Fatal Obsession

By Lori L. Robinett

This fast-paced medical thriller delves into the dark underbelly of cutting edge research. The subject of a secret medical experiment, the child Sophie Kendrick is carrying may be a mutant or a miracle. Either way, it doesn't matter to Sophie. All she cares about is keeping her baby out of the clutches of Marcus Chaney, the rich, powerful man who will stop at nothing to harvest the research flowing through the infant's veins.

From a cabin nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains to the Parkway in Gatlinburg, to the Technology Corridor of eastern Tennessee, Sophie runs while Chaney's goons nip at her heels, threatening to snatch her baby. She can trust no one.

Will Sophie be able to escape Marcus Chaney's grasp and save her child?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lori L. Robinett
• Release date: Jan 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370032815

Lori L. Robinett

Lori was born in Centralia, Missouri and now lives just a few miles from there with her husband on a small hobby farm. They manage the place for their Miniature Schnauzer and Miniature Beagle, and two cats. Though she appears to be a normal person, she has a bit of an obsession with Star Trek and is quite proud of her autograph collection. She is even prouder of her "marksman" qualification for shooting. During cold winter months, she enjoys crafting, especially scrapbooking. And, of course, she always has a book with her, so she can read whenever the opportunity arises. Her favorite part of her day is driving to and from work in her solar yellow Jeep Wrangler, named Daisy. Cutting through the country allows her to drive gravel roads and splash through mud puddles or snow drifts, depending on the time of year (bonus tip: don't wear white when you go through mud with your doors off). She always has a book or two in process - one at home, one at work, and one on her Nook for those got-a-spare-minute times. Her first book, Denim & Diamonds, was published in 2014, and her second, Fatal Impulse was published in 2015. Her award-winning short stories have appeared in several anthologies and in The Storyteller literary magazine.

Book preview

Fatal Obsession

I dedicate this book to my husband, JR,

and my daughter, Katelyn.

JR, thank you for putting up with all the ribbing about the topics of my writing.

Katelyn, the birth depicted in the novel was inspired by the true events of your birth.

I love you both.

I would like to thank my B.A.M. critique group,

Carolyn Paul Branch, Colleen Donnelly, Ericca Thornhill and Jennifer Bondurant.

Without them, this book never have gone from rough NaNoWriMo draft to the final product.

Make sure you pop over to my website and sign up for my VIP Readers group – you’ll receive a free ebook, and will be eligible for prizes and giveaways.

Secrets. Strong Women. Second Chances.

CHAPTER ONE

Black Bear Lodge

Sophie Kendrick tensed as her husband froze in mid-cut, the serrated steak knife still in the meat as blood-red juices pooled on the plate. Blake’s eyes focused over her shoulder and narrowed slightly. Before she could turn to look, she felt a presence just behind her.

Marcus, what a surprise to see you here, the man said. His calm demeanor was belied by his voice, which held a sharp edge. He was tall, with an expensive navy suit draped over his slender frame.

The metallic clink of the knife striking the edge of the plate sounded loud in the quiet of the Black Bear Lodge’s restaurant. And why is it a surprise that I take my wife out to enjoy a steak dinner?

The man stepped forward, inches from Sophie. The musky scent of his cologne drifted through the cool air of the restaurant, along with a hint of leather. Little tassels embellished his loafers. He turned towards her and she glanced up. His blue eyes were clear as a mountain stream, and streaks of silver shot through his thick dark hair. He smiled at her and took her hand with a flourish. If I had a woman as beautiful as this one, I’d take her out, too.

Her breath caught as he kissed the back of her hand. The corners of her mouth twitched up in surprise and her cheeks heated under the attention, then she glanced at her husband. The muscles in his jaw tensed as he motioned towards the man with his fork. This is Marcus Chaney. He’s the executive director of the Biomedical Research Center, Inc. Contempt colored his tone.

Her eyebrows rose slightly as she pulled her hand from his grasp. So this was the mysterious philanthropist. She murmured, Nice to meet you, Dr. Chaney. With a quick movement, she gathered her long hair and pulled it behind her shoulders.

Blake cleared his throat. "It’s Mr. Chaney."

