by Julia Derek
“I broke into Le Bernardin the night after we left to see if I could find the ice bucket with the recording chip attached to it to prove to you that I was telling the truth. I always knew you thought I was just mad. And I did find it. All that I heard at the dinner when your earpiece was acting up is on it. I was going to tell you about it yesterday, but then Emma’s suicide happened.”
I stared at him, pleased with this development; now I really had no reason to think he was somehow behind Emma’s letter. “Can you play it?”
“That was the plan.”
He got to his feet and fiddled with a couple of cords attached to his computer and then clicked his mouse a couple of times. A male voice began to stream out of the loudspeakers in his house, filling up the living room.
Thirty minutes later, I had heard with my own ears everything Ian had told me he’d learned during the politicians’ dinner. And all of it was true, every single thing. Coups to overthrow the governments in Washington D.C., London, Berlin, Paris, Beijing, Moscow, Tokyo, Singapore and Canberra were scheduled to take place the coming New Year’s Eve. By then Adler and the government coalition made up of leading politicians in the key countries counted on enough killer hybrids to be stationed there for the operation to succeed. Killer hybrids were apparently hybrids with special powers. Ian had mentioned them a couple of times already, suggesting that the Spider-Man rapist had been one. When everything was in place, the microchips in the hybrids were to be activated and controlled from the New York City and Zurich headquarters. It was estimated that the coup would be over in three days. Based on who spoke the most and what was being said, it appeared Janine was one of the main figures in the government coalition (I couldn’t say I was surprised). Someone called Mr. Stenger was mentioned several times.
“Who is this Mr. Stenger?” I asked Ian when he switched off the recording finally. “Do you know?”
“I think Mr. Stenger is their leader, the brain of all of this. Their Hitler if you will, and the real CEO of The Adler Group. It seems the current one is just a figurehead.”
I shook my head slowly, rubbing my forehead, feeling like I was about to get sick. “I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around all of this. How can it be happening? And how can it have gotten so big? It seems like so many people are involved in it.”
“Yes, I know, it’s very big. I don’t blame you for having a hard time digesting all of this; I didn’t want to believe it myself for the longest time. It does seem like it can’t be true. But it is. All that I’ve told you from day one is true. The good news is that I still believe there are more good people out there than bad. We can stop this if we try hard enough.”
“What makes you so sure? Judging from that dinner meeting, this is a huge operation that’s been in the works for years. The way they spoke, they seem convinced they won’t fail.”
“Yes, it’s most definitely been in the works for years. Decades. I already told you that. I know it’s overwhelming to hear how many countries are involved—it is a huge operation. Even so, I have reason to believe the majority of government officials in the various countries aren’t involved.”
“What’s that reason? Anything that can make this seem less hopeless, I want to hear.”
“Ever since I discovered what was going on, I’ve been investigating individuals to estimate the likelihood they’re involved in the conspiracy. It’s been very time-consuming, not to mention difficult to say the least. It was when I began doing these investigations that I discovered just how good Adler’s security is.”
He clenched his teeth and his nostrils flared with anger as he stared into the air before him. “One day I’ll be able to crack it, though…”
“I’m sure you will, but for now, please tell me more about what you learned in your investigations.”
His eyes found me again. “I’m still not able to determine exactly how many politicians are involved except that it seems to be fewer than I’d originally feared and that’s good. Unfortunately, the ones I have been able to determine are all very powerful. The Adler Group is the driving force in all of this, of course. They have a lot of influence with business men in several different fields due to their real estate developments.” Smiling, Ian slung an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “I’m so happy you’re finally believing me, Gabi. Together, I’m convinced we’ll find a way to stop them, even though I agree it seems nearly impossible.”
I just sat there with Ian’s arm around me, feeling small and miserable and helpless. How the hell would he and I be able to stop this nightmare from taking place? Few would believe us if we told them. The only evidence we had to support our story were Emma’s letter and what was on this recording device. That wasn’t enough; besides, we couldn’t be sure who to trust anyway. Which meant it was just us against this big corporation and all their allies across the world, a powerful underground organization that had been at this for many, many years, strategizing their take-over. Developing superior warriors—killer hybrids—to ensure they would get what they wanted. Having heard how the people on the recording had spoken of the coups they were planning—how calmly and confidently they’d spoken, how many killer hybrids they were going to deploy—it was clear it was all very well thought out. It was ridiculous to think we could do anything about it.
I told Ian all of this, adding, “What makes you think that we can? Especially since you think they might be on to us.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you told me they were, at least after you. That’s why you installed that software on my phone, right? Because you thought they might be tapping us.”
I thought of how mad I’d been with Ian when he’d confessed this. If only I had known…
I leaned into his chest, glad to feel his arm around me right now. “I guess you better put that software back into my phone, huh?”
Ian tensed slightly and then cleared his throat. “Um…” he began.
He didn’t have to continue talking; I already knew what he was about to say: “I never removed it in the first place.”
