As Alex maneuvered the Hawker around on the taxiways toward the Swissport FBO at Worcester Airport, Emily walked back into the cabin and checked on Todd. “He’s sleeping comfortably,” she called back to Alex.
“Can you rouse him?”
“Easily. He wants to know what’s going on.”
“Give him another dose. We have to give him enough so he appears very drunk, but not so much he can’t walk with some help and support from us. He has to be schnockered enough, he can’t raise an alarm.”
After a few moments, Emily came back up to the cockpit and sat in the right seat. “All set,” she said. The way she said it sounded like she was having a great time. Alex, too, felt elated the flight went off without a hitch. But they weren’t done yet.
“Pull out the Shut-Down check list and let’s get out of here. Everything has gone well so far. Let’s not give providence a chance to screw things up,” he said.
Swissport was expecting them; they called ahead, asking for fuel while they were still in the air. They also asked for a wheelchair to be brought to the plane for an inebriated passenger. As soon as they shut down, Emily opened the exit door, then helped Alex heft Todd. Alex moved in front with his arms under Todd’s armpits and wrapped around his back. Once up, Todd stumbled forward, leaning heavily on Alex. The tough part was getting him down the stairs that were part of the exit door - there just wasn’t enough room to maneuver. Emily supported Todd from the back while Alex went down the four steps in the door. Alex then reached up and grabbed Todd as he fell out of the plane. “Whoa!” said Todd as he lurched forward into Alex‘s arms. “Tha’ was fun!” Two ground crewmen were there with a wheelchair. They helped keep Alex from falling from the dead weight.
“Rich people,” said Alex, casting a look at the ground crew. “They can’t hold their liquor. Especially when they don’t like to fly.” The two men grunted in understanding and helped Alex settle Todd into the wheelchair. Todd passed out as soon as he was down
“Is our limo here?” asked Emily.
“Yeah, it’s out front. Boy, this guy is really three sheets to the wind, isn’t he?” The crewman shook his head. “It’s been a while since I’ve been that shit-faced.”
Alex smiled and pushed the wheelchair and Todd through the door into the FBO. As they rolled past the desk, he called over his shoulder to the girl working there. “Full fuel in the wings, nothing in the tail. We have to help get this guy where he’s going. We’ll give you a call with anything else we need after we get him settled.” He held his breath, hoping he sounded casual. Just a few steps and they would be out of there.
“How long are you going to stay?”
“At least a couple of days. We’ll let you know.”
Outside, holding the door open, stood Doug dressed in a chauffer’s uniform; a long black limo sat at the curb behind him. They manipulated Todd’s limp body into the car where he flopped with his head leaning back on the seat. Alex and Emily got in the back with him, Doug went around front to drive.
“Hey, thanks for the help, guys,” Alex said as the ground crew closed the back door. They waved as the limo pulled away from the curb. Alex let out a long breath.
“How long will it take before the company that owns the plane will find it?” asked Doug as they pulled onto the street leading away from the airport.
“They know where it is right now. They can track the plane online. They just don’t know anything unusual has happened except that our passenger became ‘ill’ and we had to divert to another airport. I don‘t think they‘ll be suspicious until their pilots haven‘t checked in for a few hours. We might even get twenty-four hours before they start investigating, but probably not that long.”
“What about the people that are expecting Todd to show up in Washington?” asked Emily.
“They’ll probably start asking questions in an hour or so,” replied Alex. “They’ll be temporarily placated when they find out we diverted to Worcester, for maybe another hour, then start asking questions seriously in another hour. All in all, we might have four hours before a serious search is started.”
“Not much time,” said Emily.
“No,” said Doug, “but enough. In the next couple of hours, either we’ll be home free, or we’ll be in deep trouble anyway. You do realize we can‘t do this without significant risk of exposing ourselves…”
Oh crap, thought Alex, not more shooting.
. . .
The drive to Clinton was uneventful. They bound Todd’s hands behind his back and waited for him to wake up. It was a thirty-minute trip to the warehouse they rented and the Versed was wearing off by the time they arrived. Alex got out and slid open double wooden doors that led to a ground level garage area and Doug drove the car into the building. Closing the doors behind him, Alex moved over to the car.
“Wha’s hap’ning?” slurred Todd as he was pulled from the car. His feet dragged behind him on smooth concrete as they moved him over to a chair.
Alex looked around him. The chair sat in the middle of a large high-ceilinged room. The floor above was supported by a dozen or so white painted iron posts. The room spanned the entire width of the building and sunlight made bright rectangles on the floor as it shined through the tops of long many-paned windows. The bottoms of the windows were painted over their lower eight feet so no one could look in, but were left clear on the top. Florescent lamps hung from above on several feet of chain. The limo was parked on the left side of the room and their trusty computer-equipment-filled van was over on the right. The chair was between the two vehicles, facing the van. There were three other chairs near to and facing Todd’s. Equipment outside the van, evidenced by many wires running on the floor, sat beneath a large dark drop cloth. The place had a dank dusty odor and the temperature was on the cool side.
