Three Weeks Last Spring

by Howard, Victoria

  A smile crossed his face. "Yeah, it has been a long strange day."

  "What do you expect? You're still on London time. Let’s call it a night and talk about whether or not we're going to help Walker in the morning?"

  "Perhaps you're right, Sweet Pea. Eight hours sleep wouldn't do either of us any harm. We'll discuss things tomorrow, but I still say you ought to report the matter."

  ***

  A subdued Walker arrived at the cabin at noon the next day. He knocked at the door, and was taken aback when Skye opened it. Despite the tension of the previous days she looked as if she had slept well, which was more than he could say for himself. He stood and stared, a slow smile spread across his face as he took a frank and admiring look.

  Unsmiling, Skye stepped aside to let him enter.

  "Do you want a coffee or should we get straight to the point?"

  "Coffee would be fine if there's some in the pot, but don't go to any trouble just for me."

  Moments later, Skye thrust a steaming cup into his hand and then sat down opposite him. Ridge crossed the room and rested his thigh on the arm of her chair. He put his arm about her shoulder. His message to Walker was loud and clear. Hands off!

  "Have you decided if you're willing to help?"

  "Assuming this software exists, and we're not admitting it does, give us three reasons why we should," Ridge answered.

  Walker took a sip of his coffee and gathered his thoughts. "People who dump chemicals illegally not only risk their own lives, but those of others. As I told you last night, luck has been on our side, and no one has gotten sick. But it's only a matter of time. Do you know what a high concentration of PCBs—?”

  Skye interrupted. "PCBs? Could you put that into plain English for the benefit of us computer geeks?"

  "PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls,’ are a family of chemicals for which there are no natural sources. We no longer commercially produce them here in the US, but they are still out there. They don't degrade readily and once released into the environment, they can easily enter the food chain. They tend to accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals because they are stable in nature. These accumulations increase as the animal moves through the food chain."

  Ridge concentrated hard and did his best to absorb the information. "Let me get this straight," he said. "If a seal eats fish that's been polluted, then it becomes contaminated too. The more fish it digests, the higher the concentration of PCBs in its body."

  "Basically, that's correct."

  "And what effect do these PCBs have on the human population."

  Walker inclined his head towards Skye. "I'm glad you asked that question. PCBs are highly toxic. Acute exposure can cause tissue irritation. High exposure can damage the liver, and possibly the nervous system and chronic exposure may result in reproductive problems and even cancers. This is one group of chemicals you don't want to mess with. Most companies behave responsibly when it comes to their disposal. But now and again you come across a company which is less conscientious and which is not averse to a little illegal dumping. Various countries have names for this. I think you use the term ‘fly tipping’ in the UK."

  "I've read about that," remarked John. "But this still doesn't explain why you want our help."

  "My first task when asked to head up this investigation was to carry out autopsies on the fish. From the chemicals found in their systems I was able to narrow the list of companies handling them down to seven. All are licensed to dispose of PCBs. One of them, a consortium headquartered here in the US, I ran into previously under very unpleasant circumstances. At the time I was working in South America and, to cut a long story short, I had its operation there shut down for eighteen months while working practices and disposal methods were improved. The company was heavily fined for illegally disposing of chemical waste and nearly ended up in the bankruptcy courts. As a consequence, I'm not exactly very popular with their board of directors or shareholders. Recently they've—"

  "How do you know the same company is involved?" Skye asked.

  The lines of concentration deepened along Walker's brow. "I don't, for sure. But ten months ago the directors applied for a permit to build a new plant in Anacortes, but it was refused. I know, because I was the one who recommended the application be turned down on the grounds of previous poor management and disposal methods."

  "But that still isn't proof they’re responsible," Skye insisted.

  "You have to admit it's a pretty strong coincidence. Shortly after permission was refused, contaminated fish started washing up on the mainland and here on the islands. The chemicals are being dumped at sea. Despite an extensive search, I've been unable to establish exactly where."

  "Something like that wouldn't go unnoticed surely?" John said. "I mean a vessel dropping cargo overboard would be bound to attract attention, especially in somewhere like Puget Sound where the shipping lanes are so busy."

  "You would think so. It's a huge area to cover and the coastguard is stretched as it is."

  Skye's mind drifted back to the afternoon of John's telephone call. An icy chill crawled down her spine. The boat she’d seen had dropped containers of some description overboard. What if they had contained chemicals?

  "What sort of vessel do you think they use?"

  Walker thought for a moment or two. "Certainly nothing that would look out of the ordinary. Possibly a fishing boat or a small inter-island cargo boat."

  Skye cleared her throat. "I saw a boat a few days ago. I thought it a little strange, because I'd never seen a fishing boat there before. It was a little way offshore, too far away for me to see clearly. I assumed they were putting out some form of fishing equipment."

