Helen couldn’t control a smile. “Exactly. I don’t think they enjoyed the situation at all. But it certainly awakened their curiosity. Subsequently, they released a paper about what happened, in which they discussed the characteristics and makeup of the traces of the bacteria that they were able to find on their belongings. But afterward, they couldn’t isolate the bacteria again—they weren’t certain where it had originated.”
“The glaciers are melting more rapidly now due to climate change,” Marina said. “And that speedier melt is exposing amazing archaeological finds as well as other novel bacteria, and even some flora and fauna that would otherwise never be discovered. There’s an entire wealth of information locked up in those chunks of ice.”
“Right. But with what’s happened in the last few days, it seems the Skaladeskas have gotten their hands on this metal-eating bacteria—which, by the way, was named with some long, Latin name ending in Volvoticus for obvious reasons by the glacier explorers who authored the paper,” Helen told them.
“But as I said to Gabe when we spoke earlier,” Marina said, “it simply doesn’t make sense for Roman and the others to plan for accidents that cause harm to the Earth. It’s the precise opposite of their mission.”
“Indeed…their modus operandi has always been to harm the humans who are threats to Gaia, not Gaia herself,” Colin said flatly. “Regardless of whether it makes sense, Dr. Alexander, the Skalas are involved. The container—I believe it was, of necessity, made from plastic, no, Agent Darrow?—had the mark of the Skaladeskas on it. It was a message left where anyone could find it—just as they’ve done in the past. Like any other terrorist organization, they want us to know what they’ve done.”
Marina’s expression was set into stubborn lines, and Helen—who’d spent her career analyzing data in order to come to logical conclusions—couldn’t help but sympathize. In some ways, it didn’t make sense…and that was why she and Gabe had decided to bring the professor here. If anyone could help ferret out the truth, it would be Marina.
“Maybe it was accidental that the trucks were carrying hazardous materials,” Eli suggested.
Marina and Helen shook their heads in tandem. “No,” said Helen, then went silent in order to give Marina the floor.
Everything Marina said was relevant to the Skaladeskas, even if it didn’t seem to be. Helen was fully aware that the other woman wasn’t completely forthcoming about her ecoterrorist family, but she didn’t fear her loyalties. She knew—because of her own assessment and Gabe’s as well—that Dr. Alexander was not about to risk people’s lives to make her own life easier.
“That’s not the sort of mistake Roman would make,” Marina said. “From everything I’ve seen and experienced, what they do is deliberate and well planned. What exactly was the source of the hazardous material that the trucks were carrying?”
“Waste from a water-bottling company,” Helen replied. “Plastic and chemical waste. EcoDraft is the name. They’re headquartered in Pittsburgh but have a bottling location in Cleveland.”
Marina grimaced and fell silent. Helen thought she knew what Marina was thinking—that plastic was the bane of the Earth because it didn’t decompose, and bottled water was anti-environmentally friendly as well.
“So were they targeting the water-bottling plant too?” said Eli. “Not that I blame them,” he added, holding up his insulated, reusable water bottle. “It’s a two-hundred-billion-dollar industry that rapes the Earth and diverts water from places that need it. I wouldn’t care if every designer bottled-water company went bankrupt.”
“Those are questions that we’re hoping Dr. Alexander will help us to answer,” Helen said. “If she’s willing.”
“That assumes I have the means to contact them,” Marina replied coolly.
Helen hid a smile. Dr. Alexander was a smart cookie.
“You must have some way to get in touch with them,” Gabe said. “After last time, when you needed to get treatment for Dr. Sanchez because of the copper beetle poison, you were able to make a connection.”
“That was nearly five years ago,” replied Marina, still holding her cards close to her vest. “I’ll admit, I’ve received occasional letters from Roman over the last years—which I’m certain you’re aware of—and an email or two—again, which I’m certain you already know—but there’s no two-way conversation going on between me and my father or grandfather. Which you also already know.”
