A few days later, on the morning of Christmas Eve, Joshua sat in his refurnished home office, using his new laptop to surf the internet. He’d found a Web site for Infinity Defense Systems, the company name he’d seen on the helicopter.
Known by the acronym IDS, the organization was involved in top-secret molecular manufacturing studies, under the aegis of the United States military. The site included such high-level, sparse detail it was a wonder that they bothered to maintain a Web presence at all.
But he remembered what Dexter had told him.
You can’t protect her from me. No one can. Not after what they’ve given me . . . the power I have . . .
IDS had done something to him, mostly likely during his incarceration. Secret weapons research, the nature of which was beyond Joshua’s comprehension. It didn’t excuse what he had done, didn’t condone his violent, deranged actions, but it explained his unusual talent for stealth, and his extraordinary regenerative capabilities.
It also prompted Joshua to wonder: how many other individuals like Dexter Bates might be roaming the country, pumped full of experimental substances, and then set free to see what happened?
Perhaps he was getting carried away, allowing his vivid artist’s imagination to create wild, speculative ideas.
But the thought chilled him.
He closed the Web site, and checked his watch. If he left the house now, he could hit the stores in time to finish his Christmas shopping. A far more pleasant activity than reflecting on the evil that men did to one another.
Chapter 66
Two years later
Joshua and Rachel strolled barefoot along a curve of pristine white sand, hand-in-hand. A summer sun smiled down on them, and a cool, salty breeze ruffled the comfortable white shirts and shorts that both of them wore. They were alone on the shore, the vast Atlantic Ocean on his right, stretching to a hazy horizon.
“Dad-dee.”
Joshua looked into the eyes of their son, Justin. He was a beautiful, healthy boy with soft skin the color of nutmeg, Rachel’s eyes and nose, Joshua’s lips and cheekbones, and a full head of dark, curly hair.
“Hey, little man,” Joshua said, and bounced him on his hip.
Walking beside them, Rachel looked at their child, then at Joshua, and smiled—an expression of pure joy, utterly free of worry and fear. Sunlight filigreed her curly, auburn hair, giving it the appearance of spun gold.
Joshua brought Rachel’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
“Let’s go to the house,” she said. She smiled, seductively. “Justin looks like he needs a nap.”
The house was a short distance ahead, on the left. Justin tugged at Joshua’s ear, drawing his attention. His son pointed excitedly at something in the distance: a ferry that bobbed on the waves like a child’s bath toy.
A powerful sense of deja-vu gripped Joshua. Had this happened before? Or had he dreamed of it?
He couldn’t remember, and the feeling soon passed. His son was still gesturing at the ferry, babbling.
“That’s the ferry, little man,” Joshua said. “You’ve been on the ferry before, remember?”
Justin only giggled, and tugged Joshua’s ear again.
Rachel had walked ahead, and was waiting at the open patio door.
“All of a sudden, I had a feeling about something, Josh,” she said. “A very strong, good feeling.”
“Uh-oh, one of those.” Chuckling, Joshua kissed Justin on the forehead. “Tell me more, sweetheart.”
“We’re going to have another baby.”
“Really?”
“Yep. First, we’ve gotta go upstairs and handle some grown-folks’ business, and then . . .” She was smiling.
He kissed her. “Now those are the kind of predictions I like.”
The family went inside the house together.
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About Brandon Massey
Brandon Massey was born June 9, 1973 and grew up in Zion, Illinois. He lives with his family near Atlanta, Georgia, where he is at work on his next thriller. Visit his web site at www.brandonmassey.com for the latest news on his upcoming books.
Table of Contents
Also by Brandon Massey
Author’s Note
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Part Two
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Part Three
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Sign up for Brandon Massey's e-Newsletter
About Brandon Massey
Table of Contents
Also by Brandon Massey
Author’s Note
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Part Two
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Part Thre
e
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Sign up for Brandon Massey's e-Newsletter
About Brandon Massey