by Bruce Buff
Noting this, Evans said, “Save the outrage. You were very good. It took a number of our absolute best, and increased capabilities that were developed since you left—I mean, went on leave—to identify your activities. Now, take a few moments to read the agreement, but not too long, before signing it.”
Dan was relieved to note that Evans had mentioned nothing of Dan’s private, encrypted storage, both cloud-based and using other servers. The techniques Dan had used for that should have still been beyond the best detection methods, unless someone knew what it was and where to look for it. Plus the trip wires he had installed would have signaled him had anyone attempted to breach his security. Reading the agreement, he noted a clause stating he was required to disclose all information, of any nature, on any subject, that was requested. That was something he was not going to do until he knew more of what was going on, including exactly what it was that he had. And that required that he get to Italy to meet with Father Michael, without government oversight.
Evans noticed Dan’s eyes lingering on the clause and said, “Forget about whatever the agreement says. It means whatever we want it to, whenever we want it to, until we want it to mean something else. Just sign it so no one doubts your cooperation. If time wasn’t critical, more than your signature would be required. Of course, there is always the John Doe investigation, if you prefer a different course. There are no time limits or constraints on that, as long as we get a judge to sign off on our activities, and you can be certain only judges that grant our requests actually get appointed to their positions.”
“That’s a hell of a system.”
“It’s what the nation needs,” Evans replied, his voice flat.
Something in Evans’s now matter-of-fact manner, indifferent to rights, struck Dan as odd, something that someone who didn’t know Evans so well would miss. Evans was a true fighter for the America he believed in. He wouldn’t abuse core liberties without showing significant remorse, and there was nothing like that in his expression. Dan wondered if Evans was opening a side door for both of them to walk through that no one else would notice. He’d have to play it through to find out.
“You know how illegal this is, don’t you?” Dan said, testing his theory.
“And you know you’re appealing to the wrong guy,” Evans said with an exaggerated, dismissive shake of his head.
Dan signed the paper and shoved it back to Evans saying, “Now I’m authorized to know everything you do—that is, if you want to get the most out of me.”
“Need-to-know basis only,” Evans replied, withdrawing a folder from his secure briefcase and placing it on the table in front of him. Looking at the two agents flanking Dan, Evans said to them, “You guys aren’t cleared for this. Have a seat outside the door until I call you back in.”
Once the agents had left the room, Evans said, “You’re a real piece of work. You happen to resume contact with your estranged friend just as he has lots of interaction with the head of a fusion research lab that blows up from something that wasn’t supposed to be possible. I tell you to stay out of trouble, and a security camera in San Diego records you in a confrontation with Sergei that, lucky for you, he wanted to avoid. You go dark, and we have no idea where you are. You show up in Seattle and find someone you say you never met before, tortured and dying in your room. Then you ditch my guy for a few minutes for a ‘bathroom break’ during a run they shouldn’t have let you go on.”
“Still nothing that warrants this treatment,” Dan replied.
“We don’t have time to play cat and mouse with each other. And my knee has ‘accidently’ turned off the recorder, so you’d best talk freely,” Evans said, opening the folder on the table. Passing the top image to Dan, Evans said, “Here’s the situation. The fusion explosion, as much tension it caused with other countries and interests, is an afterthought compared to what you are looking at right now. Each colored dot on the geographical image represents the location, type, and relative quantity of significant amounts of nuclear material. Somehow, not only did Viktor Weismann figure out fusion power, but he developed the means to produce the image in front of you. You understand what this means? Imagine if a country knew where everyone else’s nuclear weapons and submarines were. Even worse, what if a country didn’t have this technology but knew another country did? Rogue nations would be in a ‘use it or lose it’ situation. Major powers might think they had enough of an advantage to act.”
Dan didn’t bother trying to restrain his surprise and concern.
Noting this, Evans said quietly, “I see that you do understand the extremely dangerous implications. Where did Viktor get this technology, and what was Stephen’s involvement?”
Unprepared for the revelations he’d heard, uncertain of the right course of action, still clinging to trusting Stephen, Dan struggled with what to say to Evans. On the one hand, Dan wanted to help avoid global catastrophe. On the other, he might also have knowledge that could be even deadlier than anything that might be unleashed by the images. And there was also a good chance that as well-intentioned Evans probably was, higher-ups, with far less noble intentions, could misuse whatever Dan provided. And Dan still needed to continue his pursuit for Ava’s treatment, wherever that may lie.
Deciding on a middle course, Dan said, “Stephen believed he had decoded the human genome and how it directs human development. Incredibly, he said it utilized a form of algorithmic processing that begged the question of its origin. Somehow, the processing takes a small amount of DNA and turns it into a much larger set of instructions. He wanted my help in setting up a highly secure environment where he could store his work. I did that. Then Stephen was going to show me everything he had discovered, but he died first. I’ll give you what Stephen gave me,” Dan said, intending only to give the encrypted files of the raw data, the only ones he had he passcodes for, that would be useless without the rest of Stephen’s work.
