Chasing The Dawn (Luke Temple - Book 2) (Luke Temple Series)

by James Flynn

  “My head is struggling with it, but my heart is telling me yes. Brun said himself they found a way to make it interact with the world around it. The key must be within the process of fission … but be in no doubt that this is not the whole of it … we have only a section.’

  Always break things down to the simplest building blocks. Luke’s Group 9 instructor had given sound advice; in this case the simple fact was that Vittorio and Brun had achieved the seismic shift. The earthquake in L’Aquila also made sense. Luke felt his stomach jump. He connected the Iranians with the disappearance of Vittorio and the death of Brun … surely that means they know about the other laboratory? There was a danger growing, and Luke could hear the time ticking away.

  “How many earthquakes have been recorded here?” Chung Su suddenly asked.

  “I don’t know … only one in recent times, I believe. Why?”

  “I have been a scientist all my life, and all the greatest scientists, and Professor Vittorio is one of them, have one thing in common … do you know what that is?”

  Luke shook his head.

  “An obsession with proof … they don’t make statements until they are sure.”

  Luke caught up with her thoughts. “So why not more earthquakes?”

  Chung Su nodded. “Test, test and test again.”

  Luke ruminated on it, she had a point. Surely they would have tested it more than once, but maybe not. “Maybe they did only do the one test,” Luke said. “A test on that scale will obviously cause problems, not to mention the magnitude of destruction. Perhaps there was no way of being able to test over and over.”

  Chung Su had not given a thought to the devastation such an experiment had caused in L’Aquilla. She turned sombre. The human connection and the suffering had been completely disregarded by such a great team. “I think the earthquake was an error in judgment, nuclear fission detonations are unpredictable in nature, they underestimated it.”

  Luke accepted that could be true. “Let’s say they carried out the one experiment. It worked and the government shrugged it off as an earthquake. I mean the upside to what they could potentially gain from the results could be immense; it would far outweigh any sort of short-term tragedy. But that sort of thing gains attention, right? So they have to wait, bide their time until they test again … then Vittorio disappears and suddenly they can’t do it anymore … and the Iranians closing in scares Brun into telling the scientific glitterati at the gala.”

  Silence fell in the room, both of them were thinking hard.

  Chung Su stood and began pacing again. “But so many things are coming together … Vittorio disappears … my countrymen disappear … Brun is killed … it feels like it is building to something, do you know what I mean?”

  Absolutely right, thought Luke. Since he landed in Rome it felt like he was on an unstoppable train heading toward something.

  “Why would the Iranians be stamping out everyone?” Luke asked rhetorically.

  Chung Su remained still.

  “What if they have what they want?” Luke continued. “They have what they want and are wiping out anyone who knows too much about the experiment. Vittorio, Brun. But what if they need one final thing … to test it themselves?”

  “Without Vittorio? Impossible,” Chung Su said unconvincingly.

  “Why? Just because your country didn’t succeed in stealing it all … maybe they did?”

  Chung Su felt a lump rise in her throat. Luke was right, if her beloved homeland had got close enough, why not someone else?

  “Chung Su …. it is possible.”

  It pained her but she had to be truthful. “Yes … it is possible, I suppose. But how would CERN let it continue? Why would the government?”

  Luke almost laughed. “Because neither of them know … it is never hard to conceal things from a government.” Luke knew CERN carried out many tests and experiments that no government ever knew about; the scientific community could be a very powerful mafia.

  Chung Su continued the thought. “They need to test it again … this time in full control. That is why they killed my countrymen?”

  Luke held off telling her that in fact they were under Beltrano’s watch. “I don’t know.”

  Chung Su suddenly let out a gasp.

  “What?” Luke asked.

  “Do you remember what Brun said at his house …?”

  “Go on …” Luke moved over to her.

  “CERN are due to send another beam of neutrinos … Saturday at 7 p.m. They are going to use that beam to do their final test … and if they complete it …”

  It would be catastrophic.

