Inspiration Point (32 page)

“Spencer will be here around two o’clock, Tyler told
him you have the strain ready – you never mentioned it.”  He spoke to all
of us but was only watching me.

“You never asked,” I answered between mouthfuls of
cornflakes.  “But it’s true we told Tyler we were ready for Spencer
today.”

“Excellent, hopefully this will be over soon then,” he
said as he strolled confidently back to the lounge.

Two o’clock I thought to myself, that felt like days
away.  I decided the best thing to do was prepare myself for what memories
I wanted to implant in these men.  Ian and Davis have only known about us
for a relatively short amount of time so to remove their memories would be
easy, but I didn’t know much about them, especially Davis, and it was time to
find out.

I went downstairs where Dad was playing with
Patch.  He seemed quite calm, even relaxed as he smiled when I came in.

“He’s in perfect health Hayln, no side effects at
all.  Your work is truly remarkable.”

I could tell he had wanted to say that since yesterday
but held back to make sure Patch was alright.  “Thanks Dad, that means a
lot.”

“Dad, do you know much about Davis or Ian.  I
just want to work out the memories I want to implant, but it would help if I
had more information on them.”

“Tyler could probably tell you more than I could,” he
said.  I am pretty sure he could tell I was a little disappointed, but he
went on.

“I didn’t meet Ian until you did, the night of the
benefit, but I met Davis when I first went to Kings Valley.  While he was
torturing Able and me, Spencer was bragging that he was ex-military and had
been doing those sorts of things for years.  But I’m afraid that’s all I
know Hayln, I’m sorry.”

“That’s a good start Dad, and hopefully Tyler will
know more.”  I said taking a seat next to him.

I read over the procedure a number of times, double
checking the details of the anesthetic with Dad, and going over the amounts of
serum to use.  With Spencer’s memories being the most ingrained his
procedure would be the most difficult and the most crucial.  I then
started triple checking all of the equipment to monitor their progress during
the procedure, and I was left wondering if there was anything else I could do.

“We’re ready for this Hayln,” Dad reassured me. 
I took a deep breath and hoped he was right.

Moments later Tyler came down the stairs looking
exhausted but happy.  He dropped his bag by the window and came over to
talk to us.

“How was your B&E mission? I asked curiously.

‘Not bad,” he said putting Dad’s keys on the
bench.  “It took a little longer waiting for the night guards to leave
Professor Gregor’s section, but I got it.  Zeke’s car is parked around the
corner when we are ready.”

“Did you get any sleep at all, you look like hell?” I
commented.

“Thanks Hayl’s that makes me feel much better.  I
suppose I got just over three hours, but I will be fine.”

“Well Spencer’s not here until two so it might be a
good chance to catch up on your sleep.  We need you at your supernatural
best today.”  He scoffed at the use of the word supernatural, but he went
to the window seat and settled in.  Just then I remembered I wanted to ask
him about Davis and Ian.

“Before you doze off, could I pick your brain for a
moment?” I asked, sitting next to him.

“Go ahead,” he encouraged me.

“I wanted to know what you know about Davis and
Ian.  I just want to prepare myself for when I give them new memories,” I
explained.

“Okay,” he said yawning.  “Ian I don’t know too
much about except he was hired by Davis a couple of days before the
benefit.  He lives around here and is a bit of a tech-head.  I think
he keeps to himself mostly, doing a bit of work here and there, but he only
took this job because he needed the money.”

“Davis has been around a little longer, but only by a
few weeks.  Spencer had him as a contact from his government days. 
Davis was discharged from the military a few years ago for
insubordination.  I am not sure where he lives Hayl’s,” he said as he
stretched. 

“That’s okay, I expect he will have his license on
him, I can check on that,” I said.  “What else do you know?”

“He has a sister, I have heard him talk to her on the
phone.  She doesn’t know what’s going on, he told her he's a
bodyguard.  That’s about it Hayl’s, does that help?” He said yawning
again.

