I always wanted to see Vancouver.
Shielding my hand to keep her from knowing, I held up the cell phone and snapped several photographs before sticking it in my pocket and tending to business.
The moment the ground rumbled beneath our feet, I mustered all the energy I had and transported DB north of the Bering Strait.
* * *
"Corinne?"
It took several minutes for me to understand that Rafe was attempting to get my attention.
"Huh?"
I'd used up my last bit of energy to transport myself back to Auggie's office.
"Thank God."
That was Leo's voice. Standing behind Leo was Marcus. I didn't appreciate his presence at all. If I'd been able, I'd have sent him right back to his quarters, just as I'd sent DB to Alaska.
"DB is somewhere near the Bering Strait," I said, attempting to get a hand to cooperate. "I have pictures of a Mary clone down by the wharf. She was waiting to see what we'd do when DB went out to feed. I figure she's really disappointed right now."
"This what you're looking for?" Rafe drew the phone from my jacket pocket and handed it to Auggie.
"Yeah. Thanks. I'm really tired," I said. "Can I lie down?"
* * *
Ilya
I was beginning to understand that sunlight was as essential to Corinne as food and sleep. I turned two sunlamps on for her after placing her in our bed.
"I'll order more sunlamps," James whispered behind me.
"Be discreet about it-we don't know who's watching," I said. "Come, we'll let her sleep."
* * *
"Hawaii?" Dr. Shaw and Colonel Hunter drank coffee with Matt Michaels in our kitchen; James and I found them there after leaving Corinne sleeping in our bedroom.
"She and I share a fascination with volcanoes," I shrugged. "We went to Hawaii after I asked her for a more hospitable spot than the top of Christ of the Andes."
"You went there first?" Director Michaels chuckled.
"Unfortunately. James?" I held up a coffee cup. He nodded, so I made two cups of coffee, passing one to him before taking a chair at the island.
"Here's the Mary clone Cori found at the wharf-I've sent Opal and Nick down to look for her, but they're traveling by conventional means and haven't arrived, yet. I doubt they'll find anything, but Nick may pick something up," Colonel Hunter shoved the cell phone across the island so I could look at the photographs.
"Definitely a Mary clone," James said. He'd taken the chair next to mine and studied the photographs with me.
"We'll have to wait until Corinne wakes to get more information," Dr. Shaw said. "I suspect there's more, anyway."
"I believe all these clones have partial information-not enough to set anyone on the proper trail," I said, handing the phone to James. "It's in Phillips' best interest to destroy the originals who know too much and only keep clones. I wonder whether any of them knew that was his plan?"
"Doubt it," Matt Michaels sipped his coffee.
I very much doubted it, too, but I kept that opinion to myself.
"I'm sending Dr. Farrell to Wales, Alaska, to look for DB," Colonel Hunter said. "He asked to go."
"That's probably a good idea," James said, handing the cell phone back to me. "That's not one of our phones," he added. "I wonder where Cori got it."
"Don't ask," I patted James' shoulder.
Why did I have the feeling that I could use that phone to call my daughter and nobody would know?
"I already have copies of the photographs-that's all I found on there," Colonel Hunter said. "You can give it back to Corinne."
"I will." I stuffed the phone in a pocket. Like the binoculars she'd given me, I imagined it worked far better than anything else currently on the market.
"We've postponed any work on the facility," Colonel Hunter began. "I wanted those windows, but bringing people in and out will just be a red flag to anyone watching. I have no idea whether we're safe here or not, but it's looking more and more like we won't be safe no matter where we go."
"Are you intending to let the Governor know that it's all right to make repairs and open the waterfront again?" Matt Michaels asked.
"I'll see that he gets the message tomorrow. In the meantime, I have eyes on Merle and his cronies. I'm interested in what they do when they get the news."
"I have some people I trust with eyes on Elliott Bay," Matt said. "I'm waiting for word-there are a few boats on the water that we haven't been able to identify."
"It makes sense that they'd be watching for DB to make his appearance. I'll bet they have cameras on all those boats, too, so they can scare the crap out of the public when DB shows up. Except he won't," James said.