  Chung Su sat on the bed. “There was something else Brun said to me when he took me round the OPERA control room. He said that most of the people working on the experiment went underground leading up to it, no contact with the outside world … it must be the same for the entire experiment including this other secret laboratory.”

  “Then that’s how they keep things covert …” Luke had Brun’s words echoing in his head, they are all going to die. Could it be what Luke thought? Were the Iranians going to eliminate all the technicians working on OPERA? It would be the way to make a clean getaway … but they would need to extract the data first. Luke felt the tidal wave building against him, he needed help. It was something that went against all training, but the golden rule should always be obeyed: there is nothing more important than the objective. He had to stop the test from being carried out, and the only way he could see this happening was to involve someone else … Beltrano.

  Luke looked at Chung Su. He had absolutely no intention of handing her over to Beltrano, but perhaps he could cut a deal? Give Beltrano their information in exchange for her freedom? The meeting was organised for midnight the following day at La Cattedrale di San Berardo and Luke intended to be there along with Chung Su.

  “Tomorrow we do not leave this room in daylight, clear?” Luke was firm.

  Chung Su nodded distantly.

  “We order food up, and then when night comes, we have somewhere to go.”

  Chung Su didn’t even utter a response, clearly not digesting what was being said. Her mind had travelled again to another plain, the enormity of everything once again creeping over the wall of her mind and crashing down inside.

  Luke mulled the situation over, something still didn’t quite fit. He felt like he was missing a piece. He lay back on the pillow and drifted into his own world, forming objectives and analysing options. In this state he felt totally at ease.

  70.

  Friday 16th November

  Delvechi was stiff, cold and starving hungry. It was gone 8 p.m. and there had been no sight of either Chung Su or her accomplice all day. Not for the first time he had started to rethink his plan of waiting. Have I missed them? Did they go out another way? He

  was grateful for the sharp night air; a soft wind blew through, giving him a blast to keep him awake.

  La Battaglia.

  He knew he had still not reported the two Korean bodies, it was unorthodox, but the timing was not right. He had spent the whole day thinking; his thoughts swayed between the shadows of reality and the light of hope, but they would not rest in either. He stared down at his mobile phone, do I call for backup? He now had no way of knowing who would show up to help, friend or foe.

  As he stared at the mobile phone it burst into life, a Rome number illuminating the screen. “Officer Delvechi, how can I help?”

  “Officer Delvechi, it is Sara Festino.”

  Delvechi checked the time, this woman really was a workaholic. “Miss Festino, it is late, do you not have a home to go to?”

  “As a matter of fact I do, but it is because of your little goose chase that I am sat here.”

  “Ok, ok, how can I help?”

  “Oh, you can’t help me, but I have found something that I thought you would want to know right away.”

  Delvechi perked up. “Ok, and what’s that?”

  “Well, after you left yesterd
ay you had me all riled up. You had pricked my interest, so I did a little digging. Here at ENAC we pride ourselves on detail, and to not know how hostiles are entering our borders, it got to me. Firstly, without doubt all the men were Iranian, but that is not the interesting bit. I went looking through a range of embassy-sanctioned orders, not strictly speaking a legal thing for me to do … it was relatively simple. We separate documents based on a hierarchy scheme …”

  “Miss Festino, please, it’s late, time is of the essence.”

  “Sorry … I found the name of the person who underwrote the orders for those terrorists to enter through diplomatic channels …”

  Delvechi pressed the phone tight against his ear. “Who was it?”

  “I really hope you are sitting down, Officer Delvechi …”

  71.

  Sighing as he picked at soggy chips and an unappetisingly tepid burger, Luke stole another glance at Chung Su. She was magnetic. As thoughts of Sarah clouded his mind a wave of sympathy washed over him; she looked so small and helpless, another grain of sand caught in an overpowering storm, blowing violently in the wind.

