Chapter Two
Leah Chin was not in a partying mood. After one glance at the large room where a party was in full swing, her nerves tensed. So many people, laughing and chatting, happy and comfortable with each other. She'd witnessed similar events numerous times in college, med school, and grad school. And she'd never fit in.
She'd grown up without the benefit of friends or classmates, so she'd been ill prepared for the social aspects of college. And starting at the age of fourteen hadn't helped. She found people fascinating, but only from a distance. She could watch the lively antics of brightly colored fish in a giant aquarium but never dive in and play. Jump in and you risk drowning. Or being eaten by sharks.
She glanced again at the security camera in the corner by the front door. Someone was staring at her, she could feel it. Stop being so paranoid! Still, her skin prickled with a strange sensation. Instead of being the scientist observing a specimen under a microscope, tonight she had an odd feeling that she was the specimen.
"Would you like to drop in and say hello?" Dr. Lee motioned to the large, noisy room.
"I-I don't want to interrupt." After all, she'd come here believing she would tour Romatech Industries and meet its owner, the renowned scientist Roman Draganesti. No one had said anything about a party. "I wasn't invited."
"Everyone's invited," Dr. Lee told her. "It's a birthday party for three kids. Very friendly people. You'll like them."
"They won't bite," Gregori Holstein added, his eyes twinkling when his wife shot him a disapproving look.
"You can meet them later." Abby Holstein gave her a reassuring pat on the arm. "How about we go to my lab first?"
"Yes." Leah jumped at the lifeline. "Please."
"Wonderful." Abby smiled at her. "I can't wait to show you what I've been working on."
"I'll see if I can find Roman for you." Gregori winked at his wife, then strode down a corridor on the left.
Leah noted the tender look in Abby's eyes as she watched her husband walk away. Must be nice to love someone that much.
"I'll join you in a few minutes after I see how the birthday kids are doing." Dr. Lee paused at the entrance to the large, noisy room. "I delivered them, you know."
Leah blinked. "You mean these people are your patients?" A week ago, when Dr. Lee had hired her, he'd mentioned he was the personal physician for a select group of clients. She would be expected to help him whenever he needed her, but she'd been hired mainly for her expertise in genetics.
He smiled. "You're their doctor now, too. They'll want to meet you sometime tonight. When you're ready."
She swallowed hard as Dr. Lee sauntered into the noisy room. There were so many of them. It would take her awhile to be comfortable with them all. Her gaze flitted quickly over the crowd. Bouncy, happy children. Only a few adults looked over the age of forty. In fact, most of them appeared to be in their peak years of fitness.
"They're really nice people," Abby said softly.
"They seem very healthy." Leah retreated into the foyer when a few partiers cast curious glances her way. "Why do they need two doctors at their beck and call?"
Abby hesitated before replying, "They have . . . special needs." With a quick smile, she motioned toward the double doors at the back of the foyer. "My lab's this way."
After one last worried glance at the party, Leah headed toward the double doors.
"Not much of a people person?" Abby asked as she held open a door.
Leah entered the next corridor. "I've always wanted to help people. That's why I became a doctor. But I discovered I was better suited for lab work." And being alone.
"I recognized the deer-in-the-headlights look on your face." Abby gave her a sympathetic smile. "I felt the same way when my father wanted me to attend campaign rallies or state dinners. It was all I could do not to throw up."
"Really?" Leah stared at her, stunned. "But you seem so . . . confident."
Abby snorted. "I learned to mask it, but I always felt terribly awkward at social events. Once I left the lab, I never knew what to say. Is it like that for you, too?"
"Yes. I've always found science much more reliable than people."
With a nod, Abby smiled. "I felt the same way . . . but then I met my husband." She turned left into the corridor. "Come on, this way."
Leah glanced about as she walked. The left wall was interspersed with doors; the right wall was made entirely of glass and overlooked a basketball court and a well-lit patio furnished with tables and chairs. She spotted a gazebo covered with white twinkling lights in the distance. So pretty. "This looks like a nice place to work."
Abby nodded. "I'm very happy here. I have a fabulous lab."
Leah slanted a curious look at Abigail Holstein. Could she actually become a friend? There'd been plenty of students eager to befriend Leah in college and med school, but they'd only sought her out in hopes of free tutoring from the infamous freak who had started college at the age of fourteen and med school at the age of seventeen. Dr. Freakazoid, they had called her behind her back. And when they'd no longer needed her to pass a course, they'd quickly disappeared.