“Yeah it does, thanks Tyler.  I’ll let you get your
beauty sleep now.”

He chucked to himself as he tried to get as
comfortable as he could in the chair.  When I turned to look at him a few
minutes later, I was surprised how quickly he went to sleep.  I sat down
and made some notes for myself to use during the procedure.

Mum came downstairs looking more worried than I had
seen her in days.  This situation was taking its toll on all of us.
 But this is the first time I have noticed my mother with any visible
signs.

“Is everything alright Evelyn?” Dad questioned. 
He didn’t seem anxious about her mood.

“I’ll be glad when this is over, and we are all safe,”
Mum said with her hand on my shoulder.

With both of them in the lab and Tyler sound asleep,
this was the perfect opportunity to go over a few things I had been putting
off.  “I actually wanted to talk to you both before Spencer arrives… about
Plan B.”  Dad made a resigned sigh, I guess he knew this was coming. 
Mum, on the other hand, had gone pale.

“If this doesn’t go well today I have to go with
Spencer, it’s the only option we’ll have left.  He will be pretty pissed
off that we tried to trick him, but I'll make a deal with him that none of you
are to be harmed in any way.”

I was expecting an argument from at least one of my parents,
but I didn’t get one.  They were both silent watching me.

“You’re mother and I spoke about it this morning
Hayln, and unfortunately, I think you are right.  It’s the only way to
keep everyone safe until we can figure a way to get you and Tyler away from
Spencer,” Dad said slowly.

Mum reached out to put her hand on the side of my
face.  “It wouldn’t be for long Hayln, and we won’t stop until we get you
back,” she said as a tear escaped her eye.  “I can’t believe I’m saying
this,” she said burying her face in her hands.  “I feel sick at the
thought.”

“Let’s not worry about all that just yet okay,” I
reassured her.  “But I’m glad we are on the same page.”

“The boys might be a little harder to convince,” Dad
said.

I agreed with him and knew I had to talk to them
next.  “That’s my next job actually, wish me luck.”

“You’ll need it,” Mum said weakly.

I gave them both a hug as I left the lab.  No
matter how I felt about having to leave with Spencer I had to stay composed in
front of my family.  If the worst case scenario happens I can break down
later, when I am alone.

The boys were in the backyard, playing cards. 
They must be thoroughly bored because Emin hates playing cards.  I sat
next to them and watched them play a few hands, Zeke was winning.  I was
playing with a strand of my hair when Emin noticed my brooding.

“Spit it out Hayl’s, what’s bothering you.”

I didn’t even try to deny it, they both knew me too
well.  “I need you both to promise me something,” I said slowly.

“You know we will do anything to help Hayl’s,” Zeke
answered quickly.  He was worried about me, I could see it in his face – I
had to pull it together.

“Wait a minute Zeke, I want to hear what it is before
I promise anything,” Emin said calmly.

Zeke looked a little shocked at Emin’s response, but I
knew he knew where I was heading with this. 

“If things don’t pan out this afternoon, you have to
stay calm and let me go,” I said looking at both of them.

“With Spencer!” Zeke sounded shocked.

“Yes with Spencer, I have spoken to Mum and Dad and
they agree that it is the only way for everyone to stay safe until we can
figure something else out.  It won’t be for long, and I will be taken care
of.”

“Hayln, I don’t know if I can promise you that,” Emin
said looked at his cards considering his words carefully.  “I know how he
has treated Tyler and Aunt Maive over the past few years, and I don’t think I
can willingly let him take you.  No matter how short a time it might be
for.”

“I don’t want to go either Emin, but we are out of
options and you know it.  I wouldn’t be considering it otherwise.  He
will be pissed when he finds out what we have been doing, and it's the only way
no-one will get hurt.”