  Walker barely managed to conceal his annoyance. "This is private land and that extends to the fishing. No one should be fishing in the cove—not even for lobster. Was this before or after you found the fish washed up on the beach?"

  "Before. As I said, it was too far away for me to see clearly, but the men on board seemed to be struggling to get whatever it was overboard."

  "For Christ's sake! Why didn’t you tell me?"

  Skye lowered her eyes and studied her hands. "You didn’t give me a chance to say anything. And, as I said, I thought they were just fishing."

  "You do realize that if you'd told me about this sooner that we might have been able to trace the vessel? Of all the stupid, irresponsible—"

  "Let's not get into a slanging match about who should have told who what," John interrupted. "Assuming the stuff's being dumped at sea as you suspect, then surely it's a matter for the coastguard and the navy to sort out. It certainly doesn't account for why you need our help."

  Walker leant forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "About the same time fish starting washing up on the island, I encountered problems with my computer systems. At first, I thought it was purely coincidental, but now I'm convinced it's not. Last week my offices were broken into, hence my hasty departure. Among other things, slides I had taken as evidence were destroyed along with the relevant documentation. Someone also accessed the computers. What they didn't manage to destroy or delete, they infected with a virus."

  Skye and John exchanged glances. "Computers get infected with viruses all the time, mainly from attachments contained in e-mail. It's possible someone downloaded an attachment which was infected," John said.

  "It's possible, but unlikely as the system is protected by anti-virus software. And it doesn't explain why my offices were broken into."

  "Supposing this consortium you mentioned earlier is responsible, why don't you just go and inspect their plant and check their records?"

  "Legally we have a duty to notify them of an inspection. By the time all the paperwork has been issued they would have cleaned up their act," Walker told them. "I'm sure that whoever is behind the dumping knows of my involvement in the investigation and that they’re also responsible for the attacks on my company, which is why I’d like your help."

  Skye thought back to something W
alker had said earlier. "The consortium, surely that isn't the only company you've investigated over the years?"

  A muscle flicked angrily at Walker's jaw. "There are more than a few companies around the world that have me at the top of their hate list. But this happens to be the only one in Washington State licensed to dispose of PCBs."

  When Skye didn't respond, Walker stood and thrust his hands deep into his pockets. He'd blown it. It was obvious that Skye and her partner weren't going to help and yet he couldn't just give up, he had to find a way to persuade them. As the minutes ticked by the tension in the room stretched ever tighter.

  "You're welcome to review what's left of the evidence I've gathered, if it will help you reach a decision, but time isn't on our side. If I'm going to stand a chance of catching these bastards, I need your help today, not next week."

  When neither of them said anything he concluded that his final request for help was being denied, and deciding he had nothing to lose, he appealed directly to Skye for support.

  "I owe you an apology," he began awkwardly. "You turned up at the cabin just as things took a turn for the worse. You seemed so antagonistic towards me that I assumed you'd been sent to watch me. When I got to know you better I realized that I was wrong and you were simply here on vacation. When I saw the computer code on your laptop, I'm afraid I put two and two together and didn't come up with four. I can't apologize enough for holding you here against your will, but you must understand that I felt I had no other choice. Can find forgive me? Will you help?"

  Once again Walker managed to surprise her. An apology was the last thing Skye expected, and from the expression on Walker’s face he was sincere. She leaned back in her chair and looked at John questioningly. She didn't know what to do. On a professional note, helping Walker seemed the right decision. Not only would it prevent an environmental disaster, but it could also save lives. And there was no doubt that it would be good publicity for Dunbar and Associates. However, she wasn't sure she could put her personal issues with him to one side.

  Before she had chance to formulate a reply, John gave a slow handclap that broke the silence.

  "Well, that was a pretty speech, but words come cheap."

  Walker glared angrily at Ridge. "Butt out! This is purely between me and Skye and has nothing to do with you." He focused his attention on Skye. "When this is over you have my promise that I will do everything in my power to put things right between us."

  "Do you really think I'm going to let Skye hang around long enough for your grand gestures?" John tightened his grip on Skye's shoulder.

  Walker ignored Ridge and looked directly at Skye once more. "Skye?"

  Skye dropped her eyes before his steady gaze lest he should see her confusion, torn as she was by conflicting emotions. Was John right? Should she walk away and let Walker solve his own problems, or should she stay and help the man she loved?

  Walker was halfway to the door, before she found the strength to speak, her voice cool and clear as ice water.

  "We'll help, but only provided you agree to our terms."

  Walker stopped in midstride and turned to listen.

