“Did they mention the deadline?”
“No.” She touched her swollen face. “We used to talk for hours, about Daddy, my research, our future plans. Now, he ignores me.”
Rowe had known since the fight in Israel this group would catch on to him. What he didn’t want was Cat or Kali in the middle of it.
“Cat. I’ll fix this. Until I do, stay away.”
“I’ll go to—”
“Write it down,” he interrupted and circled his finger in the air. She jerked her head once, wrote with a hand that wouldn’t stop shaking, and left. Kali stood, feet apart, brow furrowed.
Rowe caught her eye, and wrote, “If anyone calls, Cat’s in the field.” It was time to level with Kali. “Can I come over this evening? I still need—want—to talk.”
“Uh, OK, but I’ll be here a while.”
“I’ll bring dinner.” Kali had the same bleak expression as Cat. “She’ll be fine, Kali. She’s smart. By the way, anything from Annie?”
When Kali shook her head, Rowe kissed her cheek and left. Back in his lab, he closed the blinds, posted ‘Be Back Later’, and sat in the dark. He needed to figure out how Fairgrove and now Gunner were privy to so much information and how to stop it. Did they bug Kali’s clothes? Not likely. Was it in a necklace or ring, or glasses? Kali rarely wore jewelry.
Except those damned diamond chips. They were her mother’s so she had them on nearly every day. He hit speed dial. “Eitan.”
“What’s bothering you, Zeke?” By now, Rowe was sure Sun had taken the voice version of a micro-expressions class.
“Could a bug—audio and video—be hidden in something as small as a stud earring?”
Two minutes after Rowe left, Kali’s cell rang. It was blocked. She answered, but said nothing.
“Do you now believe I am your friend?” It wasn’t a question. “The damage to Catherine, your son’s reappearance, a missing dog—you are alive because I allow it.”
Sweat broke out on Kali’s upper lip and her hands became damp and clammy, but her voice was controlled and icy.
“Whatever your goal, you will fail if you hurt them. What is your name?”
“Call me Mr. Grant, after your famous president. We warned you, one a week will die. Who’s missing this week, Kalian Delamagente? Whose death is on your conscience?”
Her thin veneer of control started to crack beneath the weight of his words. She tapped a program called Find My Friends that located people by their phone’s GPS and watched Sean move across the Juilliard summer campus.
“What do you want?”
“Otto to do me a favor,” and hung up.
Chapter 46
Kali wished she’d never met Lucy. Her strength in the face of adversity, her refusal to be defeated by circumstances set a daunting standard Kali couldn’t live up to. When did that grit disappear from the female genome? Did Nature erase it in the name of civilization, or simply bury it, waiting for a need?
What would Lucy do, faced with a madman?
Kali pressed F5 and Lucy’s world populated. Raza and a band of habilines squatted by a waterhole, one eye on an ancient rhinoceros, its body gouged and disfigured by healed wounds, the other supervising children playing at the pond’s edge.
No one paid attention to Crocodylus until almost too late. It slithered so smoothly through the pond, only a rippling chevron showed in its wake. Inches from a youngster who splashed a hand through the murky lake, it rose like an apparition through the water’s surface, jaw gaping, razor-edged teeth set into blood-red pulp. Raza flew to his feet, legs and arms pumping, snatching the astonished child from danger moments before the fetid mouth snapped shut.
“Crocodiles didn’t live in this area.”
Kali jerked at Wyn’s voice. When did he get here? “Otto doesn’t make mistakes.”
“That’s not what I meant, dear. If we find those bones, it will validate Otto’s skill. I could go. A colleague in Africa extended an invitation…”
Kali allowed her face to express thanks, as though Wyn did her a favor.
“Well, then. I’ll make the arrangements. An event of this magnitude, I’ll clear my schedule.”
As he hurried off, Kali called Mr. Winters. “Nothing yet, kitten, but our Sandy’ll be home. A dog has to eat.”
An hour later, Sonata #3 in C Major chirped. “Sean! How are you?”
“Thanks for the sweatshirt.”
