by Cliff Ryder
Alex saw that there were large trucks nosing out of all but the fifth bay and Liang targeted bay number three, moving as fast as he could.
The small car was no more than ten feet from slamming into the front bumper of the semi ahead and Alex had clutched the dashboard with both hands when the pavement dropped away and the front end of the car tilted downward. He screamed, but Liang ignored him. Then the ground dropped away suddenly, and the little car roared down at a steep angle, driving impossibly under the truck.
Liang slammed on the brakes. The car slid, shuddered and came to a halt. Liang turned to him and smiled.
“Service bay.”
Alex was white and shaking as he glared at Liang. “Damn,” was all he could manage.
The black sedan followed, brakes squealing, and the bay door they had come through dropped closed, sealing them in.
“Move!” Liang chuckled. “Quickly!”
Alex and Liang dived out of the car as another truck, deeper in the bay, began rolling forward.
Liang dragged Alex through a door and into a passageway on the side of the service bay, just as the truck slid past and sealed the entrance. Alex heard their pursuers cursing and screaming, but there was no way they could reach the door. They were trapped like sardines in a can. The two men inside the car dived out, started yelling at the truckers. The drivers, as if confused, moved the trucks a few feet one way, then reversed, as if they didn’t know what to do.
Alex followed Liang through the passageway and under the service bays until they reached the office. A small man stood behind the desk. He looked enough like Liang to be his brother, though the glasses made his face look shorter and rounder than Liang’s. He tossed a set of keys to Liang and they exchanged blessings. The next thing Alex knew, Liang was hauling him toward the door and pushing him toward a low-slung red coupe.
The pursuing car was still trapped between the trucks, its driver and passenger yelling frantically at the drivers. Liang raced the engine and tooted the horn, then piloted the red sports car onto the main avenue and sped away.
Alex didn’t bother looking back, but sagged in the seat with relief. For the moment, they were safe.
Brin stood in the elevator, letting the recycled air and Muzak wash over her. She had been working so intently for so long that she had scarcely had time for anything else. The shift in focus had been a welcome relief, though. If she’d had to sit around and wait, worrying over Alex until he came home, it would have driven her mad. Her carefully worded request to Hershel Rand about his possible contacts in China had gone unanswered, but Brin had known it was a long shot.
In fact, her nose had been buried in research for so long that when Hershel called her, she needed a moment to even remember that she’d asked him.
His voice had been full of tension and sourness when he demanded her presence in his office immediately—in regards to her request about Alex.
It wasn’t like Rand to be quite so surly, and it had pissed her off, but she knew better than to ignore him and any information he might have found out about Alex was crucial. When he was in a mood like this, there was nothing to do but placate him and hope for the best.
Her heart wasn’t in it—she wanted to get back to the lab. She didn’t want to think about Alex until she knew what was truly going on with him and why he’d lied to her.
If she was truthful with herself, she was furious over the entire thing.
She shook her head and turned her thoughts to Rand. Was he calling her up there to reprimand her for even asking? It had to be something important for him to call her away from his own pet project, but what could it be? He’d been distracted and hard to work with ever since the package had arrived from China.
Elaine’s desk was unattended again. It was starting to seem like a trend. Rand’s door stood ajar. Brin marched in, her knuckles dancing briefly with the door as she passed. Rand was staring at his monitor—squinting, actually.
“Something I can help you with?” he asked distractedly, not even bothering to look up from his screen.
“I don’t know,” she growled as she dropped heavily into the leather chair. “You called me.”
“What?” He looked up then, ripped the glasses from his nose and let them fall to the desk. His expression was pained. “Oh, Brin. It’s you. Shut the door, would you?”
Brin rose, crossed the office and pushed the door shut. “No Elaine today?”
“She’s taking a personal day.” There was no humor in his voice. His expression was strained, almost menacing. “I received your e-mail about Alex, and as it turns out, we’ve been having something of a security problem ourselves as of late. I remember you once mentioning to me that he was in security consulting, so I was hoping you could help me clear it up.”
Suddenly, Brin felt like the bad child, awaiting her fate in the principal’s office. “I’ll do what I can,” she said.
“I’ve been in closer touch with our Chinese branch since the shipment arrived. I know we have things locked down here, but apparently they aren’t having the same luck over there. Imagine my surprise when the head of security in China, a man named Dayne called to let me know a mercenary of some sort or perhaps a corporate saboteur tried to blow up our facility over there. They caught him, thankfully. He sent me this video. I’d like you to watch it and give me your opinion of things.”
He pointed the remote at the large plasma screen on the wall to his right, and pushed the play button.
The video began abruptly with a scream. Brin nearly came out of her chair, barely stifling a scream of her own. The video played out, a high-definition rendering of Alex’s torture at the hands of Dayne. Brin sat on her hands to stop the shaking, tried to choke back the well of tears that had nearly stopped her breath and pooled in her eyes. She didn’t want to watch, but her eyes were glued to the screen. Finally, she could take no more. “Stop it!
Stop it!”