Mr. Chaney smiled at her, exposing a perfect row of white teeth. He is correct. I’m not a doctor. Not a scientist. I simply supply the money and oversee the facility to make sure everything stays on track.

Blake’s eyes flashed as he pointedly looked around the intimate steak house. Is your wife with you tonight?

No, she had other plans this evening. Marcus focused on Sophie. How did your appointment at the Center go today?

She blinked in surprise. Fine. She glanced across the table at Blake. He tracked everything about the pregnancy meticulously. Perhaps he talked about it at work?

Any more issues with morning sickness? Marcus’s dark eyebrows rose, wrinkling his forehead.

She shook her head. No. Not since my first trimester.

Good. That little one you’re carrying is very, very special. He put his hands on the table, fingers splayed, and leaned towards Blake. He voice was low, harsh, a sharp contrast to the gentle tone he’d used with her. Which reminds me . . . I’m concerned about the pig you lost today.

Blake’s eyes closed for a moment. Sophie was intimately familiar with that look. He was trying to control his temper. When his eyes opened, his face was relaxed but his green eyes glittered with frustration. It was a genetic mutation, out of my control. A fluke.

Marcus straightened and bared his whitened teeth with a feral smile. I’m afraid this won’t sit well with the Review Board, and you need their support to go forward with the next stage.

Blake’s knuckles were white where he gripped his fork. You are the executive director and sit on the Review Board. If you endorse human testing, the CRB’ll go along with it.

Sophie’s eyes widened at the mention of human testing. Although she knew the broad strokes of her husband’s research, he rarely shared details. The squat gray building where he worked was intimidating enough without knowing everything that went on behind those walls. That’s precisely why she’d initially resisted when Blake wanted her to get prenatal care at the Center.

I am so sorry, but you know I cannot do that in good conscience. You know how things work. Some things have to be done the right way. I have turned a blind eye with your pet project-- Marcus broke off, then his smile widened as he turned towards her. Your husband is a brilliant researcher. Would not surprise me at all if he won the Nobel Prize someday.

He strode away, his leather shoes nearly silent on the polished hardwood floor.

Sophie turned her attention back to her husband to sooth his ruffled nerves. He obviously thinks a great deal of you. I didn’t know your research was so far along.

He stabbed a piece of meat with his fork and jabbed it at her. He has no idea how brilliant I am. He doesn’t know how close I am to curing the scourge of humankind. Losing that engineered pig today--

She reached across and took his hand. It shook in hers, then he squeezed her fingers so tight her knuckles ground together painfully. She winced.

He dropped her hand. I’m sorry. His brows pushed together in a frown. I didn’t mean to—

As she massaged her hand, she murmured, It’s okay. She dropped her chin, letting a curtain of dark hair hide the pain in her eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak then closed it. His chest rose and fell with a sigh, then he leaned forward and whispered urgently, I have found the cure for cancer. You will see. And it couldn’t have happened without you. His eyes glittered in the candle light.

The waiter arrived to refill their glasses, breaking the tension. She took a sip of water then remembered, Oh! I forgot to ask – were you able to get the new insurance card from Marisa?

I should’ve given it to you when you were at the Center today. He waved one hand as if shooing away a pesky fly. She ordered a duplicate for me. It’s in my desk drawer. My apologies, I had other things on my mind today.

I know. I hate to bug you. I just need to make sure I have that card before I go see the new OB this next week.

You have access to the most advanced medical facility in the state, yet you insist—. He bit off his words and closed his eyes for a moment, then smiled across the table at her. I will get it to you, but I do wish you would consider letting Dr. Chaudhury continue treating you. He’s a world renowned doctor.

A warm feeling washed over Sophie at her husband’s concern. I like Dr. Chaudhury, but I want someone who specializes in obstetrics to deliver the baby in a regular hospital. Though the facilities at the Center were top notch, she wanted to experience the warmth of a birthing suite.

The Center is the best there is. A muscle under Blake’s right eye twitched. I want the best for this baby.

I know you do. She sucked in a deep breath and straightened. Blake wasn’t going to like it, but she had to think about what was best for her baby. But I am going to the OB the girls at the gym recommended.

