Wrenching Fate Read Online Free Page A

desk. “Who knows what crucial evidence was lost?”
    Holmes sighed and ran a hand through his unruly white hair. “I say again, the victim was a civilian. He was, in fact, a serial killer the FBI had been trying to catch for years. More than that, he was beaten to death by a creature with supernatural strength, which is why my department was called rather than yours. What connection to the military could be seen in this?”
    Milbury rolled his eyes. “So you thought one of your ‘monsters’ killed him.”
    The AIU investigated crimes committed by what they believed to be supernatural beings such as witches, vampires, and God knew what else. Milbury saw it as a waste of taxpayer dollars.
    Holmes gave him another superior smile. “Yes, we did. But the DNA didn’t match a vampire’s. Too many red cells and too… engineered , for lack of a better word. Which brings me to a question: What has your department been cooking up that has you looking for a nineteen year old female with no military association? And why are you so interested in the remains we’re storing?”
    Milbury’s temper receded as triumph and anti cipation seeped in. “Was the DNA found on the victim female?”
    “It was,” the scientist admitted in a cautious tone.
    Francis smiled tightly. “I could tell you the information’s classified, but I’ll humor you and ask, why did you call to inform me of this victim when I sent out memos describing the girl? The remains are of an older male, correct?”
    Holmes chuckled and adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses. “You’re lucky I even read your note. Runaways aren’t our specialty. However, the COAT letterhead piqued my curiosity. All that aside, let’s say I found a possible connection.”
    “I want everything you have released to me immediately,” Milbury demanded.
    Holmes shook his head. “Not so fast. It’s still my property. I can, however, give you full access to my lab and all files and evidence pertaining to this case… if I feel like it.”
    Milbury wanted to knock him in the teeth. “What do you want, Joe?”
    “I want in on this.” All of Holmes’s usual cheer was abandoned, giving way to implacable determination.
    “You want in how ?” Francis knew, but had to ask. He couldn’t afford misunderstandings.
    “I want to perform the research and testing on this woman. I want to know how this mutation works.” Holmes’s gaze filled with scientific zeal.
    Milbury’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you think I’d be authorized to let the Feds in on this?”
    Joe smirked. “Because you came. Not a scientist or even a doctor. I’m willing to bet you don’t have either on your staff. In fact, I’m not so certain your superiors even know we’re having this conversation.”
    Francis sighed in effort to hide his prickle of unease. Damn the rat bastard, he was right. Milbury’s department was a cleanup crew for “loose ends.” All Francis had were paper pushers and assassins— and since the budget cuts, very few of those.
    Holmes had him by the balls and he knew it. Somehow, the slimy Fed had done his homework and knew how low the COAT had sunk in this last decade. Still, Holmes didn’t know everything.
    Like what happened to the scientists who’d engineered the serum with which the girl’s father had been injected.
    “The technology in my lab is superior to all others,” Holmes insisted. “And as for finding the girl, I have connections you don’t. Civilian connections.”
    Milbury pretended to agonize before snarling, “All right! But we must involve as few people as possible. Now show me what you’ve got.”
    Holmes donned his lab coat, resembling a mad scientist with his bug-eyed glasses and unruly white hair. “You sound like a drill sergeant when you’re pissed, you know that? Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you all, explain it to you in laymen’s terms, and even tell you what we should do next.” His shit-eating grin grated on Francis’s nerves.
    They