“Nonetheless,” Helen said, “I’m certain you could contrive the means to contact them if you wanted to.” She’d been watching Marina carefully, and as a trained observer, she’d noticed a subtle flicker in Marina’s eyes during her last speech. “Perhaps Dr. Varden would be your easiest point of contact.”
Aha. Helen suppressed a smile and kept her expression bland, but she’d seen the slight tightening at the corners of Marina’s mouth.
To give her credit, Marina didn’t attempt to prevaricate or evade. “Very well. I’ll attempt to make contact and find out what I can.”
Colin opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Helen’s phone chimed. She looked down at it and said to the others, “I need to take this. Will you grab me a piece of that pizza while you’re up, Gabe? Hello, Wei,” she said into the phone. “What do you have for me?”
She listened with growing concern as one of her analysts back in Chicago filled her in on the reason for his contact. When she ended the call, she saw that everyone had gone silent.
Apparently, they’d read her expression.
“Not good news, I take it,” Gabe said.
“Not very.” Helen gathered her thoughts then said, “It appears that the bacteria Volvoticus is on the market.”
Gabe swore under his breath and Colin sat up straighter. “Good heavens,” he said, adjusting his glasses.
“They’re trying to sell the bacteria?” said Marina. Helen could see the wheels turning in her mind. “That doesn’t seem right.”
“It’s certainly a departure from the Skaladeskas’ activities in the past,” Helen replied. “But I suppose they have to generate revenue somehow. Those fancy hideaways in Siberia, the Amazon, and who knows where else aren’t cheap.”
Marina’s mouth tightened a little, but Helen didn’t regret the sharpness of her dig. Marina surely knew it wasn’t directed at her, but at her family—who were known terrorists. And according to Marina, she wanted nothing to do with her father and grandfather.
But whether she felt the same way about Rue Varden was another question. Helen was aware that Marina and Dr. Varden had interacted over the years, and any vociferous denials Marina had made about the Skaladeskas never specified him.
Helen had encountered Varden herself during the copper beetle threat. He’d given her antidotes for the poison and walked away scot-free, to her fury and dismay. But Helen knew she wasn’t the only one who’d apprehended Varden, only to be manipulated out of the situation by the man himself. Gabe had had a similar experience.
Helen wondered if Marina had as well.
“So they’re planning to sell the Volvoticus bacteria to the highest bidder?” said Eli. “How do we know this?”
“They’re not being coy,” Helen replied. “We received a message from Cargath Steel, the trucking company in Cleveland that was the source of the three accidents. The owners of the bacteria are about to demonstrate its efficacy on a larger scale…apparently in order to justify its price of five point three trillion dollars. That’s the starting point for what seems clear will be a bidding war.”
“And presumably the bidders will include not only certain government or military entities, but also corporations as well,” added Gabe. He looked as ill as Helen felt.
Everyone in the room did. Even the dogs seemed to understand that something was wrong, for Boris and Adele rose from their beds and came over to butt against Marina with soft, inquiring whines.
“So, this demonstration…” said Marina after a moment. “We have to assume it will be something larger and
more terrifying than three semitrucks splattering over the highway—not that that wasn’t horrifying enough on its own.”
Helen nodded; she couldn’t bring herself to speak. The implications were astounding and horrifying. Not only was there an imminent terrorist attack that could cost unknown lives, but there was the very real possibility that this terrifying bacteria could fall into the hands of any number of nefarious groups.
Marina rose sharply. “I’m taking the dogs for a walk. I need to think.” Gabe made as if to rise as well, but Marina stopped him. “By myself.”
Helen’s suspicions were confirmed. Yes, Marina Alexander definitely had a way to contact the Skaladeskas.
She wavered for a moment, wondering if she should insist that Gabe or even herself follow Marina, but squashed that thought. Dr. Alexander was far too intelligent to be used in that way.
