Dead Market

by Gary Starta

  “It was a favor from a Mr. Kovalenko, an associate of James. When I mentioned James was in danger, he did not hesitate to provide transportation and this” – Sanchez patted a rifle. “But now I must ask a question of you. Is our deal still on?”

  Lorelei slumped forward before Burnham could answer, her head nearly missing a dashboard.

  But in a less than a minute, she was full of clarity and anger.

  “You never killed them!” she accused. “You let them go.” “What the freak are you talking about?” Burnham asked.

  “There were two copters on the roof. I can read Sanchez’s thoughts. They let Brinkhaus and Nowak fly off in one. They torched the other.”

  Burnham suddenly understood. It would make sense for a paranoid, self-absorbed man like Karl Brinkhaus to keep two copters for escape.

  “So, is this true, Finch? Did you just let them leave?”

  Finch ran a hand through his hair. “Shit. We did. We did it for you, Burnham.”

  “For me…what the…?”

  “I didn’t want to kill the man after what he did for you. I know he corrected you. And Lorelei, you don’t have to feign such anger. You willingly let him go as well.”

  Now Burnham was incredulous. “How Finch, how…?”

  “Brinkhaus explained it telepathically through Nowak to Sanchez. We all know you would never stop pursuing him. The thing is - Brinkhaus is not the one hell bent on infecting the populace. So, I bleeding lied to try to save you, Burnham. You were - you are – consumed. Lorelei is right. We can’t save everyone. Besides, I didn’t think killing the man who holds the key to this disease to be the smartest choice. I knew you wouldn’t either.”

  Burnham gasped for air.

  “Are you going to be all right to fly?” Finch asked.

  “A part of me wants to fly blindly after Brinkhaus, Finch. But I don’t know where the hell he went. So, I’m going to have to be all right. And I know you guys think it is okay that we saved our own asses but there is a whole country of unsuspecting people at risk.”

  Lorelei began to talk but Burnham cut her off.

  “We’re going to reunite Lorelei with her daughter, first – before anything. We’ll sort all of this out later, guys. Sanchez, maybe you can help us find Brinkhaus again…”

  “No, I won’t,” Sanchez answered. “Finch is right. He’s not the real enemy.”

  Sanchez explained in detail what Brinkhaus had told him via Nowak.

  “It’s the corporation Pharmacure behind the impending launch. It’s all about selling the pills. Brinkhaus refuses to work with them. He claims they took his dream of reengineering humanity and twisted it for greed.”

  “What does that mean? Did he explain?” Burnham asked.

  “It means the disease will be launched – not by Brinkhaus – but by the corporation for the purpose of selling pills. They want to claim something they call a dead market. Brinkhaus doesn’t want any part of it.”

  “If Brinkhaus doesn’t supply them with the revised formula, the reanimates will behave like we did – with the hunger. So if we are to stop the launch,” Burnham said, “and we still need to, we need to find a means to stop the pills.”

  “And just how the hell are we going to do that?” Finch asked no one in particular.

  Chapter 32

  “We need to stop the people who make the pills, it’s the only option,” Burnham told Finch.

  They were seated in Finch’s kitchenette while Sanchez slept in his guest bed – unchained. It was the first time the lifelong friends had conversed alone since returning from Miami. A few hours earlier, Burnham and the ex drug dealer had engaged in a long conversation while Finch accompanied Lorelei back to her old apartment via cab.

  “I wished I could have stayed and seen the look on their faces,” Finch said, purposely ignoring Burnham’s plan. “But I’m sure Lorelei and little Kassandra are beaming brighter than the Tampa sun right now. Those are the moments that make life worth living.”

  “I know what you’re trying to do, Finch. It won’t work. I won’t stand idly by; no matter how much I love living again. We know Pharmacies motivation. We know they’re going to do this. They should know I’m going to do whatever’s necessary to stop them. And – by the way – why didn’t you stick around for the mother child reunion?”

