EMBRYO 5: SILVER GIRL (EMBRYO: A Raney & Levine Thriller) Read online

  EMBRYO 5:

  Silver Girl

  A Raney & Levine Thriller

  A Novel

  by

  J.A. Schneider

  PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EMBRYO:

  “It is rare that a book can elicit that much emotion so early in the story. I was blown away. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!!”

  The Kindle Book Review

  “After reading EMBRYO, I had to take a breath. This was one of the most intense books I've ever read.”

  The Indie Bookshelf

  “Readers will absolutely love it!”

  Literati Literature Lovers

  “What a ride! I literally found myself turning pages until they finally ran out. The action builds up, there is anthropology, genetics, murder, kidnap, romance and danger. As a physician, I saw quite accurate depiction until the end, where it gets into a bit of sci-fi, but even then, intense and stunning. Highly recommend, and like somebody else said, would make quite a movie.”

  John Ellis, M.D.

  “As a nurse, I appreciate the medical details being correct! Stayed up all night to read!”

  Carol Meeker, R.N.

  “OMG, David Levine is the best hero ever!!”

  Becky Sayers, Amazon reviewer

  “Move Over Medical Thriller Author Tess Gerritson…EMBRYO’s writing is superb, the action tense, the characters fully developed, and the research flawless.”

  Gail M. Baugniet, bestselling author of For Every Action

  PRAISE FOR EMBRYO 2: CROSSHAIRS

  “Again, this new thriller deserves so much MORE than the regular 5 star rating!! Embryo 2 is a follow up book to the characters and storyline of EMBRYO, and equally just as good. As I said in my review of the first book, anyone who enjoys a brilliantly paced thriller, with fact and fiction mixed in, will thoroughly enjoy Embryo 2. This will leave you breathless!!”

  The Kindle Book Review

  “Holy hell, what a read!! Both this book, and the first EMBRYO, start from page one and DO.NOT.STOP. The suspense is continuous!”

  The Reading Café

  “Immediately reels you into a whirlwind!”

  Readers Favorite

  “Doctors as a new detective duo, what a concept! Stunning and brilliant in a whole new way!”

  Literati Literature Lovers

  “J.A. Schneider has followed up her first suspense-filled medical thriller with this second one which is as fast paced and non stop emotional. It’s a stunner!”

  Top Mystery Thrillers

  “Just as explosive as the first Embryo!”

  Amazon reviewer Melanie Adkins

  “You fall in love with main characters.... It is the most captivating read I have had in a while. This is a great thriller and leaves you wanting more. Can’t wait for the next one! Excellent! *****”

  Jane Smith, Amazon reviewer

  “I absolutely loved this book! A brilliant follow up to the first Embryo, and I've just learned there's a third in the works! A medical thriller of gripping proportions, I encourage everyone who loves a good psychological thriller to give this series a go!”

  Reviewer Andrew Baker

  “This book had my heart rocketing again, it took a lot to tear me away from my Kindle. There were some truly scary parts (I don't think I'll ever look at a chicken in the same way again!!) The clown ~ arrrgh... I truly dislike clowns and this made me even more certain of that!!”

  Amazon reviewer Emily Graff

  “J.A. Schneider did it again and if I could have given this book a 10 plus rating I would have. To all who have not read this, please do, you will not be disappointed, so do something good for yourself and read this book!”

  Amazon reviewer Louann Van Riper

  PRAISE FOR EMBRYO 3: RANEY & LEVINE

  “...truly scary and chilling with an intense storyline and non-stop action. It goes at a breakneck pace with few lulls to let you catch your breath.”

  The Kindle Book Review

  “Doctors vs. religious fanatics – BOOM!”

  Tricia Simon, Amazon reviewer

  “Hang on for a great ride! I read all three books in 5 days (had to work 2 of those days) or would have finished sooner. Loved the series and just found out #4 is in the works! A great mix of genres, medical, sci-fi, police procedural, and mystery. It grabs from the beginning and doesn't let go!!”

  The Reading Café

  “Once you read the first “Embryo” you will be hooked!! This series is so captivating that I read one right after the other. We will be reading more from this amazing author.”

  Top Suspense Thrillers

  “One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. It is almost too exciting with something happening constantly. Like the first two I loved it. I even cried, such a great storyteller.”

  Jean Lewis, Amazon Reviewer

  “...a classic murder mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. The hospital setting, characters, and premise are all fully developed, pulling you into the heart of a gripping story. Masterfully, the author takes you into the minds of the characters, exposing their inner fears, their religious interpretations and, in more than one case, their lunacy. I strongly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.”