Helen only hoped Marina could get the information they needed in time.
Thirty-Six
Marina took her dogs through the side yard of one of her neighbors, putting a tall hedge of arborvitae between her and her house and going at a quick jog as she cut through a few yards to get a few blocks away.
She wasn’t a fool. She knew Helen wondered about her relationship with the Skalas, and she wouldn’t put it past the federal agent to follow or watch her…or have someone else do it.
She also knew that Helen was fully aware of the reason she’d decided to take Boris and Adele for a walk at that moment.
But Marina didn’t care.
She brought the dogs to a nearby park and released them from their leashes to explore while she contacted Varden.
How soon can we talk? she texted.
Then waited.
And waited.
No response.
Frustrated and annoyed with herself for expecting him to be watching with bated breath for her to contact him, she rose and threw one of the tennis balls she always carried. Boris and Adele raced for it, with the younger one leaping to snatch it out of midair while the slower and older one was still yards away.
“Come on, Boris,” she called, and tossed a second ball to him. Poor boy. He was definitely slowing down, partly due to hip dysplasia, which was common in older German Shepherd Dogs.
Marina retrieved the ball from Adele when the dog returned grinning happily around her prize, then fired it across the park just as she felt someone come up next to her.
“Took you long enough,” she replied, even though her heart did a little jump of surprise. She hadn’t exactly expected Varden to show up unannounced, but she wasn’t all that unsettled he’d opted for in-person instead of responding to her text.
It was safer that way.
“That’s one official-looking car in your driveway,” he replied mildly. “Darrow or MacNeil?”
“Both,” she replied, looking up at him. His jade eyes were cool and steady as they scored over her.
“We shouldn’t talk here,” he said. “My car is over there.”
She hesitated, then replied, “Boris and Adele ride too.”
Varden inclined his head. “They won’t be pleased their playtime is cut short.”
“They’re more disciplined than that,” she replied, calling the two dogs to her with hand signals.
Whatever she’d expected, it wasn’t for Varden to drive them five minutes to downtown and park in one of the surface lots, then suggest they get a table outside at one of the many restaurants that lined Main Street and its perpendiculars.
“This isn’t a date,” she snapped.
He gave her an arrogant look. “The very last thing on my mind. But the dogs need water, and you can’t leave them in the car in this heat—and besides, where’s the best place to remain unnoticed but in the middle of a crowd?”
She couldn’t be wary when he suggested being in such a public place, so she agreed. Maybe he was afraid his car was bugged or being tracked.
Maybe her phone was being tracked…by someone other than Varden himself.
The thought soured her even more.
“This is serious and urgent,” she said tightly.
He looked at her when they paused at a crosswalk. “You wouldn’t have contacted me otherwise. Here.” He gestured to a table at The Black Pearl away from others that were full, and near the street where they would be less likely to be overheard by passersby. The hum of regular traffic would also act as a distorting background for any conversation.
At her command, the dogs lay down under the table, panting lightly, with their heads lifted to watch the activity. Marina would ask for some water when the server came out.
“The truck accidents,” she said without preamble. “Why is Roman doing that? They spilled waste all over.”
“Truck accidents?” Varden shook his head. “It’s not Roman. Why would you think that?”
Marina studied him for a moment, trying to read the truth in his eyes. He met her gaze steadily, and for a moment, she felt a little wobbly. There was something about him…and, damn, there’d been that weird kiss too. Not that it had actually been weird. It had been anything but weird.
She steadied her thoughts and concluded that Varden was telling her the truth—at least as far as he knew. “A container was found on the site with the Skaladeska mark on it.”
That was obviously news to him. He muttered something in Russian, then met her eyes again. “It’s not Roman. It’s Hedron.” He swore again. “What do you know about it? Tell me everything, Marina.”
She didn’t respond because a server had appeared. Varden ordered a glass of wine and looked at her. Feeling very strange about the situation, Marina nonetheless ordered the same. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to them. The server pointed them to a dish of water for the dogs, which was nearby. As the server walked away, Marina considered her options.