Kali felt a lump in her throat. Mr. Grant had left another message. Thankfully, Sean kept talking.
“I called to tell you I’ll be out of contact for a few days at a retreat. No phones allowed.”
“Sean.” She had to tell him. “Something weird is going on. I received a call saying you’re in danger.”
“We already discussed this, Mom,” but his normal buzz of moving body parts and tapping fingers stopped. “I talked with Edik about what you said. He’s neat, spends lots of time with me. Says he’s always wanted to hang out with a famous bass player. You’d like him.”
“What’s his advice?”
The tap-tap of fingers resumed. “Says he has my back.” He chuckled. “This is Juilliard, Mom. People take their music way too seriously. A muffled voice interrupted. “Gotta go. Remember our code.”
Their secret language—palindromes. Why he called her ‘Mom’ and she named her AI ‘Otto’. Sean knew something was wrong.
Kali broke into tears.
Fairgrove ground his teeth, wondering the best way to tell Al-Zahrawi. The man had lost it when his cousin died last night. The boy was supposed to steal the portable Otto, but Zeke Rowe killed him. Al-Zahrawi had ranted for an hour about Allah’s Will and infidels and the Cause.
Still, he must try or Al-Zahrawi would destroy everything.
“I understand your pain, Salah, but we must focus or your cousin will have died in vain. Sean emailed Gunner’s picture to Delamagente. Catherine Stockbury will recognize him.”
Fairgrove breathed deeply and forced his shoulders to relax.
“Kalian asked me to go to Africa, to search for ancient bones Otto located. If they are there, it will prove Otto can find anything. That’s what you want, isn’t it—to use Otto to find… something…” though Fairgrove had no idea what. “I will persuade her to join me with her AI. Surely you have associates who can steal him once I complete my field study?” Fairgrove had no intention of losing Otto, but this gambit would buy time.
“And Dr. Rowe will also be there?”
“Of course not. Why would he?” Al-Zahrawi’s obsession with Rowe was ridiculous.
“You have failed to get rid of Dr. Rowe.” His voice was flat and steady, but filled with dark rage. “What should I do about that?”
“Luckily, I have no dog for you to kill!” Fairgrove retorted, realized how it sounded and tried to laugh, but it came out a high-pitched squeak.
“Dogs are effective hostages in America. My country eats them. You adopt them.”
Fairgrove let it go. “Give me time, Salah. Please. Otto will soon be yours.”
Al-Zahrawi didn’t answer. He’d already disconnected.
New York’s home for lost dogs had an institutional feel with its faded linoleum floors and layer upon layer of cages. The piteous yips from scores of forgotten pets bruised Kali’s soul and each occupant wagged an eager tail, hoping she would rescue them, but Kali departed alone.
She put thoughts of Sandy and sweatshirts that appeared where they shouldn’t be aside as she dressed for dinner and wondered what Zeke wanted to talk about. Four outfits later, she settled on a simple lace tank top over stretch jeans. She left her hair loose to frame her face, adding only a touch of translucent pink lipstick to offset a natural paleness.
The weather was terrible. A dense fog floated off the Hudson and a drizzly wind gusted down the streets and around the buildings. Maybe Zeke would cancel. When he knocked, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and opened the door.
He stood like a boy on his first date, a bouquet of f
lowers in one hand and Chinese food in the other.
“I forgot to ask what you like, so I got one of each.”
He wore an untucked black Polo over tan Chinos and well-worn boat shoes. She caught a trace of Old Spice as he cocked his head and offered a silly grin.
“You are beautiful. I mean, you always are, but, well… I like your jeans.” His hand moved of its own volition to her hair.
“Is this silk?”
Kali giggled.
“And the earrings. You usually wear diamond studs.”
Kali blushed as she touched the new gold hoops. “I got these at Nordy’s, a gift to myself.”
He seemed off-balance, too. She liked that.
“They’re …delicate… perfect on you.”
“Thanks.” She bit her tongue to stop herself from admitting how special she wanted this evening to be.