  “Lorelei didn’t want to swamp Kassandra with confusion. The poor tyke was already bleeding resigned to her mother never returning according to Lorelei’s friend, Lyla. Good thing she kept a watch over Kassandra all this time.”

  “So, you’re going to see them…later… Finch? You should be there. You should be for both of them. It’s okay; especially now. Lorelei is going to need someone for support. And I think…”

  “Wait. Wait a minute. What the hell are you getting at, Burnsy?” Finch launched out of his chair, arms spread like a referee. He began pacing in front of the fridge. Burnham felt obliged to explain.

  “You have my blessings to be with Lorelei. It’s why I never pursued her. I knew – a part of me knew – that my fate wouldn’t allow it. So I refrained from getting closer to her. I need to see this to an end, Finch. You get my drift?”

  “No. I mean – I get your drift. But I don’t get it – I won’t bleeding allow it!” He stopped pacing.

  “It’s not like I won’t die for a greater purpose. And if I had lost it back in Miami and killed Brinkhaus I might never have found out about Pharmacure. I want to thank you. You were right to let him go.”

  “Mate, get a grip. You’re talking about ending your life. You just told me a few moments ago that you need to stop the people behind the pills. What does that bleeding have to do with your death?”

  “I’ve already worked this out with Sanchez.”

  Finch wrapped his hands about his head, as if he didn’t want to hear Burnham’s rationalization. “I know Sanchez wants to die, but not you. You can’t leave me again. I just got you back.”

  “You have Lorelei now. And possibly a child – a family; take those Finch.”

  “All right, I will – I would never hear the end of it if I didn’t. Shit, there I just said it. I expect you to be around - to get on my nerves – to be the control freak. And I truthfully don’t think one of us is going to be enough to handle Lorelei…”

  “It’s going to have to be. I need to die so a lot of people won’t.”

  “You have no guarantee that your sacrifice – whatever you’re planning – is going to work.”

  “I’m not talking about the general population. I’m talking about the employees of Pharmacure.”

  “And just how are you going to stop them – without killing them?” Finch paused, his face turned pale. “Ah, no, you’re not thinking…about using the helicopter…?”

  “Sanchez will fly a plane loaded with fuel and explosives, C4 and the like. I’ll fly a copter, provided by James’s friend Mr. Kovalenko – to ensure the mission is successful. It will happen at night. The building should be unoccupied.”

  “But don’t you know what crashing into a building symbolizes – especially in this country?”

  “I won’t be killing people, not like the terrorists did, Finch. Not when I can kill an idea. If I can stop the manufacture of the pills, the blueprint for them, I’ll stop the disease. It wouldn’t be profitable for Pharmacure to spread a disease without profit, would it? I’ll just be taking the wind out of their sails – without the loss of life.”

  “You’re sure Sanchez is going to comply? I mean he helped us. But James was killed. Maybe he has an agenda. Maybe Covalence’s assistance is contingent upon avenging James’s death. And we both know who was responsible for that…”

  “If you can live what Lorelei did, you can live with my decision. Sanchez can be trusted. He wants to die. And he will die – honorably. I made a promise to him, to give him death. But now he will be dying fo
r a cause, possibly even earning redemption with his God. Besides, like I said. I’ve already made it. There will be no turning back. By nightfall tomorrow, Pharmacure will no longer have a home for their ideology.”

  ***

  “I couldn’t even make a dent. Any headway at all,” Finch moaned to Lorelei.

  “Well, I have to agree with what Burnham’s doing,” Lorelei said. “If it’s going to result in a better world for my little Kassandra to live in, I’m on board with it. You did your part as a friend to talk him out of it.”

  Finch pointed a finger at his heart. “But he’s my bleeding friend. You just got the love of your life back. I don’t have to tell you what losing someone close is like. And damn it, he’s not just somebody. He believes in my dream to be a comic. I mean, Lorelei, do you even give a tart about that?”

  “I might not support your dream as passionately as Burnham but I can’t say I wouldn’t look forward to laughing at you, Finch.”