  Readers Favorite

  “Could NOT put this series down!!! I raced through all three of the Embryo books and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The series raises interesting questions regarding IVF and Genetics in obstetrics in general and makes you question whether, indeed, a child could be born outside the mother! Then add to it true nut cases who are bound and determined to kill people, perhaps harm the hospital/institution that provides that genetic development - and you have a clear winner of a series! I have been in medicine for over 40 years and J.A. Schneider has her facts down well - everything is spot on in the medical descriptions and such! Just a FANTASTIC series of books and I HOPE she writes more about Rainey and Levine!!! You feel as though you know them by the end of even book 1!!!! Can't say enough about these books!!! They are real thrillers! Bravo!”

  Karen Miller, R.N.

  “Loved, loved, loved this series!! Hated to finish them!! I'm hoping this gifted author writes more books updating Jesse's progress and life growing up. Loved all the characters but especially the two main characters and the love they have for each other and Jesse. Now I guess I'm going to have to find something (hopefully) to hold my interest until this author maybe (Please!) decides to continue this series and puts us all out of our misery!”

  Teresa Dunnagan, reviewer

  “Wow...a stunning trilogy that I would love to see them make into a movie or mini series. Fast paced…engaging...with so much that MAKES YOU THINK.”

  Holly Simons, reviewer

  PRAISE FOR EMBRYO 4: CATCH ME

  “One of the Best Thriller Series I’ve Read in Years! This entire thrilling series features masterful storytelling and terrific characters. Cannot Wait for the Next One!”

  Hillel Kaminsky, Amazon Reviewer

  “Tension in every line, another fabulous thriller. I’d give ten stars if I could!”

  Literati Literature Lovers

  “The author’s done it again with another heart-stopping stunner. I am so addicted to this series!”

  The Kindle Book Review

  “J.A. Schneider’s brought us another thriller that starts with the first line! How does she DO that? The grabber is these wonderful, original characters, with good guys we’ve come to love!”

  The Reading Café

  “Best of a very wonderful series! I love the family and friends relationships and the constant thrills
and chills of adding the very scary Couples Killer. I have read every one of J.A. Schneider's books and have loved them all!”

  Lyn Askew, Amazon Reviewer

  “From the tension of the story’s opening line, Schneider lets readers know they’re in for an action-packed ride. A child’s screams, a bloody dead body, another still alive? The police have already dubbed the murders leading up to this incident as The Couples Killer. The little touches, small compassionate comments, are what drew me and held me throughout, and what really gripped my heart.”

  Gail M. Baugniet, bestselling Author of For Every Action

  “Another brilliant addition to the Embryo series! Heart-racing from the first line, with the whimpering toddler running, terrified…”

  Brenda Telford

  “I love this passage: ‘Victims needed a voice, and found it in Jill Raney and David Levine. They felt that hospitals don’t help police as much as they should in cases of assault, child molestation, and sex crimes. The compassion and courage of these two doctor detectives is what makes this series very, very special.’”

  Top Thrillers

  “Doctor Duo Detectives – what a concept! These books really have quite a few amazing dynamics. First is Jill and David's relationship. We have been able to watch it grow and blossom into a deep and serious relationship. Jill is emotional, stubborn, reckless, intuitive, and brilliant - and the teamwork of these two doctors with the police is amazing.”

  Trista Borgwardt, Amazon Reviewer

  “How can you improve on perfection, well J.A. Schneider has with Embryo 4, Catch Me. These books are all spellbinding, explosive. Once you start you cannot stop. All of the characters are great, but I just love following Jill Raney and David Levine, seeing their amazing, supportive relationship as well as their helpful relationship with the police. I got hooked with the first Embryo and with each new book I got more enthralled. Can’t wait for the next one!”

  Louann Van Riper

  Publisher Information

  Embryo 5: Silver Girl is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, institutions or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2015 J.A. Schneider.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce or transmit this book, in any part thereof, in any form or by any means whatsoever, whether now existing or devised at a future time, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews.

  For more information about the author, or to join the newsletter to find when new books will be released, please visit http://jaschneiderauthor.net

  To Bob as always, my husband, and an endlessly patient physician who loves explaining medical concepts which I interweave as I write.

  EMBRYO 5: Silver Girl

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Epilogue

  Author's Note

  About the Author

  1

  A girl stumbling off the curb.

  He almost didn’t see her, the young woman clinging to the back of a parked car, on a street of Upper East Side townhouses, on a night in early April.

  Officer Ted Holt’s breath stopped as he slammed on the brakes. Wordlessly, he and his partner threw open their doors and ran to her, catching her by her thin arms and waist as she slid, head down, to the pavement. She seemed almost naked to them. A party-spangly, silver mini dress. Delicate shoulder straps, one torn and drooping. She was shaking, pulling away. “No…”

  The second man radioed for assistance and ran for a blanket. Holt reached to adjust the girl’s dress and hunched down for a closer look.

