Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Conner stared at Beth after she climbed into the passenger seat of the car. She returned his gaze with a raise of her eyebrows.
"What?" she asked.
He rolled his eyes. "Were you planning to tell me how it went? I saw Pierce heading down the sidewalk with an overnight bag a minute ago. I presume you were changing out back."
"Oh, that," she said, giving a nonchalant shrug. "It happened just how I said it would. I stopped those two guys. They're up in the apartment, tied up. They work for WarTech. I have their phones here, powered down. I doubt they'll tell us much, but I have enough."
"Enough what?" Conner asked.
"Enough evidence to no longer feel bad about sneaking into WarTech and getting a firsthand look at the Enigma Project."
"Absolutely not," Conner replied. "I sat here worried sick while you were up there dealing with those two thugs. No way am I letting you go into a place even more dangerous."
"Let me?" Beth asked, both her voice and eyebrows raising. "I don't think I need your permission, Conner. This is what I do."
"Beth, I — "
"Conner, just stop," she snapped, before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry for being short with you. But if I had known you'd try to stop me from doing what I need to do, I wouldn't have told you I was Sapphire Angel."
"What you need to do? Beth, you don't need to do any of this."
"But I do," she replied. "You'll never understand. This isn't open to debate. You can either help me, or fly back to Pennsylvania and stay out of my way."
Conner stared at her, his jaw set, before giving a slow shake of his head.
"Help you it is," he murmured. "Tell me your plan."
Mark Devlin was a big picture guy, so the data on the monitor didn't mean much to him. He still paid close attention, though, as Roy Valik, his lead scientist, concluded his explanation.
"There is something unusual in some of the scans of Sapphire Angel," the scientist said. "It's like there is a power flowing through her — something different than muscle strength or physical attributes. Unfortunately, I can't determine what it is. There are just anomalies in some readings."
"That's not exactly news," Devlin replied with a frown. "We already knew Sapphire Angel was a unique specimen. That's all you can tell me?"
"I'm continuing to analyze things, and to research and investigate. I would need to study Sapphire Angel much closer to unravel her mysteries, but right now I'm digging to see whether there's been anything — or anyone — like her, either now, or in the past."
"Haven't we done that before, in a way, when we were trying to come up with our own super soldier formula?"
"Yes, but perhaps the limited data I got from Sapphire Angel will help me discover something we missed."
Devlin's iPhone rang, and he stepped away from his lead scientist as he fished the device out of his pocket and looked down at the screen. It was Steve Hains, WarTech's security chief.
"Yes?" Devlin answered.
"Bad news," Hains said. "Sam and Lou found Dameon Wilson's brother, Gavin Pierce. But before they could get anything from him, Sapphire Angel showed up."
"Damn it! So they struck out?"
"Worse," Hains replied. "She took them both out, and then Sam spilled his guts to her. She knows he works for us."
"Oh, fuck him. Why the hell would he tell her that?"
"He said it was like he was under a spell or something," Hains replied. "He couldn't help himself."
Devlin ran his hand through his hair and gritted his teeth.
"We hired him for his brawn, not his brains," Devlin said. "He always was a simple-minded son of a bitch. It was a miscalculation sending them after Pierce. Now the costumed bitch is on our trail even more than she was before."
"Based on what I've read about her, I wouldn't put it past her to come here, secretly."
Devlin muttered under his breath and shook his head.
"I need you to review all our security protocols," the CEO said. "We can't afford any slip-ups."
"Yes, sir," Hains replied, and Devlin ended the call.
As he soon as he slipped his phone back into his pocket, Devlin wondered if he was making the right decision. He had asked Pierce to double down on the facility's security, but perhaps that wasn't the correct move. He was trying to prevent the superheroine from entering the facility, out of fear she might discover their plans, but at what cost? He might be passing up a prime opportunity. She would be eager to discover WarTech's secrets, and perhaps it was time to use that eagerness to their advantage. When he stepped back toward Valik, he narrowed his eyes.
"If you knew Sapphire Angel inside and out," Devlin asked, "could you replicate her abilities? Or at least some of them?"
Valik shrugged. "This whole thing is new. I would need much more data to even guess at that. And to understand her inside and out, I would need the kind of data we can only get up close and personal. And you didn't want me to do anything like that when she visited us, if you recall."
"Circumstances have changed."
Devlin pulled his phone out again and dialed a number.
"Yes?" a voice answered over the speaker.
"Get Mantis up here," Devlin said, and hung up without waiting for a response. When he turned back toward Valik, the scientist was running a hand through his hair.
"What's wrong, Roy?"
Valik didn't reply, instead biting his lip and looking down.
"Don't mince words with me, Roy."
Valik looked up and nodded. "I can tell when you're up to something. Even though I wanted to learn everything possible about Sapphire Angel while she was here on her visit, you're worrying me. I can guess what you're planning."
Devlin kept his face expressionless, but said nothing. Roy Valik knew him well indeed.