Surprisingly, she believed Varden about Roman not being involved. So, with only a pang of guilt about sharing potentially classified information, she told him what she knew about the metal-eating bacteria.
As she described what Helen had told them, Varden’s expression turned harder and more forbidding. “I’m familiar with that bacteria,” he said after a moment. “They call it Volvoticus. Nora was studying it in the lab. Hedron must have taken it or somehow found a source, but that’s unlikely, because they’ve never been able to locate an origin—a source—for it. Hedron must have stolen what was in Nora’s lab, but Roman didn’t tell me if he did.” His handsome face looked like stone. “Roman might not realize it.”
“Whoever’s doing this—as you suspect, Hedron—has since issued a statement…and has put the bacteria for sale on the black market.” She watched him closely, still trying to determine whether he was telling the truth. “There’s to be a second demonstration to display the scope of its abilities. Surely it’ll be more destructive than the three truck accidents. Do you have any idea what Hedron would have in mind?”
“No.” His response was so hard and sharp that Boris lumbered to his feet and looked at them.
The server arrived with their wine, and she brought two dog biscuits as well. Marina thanked her and gave her permission to offer them to Boris and Adele. When the server walked off, Marina took a sip of the wine and looked at Varden.
“My question is, is Hedron doing this to point a finger at the Skaladeskas—to put them at risk somehow? To put them under scrutiny so he can go about doing whatever it is he wants? Or is he doing it for some other purpose?”
“Money, obviously, if he’s going to sell it,” Varden replied. “Which I believe he would, without hesitation. And, just as likely, a side benefit would be pointing at Roman and Lev.”
“Would he really sell it?” Marina asked. “Or would he reserve some for himself?”
Varden shrugged, then tasted his wine and lifted his brows. “That’s good. How’s yours?”
“Not a date,” she reminded him. “Why did you need to talk to me?”
“The bee.”
How the hell did
he know about that? “Which bee?”
Was he talking about the bee she’d seen in her journey with Lev, or the bee Eli had been trying to protect?
Were they the same bee?
He eyed her over the rim of his glass. “Tell me what you know, Marina. Was that why you had a visit from the priest?”
So he did know.
It was so damned annoying that he was always a step or two ahead of her.
“If you would open yourself up to what Lev and Roman have to offer you through Gaia, you wouldn’t feel so out of touch and confused, Marina,” he said. “I know because I’m open to it. I’m part of it.”
“Yes,” she replied, toasting him with her glass. “You’re part of a murderous terrorist organization. So much for ‘first do no harm,’ hmm, Doctor?”
Something flashed in his eyes. Fury. But his expression remained cool. “We’ve had this conversation before. It’s tiresome. There are times,” he said, leaning forward a little—causing the dogs to bolt to their feet and eye him warily, “when one can do only so much to mitigate damage. And no one—no one—is lily white. Ask your friend Colin Bergstrom about that. And Gabe MacNeil.”
She studied him again, thinking about what he’d said as she took another sip of the wine. It was good, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. He’d chosen it, after all.
Instead, she opened her mouth to retort that Gabe and Colin had never purposely killed anyone—except perhaps in self-defense—then she decided better of it. After all, both men were CIA. Who knew what they had been required to do in their careers?
Which was, she realized, exactly Varden’s point. And so was the idea of self-defense.
Gaia’s self-defense against Her destruction by humanity logically included loss of life, and was understandable to Marina. It was the fact that the Skaladeskas helped Gaia—and always by using Her own tools—that kept Marina from embracing their objective.
“We’re at war,” Varden said quietly, as if reading her mind. “Gaia is at war to defend Herself. But even Roman isn’t about wanton destruction…he’s about mitigating the damage.”
Sanskrit Cipher: A Marina Alexander Adventure Page 24