  In the sweep of their red-blue lights she raised her face to him, and he winced. Her expression, dazed, sad, and desperately human, looked out at him from eyes that were puffy and swollen. Blood trickled from a gash on her brow; her long blond hair was disheveled.

  Rape, Holt guessed. It was a logical first guess for a policeman.

  “Reid?” she whispered, pleading. “Reid? Please, no…” Then her face contorted. Frightened, unfocused emotions crossed her features and she began to cry.

  Holt held her and stared. Reed? As in drug paraphernalia? The girl had no identification on her, and she was whimpering incoherently, making no sense.

  “Who did this to you?” he asked gently. “What is your name?”

  She closed her eyes, her body sagging against his, and he noticed that she was feverish with skin clammy and sweaty, which was odd - it didn’t connect with assault. Drugs on top of rape? He frowned, discounting that. Coming off heroin can produce sweats, but not a burning fever like this. And in air that was in the low forties? He peered at her face again, and in the twirling lights of the cruiser thought he saw something else.

  His partner, named Miller, was back with a gray blanket which they wrapped around her. “EMS is on its way,” Miller said low.

  “Look at this,” Holt said, reaching for his flashlight. With his fingers hooding the beam, he ran it over the girl’s face and neck and shoulders.

  Miller stared in astonishment. “God,” he murmured.

  Holt said, “She looked like she’d been beaten, but where are the bruises? Except for this gash on her brow she looked just swollen…until this. And that there. See? Spreading?”

  Both men watched, grim, as whitish hives appeared, grew, and merged across the girl’s skin like pancake batter too crowded in the pan. Her lips and tongue were puffing up too, and her breathing, in the minutes since their arrival, had changed to wheezing. Holt held her as her shoulders heaved from air hunger and she wailed in fear.

  Miller shook his head. “The gash came from something.”

  “She may have fallen.”

  The girl’s wheezing became rapid gasps. In terror she threw her head back and thrashed as both men held her, wishing there were something they could do. An approaching siren sounded, and looking up, they saw the ambulance swerve into the street.

  “Fast.” Miller stood. “Let’s hope she stays lucky.”

  Holt grimly held the writhing girl. He was older, more experienced; had never seen anything like this.

  The ambulance stopped behind their car, its lights blending with theirs to send a crazed unpleasant glow across the faces of gawking bystanders.

  Miller went to them, spreading his arms. “Come on, move along, please?”

  Holt stepped aside as two EMTs checked the girl’s vital signs and wrapped her in a different, darker blanket. The willowy body in the silver, glinting dress disappeared into blackness, and for an instant, sensing that his fatigue was tricking him, he had the disorienting feeling that they were burying her.

  He blinked away the image, bent, and spoke to one of the EMTs.

  “Fever,” he said. “Trouble br
eathing.”

  She had just taken off her stethoscope. “I’ll say. Dave, bring the oxygen!” Her chubby face took in the long, lanky grace of the form under the blanket. “She a model or something? An actress?”

  Someone shouted from the knot of bystanders, and they turned. A man’s arm held something aloft; in the spinning lights of the emergency vehicles it glinted red and then blue. “Purse!” the man said; and a woman’s voice called, “…must have dropped it. We found it back there.”

  The alert-faced couple handed it to Miller, who brought it to Holt. Together they inspected the small evening bag made of the same silvery fabric as the girl’s dress. In the wallet was the identification they needed. The girl’s name was Jody Merrill, and there were four in case of emergency numbers: Jill Raney and David Levine (“my doctors and dear friends,”) said a girlish scrawl, and Reid and Deborah Wylie (“my entertainment lawyers”).

  Holt stared at the names. “Raney and Levine,” he said. “Heard of them?”

  “Who hasn’t? Cop friends, the ones with that baby. They help in sex crimes.”

  “That’s them. They’re at Madison Memorial.” Holt turned and walked to the back of the ambulance where the EMTs were hoisting their laden stretcher. One of them was shining his penlight on the girl’s face. Her color had turned to faint blue. Despite the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, her chest was heaving frantically, struggling to inhale.

  The man with the penlight gave Holt a not good look.

  Holt gave back the same look and said, “Get her to Madison Memorial. Drive fast. Break laws.”

  Then went to rejoin Miller. When the ambulance surged away they peeled after it, never guessing their role in the storm to come.

  2

  Jesse The Climber, Learner, Babble-Your-Ear-Off was finally asleep. It was almost ten and their eighteen-month-old Duracell Kid was finally down in his crib, in happy baby dreamland under his favorite blue blanket, clutching his favorite toy, Fawzie.

  His parents let out the huge, relieved breaths of any baby’s parents.

  “They let him nap,” David griped in a whisper, leaning over exhausted Jill at the crib. “How did that happen? I’ve told them and told them, yes! He really is ready to give up naps.”