she wanted a few answers. This was definitely the last visit she would ever make to Dr. Sparks.

“You’re pregnant, Briony, about eight weeks. Perhaps you forgot to take a pill when you should have.” His shark-toothed smile flashed at her, but never once reached his eyes. “The father will be overjoyed.”

A shadow slid into her mind. Her body went into alert mode—she felt the alarm shooting through her, but she maintained her shocked look and swung her leg back and forth in agitation. “Tony? I’m sure he will. He’s wanted to marry me forever and this will be his big chance. My brothers will all get out shotguns and side with him.”

For the first time his smirk slipped. The eyes grew even colder. “Tony?”

She shrugged, trying to look casual. “One of the tiger trainers. We’ve had a steady relationship for a while now.” She looked him straight in the eye, determined to carry off the lie just to see his reaction, because something wasn’t right and she had a very bad feeling that she was in more trouble than just being pregnant.