“Not immediately. The cell has to be charged first.” Sasha pointed to a big box at the end of the long room. “Flip the switch for that particular cell, and the charge leaves. Flip it again, and the charge returns.”
“And no one guards the box?” Nicole frowned, turning to Sasha. “Aren’t you worried that someone will come here and try to set the people free? If it were me, I’d have a guard here round the clock.”
Sasha smiled at her like she was a child—the first time he’d done something to show she wasn’t thinking straight. “Of course not. Only a few employees have clearance to come back here. All are trusted Tarians, and where would these people go, anyway? They know they’re carrying deadly diseases. They have no desire to kill the world by trying to escape.”
“Good point.” Another question popped into Nicole’s mind and she asked it immediately. “How do you prevent them from using their powers before they get into the cell?”
“Once the disease has been injected into them, they’re unable to do anything for a time. Too sick. Before that, though, we threaten death to their family members. We usually arrange to have one under our control when we abduct the Aretes. We keep a video feed and microphone on these people while taking the Arete in, allowing him or her to see how the person is being treated—and will continue to be treated—if they don’t comply.”
“I see.” Nicole took a deep breath, ready to go. “I really appreciate the tour, but you’re right. This room upsets me, even though I understand why it’s here. May we move on now?”
“This is the last part of the tour,” Sasha said. “But we do have another banquet prepared in your honor.”
“Food? Right now?”
Sasha chuckled. “We’ll give you an hour or two for your stomachs to recover.” He took them back through the testing rooms, across the lab, and through the clean room. Then they were in the hazard-suit room again, and the same woman from earlier helped Nicole and Lizzie get out of the complicated gear.
“Where should we go to wait?” Nicole asked Sasha, trying to fluff out her hair so the sweat would dry.
“Anywhere. Perhaps the courtyard? Some fresh air might do you good.”
Nicole readily agreed, and Sasha led them there.
“Go ahead and relax—I’ll send someone when it’s time for the banquet to start.”
Nicole realized she needed to reassure Sasha again before he left. Just in case her act hadn’t been convincing enough. So she stepped to him and took his hand, putting her other hand on his shoulder.
“I want you to know how proud I am to be leading such an advanced and intelligent group. I’m very impressed with what you’ve shown me.”
Sasha blushed, nodding. “You’re welcome, of course.”
Nicole released his hand, then frowned. “Sorry if I seemed upset by the test subjects . . .”
He waved her off. “No need to be sorry. Most of our visitors are upset when they see that room. It’s understandable, which is why I warned you ahead of time.”
Sasha left then, and Nicole and Lizzie took seats at an empty picnic table. Nicole glanced around the courtyard. Most of the other tables were occupied, and conversation wouldn’t be private. The girls would have to continue their act if they were going to get out of the facility alive.
Nicole smiled at Lizzie. “That was really impressive, wasn’t it?”
Lizzie gave Nicole a curious expression, then seemed to catch on. “Yes. My favorite part was the diseases. I can’t believe they’ve been able to do so much in so little time! I’ve never seen such dedication and commitment. It’s encouraging.”
Nicole nodded, then leaned forward and rested her head on her arms. She was positive no one would care. She really needed a moment to relax, to internalize everything she and Lizzie had just seen.
Visions of the crippled and bloodied bodies of the test subjects immediately swam through her mind. She doubted she’d ever forget them.
She took a deep breath, realizing that the first thing she would do when they left the facility was call Coolidge. Yes, that would ruin their platinum gift surprise, but it no longer mattered. This place couldn’t be standing when the Great Ones came. Nicole knew, from how intense Sasha had been, that the threat of spreading diseases globally was a real one.
And it didn’t shock her that the Tarians had a backup plan. They were intent on leading the world, and if they couldn’t do that much, they would destroy it.
Not if Nicole had anything to say about it.
Chapter Seven
Nicole must have dozed off because after only what felt like a couple of minutes, Lizzie was shaking her shoulder.
“Time to go eat,” she said cheerfully.
Great.
But as Nicole and Lizzie followed their escort back into the other area of the facility and past the paintings, she realized she really was hungry. It almost made her feel guilty that she was looking forward to relieving that small bit of suffering when so many others were in a great deal more pain.
The banquet went quickly—it was nearing seven o’clock in the evening, and the workers seemed enthusiastic about going home for the night.
Sasha sat with them and kept the conversation going. Nicole didn’t mind his chatter, and she answered his questions as honestly as she could. He asked a lot about growing up in Texas and what it was like to have Tiffany for a mom. He didn’t act surprised when Nicole told him it wasn’t easy. Most people, it seemed, knew a lot about Tiffany. She wasn’t just difficult for her family.
Finally, dinner was over, and it was time to head back to Bucharest.
Sasha volunteered to drive them, and Nicole accepted immediately. No way did she want to walk several miles until they found a cab.
On the way out of the dining hall, Sasha suddenly stopped. “Oh, I can’t believe I forgot! One of our most important exhibits. Come this way.” He led them to the opposite side of the front entry from where they’d been eating and proudly motioned to a very large table set up in the middle of the room. Lining the table edges were multiple glass boxes about a foot in diameter.
