Chasing The Dawn (Luke Temple - Book 2) (Luke Temple Series) (11 page)

Thanks to the little bit of local knowledge he had gained from the newspapers Luke had held court with two Gran Sasso employees about the state of Teramo buses and the travesty that they were cutting the number of buses along three key routes
. No knowledge was ever wasted.

Luke had clocked Brun instantly when he had entered, the professor was sat at the head table going through papers and looking incredibly edgy. Brun had spotted him but wisely made no sign of recognition. Brun looked like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders; the longer he eyed Brun the more his anguish became evident.

Luke’s attention shifted to a table one row closer to the main exit and to the right. His brain processed the details, running scenarios and outcomes. Miss Chung Su sat with her back to him, her long black hair identifying her. What had got his attention in full was the presence of the Carabinieri sat next to her.
There is
no such thing as coincidence.
Luke had watched the pair engage in flickers of conversation throughout the meal; Beltrano was quite obviously leading the discussion. Chung Su had been giving off signs of nerves like light beams, she would have made a terrible poker player.

The whole picture troubled him. He was urging the sit-down part of the evening to be over, time was running out, second by second. Luke was getting the distinct feeling he was amongst several fish, and Vittorio was the worm.

The younger Carabinieri, Delvechi, sat on table six on Luke’s left looking thoroughly disinterested in proceedings. He was clearly a junior and would be taking orders directly from his superior, but up close the younger Carabinieri was a giant. His hands gripped the wine glass like it was from a child’s tea-set. Luke’s mind ran through what he had to hand, it kept coming to a stop with Chung Su, that’s where he needed to start, and every passing moment the Carabinieri spent with her caused him more anxiety.

The enthusiastic man sat next to him began chattering away again in broken English. Luke heard the words at a distance, taking no notice. Stretching back in his chair Luke felt the cold metal of the Sig Sauer press into his stomach.

The room faded away, in his mind it consisted only of Chung Su, Beltrano, Delvechi and Brun. His gut told him that something was going happen; it was instinct and he never ignored instinct.

“A surprisingly nice coffee.” Beltrano sipped at his drink.

Chung Su smiled and raised her cup, trying desperately to stifle the shake in her hand.

“What do you think, Miss Chung?”

Chung Su could feel his eyes burning into her cheek, the same way they had been doing for the whole meal
. Stay calm, he doesn’t know anything
.

“Yes, it is very nice.” Her voice was quiet.

She had passed the whole meal with a sickness in her stomach; the food pained her as she ate it. Of all the people to sit next to she had a man of the law. She felt like her every motive was being read, and fighting to keep calm was draining. So far the officer had been nothing but charming, discussing a number of topics but never seeming interested in her work or her presence at the event.

Beltrano leaned back and tapped his stomach. “My, my. I fear my eyes are bigger than my belly.”

Chung Su smiled politely, not understanding the saying. People had started to get up and chat to friends at other tables, Chung Su was desperate to escape to another part of the room. She attempted to steel herself
. You are here for a purpose, you must complete your task!
She looked at Beltrano’s eyes, they did not seem frightening, they were dark but not dead. He stayed quiet and smiled, it was a reassuring smile, but her heart was still beating fast. She needed to talk, to engage with Beltrano
. He may have information I need.
But she did not know how to broach the subject of the laboratory without seeming suspicious …
Vittorio.
How had she not thought of it before, the presence of the officers must be much more focused on Professor Vittorio’s disappearance than on her.

The idea of bringing up the professor was still terrifying, as though if she mentioned the name then hidden men in uniform would jump out and carry her away. The urge to escape welled up inside, the door was so close; she could stand up, walk out and disappear, out of Teramo, out of Italy. Thoughts of her homeland drifted into focus, her family, her work, her home and she knew it was impossible to leave. If she failed this task then she would not see any of them again. Stories of brutality abounded in her country, families disappearing in the night, taken by government officials, never to be seen again. She had never thought she may be one of them.

Signor Malfi punctured her thoughts. “Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you all enjoyed your meals; please enjoy a short recess after which we will be commencing with the keynote speech. Thank you.”

This caused the room to erupt with talking, shuffling of chairs and music.