Zeke explored her living room while Kali put the flowers in water and collected a bottle of screw top red wine and two glasses.
Kali popped open the food containers. “War wonton soup, egg rolls, orange chicken—my favorites.”
The dying sun silhouetted his muscular form against the window as he browsed the room.
“Someone had fun.” Zeke held a photo of her Grandpa, broad smile covering his weathered face, tanned arm rested comfortably on Sean’s sunburned shoulder.
“Grandpa joined us for white river rafting. Sean loved him.”
“Sean’s a good looking kid.” Zeke picked up the New York All-State Orchestra photo. Only the principle string bass showed in full, with the rest of the bass line arrayed behind the cellos. Sean stood proud and tall, resplendent in a black tuxedo with long tails and ruffled dress shirt.
“There’s a CD of his performance, if you can find it.”
Zeke flipped through about twenty jewel cases, popped a disc labeled “All State” into the player and the spirited strains of Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot filled the room. Kali let the music wash over her as they ate right from the containers, passing them back and forth with satisfied grunts. Zeke seemed content in the silence, but Kali couldn’t wait any longer.
“Annie promised to call last night. Should I be worried?”
Zeke put his carton down. “I need to talk with you. Annie’s a good starting point.”
A heaviness engulfed her. She knew she wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“Annie works with the FBI like I do.”
Kali masked her surprise. “You thought I didn’t know?”
Rowe chuckled. “I’m not surprised you do.” He shook his head with a wry smile. “Someone was outside your apartment a few days ago. She followed him. Since then, she missed four call-ins.”
“But she can take care of herself?” Kali asked as fear squeezed her insides.
“Let me start from the beginning.”
He told her about the intercepted chatter and why James focused on the two women. Kali interrupted every time it didn’t make sense, which was often.
“Wyn I understand, to rejuvenate his career, but why anyone else?”
“NEV and Otto together make a weapon more advanced than anything out there. We think someone—Al Zahrawi—wants to sell them to raise millions for a jihad.”
“But Otto is useless without my authentication, and I’ll never give it.”
Rowe jerked upright. “I didn’t know that.”
Kali flinched. “Do you think they know it, maybe Wyn said something? Is that why Sandy’s gone a-and the hoax about Sean…”
Rowe dipped his head. “To ensure your assistance.”
“They need Otto to prove he can find something.” Kali’s head began to pound. “Wyn’s testing that now.”
She thumbed through her phone and played Mr. Grant’s message from yesterday and explained about the croc skeleton that persuaded Wyn to drop everything and head for Africa.
“He begged me to join him, with Otto, but I won’t leave New York until Sean and Sandy are home.”
A chill passed through her. Success would be pyrrhic if the people she loved were in danger, including Zeke and Annie.
Zeke placed a warm hand over hers, his eyes troubled. “Send me the file. Bobby can check for voiceprint matches.
“This brings me to Gunner Goya. His real name is Aleksei Borodnoi. He’s bright, enigmatic, and resourceful. He’s the new terrorist, a global citizen patient enough to await his opportunity. He communicates via public internet forums, shifts funds electronically and gathers information digitally. Gunner will sacrifice anyone to accomplish his target.”
“Are you sure it’s Gunner?”
“Open Interpol’s website, their Most Wanted list, under Red Notice—”
“Red Notice?”
“Arrest and extradite, the highest authority for an international fugitive. Gunner stuffed his last girlfriend, the daughter of a Saudi prince, into a pipe in the sequined gown she wore on their final date. The rats ate her alive.”
Kali sucked in a sharp breath. “No wonder you were suspicious of Cat’s injuries.”
She then told him about Sean’s weekend retreat and Keregosian’s latest donation. It was eleven by the time they finished. He took the trash out while Kali turned on the TV. She flipped through channels and settled on Fox. A frantic mob screamed about death to infidels. It looked like so many other barbarian mobs, Kali almost moved on when one image froze her in place. Her heart thudded and she tried to scream, but only one word came out.
