Mark Midway Box Set: Mark One, Mark Two, Mark Three, and Mark Four

by John Hindmarsh

  Maeve looked at Mercante, a small amount of pity seeping into her expression. It disappeared almost before it formed. She said, “There may be things you can tell us, to alleviate the conditions you’re going to experience. Your future, to a limited extent, is in your hands.” She stood and one of the young agents rushed to open the door. She exited the interview room, followed by the two agents. Mercante cursed Schmidt, Midway, Grigoryevich, and everyone else he had involved in his plans. He did not think to curse himself.

  ***

  Chapter 31

  Mark watched the vehicle slow and stop outside the door of the manor house. He looked at Scott who was also focused on the video monitor. “Who do you think—” Mark asked.

  “I’ve no idea. Let me go see.” Scott stood, stretched and headed to the door. A young Cerberus soldier sat down in the vacated chair, acting as a relief operator in the security room.

  Scott returned in minutes. He said to Mark, “You’ll never believe it. It’s weird, working for you.” He shook his head. “Your visitor is an attaché from the Chinese Embassy in London. He asked specifically for Mark Midway, so I’ll leave him in your capable hands. He’s in the formal sitting room.”

  When Mark entered, his visitor was seated. The man looked to be his mid-forties, with a slim build, and his jet-black hair, graying on the edges, was cut short. When he saw Mark, he stood and offered his hand. “Mr. Midway, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much—oh, forgive me, my name is Yu Jenhai. Please call me Ralph.”

  “Mark.” He shook hands and indicated the chair. “Please make yourself comfortable. I’m intrigued by your visit.”

  “Thank you. I must admit to a similar feeling.”

  “Yes?”

  “Allow me to explain. I’m the senior trade attaché here in London, with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. I received an instruction from Beijing a couple of days ago. It seems, and I’m quoting their words, there has been a series of unfortunate events in the United States, involving yourself, an organization called Cerberus, and genetically modified soldiers and children. The latest event affected both you and your sister, I understand?”

  “Correct. There’s not only the attack on my sister. Our relationship with your government has been fraught; I think the responsibility is more yours than ours. A Chinese killer squad poisoned and shot—assassinated—a company of Cerberus-engineered military police and Cerberus children we were protecting. These killers—Chinese—murdered two-hundred people. At about the same time two Chinese gunmen tried to kill me and they wounded an FBI agent.”

  “Ah, yes. I have details, but of course, my Government did not know about these events, at the time.”

  Mark raised his eyebrows at that claim and said, “Indeed? That’s not all. We suspect the attack on a motor yacht on which my sister worked was by a Chinese ship. Add the recent shooting by an embassy employee when she was trying to reach me, in New Hampshire. Most of those assailants, except the ship crew and the person who shot my sister, were killed.”

  The Chinese attaché stood and bowed toward Mark. “Sir, please accept our sincerest apologies. I have been advised these actions were absolutely unauthorized. A rogue element carried out these attacks and murders and the people who authorized them have been…dealt with. My government wishes to make amends even though we realize, of course, it’s not possible to bring two-hundred people back to life. We regard their deaths with absolute sorrow.” He sat down. “You might know of a Dr. White—she was killed in a car accident four days ago.”

  Mark was taken aback. The death of Dr. White implied the Chinese were discontinuing their genetic engineering research. He wondered at the change of heart.

  “You have proof of Dr. White’s death?” he asked.

  “Yes. I have been informed her body is on its way to America, together with a full report detailing the accident, our investigation, and results of the autopsy. By now, Ms. Donnelly should be able to confirm the details. We were thorough in our investigation.”

  “Have you—has your government ceased its research into genetic engineering?”

  “I believe so. My briefing did not provide a complete status report. I understand some of Dr. White’s research produced some horrifying results, so bad as to cause our rejection of any more research. We have about five-hundred survivors, what I believe Cerberus describes as pre-engineered. We have about the same number of post-engineered. The research laboratory has been closed. My government has completely stopped further research.”