They plopped Todd down onto the chair and tied his hands to it. He looked up at Alex with eyes that appeared to have trouble focusing. “Who are you?”
Doug went into the van and busied himself with equipment as Alex and Emily followed, removing their disguises. “So far, so good,” said Doug. “But this is where the rubber meets the road.”
“How’s the flight crew?” asked Alex.
“They’re fine,” said Doug as he tapped some keys on a keyboard, looking up at a computer screen. “They’re locked in a room upstairs with some hamburgers.”
“So who’re we going to have on the web at our little meeting?” asked Emily.
“I don’t know for sure yet,” said Doug. “They’re supposed to show up online in about a half an hour. “Why don’t you and Alex go keep Todd company while I get things set up here.”
Alex and Emily went to where Todd was sitting and sat facing him. Todd looked at them with curiosity and then a look of shock flashed across his face. “You… You’re Alex Stewart!” He looked at Emily. “And you’re Emily Clark!” He recovered himself, then gave a short nod. “I am truly impressed. I knew you were a pilot, but I had no idea you could fly a jet!”
“Neither did I,” said Alex.
“Well, we certainly underestimated you. I suppose that’s Doug Brown?” He nodded toward the van. Todd was rapidly recovering from the Versed.
Alex said nothing. He felt vindicated. All this time, they had been risking their reputations and lives on what was little more than a hunch. The fact that Todd knew who they were told him Todd was indeed the one after them; the one responsible for his being shot at, probably losing his job, and God knows what else.
“So, what now?” asked Todd. He seemed uncertain, but not at all alarmed.
Jesus! thought Alex. Does he have an ace up his sleeve? Todd’s confidence was pissing him off.
“We gave you a mild sedative,” said Emily. “It made you more… compliant. We’re waiting for it to wear off.”
“Well, even though we already know about each other,” said Todd, “and apparently quite a bit about each other, I’d say introductions are in order; I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Dr. Griffin Todd.” He looked over at Alex.
Shit, he sounds cordial. “And I’m one of the guys you sent people after to shoot! I, we, damn near got killed!”
Todd nodded. “Yes, I know. We seriously underestimated you. I certainly never expected to be kidnapped. And you did it by stealing a jet! Outstanding. You, all of you, have proven to be remarkably capable and talented. And obviously, I don’t know the whole story. Even so, had we known at the beginning how incredibly resourceful you can be, things would have gone differently.”
I don’t like this, thought Alex. He’s being way too open. What’s he doing?
“Where are Richard and Oscar?” asked Emily. “Are they all right?” She stared hard at Todd.
“Richard is in a secret facility in Marlborough. He’s fine,” said Todd. He paused. “We had to take Oscar to a hospital. He was hurt when he was captured.” He looked up at Emily. “He’s being taken care of, though. He’ll be fine.”
“He damn well better be!” barked Emily. She seemed as irritated at Todd as Alex was.
Things were quiet for a minute. “Just how long do you expect to stay free?” asked Todd.
“Just how long do you expect to stay alive?” asked Alex.
“I could ask the same of you.” Apparently, Todd was trying to unsettle them. And, damn it, it was working. “So where do we go from here?”
“You wait,” said Alex. He looked over at Emily. “Keep an eye on him. I’m going to go help Doug.” He got up and walked back to the van. The man was infuriating. Although Alex was sure Todd was securely tied to the chair, and Emily could take care of herself, he couldn’t help frequently looking over his shoulder to check on them. He couldn’t shake the feeling he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
In the van, Alex tapped Doug on the shoulder. He appeared to be totally absorbed in what was going on in the computer. “Doug,” he said, “is this going to work? Todd seems awfully confident. Like he’s holding all the cards.”
Doug looked up at him and raised his eyebrows. “I figure we’ve got about a fifty-fifty chance. Todd is the wild card. Either he opens up at the right moment, or we’re screwed.” He looked back at the computer screen. “Of course, we have to get at least some of the people we invited to show up too.” He entered some more data into the computer. “People are undoubtedly searching for us right now. We have to work fast.”
At the appointed time, internet connections were made and faces began appearing on the computer screen in the van. The first was James Webb, Director of the FBI. “Hello, Doug,” the disembodied face said. Apparently, he could see as well as be seen. Doug must have turned on a video camera in the van. “Just what’s going on here? I’ve got a busy schedule. This had better be good!”
“I would not waste your time, sir,” said Doug. “Please be a little patient. There are others who are joining us.”