“Annie…”
Suddenly, Zeke was at her side. “Close your eyes!” But Kali couldn’t. Annie pawed at the bloody gash where her ear lobe should be and, in a calm voice, confessed to terrorism against the Islamic people and vowed to accept their justice. Zeke flung Kali onto the couch as a hooded savage slashed Annie’s throat.
Chapter 47
Friday Evening/Saturday
When Paulette died, something fundamental in Rowe changed. He still heard the swell of conversation around him, the squeal of children, the happy yips of dogs at play, but nothing reached him. He was stronger but cold, smarter but numb.
He held Kali, wanting to say it would be alright, but unable to tell more lies. He ached for her, prayed Annie wouldn’t be Kali’s Paulette.
“She wanted to settle down and raise a family.” Kali clung tighter. “Her mangled ear—it hurt her, Zeke.”
That stopped Rowe. He saw it, but Kali noticed it. Annie would never allow her torturers to see her pain. She’d face it down as she had in Africa.
She was telling him something.
“Kali.” He placed a finger to his lips. Don’t talk. “I need to call Annie’s girlfriend before she sees this.” Rowe fumbled for paper. “You said you had her number.” He scribbled as he spoke. Show me your diamond studs.
If Al-Zahrawi was listening. Rowe wanted him to think they were still oblivious.
Kali’s expression was wretched. “It’s in my room.” She shambled to her dresser and opened an old wooden box. The earrings sparkled in a tiny bundle to the side. Rowe pulled a meter from his pocket and flipped a switch to silence the beep. Standing behind Kali, he waved it over her jewelry. The gauge bounced into the red every time it hit the diamonds. As they left the bedroom, Rowe shut the door and verified the signal didn’t penetrate.
Kali wrapped her arms around her knees. “How long have they been spying on me, Zeke?” Her tone was weary.
“Probably since Israel. Was anything odd when you got back?”
She sniffed and stared into the distance. “I couldn’t find my earrings, and when I did, they felt heavier. I figured it was because I hadn’t worn them for so long.”
Kali went to the kitchen to make coffee while Rowe dialed James. “This explains Monroe’s visit to her lab, maybe even the stalker. Keregosian wanted to hide a bug on something she always had with her.”
“They broke in not to plant bugs, but retrofit her earrings. I’ll send a team over.”
Kali returned with a tray holding a jar of instant coffee, packe
ts of sugar and creamer, and earthenware mugs filled to the brim with hot water. They sat quietly, mixing their drinks, sipping while they awaited James’s arrival. Kali broke the silence.
“I’m tired of being the victim, Zeke. Lucy would take control.” Her face was pinched, her voice cracked and raw, but anger crept into her words. And resolution.
“Don’t do anything, Kali. I’ll find them. It’s what I do.” He couldn’t erase what she saw, but this time he wouldn’t fail.
When James arrived, he used a signal jammer to transfer the earrings to an FBI evidence box and Rowe carried a sleeping Kali to bed. Then, the two men sat down on the curb in front of Kali’s apartment, drank cold coffee, and talked about what to do next.
Kali jerked upright, sweat plastering her body, hair damp and heart pounding. She was with Annie. The woman’s face was battered and bloody, one eye swollen shut and the other locked onto Kali as she repeated the names. Kali didn’t recognize them, so Annie repeated them, louder and louder, until her screams woke Kali.
Kali shook her head until the nightmare evaporated. An alarm screeched from her phone. Someone tried to hack Otto, again. She punched through a few buttons to confirm what she knew—that the intruder had failed. Zeke had said someone wanted Otto. If they couldn’t hack the firewalls, they would try something else. What they wouldn’t do was give up.
Where was Zeke? She felt safe with him last night, his reassuring words despite the pain he felt. Annie meant more to him than he’d admit.
When her breathing slowed, she padded around the apartment, checking doors and windows, peeking outside. All she saw was the glare of street lights. It was only 4:30 am.
Without Sandy, the house was too quiet. She missed his ecstatic greetings, how he bounded in at mealtime, how his ears alerted when she entered a room, how he leaned against her, tail wagging, when she most needed support.
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