“As for Viktor, I don’t know of any relation in their work, can’t see how there could have been.” While Dan was prepared to turn over the fusion files to appease the government, he wanted to hang onto them for leverage he might need in the future.
Evans showed no emotion during Dan’s revelations and remained silent afterward. A faint breeze from the HVAC system chilled Dan. Slowly, Evans pulled another page from the folder, then said, “This is Stephen’s autopsy report. The real one, not the sanitized version we gave his widow. Stephen was injected with a powerful drug that was starting to take effect when he died. It acts as a high-powered truth serum while also weakening resistance to pain. Had Stephen not died then, it was likely that he would have been subjected to the same treatment that Sam Abrams was in your Seattle motel room. An analysis of the area found broken glass from a medical vial in an area were he was likely held before trying to escape. Whatever had been in the vial had been tainted from the dust, dried cleaning fluids, and other compounds on the basement floor, although we did identify traces of unusual chemical compounds and a broken vial of blood that was also too contaminated to trace.”
Dan was reeling from the information. What had Stephen been doing in a search of a cure for Ava? Composing himself, Dan asked, “Who did this to him?”
“You mean you don’t know? You were there,” Evans answered.
Not bothering to ask how Evans knew, Dan answered, “I arrived after he was dead and the people who had taken him were gone. I didn’t get a close look at them. Who did this?” With anger, Dan added, “Was it Sergei?”
“He probably was there, but he is just the lieutenant for a shadowy figure who goes by the name of Sarastro, one of the leaders of an organization that calls itself The Commission. We’ve only become aware of both recently and haven’t been unable to learn much about them. Its members are rumored to be some of the most powerful people in the world, in places of great influence,” Evans answered.
“What did they want with Stephen?”
�
��Stephen was involved in espionage, trading technology he obtained from others, including Viktor, for foreign experimental treatments for his daughter. He must have known she would get sick again. Stephen had an arrangement with The Commission for the treatment, but they got wind of Viktor’s work and went after Stephen. After he died, they went after his associate Abrams, probably to get the same information that you now hold. Turning it over to us is the safest thing you could do for yourself and others.”
“I don’t believe Stephen would do that, no matter how sick Ava is and how desperate he was to save her,” Dan asserted.
“There is no way Viktor came up with the physics breakthroughs by himself. Stephen had introduced him to another physicist, John Welch. Both had accessed technology within various government facilities. If you have a better answer, now is the time to share it. Who knows whom Viktor shared his information with. Also, we believe that Sousan Ghardi had something to do with getting the tritium that caused the explosion. You can bet, if she has any of Viktor’s information, she’s going to do something with it that won’t be in the best interests of any of us.”
Dan, realizing just how precarious everything truly was, said, “Stephen asked me to set up the same computer security for Viktor’s work.” He left out the real reason he had found and copied the files. “We hadn’t finished copying the files over before the explosion. I’ll give you whatever I got,” Dan said. In fact he had copied all the files but would turn over only the fusion information, and hang on to rest of Viktor’s files. That would be tricky, since he wasn’t certain of the contents of the various data directories. The imaging technology, if it existed, sounded too dangerous to give even to the US.
“Where are the files?” Evans asked.
“On different cloud servers. But there’s a condition.”
“You’re in no position to negotiate. What I told you was true. I’m the reason you’re not in a bad situation, partially because I think you can do more free than in custody. You might even be good bait,” Evans said, only partially in jest.
“I appreciate what you’ve done. But here’s the deal. I give you Stephen’s files; I get to travel to Italy to meet with Father Michael. When I return, I’ll give you access to Viktor’s files. I’m still after treatment for Ava Bishop. Sam Abrams said something about ‘another’ before he died, and I have reason to believe that Father Michael may know something about the source of the treatment. And, if what you say about Stephen is right, then Father Michael may know something that will be beneficial to both of us with regard to Stephen’s work and what you described as his espionage with Viktor. I would think you would want to learn as much as possible about that.”
“I don’t like it, even though I understand your concern for the girl and do want to know more about Stephen’s activities,” Evans replied.
“Liking it has nothing to do with anything. It’s your only option, since if I can’t continue looking, I don’t care where I am. And I don’t much like turning over such powerful technology, so none of us will be happy, not that feelings matter here.”
“It will have to be under my strict supervision, with no more ‘bathroom breaks.’ ”
“I expected nothing less,” Dan said. “And Trish Alighieri comes along to evaluate any medical treatments we may find.”
“You’re operating well out of your league. This time, you could get burned badly.” Evans’s tone left Dan wondering whether he was talking about the deal he had just struck, traveling to Father Michael, Trish, or all three.
“Get me access to a secure computer, and I’ll get you Stephen’s files right away. I have to be in Milan by ten a.m. tomorrow.”
“If you go down, don’t bring others with you—especially me,” Evans said.
“I wonder how this will end for us. Will we get to enjoy our retirements?”
“Let’s try while keeping anyone else from dying,” Evans answered.
“People always die,” Dan said. “Usually the wrong ones.”