Rapidly, now, additional faces appeared on the screen. Each was greeted by Doug, some, like Director Webb, he seemed to have met before. When done, the screen was spilt into twelve windows, each containing a face. Below each window was a name. James Webb, Director, FBI, read one. The others were, John Strauss, Director, CIA, Tom Levine, Director, NSA, Sam Skerritt, Council to the President, Xiang Xu, Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Charles Leblanc, French Ambassador to the UN, Andrew Thompson, British Ambassador to the UN, Sergei Provikov, Russian Ambassador to the UN, Henry Wilson, Editor-in-Chief, New York Times, Chad North, Editor-in-Chief, London times, Francois Belieu, Editor-in-Chief, Le Monde, and finally, Walter Heines, Editor-in-Chief, Der Speigel.
Doug hit a few key strokes and said, “On your screen, each of you can now see the other participants. As you can see, you are quite an eclectic group.”
Sergei Provikov spoke. “I don’t understand what you would have to say to me that you would want to share with Ambassador Xu.”
Xu grunted. “I think maybe you are wasting my time!”
“Please, gentlemen. As I explained when I first notified you, what you’re going to witness here has global implications and therefore will impact all of you,” said Doug.
“Even if true,” said Webb, “I don’t understand why you couldn’t have just worked with the FBI. Why do we have to involve these other people?”
“If there is any substance at all to what you claim, national security issues are at stake here,” said Strauss. “You are treading on dangerous ground. You may be found to be in violation of the National Security Act.”
“That’s just like the American Government,” said Provikov. “Don’t like to give up any secrets, do you? No matter the impact they have on anyone else.”
“Let me explain,” said Doug. “We have with us Dr Griffin Todd, an eminent virologist from Harvard University. I believe he’ll have something to say that will interest all of you. Dr Todd will not know you are listening in as we talk to him. He will not be able to hear you, but you will be able to hear and see him. I will be able to hear you over a headset I‘m wearing. Just give me a couple of minutes to get things set up and all will be revealed.”
Doug hit a key and “MUTE” appeared on the screen. He turned to Alex. “Something’s not quite right here,” he said.
Alex’s level of alarm went up a notch. “What?”
Doug paused for a moment, thinking. “Damn near everyone we asked showed up.”
“Well, maybe you’re better at marketing than you thought.”
“It’s not that. I would have expected that most of these people would have sent a subordinate to find out what’s going on. At least at first. I don’t know what all these guys look like, but the ones I do know - they’re here in person.”
Alex thought for a moment. Was Todd bluffing, or did he indeed hold all the cards? “Well,” he said, “we have to play the hand we were dealt. It’s all we have.”
“True,” said Doug. “And I don’t think it’s a bad hand. Go sit with Emily; the show‘s about to start.”
Alex went back out to join Emily and Todd. Todd looked up as Alex approached. “Okay,” he said. “What are we doing now? Emily has not been forthcoming with information for me. Why have you brought me here? What do you hope to accomplish? You planning on some kind of exchange for Richard and Oscar?”
“You seem to be waking up from the effects of the drug, all right,” said Alex.
“That’s another thing. Just what did you give me?”
“The active metabolite of Versed.”
“Ah, good choice.” Todd looked directly at Emily, then Alex. “You know, you people should really be working with me.”
Doug stepped out of the van and approached them. “We have a few questions we’d like answered before we decide what to do next. I suggest you be open and direct.”
“Of course,” said Todd confidently.
Doug sat down, facing Todd. “This is what we know. We have in our possession a vial -”
“Had in your possession.”
Oh, shit! thought Alex.
“Whatever,” continued Doug. “We don’t know exactly what’s in it, but we do know that it’s important enough for you to try to kill us to get it back.”
“Yes, well,” interrupted Todd. “That was an unfortunate choice. Had I known -”
“We also know that you have been hunting me down to try to silence me and prevent me from digging further into the finances of ‘The Survivors’.”
Todd looked truly surprised. “How did you -”
“We suspect the vial contains a deadly virus capable of a worldwide pandemic.” Doug looked directly into Todd’s eyes. “We know Srivastava brought the vial with him from his lab in India. I’m guessing he worked there, developing the virus, probably because there’s considerably less oversight there and you could keep it a secret more easily. It fell into Richard’s hands by accident, I’m thinking because of a baggage handler’s strike that caused Srivastava to change his plans at the last moment and connect to Boston through Paris instead of going to New York through London.”
“Yes, he panicked,” said Todd. “Very unfortunate.”
“Since then you’ve held nothing back at trying to retrieve the vial. We can only put this together by concluding that you are somehow involved in a terrorist plot to release the virus. What we don’t understand is how, and most importantly, why.”
“I am really very, very impressed,” said Todd. “I have no idea how you came to all this information. Perhaps at some point, you can fill me in. What you suggest is mostly correct, except for the terrorist thing. I am no terrorist.”
