The Watchtower

By Heather Mar-Gerrison

Kallie is still missing and Josh is barely functioning. Even so, the small community at the watchtower have managed to rescue as many hybrids as possible and they are now living in the watchtower where they are relatively safe.
Can Josh and his friends rescue Kallie from the evil clutches of Hellmann before he can carry out his heinous plans?
This is the final book in the White Water series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mar-Gerrison
• Release date: Mar 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781311080127

Heather Mar-Gerrison

I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. #happyheatherafters

Book preview

Prologue

Leah

Nine months ago…

I stumbled along the corridor, wondering what it was that Mr Hellmann wanted from me this time. I hoped it wasn’t another one of his freaky experiments…

Three months ago, I was a regular student at Marlborough Mews Uni. I was going to be a vet, finding that I had a real connection with animals that no one else around me seemed to be able to understand. It was almost as if I instinctively knew what their problem was – like they were somehow telling me what was wrong and I could therefore heal them properly. I knew it sounded stupid to try to explain this to my parents, so I never did.

I was taken by two men in suits. I was absolutely terrified. I’d been so sure that I was going to be raped and murdered but thankfully that never happened…

Instead, I was brought to Hellmann’s ‘country house’. It sounds much grander than it really was but it was warm and comfortable and generally quite pleasant – apart from the fact that I was a prisoner and was being held against my will, for my abilities.

As soon as I arrived, I was questioned relentlessly about my gifts. There were a few other kids in the room, all of them void of any sort of expression on their faces and not one of them would make eye contact with me. I guessed that they were all in their using their gifts to make sure I answered their questions without being able to lie about anything. Well, they had to be, because I totally spilled my guts about everything I could do – and I didn’t want to tell them. I just simply couldn’t stop myself...

Anyway, that was a while ago now and since then I’d been used for my gift almost every day. My job had been to remove the kids’ memories of their family and friends in order for them to be able to concentrate fully on their established gifts. If we failed to bring out their abilities – if they were deemed useless – they were returned to the university, confused and unable to remember where they’d been or why...

*

I was pushed into the room and came face to face with Mr Sheldon Hellmann, the guy who was running this freak show. I shuddered involuntarily. The guy was so creepy – he was like a caricature of a real person and he totally reminded me of Homer Simpson’s boss… only even creepier and uglier.

Ah, Leah, how lovely to see you. He grinned, showing his yellowing teeth at me.

I nodded, suppressing another shudder. It wasn’t lovely for me. I just wanted to get out of there.

As I’m sure you’ve already been made aware, I’ve brought a new guest home. He beamed, looking ridiculously pleased with himself.

I nodded, Guest? I raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t help it.

Yes, he nodded, frowning at me and looking slightly insulted by my cynicism, "you’re all guests here."

I raised an eyebrow, So, I can just walk out of here any time I like, then? I asked flatly, knowing the answer.

Of course, He smiled.

Sure, I nodded, hearing the thoughts in his head, I could but I’d be disposed of before I made it to the gates. He’d murdered his long-time associate DC – and that was, allegedly, only over an argument about money… What do you want from me?

Well, our guest is having a few difficulties. She seriously needs calming down. I think your powers of healing will be very useful.

I don’t heal… I started. What I was being forced to perform every day here could hardly be described as healing.

No, he sneered, I appreciate that you are limited in your capabilities but I think you should be able to help her forget about what is troubling her – just the same as you did with young Maddock. God rest his soul... he put his hand up to his heart but I knew he didn’t care one iota about the guy. Maddock had simply been a means to an end for Hellmann.

I shivered. I still felt horribly responsible for Maddock’s death. I’d been manipulating his mind for months before Hellmann’s failed attempt at taking the group of kids en-mass. It had gone horribly wrong and Maddock had lost his life.

Forget? I swallowed nervously. I didn’t want to keep taking people’s minds away from them. Maddock had been the sweetest soul that ever lived and he had died because of me… indirectly, but still… I felt guilty about it every day of my life.

He nodded, She is well-known to me but I do not wish for her to recognise me just yet. I believe you can help her forget all about our previous life – and all about the young man she believes to be her soulmate.

I stared at him, aghast. My stomach contracting with fear and revulsion. I’d never been asked to make someone forget their soulmate before. That was unforgivably cruel... I can’t do that. I gasped.

It wasn’t a request, Leah. He said softly, his smile nothing short of evil.

I swallowed. It wasn’t worth trying to cross him. The man was quite mad. I nodded. I can try, I said, feeling very scared. I didn’t want to hurt the poor girl.

He pointed me in the direction of a door at the back of the room.

Chapter 1 – Paul Staveley’s return...

