The Necklace Page 4

Disgusted, she turned the valves, shutting the warm water completely off as she cranked the one for “cold,” as far as the knob would turn.

  Liquid poured from the spigot.

  Frowning, she sat down on the toilet. She wouldn’t need to place her hand under the running faucet to feel the temperature. It would still be too hot, even without any hot water running.

  Sighing, Marissa ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

  Something is very wrong.

  But, she reasoned, a doctor wouldn’t be able to explain the smell lingering on her skin. He wouldn’t be able to diagnose why she had to take super cold baths that interestingly felt no colder than a heated swimming pool.

  A medical specialist couldn’t explain why she could communicate with the colorful fish in her aquarium and even the larger mammals at the institute. Hell! She couldn’t even figure out what was wrong with her, and she was a biologist.

  It didn’t make any sense.

  Padding on bare feet to the kitchen, Marissa grabbed one of the numerous bags of ice stockpiled in her freezer. She had to get in the water. As much as she wanted to find out the problem with her body, the need to submerse her limbs in the cool, clear liquid was more prevalent.

  Dropping huge chunks into her oval tub, she waited a moment for the large blocks to melt, before discarding her fluffy, blue terry cloth robe.

  When her body was fully reclined inside the wintry water, her legs propped on the edge of the tub, Marissa moaned in contentment.

  Tomorrow she would talk to Jonathon, tell him about the strange things happening to her. He’d always been the one her mother had taken her to when she was sick or ill. She’d have to put aside her feelings for the moment to speak with the man.

  So much had changed in the six months since she’d left the Suzy, but aside from the perplexing differences in her anatomy, the most disheartening disparity was her relationship with Jon.

  Once he’d been a trusted confidante and friend. Now he seemed to be in league with the enemy, the hated corporate sneaks who prowled The Hearder Institute in search of greater revenue.

  Sinking deeper into the water, Marissa pushed the depressing thoughts from her mind. It didn’t help to dwell on the changes. It didn’t help to dwell on anything lately.

  Counting audibly in a slow rhythm, the tensions from the day eased away as she stared at the water stains on the ceiling above. Her mother taught her this mediation technique when she was younger. She often used it when she suffered from migraines.

  Tonight, though, she felt a need to calm her disquieting thoughts.

  Within minutes, a languid peace permeated her body, as her eyes begin to drift shut.

  She felt free, surrounded in weightless serenity.

  Drifting in contentment, her face turned toward a distant light growing closer and closer.

  Something was waiting for her.

  A brief spasm of fear passed through her, but she quickly banished it.

  The light felt soothing, encouraging.

  Her body continued to float forward. The bright rays warming her face, filling her with happiness.

  Time seemed endless as she glided closer toward the dazzling radiance.

  When she reached the source, she discovered that it wasn’t a light at all, but a large, gold-paneled door.

  Marissa wanted to go inside, but there wasn’t a handle or a hole for a key. Nothing but a large intricate emblem graced the front.

  Fascinated with its complex design, Marissa stared at the symbol for long moments, her fingers itching to trace the pattern.

  Reaching forward, intent on touching the familiar delineations, her fingers began to trail the surface. Heat, warm and soothing, raced along her pores.

  She wanted to go inside.

  Suddenly, all the light vanished, shrouding her in utter darkness. A vise-like grip seized her throat, squeezing.

  There were hands around her neck, huge, powerful hands intent on squeezing the life from her body.

  Marissa struggled, her arms flailing. Her throat felt like it was on fire. She knew she would be dead in seconds.

  Darkness encompassed her mind…

  “Help!” Marissa screamed, spurting water from her lips.

  Her eyes stung, as long strands of her hair plastered themselves to her face.

  Breathing harshly, still spitting, she looked around her utilitarian bathroom half expecting a two-headed monster to spring from the commode.

  Everything seemed loud and harsh, the dripping from her sink faucet, the glaring light, the noise coming from her neighbor’s apartment, the whining of the fan cooling the contents of her refrigerator.

