by L J Morris
‘She’s on the inside. She’ll know that she needs to get Quinn and Garrison to safety and protect the control panel. She’s all you’ve got.’
‘Okay, Simeon. I’ll get in touch with the FBI in Houston. There are two guys there I’ve worked with before, Johnson and Halloran. They’ve done all of the leg work on this, put all of the pieces together. If they flag up the potential threat, it’ll look like they figured it all out and should bypass all the political shit.’
Carter stood up and fastened his coat. ‘One more thing, Bill. You need to tell your people that Sinclair and McGill are our assets. I don’t want them taken out by friendly fire.’
‘I’ll do everything I can, Simeon, I promise you that.’
‘Thank you, Bill.’
They shook hands and Easter opened the office door. ‘This looks like it could get very messy. Here’s hoping we all get through it okay.’
‘Goodbye, Bill.’
Easter’s secretary escorted Carter down to the first floor and out of the embassy’s main entrance. He thrust his hands into his pockets and set off for Kinsella’s flat. All they could do now was monitor traffic over the various networks and try to follow events.
Chapter 22
The red, Quest Kodiak seaplane flew over the compound as the sun was coming up. McGill watched it from his vantage point on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lagoon and the test facility. He watched as the Kodiak grew from a small dot on the horizon, stayed low over the buildings then looped round, and descended towards the surface of the lagoon. Its floats created rooster tails of spray behind it as it touched down on the water. The plane decelerated and the pilot began manoeuvring it across the lagoon towards the small pier that jutted out from the shore opposite the compound gate.
McGill couldn’t make out the faces of the people in the aircraft, but it must be Bazarov, Quinn and Sinclair. He climbed down from his rock observation point and kicked soil over the dying embers of his fire. Time to get closer and see what’s going on down there. He picked up his assault rifle and set off for the compound.
The pilot jumped out of the Kodiak and tied it to the bollards on the small dock. A guard climbed out of the front passenger seat, followed by the other passengers from the rear. Bazarov and Quinn first, and then Garrison, who was now in handcuffs and wearing an ill-fitting blue boiler suit. He tried to pull away from the guard and complained as loudly as he could through the duct tape that covered his mouth. The guard attempted to push him along the dock but Garrison decided to put up a fight. Bazarov stepped towards them and pointed his .45 at the admiral’s head. ‘Stay quiet and do as you’re told or die right here, right now.’
Despite his attempts at bravado Garrison’s eyes gave away his fear. He lowered his head, not wanting to look at the weapon, and meekly allowed the guard to lead him away.
Sinclair clambered out of the plane and stretched her arms. ‘That’s not exactly club class.’ She put her hands in her pockets and sauntered along the dock after Quinn. She stopped as she drew level with Bazarov and turned her head. ‘You didn’t have to do that. He’s terrified already.’
Bazarov tucked the .45 into a shoulder holster and took off his jacket. He pulled a white handkerchief from his trouser pocket and wiped his forehead. ‘I don’t need your advice. I don’t need you.’
‘Then why bring me here?’
‘Your only value now lies in keeping Mrs Quinn calm. If you give me any problems, I’ll bury you in a hole.’
‘You’re such a charmer, Viktor.’ Sinclair smirked.
Bazarov was beginning to lose patience with her. He waved one of the guards over and pointed at the two women. ‘Escort them inside and lock them in.’
Sinclair looked at the guard then at Bazarov. ‘I want to see Frank, now.’
The Russian jabbed his finger at her. ‘You’re in no position to make demands, Miss Sinclair.’ He clenched his fists – annoyed that he kept letting her get to him. He turned on his heels and stormed off.
The guard gestured towards the compound with his assault rifle. Sinclair put her arm through the crook of Quinn’s elbow. ‘Shall we?’
They followed Bazarov across to the compound, the guard bringing up the rear. As they entered the building, Bazarov leaned over to Quinn. ‘I want this all set up and ready as soon as possible. I’ll send for you in one hour.’
The guard led them down the corridor and into what looked like a cheap hotel room. There was a bed, couch, wardrobe, desk and an en-suite bathroom. The guard closed the door and locked them in.