"I could have them picked up, but that will tip our hand," Matt said. "I'm ordering my agents to tail them when they come off the water."
"Make it a discreet tail," I said.
"We're always that," Matt said. "Count on it."
* * *
Corinne
"Want dinner, cabbage?" Ilya woke me with a kiss. "I can't understand why you're not sunburned after sleeping beneath these lamps for four hours."
"Don't worry about that," I mumbled while stretching. "Thanks for two lamps," I blinked my eyes open.
"I'll find as many as you want," the corner of his mouth curled nicely. "I believe we've managed to flummox the enemy."
"Really? Flummox is a great word."
"The Mary clone at the wharf has escaped us, but Matt has agents tailing a few boat occupants after they came to shore. I believe they waited to record a show in the bay, and were more than disappointed when it didn't materialize."
"I think she's staying in Vancouver," I stifled a noisy yawn. "That's what I saw in her. Probably headed there, if she hasn't already arrived."
"Good information. Come, cabbage-I enlisted James' help, so we have spaghetti waiting."
"That sounds really good," I said.
"We made meatballs for the carnivores," he smiled at me again.
"I love your mouth-it's perfect," I reached up to touch it. He kissed my hand. "Come to dinner, my love. Everyone is waiting."
* * *
Marcus stared at me all through dinner. I considered sending him to Alaska to stay with DB for a few days. At least with the frenetic pace of the last two days, he hadn't gotten to torture me any. He wanted to, though-that was easy enough to see.
In my opinion, Auggie needed to find another job for Marcus. Rafe could get me through my exercises just fine. Opal and Nick were missing at the table, but Laci and her two guards had come. I recalled that Maye and Nick wanted a meeting with Rafe and me. That would have to wait.
"Spaghetti is wonderful," I sighed, giving James and Rafe the best smile I could. I was still tired, but the nap under sunlamps had helped a lot.
"Where did you learn to make this sauce-it's incredible," Laci asked Rafe.
"I had a friend who owned a restaurant in Parma," Rafe grinned. "Best sauce ever. I never get mine as good as his, though."
"This is more than good enough," Leo said. "Who has the parmesan grater?"
The gadget was passed to him.
"I'm all about the meatballs," Matt said. "They're excellent. Same teacher?"
"Yes. I've been making this for thirty years."
"They let you cook in prison?" Marcus asked, sarcasm evident in his voice.
"Marcus, I wouldn't say anything else if I were you," Auggie warned.
"I was in prison for protesting my son's murder," Ilya, accent and all, had come to the fore with a vengeance. "Baikov had him killed, because he asked too many questions. Now, would you like to know how good I am at Krav Maga?"
Marcus almost dropped his fork, he was so stunned. Yes, he was used to Rafe's American-sounding voice. This voice and accent he hadn't heard before.
"Sucks to be you right now, Marcus," I said and went back to my food.
"It does. You'll be reassigned tomorrow," Auggie growled.
You'll have to keep
an eye on him, I sent to Auggie. I saw the slight nod-he understood that all too well. We didn't need another Becker on the loose, I knew that much. While Becker never had much in the brains department, Marcus just wasn't using his.
Marcus at least saw me as a more formidable target, now, so he wasn't picking on me. Instead of keeping his mouth shut, he chose to air his prejudices instead. He hadn't been briefed on the reasons Ilya was in prison; he only knew he'd been there before his escape to the U.S. and the Program.
He really didn't understand that Ilya wasn't Russian by birth, either. He should have done his homework. Now, he was getting the boot. We didn't need that sort of discord in the Program. We'd seen enough of that with Becker's intimidation tactics against me.
Marcus didn't say anything else during the rest of the meal, but he finished his food.
The schmuck.
"I think August is angry enough to strangle that boy," Laci said as she helped me clean the kitchen after dinner.
"Rafe is angry enough to strangle him," I said. "How are you doing, otherwise?" I asked. "You can go back to Seattle in a few days, I think, once they give the all clear."