  “It’s not about laughing at me, darling. It’s about laughing with me.”

  “I’m teasing, love.” Lorelei feigned a British accent. “But if you still have the resolve to follow your dreams you’ve got to let Burnham follow his. He’s been a vice cop all his life. This mission, to stop Pharmacure, would be the ultimate drug bust of his life. I recall Congressman Katz telling us pharmaceuticals have become more dangerous than street drugs – especially to our children. I don’t want Kassandra living in that reality. If your truly Burnham’s friend, you’ll let him do what he has to do. It will make the congressman’s death meaningful.”

  Kassandra interrupted. “Can I have more ice cream?”

  “Sure, but tonight we agree to eat our vegetables, right hon?”

  “She sure is cute,” Finch added, absently commentating. Kassandra retreated to the next room to play with Lyla.

  “And so are you. I think she’s warmed up to your presence already.” Her finger playfully crawled along Finch’s chest. He recalled their previous liaison. He reacted instantly.

  “Sorry, now’s not the time to be all hot and bothered.”

  “You don’t need to apologize, we can be together later.”

  “Do you really mean that?”

  “Of course I do. Is this some kind of loaded question?”

  “Actually, it is. If I’m to be with you – really be with you. I’ll have to be like you. And if all due respect to my friend, I need to be like him. Meaning if the world’s going to lose Derek Burnham, I’m going to have to do my sodden best to become him. I’ll need abilities. You can make that happen.”

  “What are you going to be some Good Samaritan comedian, Finch?”

  “Forget the bleeding standup act. I can become much greater. It’s what I was saying all along. I don’t necessarily think this disease is truly an evil thing. It can make people’s live more meaningful, less mundane.”

  “I knew you wanted this all along. But look at the hell I’ve been through. The hell I will still go through. I still need to explain some things to Kassandra – like my extra pale complexion.”

  “That can be dealt with. The most important thing Kassandra needs to understand is that you’re never going to leave her again.”

  Lorelei smiled, rested a hand on her hip.

  “You have a way with words.” She kissed him briefly.

  Kassandra and Lyla broke into laughter from the next room where they were playing a game of hide and seek.

  “You’re right, Finch. I won’t leave her. I won’t leave – you.”

  “Then we’re agreed?”

  She tugged the collar of his shirt. “Of course, we’re agreed. We’ll be together – no doubt. Are you talking about a wedding?”

  “You know what I’m talking about, love. You must change me.”

  Chapter 33

  The debate raged throughout the night. Lorelei hedged and Finch pleaded; each feeling a bit guilty of stealing the thunder from a mother and daughter’s reunion. Their consciences tempered some of their temper – for a while – until Finch began to think about Burnham’s impending mission.

  “It’s a good thing you forced me to stay here, you know,” Finch commented. He was lying down in Lorelei’s bed. She mirrored his pose in vertical alignment. Both propped their heads up with their arms, fearing the comfort of a pillow would put them both to sleep.

  “I would have done – I should be – doing everything in my power to stop him. Every fiber of my being aches with pain, you know that dull ache that something horrible has happened and you sit by powerless to change it?” Finch pointed a hand towards the ceiling in wonder. “I feel as if our creator is having a bloody good time watching. I might as well just be part of some pitiful sitcom He created.”

  “Well, you wanted to be a comedian, Finch.” He continued nonplussed by her barb.

  “I know all about the greater good. But if that’s the case, why doesn’t our maker take care of this problem for us? Find some bleeding way of stopping those pill pushers without our suffering.”

  “I can’t answer that because I’m not a believer, Finch.”

  “Come on. You’ve got to believe we were created, not just evolved. Look at our DNA. Brinkhaus is rewiring us, turning on talents which lied dormant, switched off like a lamp. Our design is too complex. There’s got to be a God. Besides, take one look at your daughter and tell me she wasn’t specifically engineered to be who she is.”