“Do you smoke, Miss Chung?” Beltrano asked casually.

She shook her head.

“Well I’m afraid I do, I am constantly told it will kill me.” Beltrano produced a cigar case. “I argue that at least I will know my killer.” His eyes focused on her. She shifted in her seat.

“Would you do me the honour of accompanying me outside? No one likes to smoke alone and it is not permitted inside here, which I agree with, one puff and the whole place would look like a steam room.” He gave a chuckle.

Chung Su fought to control her heartbeat. “Yes Officer.”

“Wonderful, and please, people call me Beltrano . Please take my coat; it will be deathly cold outside.”

As the pair stood, Beltrano caught Delvechi’s eye. The young officer started to stand but Beltrano gave a subtle shake of the head, indicating for him to stay.

***

The night air was bitter. Chung Su pulled Beltrano’s jacket tight; her body was already trembling from the cold. She fought to control the shaking, not wanting to look weak.

“It is sharp, isn’t it? But I always find such evenings quite beautiful, there is a purity to such acute cold.” As Beltrano spoke he walked idly around the grounds of the Observatory, careful to stick to concrete walkways with a cigar burning in his right hand.

“I think I prefer the heat,” Chung Su said, attempting her best smile.

Beltrano smiled back, his face lit by the temporary spotlights. “Perhaps you are right Miss Chung, but I think that people’s attitude changes a lot when it is hot; they become slippery of mind. The cold is such a … such a … well, let’s say it focuses one’s mind.”

Chung Su let Beltrano lead the way and he walked them slowly over to the tree line, coming to a stop just out of the spotlights. She could feel her muscles twitching as she fought the cold. Beltrano took a long drag of the cigar and leant his head back to face the sky as he exhaled.

“There is one thing I have always wondered, Miss Chung.”

“Yes?” Chung Su felt her voice crack slightly.

“When you spend your life studying the universe, examining the stars and what links everything together …” Beltrano paused, took another sharp drag and exhaled skywards, “does such a view still seem quite as breathtaking?”

Chung Su followed his gaze and saw the clear night sky lit by a thousand stars; the Observatory was positioned out in the countryside, there was no light pollution and each star was bright. “I have not thought about it, Mr Beltrano.”

“Perhaps it is just us laymen who wonder such things.” He gave another smile as he exhaled another lungful of smoke.

“Do you live in Teramo, Mr Beltrano?” Chung Su had no idea why she had asked such a pointless question.

“No, I am a city man myself. Although my job takes me all over. I suppose I would call Rome my home.”

“It is a place that I would very much like to visit.”

Beltrano gazed into the dark foliage. “Oh but you must, Miss Chung. How long are you here for?”

Chung Su’s body twitched. “Not for long, not long.”

“When did you arrive?”

“I have only been here a few days so far.”

“And I assume those days have been busy?” Beltrano was not looking at her.

“I suppose. A bit scary, my first time to Europe.”

“Ah, but of course, where do you call home, Miss Chung?”

“Korea.”

“It is my understanding that Korea is no longer a country under one banner. In what particular
camp
do you reside?”

Chung Su contemplated lying, but she could not. “North Korea.”

Beltrano did not respond at first. He took short sharp drags on the cigar, puffing smoke out of his cheeks. After a considered pause he asked, “So have you been to the beast?”

“The what?” Chung Su felt the conversation being led out of her control.

“Apologies, I think that the Laboratori Nazionali looks rather like a beast. Have you been?”

“Actually, yes, I have been, it is a marvellous place. I went to visit Professor Brun, as his guest.” She regretted saying it the moment it came out.

“Ah yes, I know the professor. Did he show you any secrets?”

Chung Su gave Beltrano a quick look. “Secrets? What do you mean secrets?”

Beltrano smiled broadly. “Forgive me, Miss Chung, I meant scientific secrets. I know how the science community likes to keep their secrets.”

“No, no, Mr Beltrano, the scientific community actually works to take secrets and let them go.” Beltrano did not respond.

“I was actually meant to be a guest of Professor Vittorio’s.” Chung Su held her breath.

“Right, I see.”

Chung Su spotted her chance to press. “May I ask you something, Mr Beltrano?”

