Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

'Has there been any other cases of these drugs triggering dissociative identity disorder?'

'Possibly. Sarah and Brian are on that case,' she informed him.

'Do we know the name of the company?' he asked.

'Harrington Labs,' she answered.

The car returned to silence as Jacob's facial expression changed. Ally turned her attention off the road for a split second to see why he'd gone quiet.

'Is everything alright?' she asked, concerned after seeing a shocked look on his face.

'You said Harrington Labs?' he repeated.

'Yes.'

'Pull the car over.'

Ally followed his order and he jumped out of the car at lightning speed. His mind was racing all over the place. Harrington Labs. My uncle’s business is involved in my case. I need to tell Dan. Jacob removed his phone from his pocket.

'Dan, I've got some information,' he said as his uncle answered. 'It's about Harrington Labs.'

'Who are you talking to?' Ally asked as she exited her car.

Jacob placed his finger against his lips, telling her to be quiet. 'Meet me at the station and I'll tell you what I know,' he said before hanging up.

'Who were you talking to?' Ally demanded an answer.

'My uncle. I'll tell you and the others everything when we get back to the station.'

The team grouped into the briefing room with Jacob's uncle, Dan, sat with them. Everyone wondered what was going on as they took their seats around the table. Jacob stood up front, ready to explain what he knew about Harrington Labs and his family’s history.

'Why are we all here, Jacob? We've got work to do,' Sarah piped up in her cocky tone of voice.

'It's about this experimental drug and Harrington Labs.'

'Please enlighten us,' Barnes said.

'Harrington Labs was created by my great grandfather and is now in the hands of my uncle,' he started to explain before everyone turned their heads to look at Dan. 'No, not that uncle.'

'My other brother,' Dan took over. 'My mother had triplets, myself, John and Malcolm. I never knew my father. He went missing before we were born. My mother gave birth to us at my grandfather’s house. He took Malcolm away as he was first born, then she had me and John and my grandmother hid us from him. My mother managed to escape, with help from my grandmother and our mother kept us hidden from them. Once my grandfather died, Malcolm became the sole heir to his fortune, including Harrington Labs and to this day, he has no idea that I exist.'

'So, your brother is the head of Harrington Labs? I still don't know what this has to do with the case,' Sarah said.

'Does anybody remember where Ava Lewis' parents worked?' Jacob asked.

Ally answered, 'Harrington Labs?'

'Yes. And her parents worked with someone else's mother...,' he continued.

'Lily's,' Barnes replied with surprise. 'Two cases which are kind of connected. How weird.'

'Now this part is going to sound strange, but if you look into the history of Harrington Labs, you'll find missing people cases dating back years. I think Lily was telling the truth about her mother. I think my uncle and Harrington Labs had something to do with her disappearance.'

'Should we bring Hemmings up to speed?' Ally turned to Barnes.

'Not just yet. Let’s see what else we find first,' he said.

'What hospital did Natalie Dixon work at?' Jacob asked out of curiosity.

'Birmingham City,' Ally answered. 'Why?'

'Mia Clarke was a nurse...' Jacob walked out of the room and marched to his desk, logged onto the computer, staying in his thoughts. Everyone followed him over and crowded around him. 'Mia Clarke was a nurse at the same hospital Natalie Dixon treated her patients. Mia also murdered Will Shepard inside that hospital.'

Every member of the team seemed surprised at the revelation.

'Jacob, if you don't mind suspending your holiday for the time being and diving straight back in? We could really do with your help on this,' Barnes asked.

'No problem, sir,' he smiled, happy to be back in the saddle.

'Can you and Ally head to the hospital and ask around about Natalie Dixon and Mia Clarke? We need to know if they were friendly and see if there is a connection between both cases, or if it's a coincidence,' Barnes continued.

They both nodded and left with their coats on as Dan followed them out. He pulled Jacob to one side.

'Have you made your decision yet?'

'Not yet, but I'll keep you in the loop. Common courtesy,' Jacob smiled and patted his uncle on the top of his arm.

Chapter 24

Ally parked her car outside Birmingham City Hospital. Jacob sprung out of the passenger seat and proceeded to the entrance. He was in his own world with thoughts spinning around inside his head, forgetting he'd left Ally behind.

'Wait up!' she shouted.

'Sorry, Ally,' he snapped back to reality. 'I was somewhere else.'

'Figured,' she smiled, trying to grasp some breath back.

Once inside the reception area, the pair approached the desk, flashed their badges and asked to see Natalie Dixon's office. They were chauffeured by Daksha, a nurse who knew both Natalie and Mia.

'Here it is,' Daksha said as she opened Natalie's office door.

'Thank you, Daksha,' Ally said as they walked in.

'Would you mind staying around for a minute?' Jacob asked her. 'We've got a few questions to ask you.'

'No problem.'

'Did you know Natalie and Mia well?' Jacob began questioning her.

'We weren't friends. I spoke to them both a few times but that was about it. I can't believe Mia was involved in murdering all those women. She seemed so nice.'

'Did Mia and Natalie ever speak? Were they friends?' Ally asked as she searched Natalie's desk.

'They spoke a lot, sometimes about patients. I don't know if they were friends but they definitely spent a lot