  “I think Dr. White was careless about the possible results of some of her attempts to build her concept of a super soldier. I’m relieved to hear she is dead, as callous as that may sound.”

  “I fully understand. Mr. Midway—Mark, I am seeking your assistance despite the events which have taken place. There has been substantial pressure placed on our embassy in Washington to surrender our employee who was involved in this attack on your sister, so he can be subjected to American legal procedures. If we don’t agree, the State Department will rescind his accredited status and withdraw from current trade negotiations that are critical to us. They’re critical to both countries. We—that is, the People’s Republic of China—desires your support, as strange as it may seem to you. We’re in your debt. We have taken steps to reduce the burden—Dr. White, for example. Now we are increasing our debt to you. We will have this burden for a long time.”

  “What do you expect me to do?”

  “We want to make amends to both you and your sister. Privately, my government acknowledges our actions have been unwarranted. Totally unauthorized. We offer our formal apologies. If there is any way we can compensate past victims, please advise me of such. At the very least, we wish to offer financial compensation to Mr. Gilmore, and to you, and your sister. Anna and the younger children, too, if you think it is needed. We, in turn, request, most humbly, that you to intercede with your State Department on our behalf.”

  “I doubt I have much influence with the State Department.”

  He checked his notes. “I believe if you contact Ms. Maeve Donnelly and request she removes the pressure, it will meet our needs.”

  “I don’t know. Your embassy employee shot my sister and shot at my property. The shooter deserves some punishment, don’t you think?”

  “The Ambassador here in London, and I, both agree. In some ways I represent a different culture. I spent five years in America as well as studying at Cambridge. I have an understanding of the two cultures, Western and Chinese. Sometimes it makes my life difficult when I can see both sides.”

  “I assume your government would agree to return this man to China and subject him to some form of legal penalty there?”

  “Personally, I think yes. Such action would be preferred to a trial in America, with our employee spending time in an American jail. Your suggestion would remove the potential for considerable loss of face for our people, for our government. Also, we want the trade negotiations to continue. I’m giving you some private information, you realize?”

  “Yes, I understand. And I repeat—this man should lose his accreditation, be returned to China, and suffer a penalty similar to what he would receive in an American court, for attempted murder. You can add financial compensation to injured parties. My sister may have other ideas. I’ll ask her to meet with you.”

  The man bowed his head. “Thank you. Your sister is here?”

  “Yes, I’ll arrange for her to talk with you. Excuse me for a minute.”

  Mark found Reb in the atrium on the southern side of the house. She appeared relaxed, enjoying the warmth of an early spring sun. She had not fully recovered from the fright of her friends’ experiences in London.

  “Reb, we’ve an interesting situation. A visitor is here from the Chinese Embassy in London. He’s being apologetic about past events, including the Camp Brewer murders. I think Maeve has been making waves within the State Department and they’ve been applying pressure on the Chinese. Now their embassy
in Washington is under pressure to either submit their man—the guy who shot you—to the American legal system, or the US will cancel his accreditation and withdraw from some critical trade negotiations.” Reb sat up and focused on Mark. He recounted the conversation he’d just had with the attaché. “He’s in the small living room. Can you come and talk to him?”

  “I-I think so. Give me a minute or two to tidy myself. “

  Mark waited with their visitor until Reb appeared. He introduced them and said, “I’ll let you two discuss everything. Let me know when you finish, okay?”

  Mark joined Anna, Niland, and Gabrielle, and briefed them on his visitor. After a short discussion, they concluded there was no reason to demand further compensation for them, as long as the person who shot at Reb was punished. Scott was another matter and needed to be considered.

  Ten minutes later Reb found Mark. “I told him I agreed with you. Their embassy is going to pay me for what he called pain and suffering. It’s a good amount. He said he’d authorize a payment to Scott and to you too, for property damage. I didn’t tell him someone had wrecked our home.”