She'd started off so naïve and trusting. It had been a cruel lesson, realizing that people were often undependable and unpredictable. Mercenary and combustible. You never knew when a seemingly harmless fish would turn out to be a shark. The only way to remain safe was to remain alone.
Science, on the other hand, she could trust. Unlike people, chemicals bonded in a consistent, reliable manner. They could break apart or combust only if she introduced a new variable. In her lab, she was in control, queen of a universe where all her constituents obeyed the rules.
She took a deep breath. "When Dr. Lee hired me, he said I would spend most of my time in a lab. It was my genetics research that interested him the most."
"Yes, we're very excited about that." Abby slowed to a stop. "Don't let the number of patients alarm you. You were right about them being very healthy. They won't need your services unless one of them is injured. Or expecting a child."
Leah noticed that Abby's hand had moved to her stomach. "Are you . . . ?"
With a grin, Abby nodded. "We found out last night."
"Wow. Congratulations."
Her face beaming, Abby leaned toward Leah. "Don't tell anyone, okay? We're going to announce it at the party."
Leah nodded. Would Abby be shocked to know she'd never had a friend confide a secret to her before? "I won't say a word."
Abby clasped her hands together. "Gregori is so excited. And his mother - she'll be ecstatic!"
"I imagine your parents will be thrilled," Leah added.
Abby's smile faded a bit. "I hope so."
Was there a problem there? A chill skittered down Leah's spine, and she peered over her shoulder. Another camera, its red light blinking. "Are we being watched?"
Abby glanced at the camera. "Maybe. We have excellent security."
"Can they hear us?"
"I suppose, if they turn up the volume." Abby shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it. There hasn't been an incident here since the bombing years ago." She winced. "It wasn't a big deal. No one was seriously hurt."
Leah's mouth dropped open. "This place was bombed?"
"I know it's hard to believe someone would do that when synthetic blood saves so many lives, but I'm afraid there are some strange . . . people out there." Abby patted her on the arm. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Leah glanced again at the camera. Were they listening? "I know the world is full of weirdos."
Abby gave her a worried look. "As you say." She walked forward a few steps, then stopped next to a door. "Welcome to my lab."
"Whoa. Are you partying without me?" Gregori asked as he sauntered into the security office. "It smells like Bubbly Blood in here."
"There was a wee accident." Angus motioned to where Dougal was partially hidden beside the desk, picking up shards of glass that were once a bottle and tossing them into the litter bin.
"Hey, dude, long time no see," Gregori greeted him. "How's the bionic hand?"
"Fine." Dougal straightened. "I . . . miscalculated my grip for a second." No way was he going to admit he'd lost control. Angus might reconsider putting him in charge here. Or refuse to let him go on missions.
Fortunately, Angus seemed more interested in watching the monitors than speculating on his wee accident.
"Where's Roman?" Gregori scanned the monitors, searching for his boss.
Angus pointed at a hallway where Roman was walking with Jean-Luc. "They're on their way to the party."
"I'll give him a call." Gregori punched a number on his cell phone, then asked Roman to head toward Abby's lab in ten minutes.
Meanwhile, Dougal located a broom and dustpan in the small closet. If this was going to be his office, he'd start taking care of it now. He swept up the last of the broken glass and dumped it into the litter bin.
"I wonder what they're talking about." Angus turned up the volume on the monitor showing Abby and Leah.
"We found out last night," Abby said, smiling and patting her stomach.
"Wow," Leah replied. "Congratulations."
"Och, man." Angus turned to Gregori. "Ye're going to be a father?"
Gregori grinned. "Yep. You bet your little plaid skirt."
Angus rolled his eyes. "The puir bairn."
With a laugh, Gregori punched Angus on the shoulder. "I knew Abby wouldn't be able to keep it a secret. She's so excited."
"Congratulations," Dougal told him. His gaze shifted back to the monitor just as Leah glanced over her shoulder straight at the camera. His hand flinched, the fist tightening around the handle of the dustpan.
"Are we being watched?" Leah asked.
Hell, yes. He winced at the dents he'd left in the metal handle. Why was he reacting so strongly? She wasn't Li Lei.
"Maybe," Abby replied. "We have excellent security."
"Can they hear us?" Leah asked.
He turned away, feeling a twinge of guilt for eavesdropping. As he returned the broom and dustpan to the closet, he spotted a half-empty bottle of Blissky on the top shelf. Just what he needed. He set the bottle on the desk, then fetched three paper cups from the sideboard.
When Abby explained about the bombing a few years back, he glanced at the monitor just in time to see Leah's wide-eyed reaction. Damn, they had no right to drag her into this world. She looked so young. Early twenties, perhaps. There was a fragile innocence to her features, an innocence about to be crushed.
