fifty/fifty and the deaths of their loved ones. He had already survived several assassination attempts.
Diana flashed her badge. “NTAC. We’re here to see Jordan Collier.”
The guard looked unimpressed. Tom and Diana were frequent visitors. He peered at the slender brunette accompanying the two agents. Her dark eyes glinted impishly. A tailored Burberry Prorsum jacket testifiedto a generous clothing allowance. Expensive perfume wafted from the petite young woman, who looked to be in her early thirties. A dollar sign was tattooed upon her wrist.
“What about her?” the guard asked.
April Skouris was Diana’s black-sheep younger sister. A former tattoo artist and con woman, April had been one of the first people reckless enough to take a promicin shot when Jordan made them available to the masses. Her newfound ability to compel people to tell the truth had eventually landed her a cushy job working for both NTAC and the FBI. Tom frankly found her a little off-putting, but if she could help them pry some answers out of Collier regarding Danny’s remains, he was willing to borrow her for this visit.
“I’m NTAC, too,” she boasted, proudly displaying her own ID. After growing up in the shadow of her more accomplished older sister, she seemed eager to point out that they had achieved parity at last. “April Skouris, agent-at-large.”
“Uh-huh.” Hoyt lethargically keyed her name into his computer. A frown deepened the heavy creases around his mouth. “Sorry. You’re on the black list. No access allowed.”
“What?” Instant indignation colored her voice. “Who says?”
“I don’t know,” he confessed automatically. He couldn’t have lied if he’d wanted to. “The computer just says so. You’ve been flagged as a security threat.”
“Crap! This is completely unfair!” She looked to Tomand Diana for support. “Are you going to let them get away with this?”
“I guess so,” he admitted. NTAC operated in Seattle only at Collier’s sufferance. They were in no position to throw their weight around. “Guess you need to wait in the car.”
“Are you serious?” She raised her voice and all but stamped on the floor. “Diana,” she whined, sounding more like a bratty kid sister than a government agent. “Do something!”
Her outbursts attracted the attention of the guard by the elevator, who crossed the lobby to investigate. He was a tall, hatchet-faced man with a light brown brush cut. Besides his unknown abilities, the guard was armed with a pistol and stun gun. GALLOWAY , read his name tag. His hand rested ominously on the grip of his sidearm. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” Diana insisted. “Just a misunderstanding.” She spoke softly to her sister. “I’m sorry, April, but Collier has blocked us here. And we really need to speak with him today.” Taking the other woman’s arm, she guided her gently toward the exit. “Why don’t you head back to headquarters. Maybe we can talk later.”
“Fine,” April said petulantly. She yanked her arm free and headed for the door. “See if I ever volunteer to help you guys again. Thanks for nothing, sis.”
She stormed out of the building. Part of Tom was relieved to see her go. Despite her occasionally useful ability, she was a real loose cannon. Plus, there was something distinctly unsettling about being around someone whocould make you tell the truth whether you wanted to or not. He still cringed when he remembered the time April had mischievously forced him to reveal a sexual fantasy about his partner, right in front of Diana, no less!
No wonder so many people wanted nothing to do with the 4400 and their successors.
With April gone, the guards backed off a little. Hoyt called upstairs, then put down the phone. “All right. You can go up now. Jordan is expecting you.”
To Tom’s slight annoyance, Galloway accompanied them as they took the elevator to the top floor. He would have liked to confer privately
Diana flashed her badge. “NTAC. We’re here to see Jordan Collier.”
The guard looked unimpressed. Tom and Diana were frequent visitors. He peered at the slender brunette accompanying the two agents. Her dark eyes glinted impishly. A tailored Burberry Prorsum jacket testifiedto a generous clothing allowance. Expensive perfume wafted from the petite young woman, who looked to be in her early thirties. A dollar sign was tattooed upon her wrist.
“What about her?” the guard asked.
April Skouris was Diana’s black-sheep younger sister. A former tattoo artist and con woman, April had been one of the first people reckless enough to take a promicin shot when Jordan made them available to the masses. Her newfound ability to compel people to tell the truth had eventually landed her a cushy job working for both NTAC and the FBI. Tom frankly found her a little off-putting, but if she could help them pry some answers out of Collier regarding Danny’s remains, he was willing to borrow her for this visit.
“I’m NTAC, too,” she boasted, proudly displaying her own ID. After growing up in the shadow of her more accomplished older sister, she seemed eager to point out that they had achieved parity at last. “April Skouris, agent-at-large.”
“Uh-huh.” Hoyt lethargically keyed her name into his computer. A frown deepened the heavy creases around his mouth. “Sorry. You’re on the black list. No access allowed.”
“What?” Instant indignation colored her voice. “Who says?”
“I don’t know,” he confessed automatically. He couldn’t have lied if he’d wanted to. “The computer just says so. You’ve been flagged as a security threat.”
“Crap! This is completely unfair!” She looked to Tomand Diana for support. “Are you going to let them get away with this?”
“I guess so,” he admitted. NTAC operated in Seattle only at Collier’s sufferance. They were in no position to throw their weight around. “Guess you need to wait in the car.”
“Are you serious?” She raised her voice and all but stamped on the floor. “Diana,” she whined, sounding more like a bratty kid sister than a government agent. “Do something!”
Her outbursts attracted the attention of the guard by the elevator, who crossed the lobby to investigate. He was a tall, hatchet-faced man with a light brown brush cut. Besides his unknown abilities, the guard was armed with a pistol and stun gun. GALLOWAY , read his name tag. His hand rested ominously on the grip of his sidearm. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” Diana insisted. “Just a misunderstanding.” She spoke softly to her sister. “I’m sorry, April, but Collier has blocked us here. And we really need to speak with him today.” Taking the other woman’s arm, she guided her gently toward the exit. “Why don’t you head back to headquarters. Maybe we can talk later.”
“Fine,” April said petulantly. She yanked her arm free and headed for the door. “See if I ever volunteer to help you guys again. Thanks for nothing, sis.”
She stormed out of the building. Part of Tom was relieved to see her go. Despite her occasionally useful ability, she was a real loose cannon. Plus, there was something distinctly unsettling about being around someone whocould make you tell the truth whether you wanted to or not. He still cringed when he remembered the time April had mischievously forced him to reveal a sexual fantasy about his partner, right in front of Diana, no less!
No wonder so many people wanted nothing to do with the 4400 and their successors.
With April gone, the guards backed off a little. Hoyt called upstairs, then put down the phone. “All right. You can go up now. Jordan is expecting you.”
To Tom’s slight annoyance, Galloway accompanied them as they took the elevator to the top floor. He would have liked to confer privately
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