I turned and opened the science room door with my back. The crutch banged on the wood as I negotiated my way through. A hand reached forward and caught the handle.
“Hello there, can I help you?” A man in a white lab coat said. He was smiling down at me fondly, like I looked as pitiful as I felt. “You must be Miss Grove?”
“How do you know who I am?” I asked, scanning the room. We were alone.
“Is there another young lady with a bandaged leg and crutches around here?” He laughed at his joke and wandered over to a machine against the far wall. “Mark told me what happened. Terrible, isn’t it? I am glad the pair of you escaped.” He peered into an eye piece on a machine.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I’m looking for a Doctor Levins. Is that you?” I hopped forward a step.
“It is. I’m a little busy right now. Do you need something?” He didn’t raise his head.
I pulled a pad of paper from my bag. “Yes, I need to ask you a few questions, if that’s okay?”
He turned to face me, his back still bent. “Sounds ominous. Questions about what?”
I held my head firm. “The bombings.”
He straightened and took a step forward placing his hand on the polished metal surface of the desk.
“That was supposed to be confidential. How did you find out about that?”
I was glad to note he didn’t look angry. I shrugged, attempting a nonchalant look.
“My latest task was to solve a mystery. I’ve chosen to research the bombings.”
He shook his head and grinned. “That’s a big bite to take for your first independent task.”
“I know, but like Doctor Llamp said, it’s the investigation that counts, not the result.” I dipped my head sheepishly. “I don’t expect to find the bomber. But, if I can unravel some clues, help the investigation move, then, I think it would be worth it.”
He nodded approvingly. “An astute aim. You are correct of course, the method is often more important than the result.” He walked to the door at the side of the room and pressed a button. “However, I am in the middle of an experiment. As much as I would like to confer with you, Miss Grove, I’m afraid my experiments cannot be ignored. However, my associate can help answer any questions.”
As he spoke the door opened. The slappy girl entered the lab with a bright smile.
“Ah, Teresa, could you please take Rozlyn here to the lounge and answer her questions?” He turned before she could reply.
The science department lounge was filled with soft chairs and settees. A small kitchen in the corner gave off the smell of toast and coffee. Teresa walked straight toward a corner low table with two comfy chairs. She sat and indicated for me to take the seat opposite. I lowered myself clumsily, falling rather than sitting.
“I see you didn’t take my warning,” she said, eyeing my bandaged leg.
“This wasn’t Mark’s fault. The theatre collapsed. He got me out.”
“I know, I heard all about it. Just be careful, that’s all. He likes to use pretty girls and throw them away.” She smiled at me, offering some kind of sympathy.
I laughed. “I’m not seeing him, you know. We only went out as friends.” At least that’s what I presumed as we hadn’t spoken in the weeks since the blast.
Her smile brightened and she sat straight. “So, how can I help you, Miss Grove?” She crossed her legs and held her hands together on her lap.
I didn’t know where to begin. “Well, I’ve been given a task to research a mystery.”
I fumbled with my notebook, dropping my pen. I reached down to grab it when she held it out for me. I must have looked even more helpless than I thought. I held up my chin, determined to appear strong.
“I’ve decided to look into the bombings which’ve been happening across the country.”
She sat back, tilting her head like she was confused. “I see. Why are you questioning us then?”
I lowered my voice, even though the room was empty. “I know the bombs contain biological material and the police have brought Doctor Levins in as consultant.” I watched for her response, determined to look confident.
After a moment, she grinned. “You are a good Mole, aren’t you? Hack into the police file?”
“One of my team members did. I was instructed to use all means available.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face, my pride for Owen flamed.
“You do right,” she laughed and looked around the room, as if checking we were alone. She leaned forward and looked me in the eye, sudden determination on her face. “Okay, what I’m about to tell you is confidential. I am only telling you now because you’re a Mole and researching this area. And let’s face it, if your hacker can get into police files, he’s going to find this out soon enough.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep it within my team, I promise.”
“So, about four months ago, the lab was broken into.”
My pen scrawled across my notebook frantically, taking in every word.
“We thought nothing was taken. But, Levins found that someone had downloaded his research.”
My head snapped up. “What research?”
“He’s been working on a biological delivery system,” she said, excitedly.
“What’s that?”
“He’s inventing a delivery system that’s biological but could also be controlled whilst airborne. The potential is astronomical.”
I shook my head to show I still didn’t get it.
She huffed. “Think about it. You have a mass community of people all needing a vaccine. You send in this delivery system which carries the vaccine. You direct it where it needs to go and vaccinate hundreds at a time.”
“That sounds fantastic. He could wipe out so much world disease with something like that.” My hand was scribbling as fast as I could manage. “But, what does this have to do with the bombings? If Levins’ delivery system delivers vaccinations, how is that bad?”
“Because, he’s developing a delivery system, not a vaccine. Which means…”
I sucked in a breath. “Which means anything could be put in it. What have the bombs been containing?” I demanded.