“It will work Hayl’s,” Zeke said.  “You’re
brilliant, and I saw Patch, I am sure it will work.  We don’t need to
worry about this.”  He reached for my hand, but I knew I needed them both
to promise not to do anything stupid before I could let this go.

“I think it will work too, but I can’t go into this,
this afternoon worrying about you two.  If I think you are going to put
yourselves in danger or there is a possibility anyone I love will get hurt, I
won’t be able to think straight.”

Nobody said anything for a while and I wasn’t going to
break the silence.  There weren’t any other options, and they both had to
realize it.

“I promise, nothing stupid,” Zeke said to me. 
“It doesn’t matter because it is going to work anyway, but I want you to know
whatever happens I won’t do anything stupid.”

That was good enough for me, I turned to look at Emin
who looked deflated. 

“Mum and Dad will need you Emin.  If I have to
go, you have to help them find a way to get to Tyler and me,” I pleaded with
him.

“Like Zeke said, this will work Hayl’s, but you have
my word – nothing stupid.”

“Thank you,” I said to both of them.  I stayed
for a while and played a few rounds of cards trying to pass some time.  At
least it made Emin smile, he was finally beating someone.  I checked my
watch and sighed it was nearly twelve – just over two hours to go.

I went inside and made a quiche for lunch.  By
the time I was finished and we had eaten, it was just after one o’clock. 
I thought it might be best for everyone to be in the lab when Spencer arrives
so we all went downstairs.

Everyone looked nervous, there wasn’t much time left,
we had to pull this together.  If Spencer thought there was something
going on, we wouldn’t stand a chance.  Dad gave the boys a syringe each
explaining that it would be easiest to inject them into the men’s necks. 
They concealed them up their sleeves in their watch bands. 

Officially, we were ready to go, only waiting on
Spencer to arrive.  But looking at the faces of my family I prepared
myself for a pep talk.

“We will never be able to pull this off, not with all
the nervous tension in the room.  Spencer or Davis will walk in here and
smell a rat immediately.”  I sounded way too frustrated to be
motivational.

“She’s right,” Tyler chimed in.  “I have spoken
to Spencer over the last day or so, and he doesn’t suspect anything, but we
can’t give him any reason to.”

“Okay, so we just need to all calm down, we have been
over this.  Everyone just stay relaxed until Dad gives you the sign, and
then sedate them as quickly as possible.  Once there out, Dad and I can
handle the rest, it’s all going to go to plan.  There are no other
options, and I love you all too much for this to be stuffed up now.  So
are we okay?”  I checked all their faces and once getting over my little
rant they all relaxed into playing their parts as Davis came downstairs.

“What’s going on down here?” He said as he glared at
everyone in the room.

“What does it look like, we are waiting for Spencer,”
Emin shot back in his sarcastic tone.

“There is no need for everyone to be down here -
especially you,” Davis growled back at Emin.

“I would prefer my family to stay if that’s it
alright,” Dad said calmly in an even voice.  “I had already mentioned it
to Tyler.  It’s just I am not sure what will happen after we show Spencer
the new strain and I would rather spend this time with my family around me, if
that’s not too much trouble.”  He looked exhausted which worked in his
favor.  Davis seemed to take delight in the fact that we had all realized
our time together was limited.  He shrugged and looked at Tyler. 

“If they give you any trouble just give us a yell,
we’ll still be watching.  He’s right about one thing, this is nearly over,
and I don’t want any trouble now.”

Tyler gave him an official nod and Davis left the
room.  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“That was probably our last chance, we can’t afford to
give anything else away,” Dad said solemnly. 
 
“Look I know we are all here from my mistakes, and I promise you, I
am more than sorry about that.  But Hayln’s given us a chance to put the
past behind us once and for all – for every one of us.  I know it will
work, and I know we can do it together.”  He held Mum’s hand and looked
each of us.  “I owe you all a much better life than what I have provided
you, and I hope when we get through this you’ll all give me the chance to
change that.”