Page 95 of Once a Hero

“This way.” Beatrice pointed to her left. The bunker was one floor down.

They walked as fast as Jake could go toward a door that led to the bunker—

It was locked.

Beatrice took off her gloves and pressed her palm on the biometrics scanner. It rejected her. She knew she had to take off her oxygen mask so the scanner could read her retina.

She checked her wristband that came with the oxygen mask. The oxygen level was normal. She showed the readings to Jake. He nodded.

She took off her mask.

And heard multiple clicking sounds. Surrounding her were weapons pointing at her head, ready to blast her to kingdom come.

Where had those people come from? She hadn’t heard them at all. How could they have sneaked up on her?

Slowly, she raised her arms in the air.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Jake woke up on a cot in what looked like a small medical clinic. Busy nurses and doctors walked back and forth, attending to patients in paramilitary uniform.

He tried to get up, but it hurt everywhere. There was something on his neck.

A bandage.

He pressed on it. It was soft and painful.

“Ouch.”

Someone in paramilitary uniform hovered over him. “You’re awake. Good.”

“Where’s Beatrice?” Jake asked.

“We all want her back.”

“Are you Ansel?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What happened?”

“Molyneux’s men attacked the lab, put everyone to sleep, and abducted Bee.”

Jake recalled being with Beatrice as they headed to the bunker in the basement. They were stopped by armed men. He didn’t remember anything else.

“How did you stay awake?” Jake asked.

“Years of training, son. Years of training. And a good gas mask with a perfect seal.” He chuckled.

“Glad you got us help. Where are we?”

“Normally you’d be in the local hospital,” Ansel said. “However, Benjamin recognizes you, so we brought you here.”

“The Glynn Mansion.”

Ansel neither confirmed or denied it. He looked Jake over. “They changed the bandages on your thighs. Can you walk? We have a meeting to attend.”

Slowly, Jake sat up. He felt pain here and there. “I could use some Tylenol.”

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