Sinclair began checking for anything that might help her. ‘Come on, Jo, we’ve got one hour till he comes back. What’s the easiest way out of here?’
Quinn sat on the bed. ‘I don’t know, Ali, I’ve never thought about it.’
‘Well you need to think now, if you ever want to see your kids again.’
‘This whole building is made from concrete. The walls are a foot thick. There’s no way you’re digging your way out.’
‘What about the ceiling?’
‘It’s false. It was put in when we turned these parts into accommodation for our engineers. Above it are all the cables and ventilation shafts, that kind of thing. You’re not thinking of crawling through the ventilation, are you?’
‘All I need is to get out of here. I’ll take my chances after that.’ She pulled a chair over to the corner of the room and, standing on it, pushed up one of the tiles that made up the false ceiling. Above it there was a gap of six feet to the concrete roof. Running along one end, close to the roof, was a three feet wide ventilation shaft. Hanging beneath it was a wide metal tray that supported various cables. She could see there was a gap between them where they ran through the wall. A gap she could fit through.
She jumped down off the chair. ‘Listen, Jo. I can get through the gap in the wall but I need you to tell me what’s on the other side.’
Quinn thought for a moment and pointed to her left. ‘That side is just a storeroom.’
‘That’s good.’ Sinclair went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. ‘I want you to cover for me. If anyone comes in just tell them I’m in there.’
‘What do I do if they look?’
‘Don’t put yourself at risk. Just tell them I got out.’ Sinclair climbed back onto the chair and reached up to the cable tray. She lifted herself up and tested its strength. ‘I think it should be okay. I won’t be on it long.’ She swung her legs up, climbed onto the tray and leaned down through the hole in the ceiling. ‘All hell’s gonna let loose when they find out I’ve gone. Hopefully I’ll have found Frank by then. You just sit tight, okay?’
Quinn smiled and nodded. ‘Be careful, Ali.’
Sinclair replaced the tile and began her crawl along the cables towards the dim light coming through the gap. With no false ceilings in the other rooms, the light from one was bleeding through to the others. It was just enough for her to see where she was going. She shuffled towards the light and up to the gap in the wall.
She put her head through the gap and looked down into the neighbouring room. It was about eight feet long, six feet across and looked like a prison cell. Judging by the contents of the shelves that lined the walls, this was the cleaners storeroom.
She gripped the edge of the cable tray and swung down, dropping as quietly as she could to the floor. There was no obvious lock on the door so she turned the handle; it opened a fraction.
The corridor outside was lit up but deserted. She opened the door a little more and looked both ways. Quinn had told her the control room was to her right. That must be where Bazarov and his men were, not a good idea to go that way just yet.
She knew there was more accommodation on the other side of the building. That was the most likely location of Quinn’s kids. She needed to find them and hide them somewhere safe. Next, she had to find Frank. Without him, stopping Bazarov would be even more difficult. She needed someone she trusted to watch her back. She didn’t want to think that Frank was dead but she ha
d to accept it was a possibility. She closed the door behind her and made her way along the corridor.
Sinclair checked room after room on the other side of the facility. From what Quinn had told her, this part of the building was all accommodation. It must be where the kids were being held. The rooms were all empty so far; Bazarov had got rid of anyone he didn’t need. Sinclair hoped that he’d had them shipped off to the mainland but she knew that wasn’t likely. Some of the occupants had obviously been dragged out with no notice and many in their sleep. Unmade beds, cold cups of coffee and discarded towels and clothes added to the spooky, abandoned atmosphere. It was like the Marie Celeste.
As she reached the end of the corridor she could hear voices, children’s voices, coming from one of the rooms. She put her ear up against the door. The kids were talking about their mom and wondering where she was. There was no way to tell if there was a guard in there with them. She opened the door of the neighbouring room. Moving a chair over to the corner, just as she had to escape her own room, she lifted the ceiling tile and climbed onto the cable tray.