  All of her senses had been placed on DEFCON 4.

  And she knew why.

  She’d had the dream again.

  Stepping from the tub, ignoring the sloshing liquid that hit the floor, Marissa walked toward her bedroom, shivering from the fear twisting and turning her insides.

  Tomorrow she would talk to Jon.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. They’re having a meeting.”

  Marissa stopped; her hand paused inches above the doorknob leading into Jonathon’s office.

  Slanting her gaze toward Jillian Lawrence, resident SDSU intern, Marissa frowned.

  “Who’s he in there with?” she asked hesitantly.

  “A couple of board members … and Brian.”

  Marissa rolled her eyes at Jillian’s hoity-toity tone.

  Curious, though, as to what was being discussed, she looked once more over her shoulder, but judged by the sour expression highlighting Jillian’s face that she’d probably get more information from a rock.

  Dropping her hand, she turned away without a word of goodbye.

  Wandering down the empty halls, Marissa was thankful for the early morning. In a couple of more hours, people would begin filing in.

  For now, though, she could enjoy the solitude.

  At least it’s not like a few months ago, Marissa thought, remembering the pandemonium after Nyla’s discovery was made public.

  Thousands of people had lined up outside the institute, desperate for a glimpse of the mysterious sea creature. The center had to stay open longer to accommodate the rush.

  Moving down the empty corridors leading to the observation tanks, her eyes barely glanced at the numerous flyers lining the walls. Shaking her head, dismissing the signs, Marissa washed her hands in the large deep sink located at the end of the hallway.

  Breathing deeply, attempting to quell her rioting thoughts, Marissa wished she’d been able to talk to Jonathon this morning. After another night of tossing and turning, afraid to let her mind wander lest she end up looking at the golden aperture of her dreams, her nerves were frazzled.

  Sighing laboriously, she reached a hand toward the silver, metal handles.

  She needed to calm her mind. Nyla would sense her disquieting thoughts, and she didn’t want to cause the mammal any more distress.

  After a few moments, she finally opened the door, blinking against the bright morning rays.

  “Hello,” she breathed.

  Nyla’s tail flicked happily in a gesture Marissa knew to be one of welcome.

  Where been?

  “It was the weekend. I needed to relax,” she said, moving closer toward the barrier separating her from the large gray mammal.

  Though she could communicate to Nyla without spoken words, it always felt comforting to talk aloud.

  Good. Bad dreams you have.

  That the creature could detect her moods was a still a mystery.

  “I haven’t had any bad dreams … lately,” she lied.

  Fibber.

  Marissa laughed, the sound carrying along the wind. “I see you remember my lesson.”

  Yes. To lie is fibber.

  “Good. Very good.”

  Nyla definitely had a great capacity to learn. She picked up on things amazingly fast. A few days ago, Marissa had taught her the meanin
g of lying, a definite human tendency that was hard for the mammal to understand.

  As she climbed the steps leading to the surface of the water, Nyla’s tail flipped like a curled “T.” Slick, gray skin glistened under the new morning sun, and Marissa immediately sensed her impatience to be touched.

  Grabbing a pair of elbow-length yellow latex gloves, conveniently tied to the railing, she quickened her pace up the stairs.

  The observation tank stood close to fifteen-feet high, though the top of the structure could be reached to feed, care, or remove the animals by two rows of metal rungs that curled around the sides.

  The fact that the holding tank was no larger than an Olympic size swimming pool continually troubled Marissa, but as usual she banished the thoughts, concentrating on the good in the situation.

  Nyla was receiving the best of care at the facility. She made sure of that herself. The research being done could help to save numerous species, both on land and in the sea.

  Flicking an errant piece of lint from her white, long sleeved top, Marissa tried to suppress her frustrations.

  Today, more than ever, these thoughts helped very little to ease her growing concerns.

  Finally reaching the apex of the platform, she knelt down next to the water, waiting for Nyla to come closer.