  “He probably knows. He seems to have access to good intelligence. He mentioned compensation to me, but you and Scott, you’re the ones who suffered.”

  Reb hugged Mark. “Thank you.” She held a tissue to her face and almost ran from the room. Mark returned to his visitor.

  “I understand my sister and you have reached an agreement?”

  “Yes, we have. I thank you for your forbearance.”

  “I’ll arrange for Scott Gilmore to meet with you, as well.”

  “Very good. If you can communicate with Ms. Donnelly?”

  “I’ll contact her today, once you’ve settled with Scott.”

  “Excellent. The ambassador will send each of you a letter to confirm, confidentially, of course. No publicity?”

  “We don’t like publicity.”

  Mark rejoined the attaché after the man met with Scott and reached a mutually agreeable settlement. He watched as the attaché gathered his papers and laptop and packed them into his briefcase.

  Ralph said, “Thank you again, Mark. I assure you, our government will be appreciative.” He paused. “There’s something else I’d like to mention. We’ve heard you have persuaded Cerberus to defer its mainstream genetic engineering research in favor of researching the effect on people who have undergone genetic treatment. We—I emphasize this is unofficial—we are hopeful at some stage you can share some of those results with us. We have over a thousand people affected and we don’t know what the future holds for them. I understand there might be some history to overcome, but keep the possibility in mind. I’m sure my government would be agreeable to sharing research costs with you. Please feel free to contact me if ever you need to. Here’s my card.”

  ***

  Chapter 32

  Maeve stretched, sighing to herself. The hospital chair was uncomfortable. Most of the nurses now gave her informal updates when she arrived and so far there had not been any significant change in Schmidt’s condition. The two Cerberus nurses usually provided additional details, information the doctor normally would restrict and, as a result, she was able to gain better insight into Schmidt’s condition and likely recovery. The doctors’ major concern was not so much Schmidt’s physical condition but rather his mental state. It seemed their patient was not responding as expected and the doctors were unwilling to give a detailed prognosis or expectations for their patient’s recovery.

  She had moved herself to one side of the room where the lighting was better. It meant, however, she was hidden from anyone entering the room. Maeve was struggling to keep her eyes focused. She had been sitting here for more than two hours and it was almost time for her to leave. The reports were boring and she was only reading them to make sure she was up to date with her analysts’ evidence gathering. The case against Wentworth was ironclad and she expected to gain the President’s approval within the week for the man’s arrest. Her main concern was whether to recommend she make his arrest public or simply ship him straight to Guantánamo. In a thought she would not voice, she wondered if it’d be better for all concerned if the man resisted arrest, with a fatal conclusion. Schmidt, Maeve mused, would arrange an accident. He always acted as though life was defined in black and white, with hardly any shades of gray.

  The slowly opening door caught her attention. The nurses were not yet due to check on Schmidt and none of his vital signs had changed. She felt in her handbag and withdrew her pistol. If she was mistaken, she would apologize. The door swung shut with a soft hiss as the man moved farther into the room. She didn’t recognize him. She raised her handgun. The faint click as she released the safety contrasted with the susurration of the monitoring equipment. The man froze.

  Maeve placed her handbag on the floor and stood. “Raise your hands above your head,” she instructed.

  The intruder started to turn, but stilled when Maeve said, “Move one more inch and I’ll shoot you in the back of your knee. Your choice.”

  The man hesitated and then started to raise his hands, slowly. Maeve stepped toward the red emergency button. She didn’t know how this man had managed to get past the two guards on duty, one at the nurses’ station, the other in front of Schmidt’s door. As she reached the button, the man lunged toward her. She fired two shots. The noise was deafening in the confines of the room. The man dropped to the floor, motionless. Blood seeped onto the clinically clean floor. Running footsteps announced the arrival of two nurses and a guard. Maeve maintained her grip on the pistol, still aimed at the man on the floor.