She took her time, sliding towards the kids’ room. Their voices grew louder as she pushed through the gap in the wall and stopped directly above them. She still couldn’t make out any noises that pointed towards the presence of a guard. She reached down and lifted the ceiling tile a couple of inches. She could see the two boys sitting on the bed, hand in hand, comforting each other. Aiden, the younger boy, was crying while Tom tried his best to convince his little brother that everything would be fine. There was no one else in the room.
Sinclair lifted the tile out of the way. The two boys looked startled and Sinclair held her finger to her lips to keep them quiet. ‘Are you alone, boys?’
Tom nodded.
‘Okay. I’m coming down.’ Sinclair swung her legs through the hole and dropped to the floor.
The two boys backed away, unsure of who this dirt-streaked woman was. Sinclair listened at the door, there was no noise out in the corridor. She checked the handle; the door was locked. The accommodation had started life as offices and each door had a good quality mortise lock, which Sinclair didn’t have the tools or the time to pick. She turned to Tom and Aiden who were now standing in the far corner, frightened.
‘It’s okay, boys. My name is Ali, maybe your mum has mentioned me before? I’m the British girl she knew from Mexico.’
Tom and Aiden both nodded. Quinn had told them about Ali, told them how she had gone to prison to help her, that she was a true friend. Sinclair beckoned them over to her. She knelt down and took their hands. ‘We have to get out of here and find your mum.’ She looked into Aiden’s eyes. He was scared but nodded. ‘We have to climb up to the ceiling to escape. Is that okay?’ She looked at Tom. He was doing well to hide his fear and even managed a little smile. Sinclair returned the smile. ‘You’re both very brave, it’ll be an adventure.’ The two boys nodded in tandem and Sinclair grabbed the chair.
Tom was first up into the ceiling void. He was tall for his age and only needed a little boost to reach the tray. Aiden was a different matter. He was quite short and Sinclair had to put him on her shoulders and push him up through the hole. Tom grabbed Aiden’s hands and between them they manhandled him onto the tray. Sinclair pulled herself up and, after sliding the ceiling tile into place, led the boys down into the next room.
Moving quickly and quietly, they made their way along the corridors. Sinclair had to find a hiding place for them. Ideally, she would have liked to get them outside, but the building was locked up tight. After trying a few doors they came across one that opened out to concrete steps and down to a basement. They descended the steps and crept along a walkway that ran between air conditioning and chilled water plants. At the back of the basement was another door that led to a small maintenance room. Tools lined the walls and steel cupboards stood at either end. Sinclair opened one of the cupboards, it was full of oil, cleaning fluid and fuel; everything flammable. She quickly emptied it and knelt down with the boys once more. ‘Listen guys, I’m going to get your mum. I want you to stay here. If anyone comes through that door, you get in this cupboard and shut the door. Can you do that?’
The boys nodded, still unsure what was happening. Sinclair ruffled their hair and smiled, reassuring them as much as she could. She knew they must be confused and terrified. It made her even more determined to make sure they got through this, no matter what.
She checked the rows of tools that hung on the wall, hoping to find something she could use as a weapon. There were no knives or other bladed weapons so she settled for a large screwdriver and a hammer. She tucked them in her belt and headed back through the plant room to the concrete steps. She checked the corridor for any guards, closed the door behind her and made her way towards the room where Quinn was waiting for her.
Chapter 23
Bazarov walked through the double swing doors into the control room. One half of the large, open space was full of equipment wrapped in protective plastic sheeting; moth balled after previous projects and not needed to take control of the Kraken.
In the other half of the room, Quinn’s remaining engineers were in the final stages of setting up the Kraken control panel. They looked nervous, eyes darting between their work and Bazarov. When the Russian and his men had first arrived on the island, the engineers and scientists had assumed this was just another QRL project. Now, surrounded by armed guards and with Garrison handcuffed to a chair in the corner, they knew this was something entirely different.
In front of the control panel, mounted on the wall, a giant screen displayed a map of the United States; green icons flashed around the coastline. They now had visibility of the Kraken system. The launch silos, installed in the seabed, were all operational and ready to be taken over.