"You know, I might only go back on weekends," she smiled. "I like getting my husband home every night. He says he'll spend as many weekends there as he can, so we can eat out and sightsee."
"That sounds like a great idea," I said.
"Need help?" Rafe and James were back after sending the others out the door.
"It's just about done. Besides, you cooked. We can clean," I said. "Sit down. Want some wine or something? I'm thinking about a drink."
"I'll have wine," Rafe agreed.
We offered a glass to Laci, but she wanted to follow Auggie back to their suite. I was fine with that. I needed some private time with Ilya. James took the hint and wandered toward his bedroom.
"Marcus is an idiot," I said, massaging the back of Ilya's neck. "First he picked on me, then he decided to show his ignorance." My fingers feathered through Ilya's hair. I could tell he had a headache, and the muscles were tight in his neck and shoulders.
"Let's go to bed," Ilya sighed. "I know a way to take my mind off this."
"Sounds good," I said.
* * *
The following morning, we woke to pounding on our outside door. James beat us to the door, flinging it open to find Auggie standing outside.
"Marcus managed to escape last night," he said. "I've got a search party out, but we have no idea where he is."
Chapter 7
Corinne
"He may be in Vancouver," I said. "If it's his intention to find the enemy, he may have better luck looking there."
"They'll take what he knows and get rid of him," Matt pointed out. "If he finds them in the first place."
"Well, I think we've already seen that Marcus doesn't bother with thinking things through," Auggie huffed.
"I don't think it's a matter of him finding them, I think it'll be them tailing him until he's caught," I said.
"Fucking fool," Rafe muttered.
"He doesn't know a great deal-they may know what he does already," Leo said.
"He knows more than they do about Corinne," Rafe said. "We don't need that. We have to find the fucker first. If he places her in danger," he clenched his fists as his face darkened with anger.
"You think he's in Vancouver?" Auggie turned to me.
"I wasn't sure you were listening, but yes, I think he may be there. It's just a train ride from here; the Mary clone was staying there, plus, you said his passport and a few other things were missing."
"How the hell did he get past the guards?" Rafe demanded.
"He told them he wanted some fresh air."
"They let him out?"
"Nobody told them not to." Auggie looked sheepish.
"I want to go after the fucker." Rafe was pissed.
"How the hell did he get to Seattle?" Leo asked.
"A car was stolen down the mountain-the owner left it unlocked. It was gone this morning. The police found it near the wharf, out of gas."
"So he walked from there to the train station, probably." So far, I hadn't used much of my talent to search for the missing Marcus. I was afraid of what I might do if I did.
"Opal and Nick are on their way back," Matt said. "We can send them after Marcus."
"I want Maye on it, too."
"I refuse to stay here," Rafe hissed. "He may put all of us in danger."
"Fine. Take Cori and see what you can do," Auggie waved a hand in dismissal. "When I tell the President about this defection, what she yells won't be pretty."
"I think he may have contacted Merle Askins," I said.
"Because he thinks that's being a loyal American, no doubt," Auggie blew out a breath. "He knows DB was removed and his general location. He knows where Farrell went. He knows too damn much," Auggie was about to have a meltdown.
"He knows Corinne is even more dangerous than she was before," Matt observed. "That means that Merle Askins probably knows, too-if Marcus contacted him, as Corinne believes."
"Then there's no way to get them to forget what they already know," Leo said.
"I still have eyes on Askins and the Joint Chiefs," Auggie said.
"We're leaving," I announced. Rafe and I disappeared.
* * *
The crisp chill of a Vancouver morning greeted us as we landed outside a nice hotel near the wharf. A cruise ship was docked nearby; passengers were departing after their cruise from Alaska.
"Why did you land us here, cabbage?" Rafe pulled me against him when I shivered-neither of us wore jackets.
"This is what I saw in the Mary clone's head-she was supposed to be here in Vancouver today-to get on a cruise ship. I think it's a way to get to Alaska without raising too much suspicion."
"She was already planning to go to Alaska?"