  Turning to the window, Luke caught a sight that took his breath away. Stood inside the glass was his gorgeous wife. She hung halfway between reflection and nothingness, but he saw her like a lightning bolt scorched across the night sky. She said nothing but her eyes were looking straight at his. He desperately wanted to reach out and touch her, but she vanished.

  Sighing, Luke stood to stretch his legs. The clock showed 9.40 p.m. It was counting down to the meeting with Beltrano. They were moving at 10.45 p.m. and would not be returning. He wanted to have at least an hour’s observation time at the meet site; the cathedral was a five-minute walk from the hotel according to Luke’s recollection. He sat back on the bed, taking a deep breath. A normal man’s worst enemy is the unknown; but an operative’s greatest chance of success is to use the unknown.

  72.

  Delvechi was numb, not from the cold but from what he had heard from Sara Festino. He stared vacantly out of the window.

  I can’t believe it, it’s impossible.

  And then it happened.

  The man emerged from the hotel first; he was ultra-alert, scanning up and down the street. A few moments later the girl appeared behind him. She was dressed very differently to the last time he had seen her but Delvechi recognised Chung Su from the gala and pictures.

  The pair headed off down the street. Checking his Beretta was still in its holster, Officer Delvechi was not far behind them.

  73.

  La Cattedrale di San Berardo was lit beautifully, a historical beacon. The dramatic architecture was captured by soft orange lighting, casting eerie shadows high into the dark recesses of the tower. The enclosed area where they stood was perfect for what Luke wanted; he

  could see almost every entry point into the square and with the clock on the tower showing 10.55 p.m. he even had his own time-keeper.

  “What are we doing here?” Chung Su asked for the fifth time.

  “Waiting,” Luke replied.

  “Waiting for what?”

  “Someone …”

  “Who?”

  Chung Su’s frustration was rapidly turning to fear. She hadn’t been told why they were leaving the hotel in the middle of the night to wait in the freezing cold.

  “Who are we waiting for?” she asked again.

  Luke didn’t want to answer her. He could hear by her tone that she was starting to worry. “You will know when they show up. Stop panicking and just wait.”

  Luke ushered them deeper into the shadow of the arches, settling in to observe the site, tuning in to every sound and every movement. He pawed the grip of the Sig Sauer, comforted by the touch.

  ***

  Delvechi crouched down, his coat brushing the cold stone floor. He moved slowly into the darkness, Chung Su and her accomplice never leaving his sight. He had dropped further back on the walk because the man was checking behind every five seconds. He had taken a strange route to the cathedral. It was only a short walk from the hotel but he had made many twists and turns to get there.

  The pair had stopped under a parade of shops. What are they doing? He had positioned himself opposite them under identical archways, a small garden between them. Are they waiting for someone? Now he was confused. Did he sneak up and use the element of surprise? He couldn’t get his brain into gear, the adrenaline was starting to take over … they are right there. He needed them now more than ever.

  Delvechi ended up choosing inactivity. He crept back into the shadows and kept a vigil on the pair.

  74.

  The clock on the cathedral showed 11.30 p.m. The temperature was plummeting.

  Luke’s senses were firing in all directions; the longer they stood in the cold, the more he felt they were being watched. Is Beltrano doing the same as us? He is a professional.

  “How much longer are we going to have to wait?” Chung Su asked.

  Luke indicated for her to lower her voice. A distant engine noise had pricked his ears; judging by the rumbling tone it belonged to a motorbike. It got louder as it approached the square. Luke edged them against the wall. A moment later a motorbike with a single rider burst onto the small square, gently pulling to a stop outside the café. The bike was an old model, black and gold. It was difficult to tell at a distance but the machine looked like an old Ducati, possibly an 860 GT. The rider left the engine ticking over loudly as he unlocked the café and went inside.

  “Who’s that?” Chung Su asked in a whisper.

  “Nobody, looks like someone who works at the café,” Luke answered.

  “No, who’s that?” Chung Su touched Luke’s arm to guide him to where she was looking.

  Emerging from beside the cathedral tower was the shadow of a person strolling slowly toward the archways.