I should have figured he wouldn’t do it that easily, I thought. A wave of fury rushed through me, heating my cheeks, but I didn’t allow it to grow bigger. In hindsight, it was better that it had remained there in case they did tap us. I could see that now, so I wasn’t about to pick a fight about it. I had way, way more serious stuff to worry about.
“Please don’t be mad, Gabi,” Ian said, his voice full of remorse. “I didn’t think it was—”
Hushing him, I removed myself from him. “It’s okay. I’m not mad. It’s good that you left it. I see that now. But in the future, please always be straight with me.”
“Of course I will be. And except for this instance, I always have been.”
I crossed my arms and hiked a brow at him. “Um, that’s not true. You lied to me about Janine having spoken to Cardoza at some dinner party to make me go get the recording chip back.”
“Okay, fine, that time too. But the ends justified the means, you must agree.”
I sighed, not bothering to answer. One could always count on Ian to have a smart-ass response. The guy just couldn’t help himself. Though he did have the decency to blush a little for once.
Chapter 3
Ian went to open a bottle of red; we’d both decided that we needed some alcohol while we continued to talk. Well, I needed it at least. I was hoping it would make all the horror I was learning seem a little more… manageable if I was slightly buzzed.
“How did you find out about all of this in the first place?” I asked Ian as he returned with two glasses filled with cabernet sauvignon. He handed me one as he took a seat next to me again on his leather sofa. “You never told me.”
“That’s only because you never asked me.”
“Fair enough, but I’m asking now.”
“As I’ve already mentioned, I was working undercover in Europe at the time,” he began. “I was investigating a pharmaceutical company a
nd was working there as one of their executives. The FBI had reason to suspect this company was spiking some of their drugs with high amounts of methamphetamines, and my job was to try to find evidence to verify this. Most of the time I was in Berlin or Frankfurt. Sometimes I had to go to Zurich to conduct business for this company. At the time I found the first lab, I was in Zurich.”
I had a swallow of my wine and, as usual, Ian’s choice was exquisite. “So this is a German company?”
“No, it’s American. Their headquarters is in Princeton, New Jersey, but they have offices in different countries. In the beginning, I was working out of the Princeton office, but after a while I was transferred to their German ones.”
I nodded. “Got it. How long were you UC?”
“Less than two years while working for this particular company. Before that I went undercover as an art dealer and spent about six years traveling mostly in Europe, investigating art and jewelry scams. I was quite successful.” His chameleon eyes twinkling, he grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
Frowning, I asked, “Why would an agent who specializes in computer science be investigating international art scams?”
“I never told you computer science was my only specialty. In addition to being a computer expert, I have extensive knowledge in fine arts and jewelry business. I believe I’ve mentioned at some point that my family dealt art and jewelry.”
“Yeah, you did do that.” And I always thought you were lying, I thought but didn’t say. “Is your mother still alive? I think you told me your dad passed a while ago.”
“No, she is not. They both died in a car accident a few years ago.” Ian blinked a couple of times, and then he averted his gaze momentarily.
“I’m so sorry, Ian.” I put a hand on his; if there was anything I could relate to, it was the loss of a loved one. I wouldn’t wish the pain that created upon anyone.
Ian cleared his throat. “Thank you. Anyway, it’s thanks to my parents’ wealth that is now mine that I’ve been able to weather the FBI’s defamation techniques against me. I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.”
“Thank God for that.” As the articles I’d read about Ian suddenly flashed through my mind, I scoffed and shook my head. “I’m still having a hard time accepting the fact that they were able to get the Washington Post to print that article with all those lies in it about you. Do you think someone at the Post is involved in the conspiracy as well?”
Ian narrowed his eyes and pinched his lips with his fingers, looking like he was considering my question. “I don’t think so, but I have to do some more investigation before I’m entirely sure,” he finally said. “They are a tough nut to crack.”
“Okay. So tell me how you found that first lab now.”
“I was in Zurich to meet with one of the scientists the pharmaceutical company I was hired at worked with. I thought he wanted me to come to the lab where he spent most of his time because he’d accidentally emailed me instead of the Adler executive he’d intended. So I went to the address in the email.”
“The Adler executive? You’re saying that this scientist was working with the pharmaceutical company you were investigating and The Adler Group at the same time then?”
“Exactly. His main job is as one of Adler’s scientists. The other one was only a cover-up. So when I drove out to the countryside and walked into the huge lab, using the password the scientist had written in the email that would get me through security, I was no longer concerned with whether the company I was currently investigating was spiking their drugs or not.” Ian opened his mouth and sucked in a big breath. “This was so, so much bigger…”
I sat up straighter, eager to hear more while also dreading it. “What did you see?”
“Rows and rows of white bassinets containing sleeping people. They looked like young teenagers, all of them beautiful, perfect-looking specimens. There must have been at least thirty of them in the room I walked into by mistake. At first I thought they were all dead they were so still and the huge room so quiet. I was sure I had somehow ended up in some kind of a morgue. Then a woman in a white lab coat showed up out of nowhere and was standing next to me, asking me what I thought of the babies.”
“And what did you say?”
“I asked her if they were dead.”
