To Touch Poison Read Online Free
Author: L. j. Charles
man next to her shifted position, turning his head slightly toward her. Curiosity flashed in his eyes. “We’re escorting you to Andrews Field, ma’am.”
His tone was cautious, bordering on conspicuously polite…like he was afraid of her. How…odd. And then his words sunk into her overloaded brain. Not going to Langley. Not going to her apartment. But they were taking her somewhere, obviously unknown. Where no one knew how to find her. Like a prison?
A burst of fear shut down her breathing for a heartbeat. She fought it, straightened her spine, and explored the possibilities. Holding her in captivity would be stupid if they expected her to perfect the formula and find an antidote. What they didn’t know, what no one knew, was that she’d discovered a slight variation of the formula that held curative properties. She hadn’t tested it thoroughly enough to share the news with anyone, but there was little doubt that, with some minor tweaking, it had the potential to become a miracle drug.
A sigh welled from deep in her chest. No point getting her hopes up. Curative drugs were rare, and this one would require switching several key components, and she had to factor in the healing abilities that were inherent in her genes. In addition to being psychic, both Makani Maliu, the sweetest of all possible mothers, and Aukele, the most enigmatic of all possible fathers, were born healers. Damn, but she needed a lab, preferably close to the source of the plants she’d need in order to produce the formula. As much as she longed to ensure no one would be able to create the fatal toxin in future generations, it was far more important to make the healing formula available to everyone, unless it required her specific genetic make-up to actually work. But she wouldn’t know until she tried it.
The government would only be interested in the toxin and a possible antidote. Maybe. Miracles held the potential to generate astronomical sums. Not something the government would turn down, nor would pharmaceutical companies, or industrious entrepreneurs. Or criminals.
But if there was a viable antidote that could be produced in mass quantities, that formula would be different from her potential miracle drug. That was for sure. She’d tried using the healing formula to undo damage from the toxin, and it had failed every single test.
The South American jungle was the only place where the specific combination of plants she needed grew. Natively, anyway. She might be able to create hospitable conditions in a lab, but… And there it was. A simple answer to the question she hadn’t asked. They were going to transport her to the heart of the South American jungle without allowing her to have any contact with her family. Or Jayme. Emotion rolled in her gut, so strong she couldn’t separate the anger from the sadness.
“No. Oh, no this isn’t going happen.” Her fingers closed over the seatbelt fastening, freeing it. She kicked the duffle out of the way, and lurched toward the door. Stop and go traffic. As soon as the vehicle slowed…
A hand fisted around her upper arm. “My orders, ma’am, are to ensure your safe delivery to Andrews Field. And that door is locked. Controls are up front.”
She was a prisoner. Without bars. Kaimi managed to choke down her need to flee. The timing was off, and failure the probable outcome. She didn’t act on poor odds. Not normally. Settling into the leather seat, she refastened her seat belt and yanked the duffle onto her lap to explore the contents. Maybe it was an inopportune time to fight her way out of the situation, but it was an excellent time to prepare.
She took mental inventory of what Fred had provided: Three sets of jungle camouflage clothing, four sets of serviceable underwear, one pair of boots, appropriate toiletries, and an ASEK survival knife. Hot damn. A weapon.
A sideways glance at the corporal confirmed he was aware of the blade, and in close quarters he’d have the advantage of
His tone was cautious, bordering on conspicuously polite…like he was afraid of her. How…odd. And then his words sunk into her overloaded brain. Not going to Langley. Not going to her apartment. But they were taking her somewhere, obviously unknown. Where no one knew how to find her. Like a prison?
A burst of fear shut down her breathing for a heartbeat. She fought it, straightened her spine, and explored the possibilities. Holding her in captivity would be stupid if they expected her to perfect the formula and find an antidote. What they didn’t know, what no one knew, was that she’d discovered a slight variation of the formula that held curative properties. She hadn’t tested it thoroughly enough to share the news with anyone, but there was little doubt that, with some minor tweaking, it had the potential to become a miracle drug.
A sigh welled from deep in her chest. No point getting her hopes up. Curative drugs were rare, and this one would require switching several key components, and she had to factor in the healing abilities that were inherent in her genes. In addition to being psychic, both Makani Maliu, the sweetest of all possible mothers, and Aukele, the most enigmatic of all possible fathers, were born healers. Damn, but she needed a lab, preferably close to the source of the plants she’d need in order to produce the formula. As much as she longed to ensure no one would be able to create the fatal toxin in future generations, it was far more important to make the healing formula available to everyone, unless it required her specific genetic make-up to actually work. But she wouldn’t know until she tried it.
The government would only be interested in the toxin and a possible antidote. Maybe. Miracles held the potential to generate astronomical sums. Not something the government would turn down, nor would pharmaceutical companies, or industrious entrepreneurs. Or criminals.
But if there was a viable antidote that could be produced in mass quantities, that formula would be different from her potential miracle drug. That was for sure. She’d tried using the healing formula to undo damage from the toxin, and it had failed every single test.
The South American jungle was the only place where the specific combination of plants she needed grew. Natively, anyway. She might be able to create hospitable conditions in a lab, but… And there it was. A simple answer to the question she hadn’t asked. They were going to transport her to the heart of the South American jungle without allowing her to have any contact with her family. Or Jayme. Emotion rolled in her gut, so strong she couldn’t separate the anger from the sadness.
“No. Oh, no this isn’t going happen.” Her fingers closed over the seatbelt fastening, freeing it. She kicked the duffle out of the way, and lurched toward the door. Stop and go traffic. As soon as the vehicle slowed…
A hand fisted around her upper arm. “My orders, ma’am, are to ensure your safe delivery to Andrews Field. And that door is locked. Controls are up front.”
She was a prisoner. Without bars. Kaimi managed to choke down her need to flee. The timing was off, and failure the probable outcome. She didn’t act on poor odds. Not normally. Settling into the leather seat, she refastened her seat belt and yanked the duffle onto her lap to explore the contents. Maybe it was an inopportune time to fight her way out of the situation, but it was an excellent time to prepare.
She took mental inventory of what Fred had provided: Three sets of jungle camouflage clothing, four sets of serviceable underwear, one pair of boots, appropriate toiletries, and an ASEK survival knife. Hot damn. A weapon.
A sideways glance at the corporal confirmed he was aware of the blade, and in close quarters he’d have the advantage of
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