  "Firstly, your company or the US Government undertakes to pay for our time and expertise, and I should warn you we don't come cheap. Secondly, any software we install on your system will remain our property and be removed when we successfully locate the hackers. And finally, there will be no further contact between you and me once the hacker is located. Do we have a deal?"

  Walker glared at her. "I'll agree to the first two, but I'll be damned if I'll agree to the third!"

  Skye lifted her chin and met his gaze. "Well, good luck. I hope you can find someone with the necessary expertise to help you. Close the door on your way out."

  Walker's expression darkened with an unreadable emotion. He retraced his steps and jerked her to her feet. "Sweet Pea, this is one conversation you and I are having in private." He gripped Skye's elbow, he ushered her out the door and down the path to the shore, completely impervious to her objections and those of Ridge.

  "What the hell did you mean back there? And don't look to Ridge for support. I've had about as much of his interference as I can take. If he so much as moves a muscle in this direction I'll take the greatest pleasure in putting him flat on his back."

  Skye flattened her palms against his chest. Over Walker's shoulder she could see John standing in the doorway of the cabin. She shook her head indicating that he should stay put.

  "I meant exactly what I said. Once this is over, there will be no further contact between us."

  Walker searched her face for a trace of emotion and found none. "Do you mean to tell me, that what we shared meant nothing?"

  All the anger Skye had felt over the last few days welled to the surface. She wanted to lash out and hurt him as much as he had hurt her.

  "What exactly did we share? Three days of mediocre sex. Sorry to disappoint you, but it meant nothing." She struggled to free herself from his arms.

  Walker tightened his grip on her waist. "You're lying. It wasn't mediocre sex and you know it. It was fantastic and if I kissed you now you'd want me as much as I want you."

  Skye found her body responding to his. Fear and anger overcame the desire, giving her the strength to push him away.

  "Don't flatter yourself. This isn't the dark ages. Haven't you realized that women are just as capable of having meaningless affairs as men? We don't have to be attracted to or be in love with every man who takes us to bed." She could see from the look in his eyes that her arrow had hit its mark. "Now, are you going accept my terms or not?"

  Walker was wounded beyond comprehension. He took a deep breath. Skye could deny it for as long as she liked but they both knew what they'd shared was real. But, he needed her help, and if it meant abiding by her rules to get it, then so be it. Releasing his grip on her waist, he stepped back.

  "You’ve got a deal. But when this is over, I'll prove what we shared is real. Don't say you haven't had fair warning. In the meantime, I assume you'll need your laptop?" Without waiting to hear her answer, he spun on his heel, and strode back up the path to the cabin.

  Skye didn't follow immediately. She gazed at Walker's retreating figure and pressed both hands over her eyes in despair. Weariness enveloped her, but she knew she had to concentrate. There was no doubt in her mind that Walker would carry out his threat. She pushed aside her worries, and walked back to the cabin.

  John had already set up her laptop next to his on the table, and was examining the new code she had written. Skye sat down next to him and said nothing.

  Walker paced up and down in front of the fireplace. His temper almost uncontrollable, as he watched Skye and Ridge get to work, their heads bent in concentration as they gazed at first one screen and then the other. Left alone with his thoughts he decided that he couldn't let the only woman who had ever meant anything to him walk away without a fight. And if he was going to convince her that what they had was something worth fighting for, he needed to get Skye alone and that wouldn’t be easy with Ridge hovering over her all the time, like the proverbial British bulldog.

  Skye's silken voice broke into his thoughts. "Although we can run a trace from here we will need access to your company's mainframe and server."

  "Sure. Whatever you need, just ask. I can make arrangements for us to go over to Seattle whenever you’re ready. Just say the word."

  "Perhaps later today, when John and I have finished checking the amendments I've made to the code. Do you have any information about the case that might be of interest to our cyber thieves… something that would tempt them to hack into your systems again?"

  Walker gave a brief nod. "I’ll ask my friend in the State Department to put out a press release to the effect that a prosecution is imminent. That ought to grab their attention. Want me to make the call?"

  Skye looked at John.

  "As far as I can tell without thorough testing, the code looks all right. Do it, make the call," Ridge said. "
And while you're on the phone, book three seats on the evening flight to Seattle. I absolutely detest boats."

  "No need, I'll fly us over. You've no aversion to small planes have you?" Walker asked.

  "I don't," replied Skye. "What about you, John?"

  "I daresay I'll cope. Now can we get on with this before you two start discussing such niceties as in-flight service?"

  Two hours later they walked into Walker’s office.

  "I’ve seen bigger coffins than that plane," John said.

  Skye laughed. "You should see your face—it's green."

  "If you'd seen the way the wing almost kissed the sea as we took off, you might not be so cocky!"