He poured Blissky into the three cups. "How about a wee dram?"
"Great idea!" Gregori lifted his cup in the air. "To our beautiful wives!"
"I'll drink to that." Angus grabbed a cup and downed the contents.
Gregori shot Dougal an amused look. "Or in your case, a future beautiful wife."
Dougal snorted, then looked at the monitor and found Leah staring at the camera as if she could see him. His heart stilled. Another itch skittered along the length of his tattoo, and he shrugged his right shoulder.
"I know the world is full of weirdos," she said softly.
Och, lass, ye have no idea. But she would be finding out soon. He had a sudden urge to teleport straight to her and take her away, far away from a world of vampires and shifters and demons. But how could he protect her from the weirdos when he was one of them?
"Cheers." He tossed back the Blissky and let it burn down his throat. He deserved the burn.
"Welcome to my lab." Abby opened the door and ushered Leah inside.
Angus moved to the monitor that showed the lab and turned up the volume.
"Must we listen in on them?" Dougal asked.
Angus sighed. "I know it isna normal procedure, but I'm worried about how Dr. Chin will take the news."
"This is a colleague of mine." Abby motioned to Laszlo as he rushed forward. "Laszlo Veszto. He's the most brilliant chemist I've ever met."
Laszlo blushed and extended a hand toward Abby. "I'm delighted to meet you." When she placed her hand in his, he pumped her arm. "We're very excited to have you here. I've been busy all evening getting the lab ready."
"Really?" Leah eased her hand from his grip.
"Yes!" Laszlo's hand gravitated straight to his lab coat, where he grabbed onto a button. "We have some interesting case studies to show you."
"Sounds good." Leah glanced around the lab. "This is very nice."
"Yes." Laszlo smiled at her while he fiddled with his buttons.
Leah's eyes narrowed as she spotted the camera in the corner. Dougal poured more Blissky into his paper cup and downed it.
Abby strode toward the long stainless steel table that was topped with several microscopes and stacks of paper. "Everything is ready?"
"Yes," Laszlo answered, still smiling at Leah.
"Ha!" Gregori pointed at the monitor. "Look at that silly grin on Laszlo's face. He's in love!"
Dougal's fist snapped shut, crushing the paper cup in his hand. What the hell? Before anyone could see the mangled cup, he tossed it into the litterbin. Or attempted to. His fist refused to open. Release, he ordered his hand. It remained locked around the crushed paper cup.
Angus shook his head. "Smitten, perhaps. I'll have a talk with Laszlo. We canna let anyone's personal feelings jeopardize our plans."
Release, dammit! Open! Finally Dougal's fist relaxed, and the cup fell into the litterbin.
Meanwhile, Leah had moved to the table and was peering into the first microscope. "Interesting," she murmured, then picked up the stack of papers beside it.
"Let's hope she takes the bait," Angus said.
Dougal moved closer to the monitors.
Leah scanned the first page, then the second. Abby watched, chewing on her lip. Laszlo twisted a button on his lab coat.
"Definite mutations in the DNA sequencing." Leah moved on to the third page. "Some rather drastic changes. Is this man still alive?"
Abby hesitated. "At the moment, yes."
Gregori snorted.
Leah set the papers down. "I've never seen anything like this. Some of these mutations might possibly strengthen a person, but others . . ." She shook her head. "I'm not sure a human can survive this. Is he exhibiting any bizarre symptoms?"
Abby's mouth twitched. "Other than a strange desire to disco dance, no."
Gregori stiffened. "What's so strange about that?"
Angus hushed him.
Leah shook her head, confused. "Where is the patient? Can I see him?"
"You've already seen him," Abby replied. "It's Gregori."
Leah gasped. "What?" She thumbed through the papers once more. "I don't understand. Your husband seems so healthy."
"He is," Abby agreed. "When he's . . . awake."
Dougal winced. The shit was about to hit the fan.
Angus frowned. "I have a bad feeling about this. Gregori, call Dr. Lee. Tell him to get to the lab right away."
While Gregori made the call, Leah tapped her hand on the stack of paper. "Your husband could be in serious trouble. He should be hospitalized immediately for observation." Her eyes widened. "Oh my God, you're pregnant with his child?"
"I'm fine, really. And so is Gregori." Abby exchanged a worried look with Laszlo.
He nodded, furiously twirling a button. "There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, I assure you."
"Really?" Leah gave them an incredulous look. "How do you explain it?"
Abby took a deep breath. "My husband is a vampire."