  Me go home soon. You should go home too.

  “You are home, Nyla. And, I just came from home. I’m here with you now.”

  No, me go home. You should too.

  Marissa frowned, images from her latest dream flashing behind her eyes. “You don’t understand what you are saying.”

  Nyla surfaced under her outstretched hand, sticking her gray snout in the air. Me understand.

  “No. You don’t,” she said softly.

  A thick, heart-shaped tail struck the surface of the water defiantly, sprinkling Marissa with droplets.

  Fear grasped her heart for a moment, seizing her chest in a death-like grip. “I told you. Don’t do that,” she scolded.

  Nyla darted away, diving deep, before resurfacing under her outstretched hand moments later. Me sorry.

  Marissa smiled warily. “It’s okay. Just don’t do it again.”

  Although she had tried to explain, Nyla simply didn’t comprehend her aversion to the substance the creature called home. She hoped she could make her understand soon, though. When her tail grew larger, that same playful swat would drench her entire body, probably killing her at once.

  That is, she rectified in her mind, if my research is even correct.

  So far, initial studies into Nyla’s blood revealed similar DNA found in all the whale species she had ever studied. In a couple of years, Nyla should be close to the size of a killer whale, maybe even bigger. Since she’d been brought to the institute, the mammal had already grown three feet, an unprecedented growth rate for any creature.

  Lifting her face toward the sun, Marissa closed her eyes to fully enjoy the rays.

  After the fires that had ravaged much of the San Diego area a couple of months ago, it seemed Mother Nature was trying to make up for the devastation by providing a series of glorious days. The gentle breeze and warm morning heat felt good against her skin.

  Time passed, but it seemed only moments had expired when a loud voice called from below. “Dr. Redmond! Could you please come down? There are some people here I would like you to meet.”

  Startled, Marissa looked down through the railings. “Oh, Gawd. What’s he doing here?”

  Standing below was none other than the new owner of the Hearder Institute, Felix Coulter.

  As usual, he was dressed to the nines in a dark blue business suit and flanked by his standard squad of cronies. His slick, polished brown hair glistened like a shiny helmet. He reminded her of an oily Cheshire cat.

  Jonathon stood directly beside him, and Marissa scowled visibly, realizing there would be no talking to him today. If Felix were here it would be hours before she could even hope to see him.

  A strong breeze filtered through the long locks of her hair, and unconsciously, she reached to smooth the fly-aways before responding, “I’ll be just a moment.”

  Walking down the stairs, she felt as though an executioner waited below.

  Quieting her chaotic nerves, she concentrated on the happy thoughts exuding from Nyla.

  “Good morning, Felix. I’m surprised to see you here.”

  Marissa hoped her voice sounded pleasant. The close proximity to a man who she had come to despise over the months was disconcerting. Ignoring the rest of the group standing in a thick cluster behind him, she spared a brief glance in Jonathon’s direction. “Dr. Nash.”

  “Dr. Redmond,” he replied stiffly.

  Wincing at the formal tones, she remembered a time when he would have embraced her in a bear hug, or affectionately given her a nooggie. Now all that stood between them was embarrassment and uncomfortable tension.

  “What brings you gentlemen here this fine morning?” she queried, keeping her tone neutral.

  “Well, of course, we came to see the creature. She is the highlight of the park. Not that we don’t have many other fine specimens,” Felix answered, gesturing around the facility for the benefit of his listeners.

  Park.

  Marissa wanted to balk at the term.

  The Hearder Institute was not a park.

  Park implied attractions for amusement. She didn’t want Nyla to be a lure bought by the highest bidder. But as her gaze rolled passed Felix, cold reality settled in her stomach like a lead ball and slight waves of nausea careened through her body.

  “Well, I won’t disturb you gentlemen any longer. I was just checking on her,” she snapped.

  “You see? We’re striving to provide the best of care for the creatures here. Staff like Marissa Redmond …well … she’s just one of the few … amenities we have to offer.”