"Probably for reasons other than sightseeing. Alaska has a lot of open space, you know, and it borders Canada."
"You think the enemy may be in Canada?"
"It's possible. Those crazies who thought they were the four horsemen were holed up not far from here, remember? I just want Mary to lead us to her contact in this part of the world. Maybe we can get information that way. She really didn't know much-not even the name of her contact."
"Do you know who she was? Before she got the drug?"
"Something made her forget," I said. "She can't remember. She can't even remember that she was someone else. What kind of talent would that take?"
I looked up at Rafe's face-he was just as puzzled by this as I was.
He hadn't shaved, either, and wore just the beginnings of a new growth of whiskers. He looked quite good that way. "When are you going to tell Colonel Hunter that we'll be on the boat with Mary when she sails?" he asked.
"In a few minutes. It sails at four this afternoon, so we have clothes and bags to buy if we're going to be tourists."
* * *
"You're not going alone," Auggie thundered in our cell-phone conversation.
"Then who do you want to go with us?" I asked as calmly as I could. Yes, I wanted to tremble at his anger, but struggled to overcome it.
"Opal can go," I heard Matt Michaels in the background.
"I'll send Nick, Maye and Jeff," Auggie sounded defeated. "The idea is sound, I just want you to have backup in case it's needed. Matt and I can send someone else to search for Marcus."
"Then disguise the ones coming with us," I said. "I'll be there in an hour to pick them up. Make sure they have passports with them. I'll change them to reflect their disguises.
"Who the fuck can do that?" Leo asked.
"I the fuck can do that, Dr. Shaw," I said. "Stop worrying. I'll get us off the boat if anything goes wrong."
* * *
"How much did this cost?" Rafe asked as we sat on the balcony outside our cabin.
"You don't want to know," I said. "We're registered as Chuck and Wendy Scott, by the way." I held up my ship-issued ID card. "Here's yours," I hand
ed the second one I held to him. "You have to have this to eat, drink and be merry on the boat."
"At least we have two sunlamps in the closet," he grumbled. Even in July, we'd be sailing through cloudy, misty days to reach our destination.
Maye and Opal shared a cabin on the deck below ours, while Nick shared his with Jeff, who'd been briefed by Auggie at the last minute.
All of us had watched as the Mary clone boarded the ship earlier, heading for her cabin at the back of the boat. Opal had already managed to place a discreet bug on the outside of Mary's cabin door-it would let us know whenever anyone went in or out. Opal had the bug connected to her phone, so she-and Matt at the facility-would have a visual. Matt Michaels had some very cool toys, looked like.
The thing was-we needed another bug inside her cabin. That was my job, although Rafe insisted on coming along. I discovered it was a good thing I'd shielded our presence when I transported us into the cabin in question-the bug she'd already installed would neither see nor hear us as we placed our own above her window.
"She has her own bug placed in the cabin, in case anyone comes snooping," I said, sliding into a seat at the main bar on level three. Located at the center of the ship, the bar was surrounded by rising balconies on every level up to the top of the ship.
"Want a drink?" Rafe asked, taking the seat next to mine.
"How about a mimosa?" I asked.
"Hand me your card."
I gave him my ship ID-they'd scan it before making my drink.
"MC's coming out of her cabin," Opal said softly.
"Probably headed this way," Maye said. "It's almost time for dinner."
Maye wasn't wrong. Five minutes later, our clone walked up to the bar and ordered a Manhattan.
Rafe barely glanced Mary's way before accepting our drinks from a bartender and heading back to our table.
Asked for rye whiskey in her drink. Our girl wants to take the edge off, Rafe informed me.
I can see that, I responded. Rafe and I watched as Mary gulped her drink quickly and asked for another.
"I wonder if she was an alcoholic before," Opal said softly.
"Might make sense," Nick nodded.
After downing a third drink, Mary left the bar. We waited a moment before rising and going after her. The buffet on level six was her destination. Maye rode up the elevator with her, after mentally sending the floor Mary punched before the doors closed.
Cloud Dust Page 9
