Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1)(70)

Inside, they found pretty much what Jax expected. There weren't any grisly body parts hanging from the ceiling or spread on the counter for dissection, a la Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The space was clean and orderly, so sterile one could eat off the counter. Not that anyone would.

Kira removed a Ziploc bag from one of the large pockets of her camos. "I'm going to grab a few more samples from the cabinets. The records will be on the computer, through there," she said, pointing toward an office. "They might also have hard copies in the filing cabinet we can copy, but if one of you can hack in, it'll be much easier to download all the info onto a thumb drive."

Zan held up the small device in question and headed for the office. "I'll give it a shot. How will I know what I'm looking for?"

Nick answered. "Just download everything and we'll sort through it later."

"Gotcha." Ryon and Nick followed him, while Aric and A.J. stood near the door, listening for any sign of unwelcome company.

Jax accompanied Kira across the room and watched as she fished an old key from her pocket. She tried to use it to unlock the cabinet, but it wouldn't fit.

"Damn it. This is the key I stole from Dr. Bowman and used to get in before. They must've changed the lock." She tossed it aside in frustration.

"Here, let me help."

Reaching up, he grabbed the handle and pulled with steady force. He was tempted to smile at her dubious expression, but his macho display was using the precious reserves of energy he still had left. The wood began to creak, groan . . . and then snapped with a sharp crack. He tossed the cabinet door onto the counter and gestured to the many containers inside.

"There you go. Have at it."

"Wow. Thanks."

"Anytime."

Quickly, she set about sorting through the samples, discarding some and taking others. Soon her baggie was filled with more of the type of tissue she'd brought them before. "That should be enough," she said, sealing the plastic. "Let's go see if Zan is having any luck."

In the small lab office, Zan was hunkered at the computer, frowning at the screen along with Ryon and Nick. The thumb drive was in place, downloads apparently progressing.

"What's so interesting?" Jax asked. Kira moved to his side, pressing close.

"I can't make much of this testing stuff-nothing at all, really-but I've noticed that each document has a number at the top. I think they're using case file numbers instead of names to ID their test subjects."

"That would be standard," Kira said. "NewLife has to protect the identities of organ donors and their recipients."

"Yeah, but even so, their corresponding names would be recorded somewhere, right?"

"They should be," she told him. "Also, see how there's a date at the top of each section of the document? That shows the date each test was done on the subject, with a description of what was done and how the subject reacted to whatever they did."

Nick spoke up. "So what we've found is the doctors' files on what's being done to each person and when, whether they're human or shifter."

Kira nodded. "Looks like it. I'd feel better if Zan hurries and gets it all, like you said, so we can get the hell out of here and study this stuff later."

"She's right," Jax said, a sense of urgency riding him harder than before. "And we've still got more poking around to do before we can go."

Nick let out a breath. "There's a stench permeating the very walls of this place. Blood, sweat, hunger, terror, death. We need to hurry, or more lives will be lost."

Zan completed the transfer of data in a matter of minutes and pocketed the thumb drive. Jax prayed the proof they needed was on the device, because they'd never be able to get inside a NewLife property again without launching a full-blown attack.

When they were ready to move again, Nick glanced between Kira and A.J. "Where to now?"

"I found something interesting after Kira took off the other night," A.J. said in a low voice. "This isn't the only area restricted to regular staff."

"You located another one? How? Where?" Kira asked anxiously.

"I was thinking about it-if they're down here doing their mad scientist gig, then where are the lab rats?"

Kira's eyes widened. "You found them?"

"Maybe. But we won't know unless we can get past the big-assed solid steel vault-style door that's standing smack in our way."

"I've got an idea of how to take care of that," Aric said with a grim smile. "You play tour guide and I'll be the demolition man."

Chapter Thirteen

Being back here was harder than Kira had anticipated. She'd barely escaped before, and now a sense of impending doom was closing bony fingers around her throat, urging her to get the hell out. Fast.

That wasn't the worst of it, though. Jax was doing his best tough-guy routine, but she could tell he was hurting. His limp was more pronounced than ever, his face pale. He wasn't scratching anymore, but she wasn't entirely certain that was a positive sign. What if his body was giving up the ghost? Shutting down?

What if the choice to mate wasn't hers anymore? If she'd waited too long, would he die?

Oh, God. It was more imperative than ever that they finish up and make tracks. Whatever was hidden in this building couldn't be worth Jax's life and the lives of his friends. Could it?