  A round of chuckles followed the statement, and Marissa felt her face flame with embarrassment. She took some comfort in the strained expression marking Jon’s weather-worn features, but kept her own face resolute to lessen her discomfort.

  She had more to be concerned about than a few rich, horny pricks.

  The talks amongst the institute’s personnel had been buzzing for weeks. She’d tried to close her mind to the rumors, afraid to believe the truth in them.

  Now she could no longer deny it.

  The arrival of these men, Felix included, could only mean one thing: the Hearder Institute would soon be pushing up daisies.

  Felix Coulter had made millions from amusement parks. He was in the business of exploiting anything that made him richer—people and animals included. The acquisition of a research institute had raised a lot of eyebrows six months ago. But from the beginning, Marissa had known that the center's days were numbered. The death knell rang loudly in her ears.

  A wealth of emotion assailed her, the sensations racing inside.

  She needed to get away, needed to find a quiet place to think. She was about to excuse herself, when a deep, slightly accented voice froze her in place.

  “Mr. Coulter, I’m wondering if Ms. Redmond could show me the rest of your fine facility? I’d like to hear her opinions on some the changes you’ve suggested.”

  Shocked, Marissa turned her head toward the source of the melodic tones.

  He stood heads and shoulders above the rest of the group and she was astounded that she had missed him earlier. With a face sculpted like the stony-flesh found on the Greek Gods in museums the world over, the man was beautiful to the extreme.

  Power wrapped around him like a cloak of velvet, sending trembles of awareness from the force of the silver-blue eyes focused on her.

  There was something impalpable about this man, something radiating like a guiding beacon, inexplicably drawing her closer.

  Marissa couldn’t see the lower half of his body because he stood to the back of the group, but what she could see of the upper half left a wake of desire trailing along her nerve endings.

  Golde
n wavy blonde hair crowned the top of his head. Thick muscles corded his arms, highlighted in a flowing, silky black-sleeved shirt. He looked more like a Conan-the-Barbarian type, complete with the long hair falling just below his shoulders and height that easily topped six feet, five inches.

  Unlike the rest of the crowd surrounding him, clad in varying colored business suits, his dress was casual, more suited to the sunshine of Southern California.

  No matter how hard she tried, Marissa couldn’t take her gaze from him. Everything about this man screamed to be reckoned with.

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, Marissa tried to concentrate on the words buzzing around, even though every cell in her body responded to the tall stranger.

  “…it’s not really necessary, Felix. I’m sure Marissa has a ton of things to do. I can answer any questions Mr. Kamis may have.”

  “Jon, if Mr. Kamis wants Marissa to show him around, I don’t think we should argue.”

  Marissa tried to stay in tune with the conversation, but kept fading out as waves of sensual force rolled through her body.

  Good Lord. She’d never experienced anything like the tide of sexual feeling rocking her being. The emotions storming through her were knee-weakening, all-encompassing.

  Black dots swirled in her vision, but still her gaze stayed glued to the handsome stranger as the expression on his face became fierce, like a dangerous warrior.

  Suddenly, his hand rose, and the talking around them ceased immediately. “Miss Redmond, if you would please?”

  Although the question had been phrased as a request, she knew it to be an order. Refusing him, especially in front of the crowd of gawkers, was an absolute no-no.

  Nodding, a sense of normalcy returned to her mind, like a thick haze clearing from her brain. She took a deep breath of air, conscious of the rush of oxygen re-vitalizing her frozen limbs.

  She wouldn’t be able to explain what happened in a million years. It was like some hidden force had sucked every civilized ounce of being from her mind and body. All she could do was feel and react.

  Still reeling from the shock, Marissa looked around curiously. Several pairs of eyes were glued to her, waiting.

  “Marissa, are you sure you don’t mind?”

  Her breath hitched in her throat, she struggled to speak. “I don’t mind, Jon. I just came in early to see her,” she said, gesturing towards the pen. “I don’t mind, really.”