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Senator Johnson, Grayson, Sylvia, and all the guards were stunned. Their mouths hung open.
Finally Johnson said, “My God! You killed all those people.”
Carter stared at the screen in disbelief. His arm lowered and his hand shook. Sylvia glanced at him. She covered her mouth with her hand and rushed through the door and down the hall.
Carter shook his head. “I didn’t kill them. The virus did. It killed them all.”
Johnson pointed at the screen. “The footage indicates otherwise.”
“No,” Carter said. “She came. She healed me. The alien. She was there. She wants Grayson dead.”
“You’re delusional,” Johnson said. “Insane. There was no one else. You killed them.”
Grayson shouted, “Guards, take Carter down!”
Henry fired, striking Carter’s shoulder. Carter toppled backwards and the vial spiraled up into the air.
Johnson dove as the vial dropped. It landed into his outstretched hand. He carefully enclosed his hand around the vial.
Grayson smiled. “Good catch, senator.”
Johnson rose slowly with his eyes closed. He released a long sigh.
Henry stood over Carter with the gun aimed between the doctor’s eyes. Carter blinked and shook his head. Blood seeped through his jacket.
“What happened?” Carter asked.
Johnson motioned the guards. “Take Grayson and follow me.”
“Grayson, you’ve violated too many codes of ethics. It’s time you answer for your crimes against humanity. Money cannot buy your way out of everything.”
“What occurred on Deimos wasn’t my doing. Carter is the madman. I didn’t cause a viral outbreak. Hell, I’d be willing to bet that there’s never been any virus at all.”
“No, perhaps not, but you did try to hide it. Had the people that died on Deimos all been hardened criminals, I could dismiss your indifference. But some of them were doctors, scientists, and nurses. Their lives held meaning.”
“You’re right, and I will make it right with their families.”
“I’m afraid the cost is much more than money this time, Mr. Grayson.”
“Is it now?” Grayson asked.
Johnson nodded.
“Shelly? You still on the line?” Grayson asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Seems Johnson thinks he can usurp authority over me. Unless these handcuffs are removed in the next few seconds, I want you to release CD-943 to the press immediately.”
“Yes, sir. Uploading the video file now,” she replied.
Johnson loosened his tie. “What video is that?”
Grayson smiled. “Need you ask? You know what it is.”
Johnson’s face paled. “Shelly, send it to the press ASAP.”
Grayson frowned. “What?”
“My wife and I had a long talk this week. I told her all about my fling. At first I thought she’d divorce me, but after serious thought, she actually forgave me. So, go ahead, give it to the press. I don’t care. This is my last term in the senate. I’ve never worried about having a legacy, but you on the other hand? You’ve got a lot to answer for.”
Johnson took the vial and held it up to the light.
Grayson shook his head. “You can send that to my laboratory for analysis, but I have the feeling that’s there’s nothing except air inside the vial.”
“No, Mr. Grayson,” Johnson said. “I believe it’s safer in the hands of the CDC.”
Henry grabbed Carter and yanked him to his feet. Carter cried out in pain.
“Where’s the other vial?” Johnson asked.
“My pocket.”
Henry pressed his gun against Carter’s temple. “Hands where we can see them.”
Carter obeyed and Johnson retrieved the second vial.
A group of men in military fatigues entered the room. Johnson addressed the squad leader. “Take Carter to a military hospital and keep him under twenty-four hour surveillance. Once his injury has healed he needs to be transferred to a mental ward for full evaluation. From the video we watched earlier, he’s a dangerous man and a serial killer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Grayson frowned. His face flushed red. Henry placed his hands on Grayson’s shoulders, trying to calm him. “When are you going to release me?”
“Henry,” Johnson said. “Escort Mr. Grayson to the sleeper lab, or whatever the hell it’s called. I think Grayson should receive the same dose of medicine as he had given Sylvia earlier.”
“Henry,” Grayson said in a low threatening tone.
Johnson glared at them. “Either Henry obeys, or these military men will take him into custody as well. Of course, if your guards decide not to stand down, it might get quite bloody here.”
“Henry,” Grayson repeated.
“Sorry sir.”
“No, do what I told you earlier after you take me to the lab.”
“I will, sir.”
Once they reached the Sleep Lab, Grayson was sedated by a military doctor while several of the National Guardsmen stood by. Once the chip was implanted and programmed, Johnson told the men to make certain Grayson was on the next shuttle to Mars. He told them if they had questions about the orders to call Justice Watkins. They nodded.
Johnson left the room and headed for the elevator.
Senator Johnson smiled as he exited the front doors of Grayson Enterprises. Finally, he held the sense of triumph over Grayson that he had long hoped to achieve. Joe was freed from the Sleeper Chip, and Grayson was being sent as a miner to Mars. Freedom never seemed better. He made his way down the winding sidewalk steps, enjoying the cooler breeze as the sky became overcast and hinted of rain.
