“Tara, grab it,” Alec shouted, climbing on top of the man and pinning him to the ground. She handed the pistol to Alec, who slowly rose to his feet.
“Get up.”
The man looked at them. Blood was streaming from his nose, which was cocked at a grotesque angle to his face. He pushed himself up from the floor and onto his knees, then collapsed again. Groaning, he brought his hands to his face.
“Now it’s our turn,” Alec said. “Who are you?”
The man shook his head and chuckled.
Alec kicked him in the leg. “Who are you? And what were you planning to do with the bulb?”
When he smiled, Alec saw he had lost a tooth. Blood trickled from his mouth. He spat and said, “I’ve got the money. Thirty-two million euros. I’ve got it, and you can have it all, if you give me the Semper.”
“Was that you? Was it you who took the money from the Tulip Investment Fund?”
The man slowly nodded. Drops of blood fell to the damp floor and spread into stains.
“That’s right. I needed the money to buy the Semper.”
“So were you also the one who set up the fund?”
“I was one of the founders, yes.”
“Did you want the Semper so that you could pay back the investors?” Tara asked.
The man laughed drily. “Of course not, you stupid twat. Those investors were rolling in money, they could easily afford to lose a little. I thought it was a handsome price for a single tulip bulb. But when Frank found out where I’d got the money, he backed out of the deal.”
“And paid for it with his life?”
The man nodded. “He knew too much and wasn’t willing to keep it to himself.”
“And now you really think I’ll take your offer?”
“Everybody’s different.”
“And Simon?” Tara asked.
He looked up. “Simon was in financial trouble because he had invested in the fund. He had no idea it was me who had embezzled the money. He thought I was one of the investors who’d been defrauded, just like him.”
“You and Simon were working together to get your hands on the Semper?” Tara asked in a shaky voice.
He nodded. “Yes, at first. But Simon changed his mind. He tried to back out, but he knew too much.”
“So you had him eliminated? And what about the director? Where’s Peterson? Don’t tell me he’s—”
The man slowly pushed himself up from the ground again. Still reeling, he straightened his back and spread his arms. “I have a different proposal. How about this? I’ll give you the money, and you let me go. You can keep the bulb. You know what you could do with all that cash? Tara? You could fund your research. It’s everything you need, and it’s in your grasp.”
Tara shook her head. “You’re too late,” she said. “If you’d come to me a week ago, I might have accepted your offer. But not now.”
“But why? What’s changed?”
“Me, I’ve changed.”
All at once a bright light shone straight into the man’s face, which he reflexively shielded with his forearm. Alec pulled Tara toward him. Someone was shouting, grabbing hold of the two of them, and pulling them outside. Heavily armed police officers ran past them, pointing their guns at the man in the spotlight, who had his hands in the air.
They left the green house under police escort. To his surprise, Alec saw Wainwright waiting for them.
“Well, Mr. Schoeller,” he said, “I bet you never thought you’d be happy to see me.” At his side stood Dawn, looking at Alec with a smile.
SIXTY-FOUR
Damian uncorked a bottle of champagne and filled their glasses.
“Well, then. I guess it’ll be a while before Sytse can get back to work, but I’m glad he’s recovering so quickly. Let’s hope no unexpected visitors will be dropping in tonight.”
“Yes, and let’s hope it’s really, truly over,” Emma said. “Alec, was that man really just after the money he could make with the Semper Augustus?”
“Apparently so. Wainwright tells me that the people Dick was talking about, the ones involved in the think tank, had nothing to do with Frank and Simon’s deaths. Coetzer was hired to find out from Frank where the bulb was. Coetzer killed Frank when he wouldn’t talk, then realized I might know where Frank had hidden the bulb.”
“Now I understand why Simon said that if anyone knew anything, it would be you,” Tara said. “And I fell for it. He wanted to use me to find out where the Semper was.”
“Tara, Simon must have been desperate,” Damian said. “I’m sure he never wanted to put you in harm’s way. Besides, in the end he regretted the things he had done. If he hadn’t, they wouldn’t have killed him.”
“Maybe you’re right. Anyway, I’m glad Karl Peterson has placed the Semper Augustus safely behind lock and key. The bulb is where it belongs.”
“Yes, and I’m glad Mr. Peterson’s still among the living. Did he think the bulb was worth it?”