Nicole stepped closer and immediately cringed, pulling away. “What is this?” she asked.
“A human head,” Sasha said, rolling on his heels with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Yes, I can see that. But why?”
Each box contained the well-preserved head of a man or woman. The eyes were stitched shut, the hair falling out.
“Every Tarian who has ever turned their back on our group is in this room.”
“So few?” Nicole asked. There were only around fifty boxes.
“Yes. As you probably know, our initiations are difficult. Only those who pass join our group. And usually, only those who apply are serious about our cause. Very rarely are we infiltrated by enemies.”
“That’s reassuring,” Nicole said. She stepped closer to the nearest box, examining it. A label was affixed to the outside of the box at the bottom, showing the name and Tarian position of the person who’d been killed.
Nicole walked around the room, reading the names, trying not to look at the heads. Oh, she couldn’t wait for the Tarians to be destroyed!
She hesitated when she passed a set of names she recognized, but continued, not wanting to draw attention to herself, even though she figured out immediately why the names were familiar.
She motioned for Sasha to take them home. “I’m sorry I’m not more excited—it really has been a very long day,” she said. “We haven’t slept in many hours, and we’re both very jet-lagged.”
“Understandable.” Sasha sent her a concerned expression, which she appreciated. How could a man like this—who was obviously very caring—be so completely cruel and evil about people he didn’t agree with?
“Do your best to sleep well tonight,” he said. “I’ll send a car to pick you up first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks.”
The girls followed him outside and to a large parking garage, where his car was on
the main level and closest to the facility. Nicole got in the front seat, sure Lizzie wouldn’t mind sitting in the back.
The ride to the hotel was mostly quiet. Nicole looked out the window, admiring the beautiful buildings they passed on the way. So different from America. So old, so much history behind them.
“I wish we could spend more time here,” she said. “It seems like such a waste to come and not see everything.”
Sasha clicked his tongue sympathetically. “I know. Perhaps next time.” He glanced at Nicole, frowning. “I mean . . . if there is one.”
Nicole smiled. “There probably won’t be. But know that I’m here in spirit. Perhaps even literally, like Rebecca.”
“That would be wonderful,” he said.
And Nicole could tell he meant it. She sighed inwardly, glad that her act had been so well received. She closed her eyes and visions of those sick people filled her head. So horrible. She’d never forget it.
Though she hated the memories she now had, she did realize something. Her decision to come to Romania had not been a mistake. Something had to be done about that building, and soon.
Nicole glanced down at the security badge still around her neck.
She and Lizzie wouldn’t be getting a lot of sleep that night.
The moment the girls were safely inside their hotel room and Nicole was sure no one was listening, she called Coolidge. Romania was only ten hours ahead of Seattle, which meant it was around ten in the morning back there.
He answered after a couple of rings. “Nicole?”
Nicole put the cell on speakerphone so she could pace in front of it, glad her phone was good enough to pick up her voice. “Lizzie and I are in huge trouble, or we will be soon. Really, really big trouble. And I have no idea how we’re going to get out of it.”
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?”
Nicole glanced at Lizzie, who encouraged her to continue. “We’re in Romania. Bucharest.”
Pause. “What on earth are you doing there?”
“Getting platinum for you. Let me explain it to you really fast before you ask questions because we don’t have much time to figure things out.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“Lizzie and I went to Portland and visited Julius Maxwell—”
“You did what?”
“Shhh. He’s a Tarian. He recognized me immediately. Said he’d been told not to supply you with stuff anymore. He was ordered to send all of it to Tarian Headquarters here in Romania. Naturally, Lizzie and I headed here as soon as we could. The local Tarians threw a banquet for us and gave us a tour of the facility.”
Nicole sat on the chair closest to the phone. “And Coolidge, they have biological weapons. They plan to spread diseases around the globe if their plan with the Great Ones fails.”
Coolidge swore. “How did we not know about this?”
Nicole shook her head. “No one mentioned it. Sasha, the director here, told us that they’ve been working on making super-strains for the deadliest diseases since the forties. They have orders to infect pretty much the entire world the moment they see or hear that things aren’t going well with the Great Ones. They won’t even need confirmation from Rebecca, Tiffany, or me.”
“This is very bad news,” Coolidge said.
Lizzie scooted forward. “And they’re testing on Aretes and families of Aretes! We saw the sick people. It was horrible! So, so awful. They’re not taking care of them—they’re not even allowing the people to show that they are suffering! And they’re keeping the victims in bloody, gross cells.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No!” Lizzie said. “Not at all! We have to do something. We have to save or help them. And tonight!”
“Yes, I agree. But most important, we need to figure out what to do about those diseases.”
“That’s why we’re calling you,” Nicole said. “Do you know any powerful Aretes out here? Lizzie and I still have full access to the facility since we’re supposed to see one of the tests being run tomorrow. We’ll be able to get in and out. But it’s just the two of us, and they’ll figure out what flight we’re heading home on, and there’s no way they’d let us leave after what we have to do tonight.”
“What time is it there?”
Nicole glanced at the clock on her phone. “Just after eight in the evening.”