Rand cut off the video, froze it in midframe for her to contemplate. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me about your husband, Brin?” His voice was softer now, barely above a growl. It was certainly menacing. “Maybe something you forgot to mention when you applied for your security clearance?”
“Is Alex dead?” she asked.
“Is he dead?” Rand laughed. “He’s screaming pretty loudly on this film, so I would say not. Not yet, anyway. What happens next is up to you. If you help me with the final details of our little project, Alex may survive—though Captain Dayne is notoriously protective of our interests. If you don’t help, I may have no choice but to let Captain Dayne off his leash.”
“What project?” She was near hysterical now, her hands trembling and her head swimming. She had to reach Alex somehow. “The nanoagents?
I’m already helping. The research is nearly finished.”
Rand typed a few keystrokes and brought an image up on the screen. “Yes, that is what they call them, isn’t it? They’re just prototypes, of course, but it’s very close to being a fully functional delivery system. The nanoagents are just the front end of a new technology we’re branching into.
They represent the most efficient biological weapon in the history of science. I’m really surprised someone as brilliant as you didn’t see it from the start.
“Most biologicals take time to germinate and spread. They aren’t efficient because there are too many ways to combat their effects, and it’s possible to get antidotes into the systems of those under attack in time to prevent complete success.
The nanoagents attack a person’s body on the genetic level. With the proper programming they can shut down the immune system, making the body so defenseless that even the common cold can cause death. It’s based on research done right here in this lab, actually—your research.”
“No.” She couldn’t move now. All shaking had stopped. She was frozen, unable to say anything more than that, unable to even blink.
“Ah, but it is. Your work in genetic therapy laid the groundwork for the agen
t. We just took the nanotechnology to the next level, allowing it to be delivered more rapidly and far more effectively.
This genetic agent will attack the body within seconds of delivery. In twenty-four hours, the immune system has shut down completely. First sign of a virus or infection, the person is dead within forty-eight hours. God forbid they already have something like cancer or pneumonia. They won’t last twelve hours. And by the time they determine cause of death, the agents will have spread to others, and they will die, as well—but of a variety of simple viruses and diseases.”
Brin had begun to cry again. “That’s my husband!” she moaned, pointing at the screen. “Why are you torturing my husband?”
“I told you what he tried to do. You and he are just lucky that he didn’t succeed. So is your daughter.”
Brin gasped, shaking hard and ready to faint.
“Savannah?” She started to back away. She raised a hand and pointed it at Rand, then let it drop.
“You bastard. You’d threaten a little girl?”
“Mind what I’m telling you. You’ll bring this project to completion or you’ll lose your husband.
If you try to seek help from anyone they’re both as good as dead. If you want to keep your family safe—do what I say.”
Brin thought hard. The man was obviously insane, but that didn’t mean he was stupid. She had to find a way to buy some time, and she had to get a chance to think. She didn’t know what the hell Alex was really doing in China, or what it had to do with her work, but she’d heard enough to know they were all in more danger than she’d ever imagined possible, and it was up to her to get them out. She let her voice crack as she spoke, hoping he’d see it as fear, and not catch the biting, bitter taste of anger she felt in her throat.
“When I’m done, you’ll let Alex go? You won’t hurt Savannah?”
“Alex will be released and your darling little Savannah will be safe,” Rand said. “What possible use could I have for them once you’ve finished your work, Brin? You are a most gifted scientist, and I need your skills to bring the project to its fruition. After that, Alex will be free to go. Once the work is complete, his attempt at stopping our project will be moot. I would, of course, like you to consider staying on, but I understand that you may have certain reservations after this. For the moment, however, you will be a good little soldier, yes?”
She knew better; no importance also meant that there was no reason for him to keep them alive, either. She also knew she had to buy enough time that Alex—or someone—could fix this. She wished she had a way to log back into Room 59, but she remembered the threat that they’d shut Alex out, and what if he freed himself and managed to reach a computer? She couldn’t risk putting him in further danger.
“All right. I’ll do as you ask. Just don’t hurt Alex anymore. And leave our daughter out of this.
Please.”
“They’ll be safe, so long as you do what I say.”
Brin turned to leave, her heart still hammering in her chest. She had never been so scared in all her life. And just the thought that someone might actually have Savannah made her heart skip beats.
“Brin?” Rand called out to her before she made it to the door.
She glanced over her shoulder guiltily, as if he were reading her thoughts. Rand was squinting at his monitor again, not watching her at all, but reviewing her husband’s torture once more.
“Don’t screw me. There will be no warning, no second chance. Rest assured that I do not take un-necessary risks with projects this big. You and Savannah will be watched by men who make Captain Dayne look gentle as a teddy bear. Do as I say and all will be well. Fuck with me and your life, Alex’s and Savannah’s will be forfeit.”
She fled the office and ran down the hall to the elevator. She knew he could monitor her movements via the security cameras, but at the moment, she didn’t care. She had to find out what was really going on, but more importantly, she had to know where her daughter was, that she was okay. Brin raced out of the elevator and ran almost full speed to the outdoor break area. Several startled lab technicians jumped out of her way, but she paid them little heed. Once there, she pulled out her cell phone and used the speed dial for Savannah’s day care.