  “Speaking of children, I think I should tell you something. I had a period about a week back. I think Brinkhaus did strive to create an Adam and Eve – as much as I don’t believe in them - capable of producing gifted children. If that’s true, our offspring wouldn’t have to be reanimated to inherit our abilities. I just hope you want a family.”

  “I do and I agree. And that’s one more reason you’ve got to agree to change me. So, we can be compatible. I might not be able to produce a child with you in my current state.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, Finch. I’m willing to give it a try though…” She tapped her index finger on his nose. Her eyes smiled.

  “Make love to me, Lorelei. You can turn me, change me, freaking bite me – whatever’s needed. You can choose when it’s coming. Maybe it will be easier for you if I don’t know when it’s coming.”

  “But I don’t crave the flesh and blood anymore. It’s going to be so…wrong.”

  “It’s the only way.”

  “And we don’t know if you’ll reanimate with the revised disease or with the hunger.”

  “I’ll take that chance. You can put me down if you wish. Either that, or feed me some of those tasty chicken livers.”

  “You wish. I’m not cooking guts for you.”

  “I love you either way.”

  “Great. Now I’m on a guilt trip.”

  “At least we’re on the trip together.”

  ***

  Burnham played the message on the answering machine three times, before erasing it.

  Finch had called to wish him good luck – sort of.

  You know it’s not too late to change your mind. We can wait for another option. Look, we didn’t find Brinkhaus overnight. And why not trust Sanchez to bring down the evil tower.

  He would miss Finch’s ranting. He would miss Lorelei’s whisper screaming. Three different individuals, bonding together – at least for a few moments of time. They yelled at each other, accused each other; but they each loved one another – bottom line. Burnham reasoned Lorelei’s nasty attitude was due in large part to her daughter’s absence. She would soften – somewhat. He knew her temper would never completely diminish, his experience with his ex-confirmed as much. Finch will have her hands full with her thought, he mused between sips. He polished off the last beer he would ever drink and woke Sanchez.

  “It’s time to catch our flights.”

  Sanchez piloted an unregistered Cessna,
Burnham an unregistered Sikorsky S-76D helicopter. Their ghost machines navigated black skies to their Maryland destination, the world headquarters of Pharmacure. Mr. Covalence’s aircraft never registered flight plans and always flew in radio silence. This meant Burnham would have to trust Sanchez completely. There could be no status checks. He would also play his part by feel. Once Sanchez made contact with the lower east side portion of the building, he would ram his copter into the upper portion of the west side. In tandem, both men felt the impact would be sufficient to destroy the contents of the building, if not completely reduce the building to rubble.

  ***

  She began stripping off her clothes, tantalizing him as if she was the spider and he her servant.

  In the pit of David Finch’s stomach, he felt Lorelei Lindquist would convert him – despite her protests. He felt it in the manner of her movements. They were deliberate. She had to be making more than just love to him. And if she were behaving like the spider, he would die, but then be born again. He had no manual to consult as to whether this would be the true result. He only could cling to the part of his makeup that believed. He wondered why Lorelei’s design didn’t allow for such belief. Was she truly the stronger individual – even in this moment of time? She had the power over him. Yet her vision, her purpose was tunneled. She was noble to care so much for her child, yet that consumed her. But with their gifts, Finch imagined, they could do so much more for the world than just be parents. He didn’t quite know what gifts his reanimation might bring, or how he would go about using them, but a feeling washed over him, telling him he was making the right choice. He swam in her sea while she caressed him, nibbled at him and enveloped him in her web.

  ***

  No turning back, now, Burnham thought. The hum of propellers nearly eviscerating any chance of producing coherent thought.

  They were in Maryland, near its ocean Pharmacure was built along the seaside in Edgewater. It was surrounded by open fields consisting of golf courses and water parks. A company cloaked by water and greenery, its mission diametrically opposite to any natural design. He kept telling himself he was doing the right thing. A cop shouldn’t have to work in this manner. But he had no department, no colleagues and no judge to compel to a warrant.