When he rounded the last curve of the stairs two men quickly approached him. They weren’t massive men like the goons Grayson kept for bodyguards. Both men wore nice leisure suits, and for a moment, Johnson assumed they were federal agents to assist in Grayson’s apprehension. He stopped at the bottom of the steps. His limo was less than ten yards away, but too far for a man of his age to sprint toward.
“Good evening, senator,” the older man said. His face was pocked and wrinkled. “Let’s, how do you say it in dis country? Go for a little stroll.”
The other man pulled back the front of his jacket and revealed his gun.
Johnson swallowed hard and glanced around the parking lot, hoping to see someone to call out to for help. No one else was in sight. “Who are you?”
“Senator, what are names at dis point? But if it makes you more comfortable, I’m Viktor and dis is Parks. Let’s say dat Grayson has asked us to place you into early retirement.”
“Permanently,” Parks said.
“Grayson is no longer in charge,” Johnson said sternly. “I’ve seen to that.”
“Have you now?” Viktor said. “Is that any way to show your loyalty?”
“Loyalty? Grayson has always been underhanded and deceptive. He’s a ruthless man.”
“He paid you well, did he not?” Parks asked.
“I had no choice but to take the money.”
Viktor laughed. “There are always choices, senator.”
“He’d have killed me if I didn’t do what he asked. Death wasn’t one of the choices I favored.”
“It has come to you all the same,” Viktor pulled his gun with its silencer from inside his vest and fired two shots into Johnson’s chest.
Johnson winced and placed his hands over his heart. His knees struck the sidewalk heavily. He fell forward with wide eyes as death claimed him.
***
Grayson Enterprises (Two weeks later)
Jonas sat at Grayson’s desk, looking through various files, and approving work orders.
Boony entered the office. “Is everything going okay?”
Jonas looked up and nodded. “I suppose. The last thing I ever expected was for the leadership of Grayson Enterprises to be dropped in my lap.”
“I imagine Grayson had his reasons?”
Jonas offered a slight shrug. “He’s always trusted me.”
“I suppose it was a good thing we left Mars then?”
Jonas laughed. “That’s probably the reason I was at the top of the list to oversee his operations.”
“So let me get this straight. He still owns Grayson Enterprises and all the operations he set up on Mars, but he was sent to Mars to work in the mines like the other prisoners?”
“Sadly, yes.”
“The irony has to be painful.”
“Not if he’s under control of the chip. He’s not going to remember a thing.”
“How long is his sentence? Won’t the government try to take everything away from him?” she asked.
“That’s some of what I’ve been reading through this morning. They will try, but Grayson has a ruthless team of attorneys that will find every loophole possible to have the charges against Grayson dropped. Senator Johnson was the only reason Grayson was sent to Mars. The shuttle took off before the authorities ever got a chance to open the investigation. And then, of course, Johnson had been killed.”
Boony shook her head, taking in all the information. “Matthews is in charge on Mars. Even if the attorneys manage to get these charges dropped and grant Grayson freedom, do you think Matthews will ever honor such orders?”
“It’s hard to say, Boony. Grayson is powerful here on Earth, but like you said, Matthews is calling the shots there. It will be interesting how this plays out. The good news is that Carter never had a deadly virus, so that potential threat is gone.”
She cringed. “Yes, but it’s a shame that he killed everyone stationed on Deimos.”
Jonas held a grim smile. “Sometimes the prisoners are the least of our worries. It’s the ones who haven’t yet committed any heinous crimes that are troublesome. You never know when they’ll strike.”
“What about the strange insects that Clark brought back?”
“They’re in a highly secure lab here.”
“That’s safe?”
Jonas nodded. “Safer than any university lab. I’m certain by the time Grayson ever returns to Earth, if he does, Clark will have all his research data on the insects and won’t have to worry about Grayson trying to steal his thunder. Clark will have his moments in the scientific spotlight.”
“That’s good for him.”
“It is.”
Boony stood in silence for several minutes. She looked like she wanted to say something but held back.
“What’s on your mind, Boony?”
“I have a favor to ask,” she said.
“Sure. What is it?”
“I’d like your permission to take a few days to go to Dallas and see if I can find Magnus. I have a good idea where he is. Nothing has been reported in the news about him getting revenge on the gang that killed his cousin. I’d like to help him if I can.”
Jonas studied her for a few moments. “You still believe he’s innocent of the charges.”
She nodded. “I do. If I held any doubts, I’d let it be. But, all the evidence that wasn’t admitted into court was damning to the prosecution and the judge’s overall decision, which is why I think it was all discredited.”
“You think they were in league with the gang?”
“It’s very possible.”
Jonas shook his head and frowned. “If there’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s corrupt judges, attorneys, and police. Go. Keep me posted. But promise me something.”
Boony smiled. “What?”
“If you need anything, call me immediately. I have a lot of contacts, and I definitely will be calling Texas’ Attorney General, informing him of the corruptness in that court. Be careful.”
“I will, Jonas. And thanks.”