I gasped. “You did? That probably wasn’t the best thing to ask.”
“Maybe not, but luckily the woman thought I was only kidding because she started laughing, then said, ‘no, they’re doing better than ever. They’ll be waking up in about an hour.’ She also said that it was believed this crop would be one of the best so far. Needless to say, I thought she was the one kidding now, but when she just kept looking at me with those cool, gray eyes, I knew she was perfectly serious. I also realized that she must think I belonged there for some reason, and that I was familiar with what she was talking about.”
“So you decided to play along?”
Ian smiled and caressed my cheek. “As perceptive as always, aren’t you? Yes, that’s exactly what I did. I was going to play along for as long as I could. So I asked her, ‘What makes you think they’ll be the best ones?’ She told me that it was for various reasons, but mainly because now the doctors had finally perfected the genetic engineering, having been at it for almost forty years.”
Ian gave a wry, humorless smile. “‘Practice makes perfect,’ she continued, adding that these particular hybrids were expected to be extremely strong and fast because of all the chimpanzee and cheetah DNA the scientists had used when creating them. They were also expected to be able to fly because of the falcon DNA in them.”
“What? Fly? Wow… It must’ve been so hard for you to keep a straight face hearing all that.” I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stay so cool had I been in Ian’s shoes.
“Actually, it wasn’t so hard. It was an instinctive reaction. I instantly realized that I’d stumbled upon something top secret that I shouldn’t have. As you might imagine, this kind of genetic engineering, using animal genes on humans, is considered a criminal act in most countries. Scientists have long known that it’s possible to eradicate diseases and improve human functions by integrating nonhuman DNA into the human gene pool. Unfortunately, mixing different gene pools may have several nasty side effects. Like Spider-Man a couple of months ago.” Ian nudged me and smiled.
I smirked at him. “Fine. You were right. He must be an escaped killer hybrid.”
“Yes, or maybe he was sent out as a test. We don’t know that. Anyway, based on the way this woman talked, this had clearly been going on for many years. Decades. Also, the fact that the woman smiled and kept touching me helped me keep it together. It was strangely soothing.”
“She kept touching you? Why?”
A lopsided grin pulled up a corner of Ian’s mouth. “I guess she liked me. Can you see any other reason for her behavior?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. I don’t know how I could’ve forgotten how all women just love you…”
A shadow fell over his face and his lips became a thin line. “Not all women.”
I knew he was referring to me with that comment. Every time we slept together and Ian became too personal, too emotionally intimate, I shut him right down. Part of me still felt like I was cheating. I especially made it a point never to cuddle after we were done, turning away from him and going to sleep instead. Having sex with Ian was more effective to make me pass out than taking my prescription sleeping pills. The couple of times I’d woken up and found myself in his arms, I’d quickly slipped out of them, though. He didn’t protest, just watched me with dark eyes.
“So then what happened?” I asked, not wanting to mull over the complicated situation between us. There was nothing I could do to change it anyway; I was giving Ian everything I was capable of giving him at the moment. My heart still belonged to Nick.
“I introduced myself, apologizing for not knowing her name.”
“You told her your real name?”
“Yes.
Well, the name I was going under while undercover—James Morton. I didn’t offer anything besides my name, though, hoping that she would reveal more about herself first.”
“And did she?”
“Yes, she told me her name was Jutta Rubin and that she was one of the lab technicians. Then she asked me if I was coming to the luncheon the next day. I said that I had a few luncheons to go to the next day, so I wasn’t sure which one she was referring to. She blushed a little and apologized, explaining that she meant the one with all the doctors and lab personnel at the Pavillion. I knew then that I had used the right approach in claiming that I had more than one luncheon to go to. She clearly thought I was someone more important than she’d first assumed and that embarrassed her.”
“Go on.”
“I told her that I wasn’t going to that one, and then said I had to get going as I had another luncheon to attend. To that she said, ‘yes, of course, I’m sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Morton. I know you politicians have a busy schedule. Thank you for coming to visit us today.’”
“Politicians? She thought you were a politician? Why would she think that?”
“At the time, I had no idea, but as I learned more about what I had stumbled upon, it soon became clear to me. Right then, it suited me to have her believe this. I needed to get out of this strange lab with all those sleeping people as quickly as possible. I didn’t think Mr. Baumann—that’s the name of the scientist I was supposed to have met up with that day—had intended for me to come here. So I said goodbye and left.”
I nodded. “And then what did you do?”
“The second I was back in my car, I checked the email Mr. Baumann had sent me about today’s meeting. I remembered that I’d thought it sounded off when I first read it, but I was running late, so I didn’t have time to worry about such details. Now that I read it again it made sense to me why I had thought it sounded so off.”
“Off how?”
Ian had a sip of his wine. “The style of the email was much more informal than the usual emails he sent me. In this one, he hadn’t bothered to greet me before launching into the message. He didn’t even begin with my name. All the message contained was a demand that we meet at the north lab and the directions how to get there and the time he wanted to meet. So I went. But he had obviously intended to send that to someone else.”