Tara smiled. “Of course. It’s a one-of-a-kind acquisition for the institute. He had it taken to Wakehurst Place right away.”
“Speaking of tulips, I don’t understand why Coetzer made those tulip drawings on Frank’s chest and Simon’s wall. What on earth possessed him?” Emma asked.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Damian said. “Wainwright thinks he wanted to send the police on a wild-goose chase by giving the impression there was a serial killer who used the tulip as his signature.”
Alec stretched out his arms. “Well, I just hope one thing: that the Semper Augustus will remain at Wakehurst Place forever.”
Tara nodded. “And this time its shrine won’t be made of silver but of impenetrable steel.”
Wakehurst Place
WEST SUSSEX, 2009
One by one, the other researchers trickled out of the office, until finally he was alone in the high-security zone of the complex. For several weeks, the young scientist had been the last to go home, so no one had been surprised to see him still at work.
As soon as he was certain that everyone else had left, he opened the door of the laboratory and walked down the broad hallway that led to the vaults. At the second door, he typed in the code known to only a small circle of staff members at the Millennium Seed Bank Project. When the light turned green, he lowered the heavy handle and entered the vault.
Every wall was filled with metal drawers, and on each drawer was a numbered label. He went to the wall on the right and kneeled down, knowing exactly which drawer he needed and sliding it out of the wall. As he brought it to the table in the middle of the vault, he gently stroked the label and whispered, “You are my future.”
There it was. For a moment, the sight took his breath away. It was almost unimaginable that the wrinkled brown thing in front of him held such divine beauty within, or that it was worth so much. He smiled. The thought that they had chosen him to get the bulb for them filled him with pride. They’d described how they’d been waiting for the bulb for more than two years and had almost given up hope of ever laying hands on it again. They’d told him that the he was the chosen one, the only person who could aid them in their quest.
The young man knew the risks, and he knew that his job was on the line, but those considerations were outweighed by his sense of adventure and the enormous sum of money they had promised him. Their plans for the bulb didn’t interest him one bit. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He slid his hand into the pocket of his lab coat. His fingers clasped the shriveled bulb that he’d placed there earlier that day. At first sight there was no difference between that bulb and the Semper Augustus. It would be years before the seed bank realized that the precious bulb had been replaced with a worthless substitute.
After he’d made the exchange, he replaced the drawer, thinking of the sum that would be transferred to his secret bank account the next day. From that moment on, he would be free. Then he could set up his own lab, do his own research, and purchase what ever his heart desired.
It took all his strength to shut the massive door on his way out. He scanned the deserted hallway as he hurried back to the lab.
“Well, well, young man, working late again?”
“Oh! You startled me.”
The security guard looked at him benignly. “I can see that. Sorry, just making the rounds. Anyway, isn’t it time that you were getting home? It’s Friday night. The city of London awaits you! A person your age should have more in his life than just work. Seize the moment, right?”
The guard spread his arms wide and let them drop. Then, lifting a finger, he added, “Because before you know it, it’ll be over. Take it from a wise old man. You have to enjoy life to the very fullest.”
He nodded amiably at the guard as his hand slipped into his pocket. Gently stroking the bulb, he said, “I know just what you mean. And I will enjoy myself. Don’t worry about that.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without the support, inspiration, and confidence of my beloved husband, parents, mother-in-law, relatives, and friends, I would never have made it through this. I am deeply grateful to all of them. The same can be said of my readers Godelieve and Liliane, whose willingness to comment on my draft version was a sign of true friendship. I also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to my agent, Paul Sebes, as well as to my editor, Juliette van Wersch, for her encouragement, her suggestions, and her patience.
Mike Dash’s wonderful book Tulipomania was a rich source of inspiration for me. In addition to the print and online sources that I used, a number of people kindly took the time to answer my questions. My thanks go to Bert Stoop and Simon de Waal of the Amsterdam-Amstelland Police Force, Harry de Raad at the Alkmaar Regional Archives, and Jan Pelsdonk at the Royal Dutch Mint’s Money Museum.
The Tulip Virus is a work of fiction. Its characters and plot are based in part on historical events and recent news stories but have been adapted to suit my own narrative purposes. My website, www.daniellehermans.nl, describes the facts that inspired the novel and the sources I consulted.
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