“Then you’re not planning on releasing the virus?”
“Oh, we’re going to release the virus, alright, and very soon. But not as an act of terror. It will be an act of salvation.”
This is going way too easy, thought Alex. He’s being way too candid. What the hell is up? “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” said Alex. “If you release the virus, millions will die…”
“Billions,” said Todd.
“And this is not an act of terrorism because…?”
“Because it will allow the rest of humanity to survive - no, flourish.”
Doug fell silent. Apparently, he was as dumbfounded as Alex felt. “Let me make sure I understand,” he said after a long pause. “You have created a deadly virus that will kill a large portion of humanity.”
“It should be one hundred percent deadly to all those exposed who aren’t inoculated against it,” said Todd.
“You have it in your possession and are about to release it into the atmosphere.”
“Within the next few days, yes. And there is nothing that can be done to stop it.”
“Why?” Doug stopped and put his hand up to his ear. “Just a minute,” he said. “There are some people that want to ask you some questions.” Doug rose from his chair and went to the drop cloth. Pulling it free of the equipment beneath, a large computer screen bearing twelve faces could be seen. Doug hit a key on a keyboard in front of the screen.
A voice over a speaker said, “That’s enough, I think, Agent Brown. We have more than enough to pursue an investigation and get to the bottom of this. Tell us where you are and I’ll have people over there shortly to pick him up. The sooner we can pick you all up, the sooner we can take action. Good job.”
“Who is that please?” asked Todd. He squinted at the computer screen.
“This is Director James Webb, FBI.”
“Ah…” said Todd.
“We also have with us a few others.” Webb listed the names and titles of the others that were listening online. “Agent Brown has asked us all here to witness this interview as he felt the information will affect us all.”
Todd fell silent and looked intently at the screen.
“Now, Agent Brown, if you could give us your location, we can get started on the resolution of this thing,” said Webb.
“The Peoples’ Republic of China wants to know what this is all about and demands to have representatives present at any interrogation!” said Ambassador Xu. “We will not stand by and allow you bury any information on this!”
“The Russian people have a right to know all as well!” said Provikov.
Soon, there was a cacophony of raised voices and demands flowing over the internet. Finally, one voice stood out. “Gentlemen! This is Andrew Thompson, British Ambassador to the UN. Like it or not, Dr Todd is in the US and therefore is on Mr. Webb’s turf. I suggest that the first thing we do is get Dr. Todd into custody, and meanwhile, the rest of us can get our governments to press the US administration for cooperation.”
“That does seem like the logical first step,” said Webb. “Where are you, Agent Brown?”
“There is a small matter of a warrant out on us…” said Doug.
“Don’t worry,” said Webb. “If all is as it appears to be, we’ll take good care of you all.”
Silence hung over the room as Doug looked over at Emily who hesitated and then nodded. He then turned to Alex. Something is very wrong here! It doesn’t feel right, Alex thought. Still, this is our only play and it has run its course. I see no option other than to let it play itself out.
Webb’s attention was diverted off screen. After a moment, he turned back and said, “It doesn’t matter, we’ve located your position in Clinton. We have good people that can use the full potential of the web, too, you know. You should have company in less than five minutes. It’s over. You have no place to run. I suggest you cooperate.”
Did Alex just hear what he thought he heard? Was Webb now telling them to surrender? He looked at Doug. Doug seemed just as stunned, just as uncertain of what he heard.
“So, Walter, I hear you have a new baby,” said Todd as he looked at the screen. “You going to be able to take some time off from Der Speigel to enjoy the new member of your family?” Todd looked directly at Alex with a broad smile on his face.
“Huh!” grunted Francois Belieu. “You have no idea how hard it was to drag his ass away to be here!”
“Are you okay, Griff?” asked Walter Heines.
“I’m fine,” said Todd. “Just a little tied up at the moment.”
Alex looked into Doug’s eyes and saw two plus two adding up to four. Doug ripped off his headset and looked toward the van.
“Well,” said Todd, “I’m not at all surprised, Doug, but you seem to have been able to arrange for only ‘Survivors’ to show up here. Of course, I would expect nothing less. You see, it would be hard to find anyone on the list of the rich and powerful who are not a part of our elite little group. And, you, all of you, have been flagged as being extremely dangerous to our cause. Once you made contact with any of these people, wheels would be set in motion to make sure anyone else you contacted would, in some way, be diverted or otherwise neutralized.” Todd looked up at Doug and took a deep breath. Doug was just starting to move. “Well,” he said, “now that’s out of the way, let’s stop this charade. Why don’t you untie me?”
Alex looked over at Emily whose lips were compressed into a thin pale line. She seemed to be bracing herself, preparing to act. Alex could not help but voice what they all felt. “Oh shit, we’ve been had.”