Page 57 of Grizzly Sleuth
A negative shake.
“Was pain the trigger?”
Not the physical kind.
He resumed pacing. “I’m sorry I failed. I thought hitching a ride here would allow me to intercept the truck carrying you guys so you could escape. But Levy captured me.”
Sweet that he’d tried, but now with them all locked away, they had no hope. Dejected, she slumped to the floor with her head on her paws.
He sat down beside her, draping an arm over her bulky body.
“I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way to get us out of here.”
A promise he likely wouldn’t be able to keep. She exhaled loudly.
They sat like that for a while. Could have been minutes or hours, no way of knowing. A faint noise eventually drew her attention to the door, more specifically the slot that opened. Someone shoved two boxes through the opening before slamming the metal slide shut.
Idris fetched the items and sat down cross-legged in front of her before flipping the lids open.
“Well, this is an upgrade on the usual gruel,” he weakly joked. He held out an apple, which smelled surprisingly delicious. She daintily plucked it from his hand and crunched. Mmm. Yummy. She’d not realized the extent of her hunger until presented with food. Along with the apple, they’d been given some kind of meatloaf, boiled potatoes, and carrots.
Once they finished eating, Idris took the remains and placed them beside the door. “They’ll remove it the next time they knock us out.”
Her head tilted. While they’d talked about many things during their time together, he’d avoided the subject of his time in custody.
“Guess you’re wondering what to expect. For one, they never open this door unless we’re asleep. Doesn’t matter the shape we’re wearing. They don’t take chances, nor do they give us warning we’re about to be knocked out.” Idris sat back in front of her. “Since you’re already a bear, you won’t be subjected to the protocol, but expect to be tested. They’ll take every sample imaginable and then some. Blood, tissue, hair. For men, semen, and with you, I imagine they’ll harvest eggs.”
Excuse me?Grawr.
“Yeah, I’m not happy about all of it either. As Levy’ lab rats, we don’t really have a choice. The only good news is apparentlythe general’s missing. Davidson’s even more sadistic than Levy, which isn’t saying much.” Idris grimaced. “Because I could shift at the slightest pain, I ended up not having to deal much with Davidson. He actually wanted to ditch me for being a failure. My mates were the ones he tortured most. Seems when the protocol was completed, if a person didn’t shift, Davidson would force it, usually by shooting them.”
Didn’t know a bear’s jaw could drop until hers hit the floor.
“Yeah, I know, kind of extreme. Those made by science and not nature tend to be jolted into our animal shape through extreme injury.”
Would that work for her?
As if Idris read her mind, he said, “It’s likely that’s the first thing Levy will do to you.”
Grrr.
“You won’t have a choice. You’ll be either chained or strapped down.”
This just got better and better.
“Shit, looks like it’s time. Here comes the knockout gas.”
She’d not noticed the change in the ventilation until he mentioned it, and then it was too late.
The next time her eyes popped open, she found herself strapped to a metal table in a room straight of Frankenstein’s lab. Beeping machines. Bright lights, some of them on moveable arms. A glass door fridge with vials. Several people in white coats and the doctor.
Dr. Levy, wearing surgical scrubs, leaned over her. “I see you’re awake a little sooner than expected. Pity for you, as I’d planned to do the next bit while you couldn’t feel it. In good news, it won’t hurt for long.”
What wouldn’t?—
Grawr—“Aaah!”
Chapter Seventeen