Blake’s jaw muscle tensed as he lifted his chin and watched her through narrowed eyes. After he took several deep breaths, he said, I wish you’d quit going to that kickboxing gym. It’s bad enough that you’re still running every morning, but kickboxing?

Sophie grinned in spite of herself. That new gym had given her confidence, and she felt stronger than she ever had before. It gave her a sense of control, to know how to jab and kick. She cocked an eyebrow. Even Dr. Chaudhury says kickboxing is fine as long as I don’t spar and you know I never do that. He says it’s good for me to be strong and healthy.

Blake’s lips pressed into a thin line as he shook his head, but, to Sophie’s surprise, he let the subject drop.

The wipers slapped furiously at the rain as they sped along the blacktop road towards Enterprise, curving left and right, following the river. Finally, he broke the silence. You didn’t seem to mind when Marcus kissed your hand tonight.

She turned towards him and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. It caught me by surprise. Her voice was barely audible over the raindrops pelting the roof of the SUV.

Don’t let that act fool you. He’s a cad. He spat the last word like a curse. All he cares about is the research. Everything he does is focused on finding a cure for cancer, and he won’t let anything get in his way. He’s got a strangle hold on my research.

The night had been so nice. Blake had taken her out for a romantic dinner at the Black Bear Lodge to celebrate her second trimester being healthy. It had taken her all afternoon to get ready, straightening her long hair so that it would be sleek and shiny in the candlelit restaurant, just as he liked it. When she’d walked down the stairs after getting ready, Blake’s eyes glittered with desire as he looked her up and down. He ran his fingers through her dark tresses, which hung halfway down her back. He’d opened the car door for her, pulled her chair out for her, ordered for her. And then she’d smiled at his boss. And that was all it took to flip Blake’s switch. He truly was a brilliant man, the smartest person she’d ever known, but his mood swings scared her.

She kept her head down, but glanced sideways at her husband. The muscles in his jaw worked furiously and his lips pressed tightly together. She cleared her throat and said, Dinner was nice tonight.

He snorted and strangled the steering wheel with his grip. A shiver ran down her spine as the Grand Cherokee sped along the narrow blacktop.

She tried to turn his focus to the one thing he truly cared about. Your boss mentioned human trials. Your research must be going really well.

More ready than you can ever imagine. If you only knew how close-- He reached over and tapped her rounded stomach. His thin lips curled up in an evil smile.

She looked down at his long fingers spread protectively over her stomach. Surely he wouldn’t —

The corner of his mouth twitched up and he laughed, a humorless sound. I’m not waiting around for the CRB. They move at a glacial pace, and the world cannot wait for them to grind along-- A loud rumble of thunder drowned out the rest of his words.

The best thing she could do was keep him talking about his work. Eventually, his mood would break. Mr. Chaney had mentioned a CRB, too. She leaned towards him and prompted, The CRB?

The Center Review Board. His thin lips curled into a sneer as he pulled his hand away to put both hands on the steering wheel as they rounded a sharp curve. A bunch of bureaucrats and administrators who do nothing but squash intellectual questions and innovative thought. I couldn’t wait any longer for them. Marcus understands that, and he doesn’t care what lines I cross to move my research forward, but he won’t take a stand publicly.

Blake complained to her constantly about the administrators at the research center. He thought of himself as the brains of the operation, constrained by their useless rules. But rules were important, and without rules, she worried about what he might do when he got so caught up in his research, what corners he might cut, what ethical boundaries he might cross. She frowned down at her stomach, then glanced sideways at him.

CHAPTER TWO

Blake

Almost in slow motion, the SUV floated across the rain-slicked blacktop, into the other lane.

Shit, Blake muttered. Hang on. We’re hydroplaning.

The tail end of the Grand Cherokee whipped around as Blake spun the steering wheel. A brief flash of craggy rocks flashed across her field of vision, trees, then blackness. The next thing she knew, the Grand Cherokee sat sideways on the narrow road, the front bumper only a few feet from a huge boulder jutting up out of the trees. The dark ribbon of river flowed behind it.

Suddenly, she remembered.

The baby!