One of the engineers had finished checking the paperwork he had fastened to a clipboard. ‘That’s as far as we can go. We need Mrs Quinn for the next step. She created the Apocalypse Protocol – she’s the only one who knows how to activate it. We can’t do anything else without her.’
Bazarov waved him away. ‘You don’t need to worry. Just make sure it all keeps working until I’m ready.’
The engineer backed away and re-joined the huddle of white-coated lab staff. Sergei came through the double doors, past the huddle, and joined Bazarov. ‘There’s been a problem on the ship, Viktor.’
Bazarov turned to look at him. ‘What kind of problem?’
‘McGill escaped. He killed Uri. He’s loose on the island somewhere. I’ll find him.’
‘No. We haven’t got time to look for him now. Vadim will be here soon and I don’t want anything to get in the way of the launch. Just make sure McGill doesn’t get inside. He can run around out there as much as he wants.’
‘I’ll brief the men.’ Sergei turned to leave but Bazarov called him back.
‘Go and get Quinn first. I want her here, setting this up.’
Sergei nodded then left through the double doors.
Sinclair climbed back into the roof void above the cleaning cupboard and crawled through to the room Quinn was still in. If she could get Quinn out and hide her with the kids, Bazarov couldn’t launch any missiles. That would give the military time to get there and stop him.
She reached down for the ceiling tile and at that same moment the door to the room below crashed open as Sergei burst in. Sinclair withdrew her hand and stayed motionless, listening.
Quinn was surprised by the sudden intrusion and jumped up from the bed, letting out a shrill scream. ‘Don’t you knock? What do you want?’
Sergei stood in the doorway, his rifle slung over his shoulder. ‘Viktor wants you in the control room, now.’
Quinn hesitated, glancing towards the bathroom. ‘Ahh … Okay. Let’s go then.’
Sergei held up his hand, palm outwards. ‘Wait. Where’s Sinclair?’
Quinn gestured with her head. ‘She’s in the shower. We don’t need her for this, let’s go.’
She took t
wo steps towards the door but Sergei was going nowhere. He walked over to the bathroom door and stood, with his head cocked to one side, listening to the sound of running water coming from within. He banged on the door. ‘Sinclair?’ There was no answer. ‘Sinclair, open the door or I’ll kick it down.’
Quinn started to panic. If Sergei discovered that Sinclair had gone it could blow any chance she had of finding her children. ‘Leave her. We should go. Viktor wants me right away.’
Sergei listened for a few more seconds; he wasn’t interested in anything Quinn was saying. He unslung his assault rifle and drove his boot against the door. With a crack, and a splintering of wood, the flimsy lock gave way and Sergei entered; his assault rifle pulled into his shoulder as he swept the steam-filled room. No one was in there. He approached the shower and, after a slight pause to listen once more, ripped down the curtain. He lowered his assault rifle. ‘Fuck.’ He knew they should have locked her up.
He stormed into the bedroom. Quinn backed away but Sergei grabbed her and threw her on the bed. He raised his weapon, aiming at her forehead. ‘Where is she?’
Quinn held out her hands – an attempt to fend him off. ‘She’s gone and you won’t find her.’
After a few seconds, which seemed like an age to Quinn, Sergei lowered his rifle and stood back to consider his options. He clenched and unclenched his teeth, the muscles in the side of his face flexing, his eyes full of menace. Quinn inched across the bed away from him. ‘If you hurt me, Bazarov won’t get what he wants. Do you think he’ll forgive you for that?’
Sergei paced across the room, murmuring to himself. He knew Quinn was right. If he did anything to jeopardize the operation, Viktor would put a bullet in his head.
He slung his weapon over his shoulder and kicked out at the chair. ‘Fuck.’ The chair smashed against the wall. He grabbed Quinn’s arm, pulled her off the bed and propelled her through the open door into the corridor.
Sinclair had held her breath purely out of instinct – Sergei wouldn’t have been able to hear her anyway. She was relieved he hadn’t decided to look harder for her. If he’d thought about it, the ceiling was the obvious way for her to get out. The Russian could have raked the tiles with bullets and that would have been the end of it.