  The clock showed 11.40 p.m.; he was early. The casual gait and long overcoat were easily recognisable as Beltrano’s. Chung Su hadn’t clocked who it was but it wouldn’t be long. Luke felt a surge of adrenaline. As Beltrano’s face was fully illuminated, Luke felt Chung Su twitch.

  “That’s …”

  Luke turned and pressed her back against the wall, covering her mouth. “It’s ok, trust me … trust me.” The noise of the popping Ducati drowned him out. They locked eyes and Luke could see the fear. “It’s not what you think; we need to speak to him. It’s safe. He is on his own.”

  He released her mouth, she was panting.

  “Chung Su, we need to speak to him. You’re ok … do you trust me?”

  “Are you going to give me to him?” she asked in earnest.

  “No. I need you to trust me now.”

  Chung Su shook her head. She had no idea what was going on. Everything was confused. Had she been wrong about this man the whole time? Was he always in cohorts with the law? She looked over at Officer Beltrano, his face lit with an orange glow; it took her back to the night of the gala, outside at the Observatory in the cold night. A chill ran down her spine.

  Luke grabbed her arm and walked her out away from the cathedral to the rear of the garden. Luke felt uneasy, but his legs kept moving. He pulled out the Sig Sauer and checked the chamber. He then slipped it back into his waistband. Finally they emerged from the small garden and exited onto the open expanse between them and Beltrano.

  Luke knew Beltrano had seen them but he didn’t appear jumpy, he merely coughed and walked toward them; Chung Su took hold of Luke’s hand. When Beltrano was nearing them Luke spoke in Italian. “That’s close enough, Carabinieri.”

  Beltrano held up his hands in surrender and stopped where he was. “Glad you could make it, Robert.”

  “You’re early …”

  “Apologies, you cannot blame a man for being eager.” Beltrano smiled.

  Chung Su had no idea what was being said. She tugged at Luke’s hand.

  “We will carry this on in English for her benefit.” Luke nodded at Chung Su and Beltrano smiled.

  �
�Good evening, Miss Chung … pleasure to meet you again.”

  Chung Su felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The ease of charm that the Carabinieri showed was unsettling.

  “So … I am here, and you are here. What do we do now?” Beltrano folded his arms.

  Luke replied, “Why don’t we talk? I think there is more to this case, and I want information.”

  Beltrano smiled. “I don’t believe that is quite how the deal was tabled, Robert.”

  Chung Su looked at Luke. What deal?

  “Information first, Officer …”

  Beltrano shook his head, cutting Luke short. “That is not how this is going to work and you and I know that. Miss Chung has to come with me … then you get the information.”

  Chung Su ripped her hand from Luke’s and stepped away. “What does he mean?”

  Luke took a step toward her but she backed off. “Chung Su, you have to listen.”

  Beltrano took a step forward. Luke held up his hand. “No further.”

  “We had a deal. I am afraid I will have to take Miss Chung into custody. I have already said that you can come with us and I can give you the information there.”

  Luke was at a junction; had he made a huge mistake? “We talk first, then you can have her.”

  Chung Su was cold and afraid; she looked around for the nearest place to run.

  “It is very cold out here, Robert; I think all of us would like to get back into the warm. Come with me and I will chat to both of you … just a chat.” He directed the last comment to Chung Su.

  Luke didn’t say anything, his mind was processing.

  “Robert, please, I think my toes are going to fall off.” Beltrano smiled again.

  “Beltrano, there is more to this thing than you know … much more.”

  Beltrano’s eyes narrowed and the smile disappeared. “What do you mean?”

  Luke looked over at Chung Su. She looked back at him, shaking, afraid. Luke couldn’t hand her over. That left only one option. He moved his hand smoothly down to his waistband, feeling for the pistol. He focused on Beltrano and his movements. Beltrano’s hand shot inside his jacket. Luke raised his gun but as he levelled it he saw that Beltrano was aiming straight past him, eyes wide.