“Of course.”

“Professor Brun said that Professor Vittorio had gone away … disappeared, I believe.”

“Is that so?” His face gave nothing away.

“Yes, and … as someone who felt … just in science … that Vittorio was a great man doing great work … well, do you know what has happened to him?” Chung Su held her breath once more.

Beltrano threw his cigar end to the floor and after a long pause replied, “In short, Miss Chung, no, we do not know where Professor Vittorio is. I will be open with you; we are searching for the professor and at this point are ruling nothing out.”

Chung Su let out a cloud of breath.

“However, we do have some potential leads that we are investigating. Tell me, Miss Chung, what exactly did Professor Brun say about the whole thing?”

Panic spread in a fit of nausea through her stomach. She had not wanted to imply that the professor had been discussing anything in depth. “He didn’t really say much, not very much at all.”

“But
not much
is not
nothing
.”

Even in the shadows she could feel his gaze zeroing in on her.

“He was just very sad that Vittorio had gone, like we all are. But …” Chung Su paused.

“But
what
, Miss Chung?”

“I was wondering if your agency thinks someone took Vittorio?”

“Yes.”

The answer caught Chung Su off-guard. “Oh, I … really?”

“Yes, I do believe that Vittorio was taken by someone or some people.”

Chung Su swallowed. “Who?”

Beltrano took a step towards her. “That is why we investigate, Miss Chung. That is why we investigate.”

Chung Su was desperate to push Beltrano on her countrymen. Was he aware of them? Were they under suspicion? But she shied away for fear of arousing Beltrano’s suspicion.

“Tell me, did Professor Brun have any theories?” Beltrano asked.

Chung Su wanted to end the conversation. “No, no, of course not.”

“Were you a fan of Professor Vittorio’s work?”

“I liked very much what Professor Vittorio thought of science, how he felt about it.”

They both stood in silence.

“You have finished your cigar, Mr Beltrano; perhaps we should go back in and not miss the speeches.”

“Absolutely, Miss Chung, but I enjoy talking with you. Maybe you would do me the courtesy of continuing our conversation tomorrow?”

Chung Su looked off into the trees. “That would be nice.”

“After you, Miss Chung … you are shivering.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, please re-take your seats for the keynote speeches.”

Chung Su and Beltrano slipped backed into the hall. Luke’s eyes followed them. Everyone now turned in their chairs, looking expectantly towards the head table. A makeshift projector screen was placed against the wall and a shiny new projector box sat in front of it.

There were two preliminary speeches of around fifteen minutes in length, one given by a bearded stout man, the second by a middle-aged, bespectacled woman. They were accompanied by an array of images on the screen. Luke had no idea what the two speeches meant, nor what their implications were but both were met with obligatory applause amongst the congregation. Then it was Professor Brun’s turn. As he stood and walked to the centre of the table he appeared distant. He placed his papers down in front of him and faced the now-silent crowd. It was evident he was nervous and he took a sip of water before he began.

Firstly I want to thank everyone involved in organising this year’s event; it has been a wonderful effort, and so far a tremendous night to catch up with old colleagues. You must excuse me tonight if I seem somewhat reflective and contemplative; sometimes in life science comes second to forces that none of us should ever understand. The night will not be as complete as it rightly should. With that in mind I would ask that you grant me some grace, as you can appreciate this was never meant to be my duty tonight, and therefore I am alarmingly underprepared. I do have some things to show you, but I shall try and keep this brief … that way we all get more Champagne.

Brun managed a small smile, picked up his glass of water and sank it in one go. His hand was shaking as he rustled through his papers before returning his gaze to his audience.

Everything big must start from something small; it is a very simple truth. That word is a word that I believe we disregard too often in our work … simple. Professor Vittorio made it his life’s work to search for the simplicity in the universe. Let us not misunderstand this – looking at the smallest of things and developing big ideas. All of you sat here appreciate and understand simple principles, we accept them and they feed our world. We only need to take our grandfather Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity or the ever-evolving Standard Model, such theories are not complex at their core, at their roots, but they underpin the world around us. Yet as many of us in this room also know, they are not complete, they are not closed circles … forgive me ...