She slumped back on the chair, all airs of formality forgotten. “That’s the question. We think whoever broke into the lab is using the research as a delivery method to arm the bombs. But, whatever they’re arming them with, is still a mystery.”
“Why? Can’t you just test the people who were near the bombs?”
“We have, but the results aren’t making sense. Some people are being affected and some aren’t. I mean, look at you and Mark. Neither of you were infected.”
“The theatre bomb did have the toxin in it then? I thought it must have. But…”
“It was definitely there.”
My heart rate trebled. “Are you sure I’m not infected?”
“Honestly, you’re fine, Mark’s fine. It didn’t infect either of you.”
“But, what if it did?”
“No,” she cut me off, “there was a biological agent at the theatre bomb, but for whatever reason, it didn’t infect you.”
I gripped hold of her hand. My head swam with the memories of the falling ceiling, the bodies under the white sheets. I was sat in the middle of a biological attack and I had hardly given it a second thought.
“That was why the police penned us in. They were wearing masks. How could I not realise this until now?”
“It happens. You knew the truth, but your mind didn’t want to face it. Sometimes a warning can be looking us right in the face and we just don’t see it. But Roz, remember, you and Mark are fine. You didn’t get infected.”
“But why not? Why didn’t it get us?”
“That’s what Levins is working on now. He’s trying to figure out what’s been added to his delivery system and how it’s choosing people.”
I read through my notes, my hands trembling. Levins was right, this was too big. I couldn’t hope to understand something like this, even being so close and
seeing it first hand, didn’t shed any light.
“What about the people who were infected?”
Teresa looked at me and grimaced. “It wasn’t pleasant. From the initial reports, they seem to be suffering from extreme necrosis.”
I shook my head again.
“A mass cellular breakdown.”
“Break down? As in, the insides of their bodies broke down?” I felt the blood drain from my face.
She nodded. “Kind of imploded, in a way.”
A shudder of sickness washed over me. “What can be done?”
“Well, that’s what he’s working on. Whoever’s doing this has a very good understanding of genetics. That’s why the police have brought in Levins. It’s not just about his delivery system. It’s not just about whatever the toxin is. It’s about the combination of the two. He’s one of the few people who have a chance at understanding this and putting a stop to this weapon.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It felt like hours later when I returned to the house. Each hobble on my crutches seemed to take me half a step back. The scene of white sheets waited for me every time I let my mind wander. How many people had perished right next to me? How many people suffered and died while I took up precious attention from a pathetic leg wound? I shook the sight of death from my mind, gritted my teeth and forced my leg to propel me forward. I was going to solve this. I was not going to sit helpless while more people died around me.
I spent the afternoon sifting through page after page of police reports. As the reports went on, there seemed to be less and less information. Whatever the police knew, they weren’t putting it in their files anymore.
With a resigned sigh, I put together the information we had gathered so far. The meeting with Llamp was in the morning and I was determined to show that even with my set back, we were on the ball. Owen had collected a massive amount of reports from the police, fire and numerous hospitals. Jay and Ash had scrutinised video footage from each scene, highlighting possible bomb locations, sizes and intended damage. They were yet to see a common face at each scene.
It was dark outside when Owen lounged on my bed, overseeing my progress, as he put it. I had spent the past hour printing out a summary of our findings.
“You sure we have enough to report?” He asked, for the fourth time. He was laid upside-down on my bed, his feet propped up on the wall. My blanket had somehow ended up in a heap on the floor.
“I’ve contacted the others and asked them to get any extra information to me tonight. We can’t miss this deadline.”
“No, we can’t,” he said, and looked at me pointedly.
I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him in my chair. “Go on. You’ve found something out, what is it?” His face told me it wasn’t good.
“Not so much found out. More, I’ve been piecing things together.” He closed his eyes while he spoke; shifting so he laid straight on my bed. “When you told me what you and Ash were talking about…”
I knew when he meant. After Ash and I had had the conversation about people who fail, we were wondering what happened to them.
“Yeah, we think they get sent to some secret prison.”
“No, they’re sent home. They continue with their lives as before.”
“Then why are you talking like you’re about to hit me with something big and nasty?”
He let out a short laugh. “Because, they don’t seem to last very long.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s always natural causes, usually by either stroke or heart attack. But, one by one, they’re all gone.”
“Are you serious? You really think we get killed off if we don’t pass this place?” I laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “They can’t go around killing us, it’s part of the government.”
“Exactly. Just by training here, we know a top secret element of the government. If we fail, do you really think they’ll let us just return like nothing happened?” He leaned up on his elbows. “Roz, we can’t take the risk. I hope I’m wrong, but if I’m not, we could all end up dead if we don’t get through this.”
I watched as the printer spewed out sheet after sheet of text; information vital to discovering the truth, and pulling us through.
“Then we won’t fail. I’ll go back to…”
I jumped up as my bedroom door slammed open. I instantly regretted it as a spike of pain shot through my injured thigh and I fell back to my chair. Ash stood in the doorway, papers in hand.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” he said, dryly, as he handed me the papers, his face emotionless. He sat on the edge of the desk, on the other side of the room.
