LITMIR.BIZ

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      He frowned, perplexed by the question. ‘No miss, Carl.’

      ‘Well Carl, give my compliments to Mr. Develin and tell him for me that he can go straight to hell. Do you think you can remember that?’

      He moved so fast that Sarah had no opportunity to defend herself as he took hold of her right arm in a savage grip then proceeded to half drag; half carry her up the remaining steps and along the corridor to the left. Suddenly he stopped before a set of double doors and released her.

      ‘I suggest, Miss Churchill, that you deliver the message yourself.’

      He pushed one of the doors open with the flat of his hand then stepped back as Seefan propelled Sarah quickly inside, closing the door behind her. From his pocket came a ring of keys. He selected one, decorated with a small pink ribbon. He smiled tightly as he heard the deadbolt slide across, click then lock into place, sealing shut with a bar of pure steel the only external access to the rooms beyond.

      He stood for a moment turning the key around and around between his fingers. And if you are not the one, my dear Miss Churchill, perhaps he will allow me a few hours of your time before he disposes of you.

      *****

      ‘Oh Miss Sarah, this Mr. Carl, he is Mr. Develin’s bodyguard. Very close to him, very close.’ Seefan was practically hysterical.

      ‘Calm down, Seefan. Look, it’s obvious the guy is a few sandwiches short of a picnic. He wasn’t even smart enough to know when he was being insulted. What a jerk!’

      ‘This one, he can kill with just a touch. No wise thing to make an enemy of him.’ Seefan took Sarah’s hands between her own. ‘Please Miss Sarah, allow your fear to flow its course. Do not seek to hide it behind a false mask nor spit the venom of your wrath. He will take unkindly such disrespect from one so young. Compose yourself in modesty, speak only when he asks of you; challenge no thing. In discretion lies your only hope of survival.’

      Sarah tried to pull herself free, but Seefan held her tight.

      ‘Your youth and beauty are but fleeting things. They will not be enough to save you should you prove troublesome. He will take you fast, drawing into himself all that you are then he will destroy you. This I have beheld, for you are not the first.’

      Sarah drew back, appalled.

      ‘Now come, you must eat, then rest. Think on all that I have said. Pray to your god for the strength you will need to stand before this man in humble grace, and I will pray to mine for your safe delivery.’

      *****

      ‘Go straight in, Doctor Laird. Mr. Develin is expecting you.’ Develin’s secretary intoned as he nodded towards the massive wooden door.

      Laird quickly fingered the knot of his tie, squared his shoulders then knocked discreetly. As he eased the heavy door shut, Develin’s secretary pushed a button inside the top drawer of his desk, locking the door with an audible metallic thud.

      Develin sat at a desk on the far side of the room. A converted library, most of the books had been removed to accommodate racks of telecommunications equipment, computers, monitoring equipment and much more.

      ‘Well?’ Develin demanded, as Laird slipped into the chair offered him.

      ‘No difficulties, sir.’

      ‘And the girl?’

      ‘Miss Churchill is resting. Seefan is with her. I have encouraged her to take some nourishment since there is some slight dehydration; nothing to be too concerned about. She has, ah ... refused all meals since she was …’ He paused. ‘She kicked a tray out of the hands of one of Capritzo’s staff, sending food flying everywhere.’

      He chuckled, but quickly sobered beneath Develin’s level gaze. He decided then not to mention the fact that Miss Churchill had quite expertly kicked Capritzo’s bodyguard, Maharsh, hard in the groin when they were getting her ready to go. Laird cleared his throat.

      ‘Perhaps you could expand upon Capritzo’s description of her as volatile.’

      ‘She is, ah … high-spirited, sir, very intelligent, quick-witted, unpredictable yes, but with careful handling I believe she will settle in very well.’

      ‘This is not an academy for errant young ladies, Laird, nor am I inclined to play the role of professor. I assume your examination of her was complete?’

      Laird took a deep breath, partly to calm his nerves. ‘Yes sir. She was carefully examined in my presence. She is remarkably free of any skin defects. Her hair …’ Laird coughed into his cupped hand. ‘Excuse me sir, her hair colour is natural. While she was under I inserted the device ...’

      Develin glared at him. ‘Capritzo had her drugged?’

      ‘It was the only way anyone could get close to her, sir.’

      ‘I see,’ Develin snapped, visibly annoyed.

      Laird continued. ‘The, ah ... device can easily be removed using non-surgical techniques. It was necessary to cut her fingernails since they were marginally too long. And she was quite prepared to use them but you don’t want to know that. Her teeth are in excellent condition, the four wisdom teeth intact. Her ears are not pierced, which is unusual for her age group. Preliminary tests on the samples of blood taken have yielded the following information. Her hemoglobin level is well within an acceptable range, she shows no evidence of B12 or folic acid deficiencies nor …’

      ‘Doctor Laird, as fascinating as all this may seem to you, it is sufficient for me to know only that she is healthy and disease free.’

      ‘She is sir, on both counts. All the details are contained in my report.’ He reached inside his jacket pocket. ‘Mr. Capritzo asked me to deliver this to you, personally.’

      Laird watched, fascinated, as Develin slit the envelope open using a razor-sharp blade capped by an intricately carved wolf’s head in jade. Deftly he removed the single sheet of paper and scanned it before setting it aside. ‘And the blood samples?’

      ‘I’ve handed them directly to Doctor Casey as requested, sir. The results have been promised by Monday noon. He will personally transmit the information then, if not sooner.’ The bitter tone of Laird’s voice alerted Develin immediately.

      ‘Is there a problem?’

      ‘No sir. I have obviously been under some misconceptions, that’s all.’

      ‘Cleared up, I trust.’

      Laird glanced across as the piece of paper. ‘Yes sir, all cleared up.’

      ‘Good. Is there anything else?’

      Laird hesitated. ‘Yes sir, there is. In my report I have made some recommendations regarding timing, especially as it relates to estrus; the stage at which conception can be virtually assured.’

      ‘Then, Doctor Laird, I believe you have the cart before the horse. Until such time as Miss Churchill has been cleared, I see no point in discussing the matter further. Unless there is something else, you are free to go.’

      ‘Thank you, sir.’

      Laird was almost at the door when the automatic locking mechanism sprang into action. He hesitated then turned. ‘Sir, what will happen to her if she proves unsatisfactory?’

      ‘That is none of your concern, Laird. Get out!’

      *****

      ‘So she ruffled a few manly feathers did she, Carl?’ Develin asked, mildly amused as his bodyguard and lifelong friend paced the room.

      ‘She’s

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