Chapter 67
MILAN, ITALY
DAY 16
SATURDAY, 9 A.M.
After giving Viktor’s fusion files to Evans, and an uncomfortable flight on a military aircraft, Dan and Trish were crossing the expanse of Milan’s Piazza del Duomo, headed toward the massive cathedral, Duomo di Milano.
A handful of US government agents were sprinkled about, keeping an eye on them, attempting to blend in with the myriad tourists always about, even early in the day.
Before leaving, Dan had told Evans that he had arranged to meet Father Michael in front of the cathedral’s main doors. Now there, with no sign of Father Michael, a none-too-happy-to-be-up-at-3-a.m.-US-Eastern-time Agent Evans said, via the earpiece Dan was wearing, “He reconfirmed the time and location with you?”
“Yes, we agreed to meet right in front of the doors at nine” Dan replied.
“You better not be trying to pull anything on us,” Evans said.
In fact, that was exactly what Dan intended to do. He needed to continue his search for Stephen’s passcodes and Ava’s treatment unencumbered by US agents, so he had worked out a plan with Father Michael.
Fifteen minutes later, Father Michael was still nowhere to be found, despite the efforts of Evans’s agents. After watching a guided tour of twenty people enter the cathedral, Dan looked at Trish and said to Evans, “I was sure I said in front of the main doors. But maybe he thinks it was in front of them, inside the church.”
“I don’t like it. Don’t go anywhere until an agent is with you,” Evans said.
Nodding to one who was thirty feet away, Dan replied, “One is just behind me. I’m going in now in case Father Michael’s inside, wondering where we are.”
“Move slow, and don’t stray from the door,” Evans directed Dan.
“Got it,” Dan replied as he and Trish entered the church. Mouthing Let’s go to Trish, Dan grabbed her left elbow and guided her toward the tour group as it rounded the back, right side of the cathedral.
Trish, looking confused and alarmed, whispered in Dan’s ear that didn’t have an earpiece, “What’s going on?”
Dan covered the microphone hidden in his shirt with his hand and whispered back, “We need to ditch these guys.”
With widening eyes, Trish mouthed, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Dan shook his head “no” as the agent who had been closest to them outside entered the cathedral and looked around for them. Dan’s earpiece crackled as Evans said, “Where the hell are you?”
“I think I see him sitting in a pew on the middle of the left side. And that’s not a way to talk to someone inside a church,” Dan answered.
“Never mind that. Don’t go anywhere until my agents are in place,” Evans commanded.
Continuing to hide behind the tour group, Dan noticed the petite nun standing a little further up the right side. As two more of Evans’s agents entered the cathedral searching for them, Dan and Trish followed the nun through a small doorway hidden behind a large column.
Closing and locking the door behind them, the nun descended steps and beckoned for them to follow. They were now in the crypts below the cathedral’s main floor.
Evans voice bellowed in Dan’s ear, “Whatever you’re up to, cut it out. The guys accompanying you have strict orders, from up on high, to do anything needed to secure your physical whereabouts. Even you shouldn’t mess with orders like that.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Dan said as he removed the earpiece, microphone, and transmitter, dumping all into the basin of holy water carved in the wall next to him.
After passing the crypts, they ducked into a short, narrow tunnel that ended at an iron door. Using a skeleton key, the nun opened the door and motioned for them to go outside.
A black Mercedes, with a man dressed as a priest in the driver’s seat, was right by the door waiting for them.
Dan held the door open for Trish, then turned to the Nun and said, “Thank you.”
In reply, she said, “God bless you on your journeys. The car will take you to Father Michael in Bergamo, as arranged.”
They were now on their own, in a foreign country not known for its national security, under the guidance and protection of someone known as a Vatican fixer, whatever that meant. And they were doing all this knowing that a man going by the name Galileo had been recently tortured to death.
It would be a cosmic irony if Dan’s undoing came from putting his faith in someone associated with a church for the first time since he was a naïve kid.
Chapter 68
BERGAMO
10:30 A.M.
Ascending the last of the steep streets, the warm day already growing hotter, Dan and Trish approached the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in the historic Città Alta, the upper town of Bergamo, nestled in the foothills of the Alps. The area straddled the past and present. More than a few of the stone edifices in the Città Alta had been constructed nearly a thousand years earlier. In the center of the vehicle-less streets, blue rectangular stone slabs formed a path bordered by strips of small, rounded rocks embedded in gray mortar. Pedestrians ambled at a pace suited to the age in which the streets had first been laid.
Focused solely on the present, with a mind on humanity’s, and their own, fragile prospects, Dan and Trish moved rapidly.
Dan’s feeling of being stalked had returned in Milan and was intensifying now. Torn between fitting in and looking out for pursuers, he took quick glances, as though he was just a sightseer admiring his surroundings. No one appeared to be a threat. But, as dangerous as Sergei was, Dan felt a presence that was more ominous than anything Sergei posed. All around, the air seemed to thicken, and his breathing felt labored.
Trish continued along without apparent concern.