Molly

Dad? I frowned as I answered my mobile phone. Dad never usually bothered with the phone any more. He knew I could hear him in my mind if he called out in his. He had to be distracted by something to forget that...

Molly, thank goodness I caught you, he said breathlessly, do you think you and Stan could make it over to the office in, what? Ten minutes?

I frowned. He sounded totally out of sorts, Sure, I agreed, Is everything okay, Dad? You sound out of breath. What’s all this about?

Nothing to worry about I assure you, Poppet. He said, making me smile at his endearment. I’d always been Poppet – and still was, even though my two children were also called Poppet more times than they weren’t, too. Paul Staveley’s been in contact with me. He says he has information that he thinks will help us protect the hybrids. He sounded genuine but I’d like to have you and Stan there just in case. I’m pretty good at judging a person – but a little insider knowledge never goes amiss if you know what I’m saying.

I chuckled, I’m hearing you loud a clear, Dad. I agreed. He needed us there to read Paul’s thoughts – or at least, try to. If he really was the super double-agent that we suspected him of being, he’d probably be pretty good at shielding his thoughts from the likes of Stan and I. Still, I was interested in hearing what he’d got to say for himself, anyway...

*

Paul, Dad stood up and shook Paul’s hand as he entered the room, looking a little nervous, but otherwise perfectly composed, What can we do for you today?

He cleared his throat, Good afternoon, Joe, he said, I really appreciate you giving me your time today. I realise I haven’t actually conducted myself in a way that gives you any reason to trust me – but I really need you to listen to what I have to tell you. He gazed at Dad beseechingly.

Dad raised an eyebrow, How so? he asked.

Paul visibly swallowed, "Because Sheldon Hellmann has told me exactly what it is that he wants from the hybrids – and it’s nothing like what we suspected DC of. Nothing like..."

Stan frowned, What does he want them for, then? he asked.

Paul shook his head, "He’s lost his mind – it’s purely for selfish reasons – not that the kids aren’t in danger, anyway. He’s completely crazy – but he’s looking for one particular skill and when he finds the one that can do what he needs them to do, then his ward, Kallie Jacobson, is going to lose her own self-identity entirely and basically become Hellmann’s dead ex-wife and soulmate, Margot..."

We all stared at him in horror, What? Dad exclaimed, "Has he lost his mind? That can’t be done!"

Paul nodded wearily, "I know that, he said, Or, at least, I hope I know that, anyway – but he’s got some really talented young kids in his arsenal now. It’s my guess that it’s only a matter of time before someone gets captured that can do what he needs them to do.

Kallie, needs to be rescued and I’m quite sure the guy to do it is a kid you’re already aware of, too – Joshua Johnson.

Stan smiled and nodded, Oh, yeah. He nodded enthusiastically, Josh is a great kid. He added warmly.

Paul frowned, Are we talking about the same person? he asked, looking troubled, "Since when was he a great kid? He’s been a trouble-maker for as long as I’ve been aware of his existence."

Stan blinked, Since every time I’ve met him. He said in surprise, He’s got a brilliant mind, a soul of pure gold and he looks after his own absolutely brilliantly.

Paul stared at Stan with his mouth slightly open. He seemed put out that Joshua was so highly thought of, You don’t like him, Paul? I asked.

Paul jumped and shifted his gaze to me, I hardly know him. He muttered, But we have differing opinions of how to treat friends, I guess. He didn’t treat Gemma, my stepdaughter, particularly well. He added stiffly.

Stan’s lips twitched, Well, the course of young love never did run smooth, he said sagely.

I raised an eyebrow, Care to elaborate on that? I challenged.

He just grinned and shook his head, "I seem to remember your father not being exactly enamoured with me."

It was true. Dad had hated Stan when we were first discovering how we felt about each other – and he really hadn’t made it easy for us. Still, that was all way in the past, now.

Dad laughed and Paul seemed to relax a little. I just needed to get you up to speed with what I was doing. He said, I never meant to let you down – and I would be happy to be back on the team in whatever capacity you want me on it – but I still need to keep a close eye on Hellmann. He seems to trust me and that’s what’s most important to you guys, right now.

I nodded. He was definitely telling the truth. Dad smiled, Sure. He agreed, We’d be happy to have you back – but Minter’s taken over your project as manager and he’s doing it well. We’ll definitely have something for you but I agree with you for now – stay on Hellmann’s payroll and keep us informed of his movements – just don’t get caught doing it, whatever you do.

Paul nodded, You can count on that. He said.

Chapter 2 – Meeting Gemma

Kallie

It was a few days since I’d lost my memory and I was definitely feeling better – or at least, less out of sorts with the world. I still couldn’t remember anything that had happened in the last couple of weeks, which was as frustrating as hell, but at least I wasn’t feeling all weak and exhausted anymore. My memories of my