She cradled her stomach and held her breath for a moment, waiting to feel movement. Surely she’d know if the baby was hurt. Somehow, someway, she would know, wouldn’t she? The seat belt was still tucked securely under her bump, but she ran one hand along the strap. Her shoulder hurt where the belt had grabbed her, as did her chest. She closed her eyes and imagined her baby safely ensconced in her womb. She might’ve been sloshed around a bit, but she was well protected.

She swept her hair back over her shoulders, then swiveled her head to look at Blake. His hands still gripped the steering wheel, but he was staring at her stomach. Is the baby okay? he demanded. His nostrils flared.

She’s fine. I think she’s fine. Her hands splayed over her stomach. The miracle within her had to be okay. Sophie already cared about her baby more than she’d ever imagined possible. This little girl was going to have a good life, with a loving family, a princess bed to be tucked into every night, and loads of stuffed animals, whatever she wanted. There would be no pallets on the floor for her baby, no foster parents looking for a paycheck.

Are you sure? He reached across and clamped his hand onto her wrist and looked at his watch.

Sophie laughed and tried to pull away. He jerked her hand back and she blinked. Long seconds ticked by before he released her.

Pulse is a little fast, but that’s to be expected. The clinical tone of his voice matched the chill in the air.

I’m fine, too, Sophie said, stung by his focus on the baby.

Of course. He huffed out a breath. His jaw tensed and he took two deep breaths before continuing. Of course I want you to be okay, too. The baby might be big enough to survive without you now, but it would certainly be safer for you to carry it to term.

Sophie blinked rapid-fire, his words cutting deep. It took her a moment, but she finally squeaked out, Please don’t call her it.

It. She. Whatever. All that matters is that the baby survive. My research-- He clamped his mouth shut.

Her eyes widened as she spun to face him. Her heart raced. What do you mean? What have you done? Images of the calendar hanging in their kitchen flashed through her mind. The weekly appointments at the Center, all the tests that had been done, all the prenatal vitamins that had been prescribed . . . Blake tended to be distant under normal circumstances, but he’d been so attentive throughout the pregnancy.

I never should’ve said anything. He shook his head and held his hands up, palms out, like he was giving up. We’ll talk about this later. Right now, we need to get out of here.

She cradled her stomach. Her instincts screamed at her. Yes, we will definitely talk later. Surely he wouldn’t do anything to harm his own child. But what if he thought he was helping? She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. His research was more important to him than anything. Is that why he was so involved in her pregnancy? Why he resisted her seeing a doctor outside of the Center? But, dear God, one of his test subjects had died. Even Marcus Chaney didn’t think Blake’s research was ready for humans.

Blake shifted into reverse and lifted his foot from the brake pedal. He pressed lightly on the gas and the vehicle lurched backward a foot or two, then the wheels spun uselessly in the muddy gravel of the shoulder. He punched the 4WD button, but the vehicle continued to spin. Mud flew from the front tires splattered the passenger window.

She turned to her husband. We’re stuck. Panic rose up within her as she mulled over the words he’d used. Getting pregnant had been his idea. She’d resisted at first, wanting time to be a couple before they started a family. If he had done anything that put their baby at risk . . . If she died like that pig had . . .

He rolled his eyes and said, Thank you so much for pointing out the obvious.

She pressed her lips together tightly. He reacted with sarcasm. At least he hadn’t reacted with a physical slap. That happened rarely, but it happened, and it made her feel like a child again. She’d had enough of that in foster care. She wouldn’t stand for it any more. She eyed him with suspicion, seeing her husband in a new light.

I’ll call for a tow. Sophie pulled her phone from her purse, then held it up, turning it this way and that. No signal. She dropped her phone back into its slot. One of the downfalls of living in the mountains.

Slide over here, he ordered.

What? she asked, stunned. Surely she’d misunderstood him. He never let her drive.

I said slide over here, he repeated. You’re going to have to steer while I push.

She blinked. Surely she’d misheard him. She opened her mouth to protest, but he clucked at her as if she were a petulant child.

He lowered his chin and looked up at her, his eyebrow cocked. Just do it. Please. I’d like to get home this evening so I can run through some computer projections on my research.

He buzzed the driver’s side window down, letting in a blast of cold air, then opened the door.