“Let me make a few calls. I have several Arete friends who own private jets and other modes of transportation, but I have no idea if they’re even close to Bucharest.”
“There aren’t many Aretes here,” Lizzie said.
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Coolidge was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll call you back once I’ve contacted a few people. Do you think you can get some sleep? It’s going to be a long night, and I’m willing to bet you haven’t had a lot of rest lately.”
“We can try,” Nicole said.
“Good. Expect a call from me in three hours. Oh, and where are you staying?”
“We’re at the Marriott.”
“Okay.”
Coolidge hung up and Nicole picked up her phone, glancing at Lizzie. “I don’t know how I’ll sleep. I can’t stop thinking about those people.”
Lizzie nodded. “I know. But we should try anyway. Just in case.”
“Agreed. And . . . I knew the names of two of the heads in the display cases.”
“Wow. Really?”
“They’re Austin’s siblings.”
“You’re serious? Holy cow.”
“Yeah. Josh and Sarah Young.” Nicole turned to Lizzie. “We’re going to get them out, if possible.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Staying in their jeans, the girls got into their beds and turned off the lights. Nicole’s eyes drifted to the clock by the TV several times as she tried to force her brain to shut down. It was a struggle. Ten minutes passed. Half an hour. An hour. Finally, she fell asleep, jerking awake when her phone rang.
She glanced at the clock, realizing three and a half hours had passed since her conversation with Coolidge. She put the phone on speakerphone.
“Nicole? Were you guys able to sleep?”
Nicole looked at Lizzie, who nodded. “Yes, both of us.”
“Good. A friend of mine—Raul—is on his way now to pick you up. He’ll be there in about ten minutes. He’s a business consultant and yes, he has his own jet. It’s in Chisinau, however, so you’ll have quite a drive after leaving Headquarters.”
“Chisinau?” Lizzie asked. “Where’s that?”
“Moldova.”
That didn’t seem to answer Lizzie’s question, but the girls could look it up on their phones later.
“Wouldn’t it be faster to fly the plane to Bucharest and leave from here?”
“Of course it would. But Raul and I both feel very strongly that once you’ve taken care of things, you’ll need to get as far away as possible before entering any airports.”
Nicole took a breath, releasing it slowly. “Will we have any problems crossing from Romania into Moldova?”
“Possibly. Keep your passports handy.” Coolidge paused, then said, “I’ll let you go now. Get your things together and leave it all in Raul’s car while you’re in Headquarters. Oh! I almost forgot. Raul won’t be entering the facility with you. Whatever you do, it’s in your hands. I wish I could have found someone to help you inside Headquarters, but no one willing was close enough.”
Lizzie groaned in dismay. “Why won’t Raul be coming?”
“He’s not an Arete, first off, and second, he doesn’t want his name dragged into anything.” Coolidge sighed loudly. “You’ll be fine. Be very careful around those diseases. Wear hazard suits, if they have them. Now, get downstairs and wait for Raul. He’ll be in a tan hoodie and Yankees baseball cap. He’ll meet you in the lobby.”
Nicole thanked him, then hung up the phone, and the girls quickly gathered their things, each lost in her own thoughts.
How would they do this without anyone’s
help? Nicole tried not to feel discouraged and dismayed, but she knew two girls on their own couldn’t possibly create the sort of destruction that would be needed.
They headed down the elevator and found Raul already there—he was pacing the lobby. He shook their hands and led them to his car, where he helped them load their things in the trunk.
The drive to Snagov was quiet. Nicole wished she knew more about this man—where he was from, how he knew Coolidge, if they’d worked closely before, and other such things, but she didn’t want to break the silence.
Raul dropped them off far away from the gate. “I’ll wait here,” he said, turning off the car. “Call when you’re finished. And I’ll do the same if I see suspicious behavior.”
They exchanged numbers and Nicole sighed to herself, getting out and shutting the door. She and Lizzie started down the road.
When they were out of hearing range, Lizzie glanced at Nicole. “Why didn’t he drive us to the door?”
“He doesn’t want to be seen anywhere near the premises. I’m sure there are tons of cameras out here.”
“Watching us now?”
“Probably.”
“Do you think someone has seen us already?”
Nicole nodded. “It’s best to act that way.”
“Do we have an alibi in case they come right away? I mean, why are we here so late at night?”
Nicole shrugged. “One of us forgot a purse?”
Lizzie was silent for several footsteps, then she asked, “What are we going to do?”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Nicole bit her lip and looked at Lizzie. “We’re going straight to the sick people. Some of them were in much better condition than others—we may be able to enlist their help.”
Lizzie shook her head. “I don’t know, Nicole. With all they’ve been through . . . is it fair to ask them to do more?”
“It’s not about what’s fair anymore. There’s no way we’ll be able to do it on our own—we have to have their help, if they’re able to give it.”
Neither girl said anything else until they’d arrived at Headquarters. The building was dark, no sign of life anywhere. Nicole knew the place probably wasn’t empty, but she had no idea how they’d handle things if someone tried to stop them. She’d just trust that they’d be fine. And maybe they would be. Maybe.
Reclaim, Mosaic Chronicles Book Five Page 10
