Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(68)

Jack sat on the edge of the table beside me. “Therefore, few would know to look for it if someone, let’s say, was searched for weapons.”

“Slide it on.” Coach took the ring and helped me slide it onto my middle finger. “It tightens a little, like this.” He proceeded to slide something and tightened the ring on my skinny finger.

I held it up in front of my face. It was a simple silver design with a large pearl on top.

“The pearls are hollow but not empty. The liquid inside can pack quite a punch. Twist the pearl clockwise by only touching the sides,” Coach said.

I twisted it like he said, and a tiny pointed tip slid out from the top of the pearl. I reached out my finger and was about to touch it when Coach grabbed my forearm. “Don’t touch that.”

I jerked my head up. “What does it do?”

“That pointy tip is a small needle. It’s very sharp. If you were to touch that needle to someone’s skin… even the tiniest graze… the liquid from the pearl would be injected into that person’s body. Just a small amount is all you would need.”

My heart rate sped up. “Need for what?”

Jack rubbed his stubble, shifting beside me.

“A few drops of that in someone’s bloodstream will buy you about ten minutes. The entire container will buy you about twenty-four hours.”

“What does it do?” Jonas asked. He held my hand up and examined the pearl.

“It acts as a paralysis drug. When injected into a person’s bloodstream, within five seconds the person will be unable to move any part of their body.”

“Paralyzed,” I whispered.

Coach nodded. “Able to breathe and maybe move their eyes, but they’d be limp as a rag doll.”

I held the ring in front of my face, examining it the way a newly engaged girl might stare at her engagement ring. This would totally work. I wouldn’t kill anyone, yet I could incapacitate someone if I needed to.

“To close and reseal the chamber holding the drug, twist the pearl again in the opposite direction.”

Seth had been standing against the wall. He pushed off and paced around the room. “Okay. So, let’s say you get into the IIA’s facility. What then? You just going to roam the halls looking for Addison, paralyzing people you come in contact with and hoping they don’t shoot you before you get close enough?”

Jack and Jonas traded looks. It was Jack who stood tall and spoke first. “No. I’ll be armed, as will Jonas.”

I fiddled with the ring around my finger.

“And you’re okay with that?” Seth asked me.

I scanned all of their faces. “Yes. However, with Jonas’s and my mind-control tricks, I’m hoping to avoid injuring any of the agents. And I’ve asked someone else to come along.”

“Who?” Jonas asked.

As if on cue, the door opened, and in sashayed Briana. She wore black leggings, a fitted black sweater, and black ballet flats. She looked like a stylish cat burglar. I wasn’t sure if anyone else noticed whose face Briana found first, but I sure did. It hadn’t taken long for Briana to set her sights on Jonas. And by the look on his face, I was pretty sure he was soaking it up.

I shook my head. “Hi, Bree. You think you’re up for this?”

“I think so. Between what Jack has shown me and what I’ve practiced, I think I can at least help.”

Jonas cleared his throat and stood. “I’ve shown Bree how to operate a Taser. She’s armed already.”

And when did you have time to do that?

Jonas shot a quick glance at me. Jealous?

Uh… no. “What about Georgia?” I asked.

Jonas’s face fell slightly.

“Nothing?”

He shook his head.

“What?” Jack asked, as if just understanding what we were talking about. “No one has talked to Georgia?” He looked me straight in the eye. “We can’t go in there without her. I won’t let you.”

“You won’t let me?” My eyebrows shot up.

“Lexi, be reasonable. If you can’t remove the tracker…” Jack stared at me until I squirmed. “You’re planning to go in anyway.”

“Yes. And maybe it’s for the best. I’ll go in alone, find the tracker server, destroy it, grab Addison, and get out. With that computer destroyed, the other clones with trackers will have a fighting chance.”

“Absolutely not. You realize what that would mean?” Jack ran a hand through his hair.

I reached up and grabbed both of his hands in mine. “I know exactly what it would mean. It will be better this way.” I lifted one of his hands up to cup my cheek, leaning into his touch. “One way or another, you’re getting Addison back. And if I can’t extract the trackers, I’ll figure out a way to work with Sandra until I can.”

Jack turned to Jonas. “And you’re okay with this?”

“No, but her mind is made up.” He looked down at his feet. “She won’t be going in alone, though.”

I eyed Jonas. “Oh, yes I will. You’re not going back in there if we can’t remove the trackers. If Sandra thinks you’re part of some plan to destroy her operation, she’ll kill you for sure.”

“If Sandra wanted me dead, she would have done it already.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’m fairly certain she thinks I’m still working to bring you in to her. When she sees that I have, she’ll trust me. She obviously needs me for something.”