  “Maeve,” cried the first nurse through the door. “What’s happening? We heard—” She stopped when she saw the intruder on the floor and Maeve holding a handgun. The nurse knelt beside the man as the other nurse and the guard crowded into the room. Maeve moved back and gathered her handbag and papers, returning the pistol to its normal location.

  “He’s one of the guards,” said the second nurse.

  “He’s a dead guard, now,” said the first nurse.

  Maeve spoke to the other guard who standing behind the nurses. “Notify hospital security and call the police.” After he left the room, Maeve addressed the nurses. “This room is a crime scene, so don’t touch anything.” A doctor hurried into the room and stopped inside the door when he saw the body.

  “Anything we can do?” he asked.

  The first nurse replied, “He’s dead. Two shots to the head. Ms. Donnelly says we shouldn’t touch anything because this is a crime scene.”

  The doctor turned to Maeve. “Are you okay, ma’am? Is there anything we can get you?”

  “I could do with a stiff whiskey, but I daresay a glass of water would be better. We should leave the room and close the door. You can monitor Schmidt from your stations. I need to sit down. I’ll wait outside his room until the police arrive.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said the doctor, stepping out into the corridor. The nurses and Maeve followed. There were anxious nurses and orderlies standing around, part-alarmed, part curious as to what had happened. Maeve let the doctor deal with their questions. She pulled the door closed and instructed the Cerberus guard to help her ensure no one entered Schmidt’s room until the police arrived.

  “They said they’ll be here within five minutes,” the guard advised.

  “Did you know this other man?” asked Maeve.

  “No, ma’am. We always have new people joining our part of the operation. He presented his ID when he arrived. He was here to relieve the other guard. He didn’t talk much and the nurses’ station is too far away for us to have a conversation.”

  “Thank you.” She turned to the ICU nurses, who were still regarding her with concern. “I’m okay. I need a glass of water, though. Perhaps I can sit down here?”

  A police sergeant, the first officer to arrive at the scene, was polite once he saw Maeve’s ID and heard her story. After reporting back to his base, he turned to Maeve. “The crime sc
ene guys will be here shortly. The medical examiner won’t be too far behind them. While we’re waiting, I’d like you to give a statement to one of my men. We also need your weapon for forensics.”

  “Of course, Sergeant.” She handed over her gun and the sergeant dropped the weapon into a plastic evidence bag. “I’ll be here when you want someone to take my statement.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The sergeant left to speak to one of his men and Maeve sat back on the chair. It was as uncomfortable as the chair inside Schmidt’s room.

  The crime scene technicians checked the body when they arrived. The dead man had a small pistol, with a silencer attached, in his right hand. Maeve provided her statement, twice, then she went home.

  Her hands were still shaking when she climbed into bed.

  ~~~

  Mark listened to the almost painfully loud diatribe that was focused on him and his decision to dismiss the security team. He held the cell phone away from his ear to ease the pressure. The caller was DI Goodwin. Her security people had briefed her on their removal and she was expressing her reaction. At last Mark interrupted the flow of words. “DI Goodwin. I have a video of you and other members of Cerberus UK planning with the Chairman to launch an attack on us, here at the house. The plan, if I recall correctly, is for me to be shot while attempting to escape.” He did not mention the sabotaged Glocks; it was better if the DI didn’t realize that little subterfuge had been discovered.

  There was silence for a very long minute. She said, “You’re wrong—you’ve been misled—I would never engage in such activities.” Goodwin must have been shouting into her cell phone; Scott and Anna who were standing at least six feet away were listening with avid interest.

  “I have other recordings that appear to show the planning in progress—identifying the participants, timing, and so forth. You’re clearly visible in the videos. So are Jeffries and the Chairman. There are two or three other people I don’t know, but we’re running facial recognition against a number of databases and I’m sure we’ll identify them.”