Thief (Icarus Helix #4)

By J. E. Medrick

Single parent household. One friend in the world. Father in jail for double homicide. Poor. Mute.

What would YOU do if you suddenly turned invisible?

15-year old Mason is dealing with just these problems. When he uncovers a crippling family secret that he blames on himself, he knows things need to change. He needs them to change. Not just for himself - but for his mother.

The ability to become a ghost just may be his answer...

This is the fourth novella of the Icarus Helix series. It is approximately 20,000 words. These novellas are intended to stand alone and may be read in any order.

Other Episodes in Season 1:
(#1) Cheat
(#2) Liar
(#3) Coward

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. E. Medrick
• Release date: Jun 21, 2011

J. E. Medrick

J. E. Medrick currently resides in Ohio with a cat, a car, a dog and a fiancé. They are: Raven, Riley, Ajax and Andy, respectively. She has a BBA from Kent State University and spent three years in Japan, teaching English.

Book preview

Thief

by J. E. Medrick

Copyright © 2011 by J. E. Medrick

Cover art by: Jeroen ten Berge

Thief is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any and all semblance to actual events, people, or locations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sold or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the express written consent of J. E. Medrick.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

About the Author

J. E. Medrick currently resides in Ohio with a cat, a car, a dog and a fiancé. They are: Raven, Riley, Ajax and Andy, respectively. This is her third novella. She has a BBA from Kent State University and spent three years in Japan, teaching English.

To read about the author's life, please visit her blog at: http://jemedrick.blogspot.com

If you wish for information on further releases by this author, please subscribe to: http://jemedrickbooks.blogspot.com

J. E. Medrick's fan contact e-mail is: [e-mail]

Thanks to everyone for all the support!

Thanks to all the fans.

Your support makes me

want to work harder!

Table of Contents

Dedication

Copyright

About the Author

Prologue

- 1 -

- 2 -

- 3 -

- 4 -

- 5 -

- 6 -

- 7 -

- 8 -

- 9 -

- 10 -

- 11 -

- 12 -

- 13 -

- 14 -

- 15 -

- 16 -

- 17 -

- 18 -

Prologue - Father Figure

If this mystery serum, laurosine, really was aimed at fixing genetic defect, then Marcus knew the perfect candidate. His heart hammered as he walked deliberately away from the nursery room. He fingered the emptied syringe in his pocket. Schaefer, M., born with twisted, underdeveloped vocal cords. He would enter the first of many surgeries in two days, in an attempt to fix them. Marcus knew from the rumors that there was little hope of salvaging them - the boy would most likely be mute. But before that point, Marcus managed to intercept the baby boy. He stuck the syringe into his throat, hoping for the best.

Marcus almost passed the nurse's station. He was oblivious, lost in thought. His co-worker, Stephanie, leapt from her chair and grabbed his arm.

Marc, did you hear?

Hear what? he answered, as calmly as possible. His heart kicked into overdrive from the adrenaline screaming through his veins. Was the boy making noise? Crying? Had it really solved his problems? He needed to get away from Stephanie and dump the empty syringe into a medical waste bucket. No evidence - that was the rule of thumb.

The cops brought a guy here. Here! It's one of the baby's fathers. He was in jail, can you believe they brought him here?

He probably wants to see his kid. Don't you think that's alright?

She drew back. Well, yeah, I guess. But, don't you think it's a little weird? I mean, they've got two officers outside the mom's hospital door to make sure the guy doesn't make a break for it.

Do they really think he'll run?

Wouldn't you?

If I got out of jail to see my kid? I think I'd just go see him. Or her.

Him, Stephanie answered with grim satisfaction. This would be news to Marcus - It's Mason's father.

Who?

The Schaefer boy. Mason Schaefer.

Schaefer, M. The mute? Marcus swallowed. I mean, the one with the vocal cord problems?

Yeah. The guy's real crazy lookin' too. Lots of tattoos... man if looks could kill. That guy seems like a piece of work.

Yeah, Marcus answered weakly. Is he still here?

Down the hall.

He paused for a moment, then asked, Do you know why he's in jail?

I can't say for sure... she demurred, but the rumor is that he killed someone. Possibly someones.

Marcus exhaled through his teeth. Sorry to hear that, he said, sincerely.

With a nod at Stephanie, Marcus rounded the nurse's station and went down the opposite hall. He did not need to ask which door - he could just look for the police.

Their uniforms were crisply pressed. Though they leaned against the wall, one on either side of the door, they were angrily alert. Their eyes followed him as he walked by. He was almost too nervous to look into the room, despite his hospital scrubs, but he caught a brief flash of the scene. He stopped a door down, taking down the patient's chart from the wall and pretending to examine it. Marcus flipped a page, feeling foolish. He could not stand here for long, and he could not see or hear anything, anyway.

As if answering his thought, a man's voice rose in anger inside the room. The two police officers snapped off the wall, turning for the door. Their hands hovered on the grips of their guns.

I get one day out and you tell me you, 'don't know if you should see him'? After you done telled me he a'int even alright? Got some crazy kinda mess in his throat! What kinda baby is that, that don't even cry? A'int no kid of mine that's broken, I'll tell you what. That kid a'int mine.

Please, came a woman's terrified voice. Ray, calm down, please! I'm sorry, you can see him, of course you can see him. I'll just call a nurse and they'll bring him right to you! Just please don't be angry, they gonna take you away if you do. On cue, the bell at the nurse's station chimed. Marcus grimaced.

I don't wanna see no kid who a'int even right, Ray growled, appearing in the doorway. The two officers stepped up to block him. He bared