“You didn’t interrupt, Ash,” I said, “we were just talking about how were going to get through this test.” I looked through the papers he had just handed me. “What’s this then?”
“Reports Owen gave me to review. Look on page six.” He waited while I flipped to the right page. “See that? They’re talking about a shipment of explosives which were stolen a couple of months ago. They don’t think they’ve left the country, which means they could be the ones the bomber used.”
I scanned the page and found the section he was talking about. “This is just after Levins lab was broken into too. Which means, that the bomber, if they’re using these stolen bombs, have had this planned for a while. Great, that means they’re well organised.”
Owen covered his face with his hands. “Which means they knew what Levins’ research was, and how to break into a military base to steal bombs. And, they have the brains to actually use it.”
Ash stood and looked at me, his face hard. “You’ve already been to the lab to talk to Levins? I thought we were going together?”
“Oh, I didn’t think. I’m sorry Ash. I went this morning when I got back. I just didn’t want to waste any more time.”
“And taking me with you would waste time?” He folded his arms and turned to Owen. “Did you go too?”
Owen sat up on the bed. “Me? No, I only just found out now. I’ve been working on the police reports all day.”
The room fell silent. Ash watched Owen. Owen looked to me out of the corner of his eye, clearly unnerved by Ash’s abruptness. I gripped my crutch and walked to the door.
“Owen, can you watch the printer?”
“Sure.”
“Ash, you want to help me get some more information?”
He followed without word, holding the door for me as we left the room. I didn’t speak as I fumbled down the stairs. We made our way out of the house and along the path. I was getting better at negotiating the crutch and only stumbled a few times.
“Where’re you heading?” Ash asked, without emotion.
I looked up to him and sighed. “Nowhere.” He stopped and watched me. “What is it, Ash? We can’t be a team if you’re pissed off at one of us and can’t sort it.”
He thrust his fists into his pockets. “This isn’t about the team.”
“Then what is it?”
He walked over to a patch of grass with a boulder in the middle. He sat on one side and waited for me to join him.
“I’m failing.”
“What? No, you can’t be. I thought you were one of the best in your group?
“No, I mean, I’m failing my team. I’m failing you.” He rubbed both hands over his face and through his hair. I noticed how much longer it was from when we first met.
“Ash, how have you failed me? You’ve been going through the reports just like all of us. You just found out about the stolen bombs…”
“I’m failing you, Roz. Look at you.” He pointed to my crutch, propped under my arm. “If I’d done my job properly you would never have been hurt.”
“Ash,” I smiled weakly, “I was out with a friend. How could you have helped me?”
He glared down at the ground. “I should’ve been there. You’re the leader of our team. I’m the Wolf. It’s my job to protect. I failed.” He kicked a rock. I watched it fly across the grass a
nd settle near a tree.
“You’re right.” His head snapped up, eyes wide. I smiled as gently as I could manage. “You are the team protector. You and Bree are the ground team. You guys are the ones who will make every task a success. But, and Ash, I mean this; you are not responsible during down time. I was out with a friend. It had nothing to do with the task. There was no way of knowing what would happen. You can’t hold yourself responsible.”
“Yes, I can.” He stepped forward and put both hands on my shoulders. “From now on, I am fully responsible. You go to a meeting again, I go with you. Whoever this bomber is, they hit close. So, I’m going to be close.”
“To the group? You’re going to protect all the group?” My cheeks flushed. My voice shaking with his closeness.
“You lead the team. I protect the team.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I’m walking you to the office tomorrow.” Without giving me a chance to whimper a reply, he turned and waked to the centre of campus.
I stood in shock as I watched him disappear round a bend.
* * *
The walk to Llamp’s office was made all the more awkward by my preoccupation. Ash had kissed me. Given, only my forehead, but it was still contact. What did it mean? Did he like me? Was it simply a friendly gesture, or more?
I walked beside him, barely keeping up the conversation.
“You okay?” He asked, after my musings made me drift off once again.
“Me? Yeah, sure. Just want to get this meeting over and done with.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ve worked hard. And, it’s only a progress report, not the final.”
He was right, but still it felt like an axe was swinging above our heads.
I stood without my crutch beside Llamp’s office door. Yes, it helped me walk, but it was also a sign of weakness. As leader of our team, I would be damned if I was going to represent us as weak.
The report in my hands was a combination of my team’s hard work. Jay had gathered a number of suspects who were close to the explosions and possible connections they had. Fern had compiled a medical section which detailed everything we knew about the biological component of the bombs, which quite frankly, wasn’t much. Ash and Bree worked together to create a possible entry and exit strategy the bomber could have taken in each location to plant the bombs without being seen. Owen and I had prioritised all the information gathered from the emergency service and investigation reports. Each of us had produced a thorough report. I just hoped it would be enough to impress Llamp.
Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) Page 12