"Sapphire Angel is not to be trifled with," Valik continued. "She will not be a willing subject. Are you sure this is a chance you want to take? It might put everything we do here at risk. All my work. Our work. She is a threat."
"Yes, she's a threat. She's been digging where she shouldn't be digging. But she's also an opportunity. We can kill two birds with one stone — seize the opportunity and eliminate the threat. You said yourself you need to study her much more closely to even guess at what you can accomplish. In a moment I'll know whether it's worth the risk."
"You're thinking about trying to do what? Ensnare Sapphire Angel? I'm sure there's a long line of people who've tried. And failed."
"I'm sure you're right. But I have something — or someone — they don't."
The door behind Devlin opened, and Mantis walked in. As usual, the dark-clad man's face showed no emotion. He didn't speak as he approached Devlin and Valik.
"So, Mr. Mantis," Devlin said. "It looks like I need to put our contingency plan into effect. Have you finished your planning? Can you beat someone who is unbeatable? Can you capture Sapphire Angel?"
The question hung like a bomb in the air. Mantis showed a reaction to the question, which was unusual. His mouth turned up at the corners, forming a slight smile.
"Did you plant the seeds of information with her during her visit?" Mantis asked.
"I told her exactly what you asked me to tell her," Devlin replied.
“And you removed any security cameras in the areas she visited?”
"I did. Why was that important?"
"I've been thinking about this since my first encounter with the woman. I doubt anyone can go toe to toe with her in combat. Even me. I need a situation where I catch her off guard. But I cannot hunt her. There would be too many variables I can't control. I need her to come to me."
"So a trap?"
"Yes, a trap. It is one of my areas of expertise. The information you gave her was the bait, even if you didn't realize it. Knowing what I know, it should be enough to entice her to come here, uninvited."
"Are you ready now?" Devlin asked, his voice rising with excitement. "We might not have much time. She visited Dameon Wilson's brother."
"Why is that a problem?" Valik interjected.
"The problem is Dameon Wilson may have mentioned the Enigma Project to his brother, who may have mentioned it to Sapphire Angel. Even if he only shared the name, Sapphire Angel was here, and surely saw that," Devlin said, pointing to the hand-carved wooden sign above the room's large window, with the words "Enigma Project" on it.
"Oh," Valik murmured.
"Exactly what I was hoping for," Mantis said. "That sign is irresistible bait to someone like her."
"It's a big risk, Mantis," Devlin said. "She's a legend for a reason. And the timing sucks, if she takes the bait and things go wrong. I'm about to get on an airplane to pick up a special guest. I can't have her getting in the way of things."
Mantis nodded. "Actually, the timing couldn't be better. I have this under control."
Devlin rubbed his chin and stared at Mantis. After several moments, he nodded.
"Don't fail me again, Mantis. I need to catch a plane, but I expect to hear from you soon that you have a superheroine in chains."
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Conner.....come on, dude, just Iet her do her job.....I think she can handIe herseIf, Iike I said before. I was surprised---but aIso impressed---at how she set him straight Iike that, especiaIIy since they're supposed to be Iovers and aII. She's got guts; then again, she's had peopIe warning her about the dangers of her job before, so this is something she's IikeIy gotten used to by now. Looks Iike it's aImost time to invade WarTech; maybe we'II find out more regarding the Enigma project so it'II stop being so much of an......enigma. (rimshot)
So Roy VaIik reaIIy is just more of an eager Iearner rather than a creep. There's a character Iike that in Book #6 of my own series as weII. StiII, even though so many peopIe have tried and faiIed to rein in Sapphire, Iike VaIik protested, part of me feeIs Iike this is going to go different with Mantis at the heIm, since apparentIy DevIin's heading out to secure a guest.....is it ChappeIIe? I might be a bit foggy on the detaiIs, but I think he's too near to warrant taking a pIane.
Let's hope we aren't about to have a repeat of that garage torture scene with Raven Tristan in the previous noveI....that sequence was so weII-written but so excruciating and anxiety-inducing at the same time. She succeeded in bringing Sapphire under her heeI before (aIbeit with Sapphire paying her back Iater), and Mantis seems to be even more efficient. In an odd way, though, it'd be fitting; both animaI-themed minions who work for the main viIIain (Raven for WheIdon, and Mantis for DevIin) ruthIessIy hunt down the superheroine to try and get her off their backs. Suppose I'II have to keep going to see how this works out! It Iooks Iike the faciIity visit was even more of a trap than I first thought, if what Mantis said was any indication.....
She does have Conner with her now, though.....and Jack and Ross are stiII on standby, aIbeit at the grocery store. I wish they couId get to participate more than they currentIy are.....they have a stake in this as weII, with the whoIe Eric Stump situation and aII.
So I think Mantis is going to try and bring her in, then VaIik's going to come in and research her whiIe DevIin's away with his guest. LET'S DO IT!
.....On Monday!