Read Online Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant (Cassidy Jones Adventures, Book Three) by Elise Stokes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elise Stokes
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this?”
“This may come as a shock to you, but she was not ‘at liberty’ to disclose how she knew.” Emery smiled wryly. I tried to smile, but couldn’t manage it. The Phillipses were a strange bunch.
“However, she did reveal that three of the scientists had double-crossed King. They hid their microchip and demanded more money. Subsequently, all three scientists died under suspicious circumstances, including the two who did hold up their end of the bargain with King. Obviously, King doesn’t like leaving loose ends.”
“You mean he murdered them?”
“That would be my guess.”
I nodded. This was a lot to take in. “So King has two microchips—”
“Four, presumably. When King Jr. held my mom captive, he revealed they had four microchips and were in the process of acquiring the fifth, which I’m guessing is hidden somewhere in the Queen Kiya exhibit.”
“But how would King know?”
“I doubt he would have killed anyone without knowing the microchips’ locations first.”
“You mean he tortured the scientists?”
“The condition of the bodies made it difficult for coroners to determine the cause of death.”
I sank back into my seat, processing. Torture. Murder. A top-secret biological weapon in the hands of a madman . . .
What was Emery’s dad’s role in all of this? Did he work for King? What would his motivation be?
Money , I concluded. There was no other explanation.
In that moment, everything fell into place. Mr. Phillips’s long absences, Junior being acquainted with him, Mr. Phillips showing up with perfect timing for Junior’s prison break, the conversation in the tomb, the danger he exuded like radioactive energy . . . Mr. Phillips had been rounding up microchips all these years. Maybe he had them, and not King.
Maybe he had even murdered those scientists.
“I have to stop him,” I said out loud.
“ We have to stop King,” Emery corrected, misunderstanding—thank goodness.
“Why did King kidnap your mom?” I forced my mind away from Emery’s dad. King knew Serena didn’t have the microchip, so what further use would she be to him?
“He needs someone to create Assassin after he has acquired the recipe. Who better than chief scientist of the program?”
It made sense. “So this means King is close?” I surmised, glancing around at the other passengers. How would their lives be affected if King gained possession of the fifth microchip?
Or if Emery’s father gained it?
“King believes he is,” Emery said. “Here’s our stop.” He reached across me to yank the cord.
As the bus eased toward the curb, he gave me a rundown of vital information I needed before we met Riley and her bounty hunters. “You know that I’m a college graduate, that I do skip tracing for Riley, which you think is extremely cool, by the way.” The bus halted, and we stood up. He stepped into the aisle and added, “Oh, and you’re my girlfriend.”
“Your what ?” I blurted.
The woman who had slid in behind Emery smiled at me. “You’re his girlfriend, dear,” she said loudly, causing heads to turn.
Emery’s shoulders shook with laughter.
~~~
We entered an older brick building that stood only blocks from the museum. Opting for stairs over the ancient elevator, we wound up three flights, entered a corridor, and walked to the door at the end of the hall.
O’S HEA B AIL B ONDS was painted in bold, no-nonsense letters across the obscure glass.
“Ready?” Emery clasped the doorknob.
I nodded, suddenly not feeling very ready at all.
“Shall we hold hands?” Emery winked, obviously trying to settle my nerves, but that just wasn’t going to happen. Being struck with shyness wasn’t unusual for me when meeting someone new.
“Why did you tell them I’m your girlfriend?” I whispered.
“I didn’t. I told them about the beautiful girl I live across the street from. They drew their own conclusions.” He began turning the knob. I placed my hand over his hand
“This may come as a shock to you, but she was not ‘at liberty’ to disclose how she knew.” Emery smiled wryly. I tried to smile, but couldn’t manage it. The Phillipses were a strange bunch.
“However, she did reveal that three of the scientists had double-crossed King. They hid their microchip and demanded more money. Subsequently, all three scientists died under suspicious circumstances, including the two who did hold up their end of the bargain with King. Obviously, King doesn’t like leaving loose ends.”
“You mean he murdered them?”
“That would be my guess.”
I nodded. This was a lot to take in. “So King has two microchips—”
“Four, presumably. When King Jr. held my mom captive, he revealed they had four microchips and were in the process of acquiring the fifth, which I’m guessing is hidden somewhere in the Queen Kiya exhibit.”
“But how would King know?”
“I doubt he would have killed anyone without knowing the microchips’ locations first.”
“You mean he tortured the scientists?”
“The condition of the bodies made it difficult for coroners to determine the cause of death.”
I sank back into my seat, processing. Torture. Murder. A top-secret biological weapon in the hands of a madman . . .
What was Emery’s dad’s role in all of this? Did he work for King? What would his motivation be?
Money , I concluded. There was no other explanation.
In that moment, everything fell into place. Mr. Phillips’s long absences, Junior being acquainted with him, Mr. Phillips showing up with perfect timing for Junior’s prison break, the conversation in the tomb, the danger he exuded like radioactive energy . . . Mr. Phillips had been rounding up microchips all these years. Maybe he had them, and not King.
Maybe he had even murdered those scientists.
“I have to stop him,” I said out loud.
“ We have to stop King,” Emery corrected, misunderstanding—thank goodness.
“Why did King kidnap your mom?” I forced my mind away from Emery’s dad. King knew Serena didn’t have the microchip, so what further use would she be to him?
“He needs someone to create Assassin after he has acquired the recipe. Who better than chief scientist of the program?”
It made sense. “So this means King is close?” I surmised, glancing around at the other passengers. How would their lives be affected if King gained possession of the fifth microchip?
Or if Emery’s father gained it?
“King believes he is,” Emery said. “Here’s our stop.” He reached across me to yank the cord.
As the bus eased toward the curb, he gave me a rundown of vital information I needed before we met Riley and her bounty hunters. “You know that I’m a college graduate, that I do skip tracing for Riley, which you think is extremely cool, by the way.” The bus halted, and we stood up. He stepped into the aisle and added, “Oh, and you’re my girlfriend.”
“Your what ?” I blurted.
The woman who had slid in behind Emery smiled at me. “You’re his girlfriend, dear,” she said loudly, causing heads to turn.
Emery’s shoulders shook with laughter.
~~~
We entered an older brick building that stood only blocks from the museum. Opting for stairs over the ancient elevator, we wound up three flights, entered a corridor, and walked to the door at the end of the hall.
O’S HEA B AIL B ONDS was painted in bold, no-nonsense letters across the obscure glass.
“Ready?” Emery clasped the doorknob.
I nodded, suddenly not feeling very ready at all.
“Shall we hold hands?” Emery winked, obviously trying to settle my nerves, but that just wasn’t going to happen. Being struck with shyness wasn’t unusual for me when meeting someone new.
“Why did you tell them I’m your girlfriend?” I whispered.
“I didn’t. I told them about the beautiful girl I live across the street from. They drew their own conclusions.” He began turning the knob. I placed my hand over his hand
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