“Hi, Mrs. Kerr. This is Brin Tempest. I was just calling to make sure Savannah was okay.”
“Of course, dear. She’s just fine. Why? Is something wrong?” The woman’s voice was soft, comforting.
“Nothing,” Brin finally said. “Nothing at all.”
She paused a moment, trying to control her shaking. “You can see her right now, right?”
“She’s right in front of me, having juice and cookies.”
“Good. That’s good. Listen, I’m going to have to work late tonight and my husband is still out of town. I’m going have my friend Karen pick Savannah up as soon as possible. You can make her show you her driver’s license so you feel comfortable releasing Savannah. Her name is Karen Raisch.”
“Very good, Mrs. Tempest. Savannah will be ready when she gets here.”
Brin ended the call and dialed Karen’s cell phone from memory. Karen was a ten-year veteran of the police department and now worked as a private detective. They’d been friends for quite a while and Karen absolutely adored Savannah.
Karen answered on the third ring, her voice re-assuring in its confident strength. “Raisch here.”
“Hey, Karen, it’s Brin. Do you have a minute?”
“For you, Brin, I can spare at least an hour,”
Karen said. “What’s up?”
Brin took another deep breath. “Listen, I have a favor to ask. We’ve got some problems at the lab and Alex is still out of the country. I know it’s really short notice, but please, can you pick Savannah up at her day care and take care of her for a few days? I’ll pay you whatever it costs.”
Karen was silent for a long moment, then she said, “Sure, honey, I can take her—and I wouldn’t accept a dime for watching her anyway. She’s a doll, so that’s no problem, but I sense a bit of panic in your voice. Is everything okay?”
“Not really. I can’t talk now. Just please, go get Savannah as soon as possible. Keep her with you, no matter what.”
“Brin, you’re starting to scare me. What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain as soon as I can,” Brin promised.
“Just keep Savannah with you. And be careful. If you see anything—odd—anyone that doesn’t seem right—run. Watch her like a hawk and don’t let anybody else near her. I’ll get to you guys as soon as I can.”
There was another long pause, then Karen said, “All right, but if Savannah needs to be protected, I should at least know what to look for.”
“Just keep her safe and away from strangers,”
Brin said. “That’s all I can say right now. Please, Karen. I’ll owe you one. Big time.”
“I’ll watch after Savannah, Brin. She’ll be fine.
You just take care of business—whatever it is—
and then give me the all clear when you can.”
“Thanks, Karen,” Brin said, slapping her cell phone shut before the other woman could press her for more information again. Then she slowly sank down against the wall and started to cry.
“I’ll park in one of the maintenance spaces, inside the garage. Soo Lin has gone to visit her sister for a few days. We get up to the apartment, get you changed and bandaged up, then we’re gone.”
Liang drove under a hanging canopy and guided the red car into the covered spaces that were part of the maintenance department of his building.
“I’ve got everything I need in my bag,” Alex said. “It’ll just take us a few minutes to grab it.”
Liang pulled the parking brake and threw open the door. He watched as Alex struggled out of the car.
Alex tried to mask his growing weakness, but he was a large man and the modified Trans Am was too low to the ground. The pain had spread from his legs and traveled all the way up to his hips. His eyes didn
’t want to focus, and his head pounded.
Liang stepped out of the sleek sports car and followed. He glanced around, but saw no one.
They didn’t know if the men in the black sedan could identify the car, but if they’d gotten any kind of look at it, they could. Didn’t matter. They’d needed speed, and it was all that was available.
On the way to the elevator, they passed a man in gray overalls. He stared at them, obviously ready to say something about parking restrictions.
Liang stepped forward, whispered something into his ear and pressed some money into his hand.
“Five minutes, brother, five minutes and we’re gone.”
The man stared at the money, tucked it into his pocket, nodded and turned away.
Once they were in the elevator, Alex relaxed a little. He leaned back against the wall and took some of the pressure off his legs. He knew that Liang was watching him, but it hardly mattered anymore. All that did matter was that Liang got him to the airport and into the air without incident.
The doors opened and Liang shot forward into the hall, Alex following slowly. He was desperate for a chance to just sit, to relieve some of the pain in his legs. They had begun to weaken considerably since he had reached China. There was no telling how far they would actually take him before they gave out altogether.
Liang raced ahead and unlocked the apartment door. Alex stepped past him and into the back bedroom, grabbed his duffel bag and slung it over one shoulder. The added weight staggered him, made him reevaluate the strength he had left.
“Are you sure you’re going to make it?” Liang looked truly concerned. “They told me to keep an eye on you—said you might not be yourself.
Something I need to know?”
“I’ll be fine. I have to be.” Alex nodded curtly, as though that would make the statement more true.
Alex stopped in the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face, then did a quick job of bandaging up his shoulder. He changed into clean clothes, and felt almost human again. He didn’t have enough time to get all the layers of blood and dirt off, but for the moment, he thought he’d pass muster.
