“He could be a decent person and feel the same way we do about Ivan and
The Compendium
people,” I said.
“Let’s give it a shot.” Faith resumed clicking on her laptop.
“I can protect us if something goes sideways,” said Cole.
“We can all look after ourselves,” said Ilya.
“Most of us.” I looked fretfully in Jonah’s direction.
“Hand me the address and I’ll find it on a map,” said Faith.
“Print it too. I don’t want to rely on computers and phones once we cross the border,” said Ilya.
“Getting to Josh isn’t an emergency. And we won’t get to San Francisco overnight. We can stick around Vancouver long enough to still contact a reporter,” said Cole.
“I’ve already got a few names. I’ll try connecting with someone tonight. A decent reporter should be able to meet us pretty quickly,” said Faith.
“We need better than decent. We need amazing,” said Jonah.
Faith rolled her eyes with her chill-out-I’ve-got-this expression, nodding as she continued typing and staring intently at her screen.
Chapter 7
The next morning we checked out of the Bella Maria shortly after eight o’clock. Faith had arranged to meet a man named David Wong at eight-thirty sharp in a downtown restaurant with a meeting room in the back. She’d given the man a fair chunk of verifiable information about us and Innoviro, along with the promise of corporate scandal. She left out any mention of variations. We had all agreed to save that for our meeting in person. Faith had even gotten David to reserve and pay for the meeting room.
“So what’s the plan? Are we just going to throw a thumb drive at him, unveil our ‘powers’ and hit the road?” said Ilya as we all followed Faith through the front door of a noodle bar outfitted with steel and laminate wood.
“Have you got something more elaborate in mind?” said Faith as she marched past the mousy blond woman eyeing us from behind the counter.
Faith pushed open a frosted glass door and we followed her into a room with a large round table and a dozen black task chairs perfectly spaced. Each setting had a notepad, mini pre-sharpened pencils, and an empty glass tumbler. A pitcher of water stood placid in the middle.
“Good morning,” said the small slim man with black spiky hair and horn-rimmed glasses. His plain white T-shirt and dark blue jeans looked brand new.
“You must be Wong,” said Faith briskly.
“What my charming sister means to say is, good morning to you too.” Cole stepped in front of Faith to shake David Wong’s hand.
“I don’t want to rush this meeting, but we’re on our way out of town. All we can do here is give you a rundown on what we’re doing, hand over our evidence, and be on our way,” I said as slowly and politely as I could manage through my nerves. I took a breath to steady myself.
“We have documentation connected to our former employer, a company called Innoviro Industries,” said Jonah as he took a seat. His ashen face and heavy eyes suggested he hadn’t slept at all, although I knew he had.
Everyone in the room followed Jonah’s lead and sat. Cole frowned with concern looking at Jonah and he leaned forward to take over.
“We have reason to believe Innoviro was engaged in unethical human testing and malicious environmental sabotage. We still don’t know how far-reaching the consequences will be, but we understand Innoviro’s intentions were to effect global harm,”
said Cole. I sat speechless. Cole’s physical presence made it easy to forget how intelligent he was. Listening to him speak, I wondered if he was even smarter than Jonah.
“This is pretty serious stuff. And you’ve brought me hard evidence of this activity?” said Wong.
“Honestly we don’t know the full extent of what we’re handing you. This thumb drive is a copy of reports we haven’t reviewed in detail,” said Faith.
Faith and Cole and Ilya took turns filling Wong in on what we had learned, not only from Kingston’s files, but from our own experiences. Wong took it all in with the best of poker faces.
“This is a really wild story. I’m going to be honest. I don’t see my editor–or my publisher–backing me on publication of any article connected to what you’re saying,” said Wong.
“Let’s cut to the chase then.” Glaring at Wong, Faith picked up a blank pad of notepaper off the table. She tore apiece off the top, and without breaking eye contact, she shot a flame from her fingertip at the crisp white sheet.
Wong instinctively jolted backwards into his chair.
Jonah poured himself a glass of water. Instead of drinking it, he coaxed the liquid out of the glass, into the air, and back into the pitcher.
“Maybe you should actually have a drink,” I said quietly to Jonah. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wong’s mouth gaping.
“And the rest of you?” he said with raw fascination.
“You’ll have to take my word for it that I could break this table in half without breaking a sweat,” said Cole.
“Don’t worry man, he believes you,” said Ilya. He paused looking at Wong. “Yes, I can hear what you’re thinking . . . 6752, no, 53, dude, make up your mind.”
Wong looked at me waiting for my story.
“I have visions,” I said lamely. Wong looked confused and I felt heat rush to my cheeks.
“I mean, I can see the past, present, and future. I’m psychic, but it’s hard to control. For the most part, I only get what comes to me. But I am getting better at seeing things I’m looking for,” I said, fumbling to explain something I still struggled to understand myself.
“And on that note, I think we’re ready to go,” said Ilya as he stood up. The rest of us rose as well.
“Wait, how can I reach you? This is huge. I still need your input. I need quotes. I need photos. You’re willing to go on the record, right?” said Wong.
“We can’t stick around, especially not to get roped into an investigation–by your paper or the cops,” said Faith.
“You’re joking! You can’t drop a science fiction mega-story in my lap and run off!” said Wong.
“You’ve got my email. We’ll be in touch,” said Faith.
“We just won’t be here,” said Cole.
We left David Wong clutching our thumb drive and a singed sheet of paper. None of us looked back. In spite of the adrenaline surging through us after the huge risk we collectively took, we walked calmly back to Cole’s car and discreetly opened the doors.
Faith sat in the front passenger seat. Ilya sat between Jonah and me in the back. I had purposely stalled getting into the car, hoping not to sit next to Jonah. I didn’t trust myself not to lean on his shoulder in my anxious state.
As we crossed the Granville Street Bridge, sailboats sprinkled the blue water of False Creek. Clear blue sky overhead completed the illusion of serenity all around us. I didn’t feel at peace. Far from it. My stomach roiled, churning away with no more than a cup of coffee to process.
“When we get to the border, we’ll need a cover story they won’t be able to poke holes in on the spot,” Ilya said as he looked around at each of us. “It should be something simple that doesn’t contradict anything they can find with our passports.”
“What about recent graduates? We could say we finished our programs at UBC and we’re going on a road trip,” said Cole, glancing over his shoulder while changing lanes.
“They might be able to access UBC’s registrar and find our names missing from the last grad class,” said Jonah.
“All we need to say is that we’re going on vacation. We’re camping, so we don’t have a destination address,” said Faith.
“What if the border guards do a search? They’ll see we don’t have any camping gear. Actually, they can scan the car now like they do with bags at the airport. They won’t even have to ask to search us,” said Cole.
“Why don’t we tell the truth?” I said.
Everyone in the car turned to look at me. Even Cole glanced at me in his rear view mirror.
“I don’t mean the whole truth. We’ll tell them the company we worked for folded up and we’re unemployed. So we’re going to enjoy a summer road trip before we look for jobs. If they look up Innoviro, I’m sure the web site is still there. And if they access Revenue Canada information, we’re telling the truth.”
“That could work. Irina’s right. We tell the truth, but leave out the part about looking for our ex-boss. We could give them Josh’s address if they want to know where we’re staying. What’s the likelihood they’ll call him to ask?” said Jonah.
“It’s settled then. We’re unemployed. Used to work for Innoviro. Road trip to see Josh and wander around Washington. I’m sure it goes without saying, but everybody, be cool when we get to the border.” Ilya looked directly at Faith.
“What?” Faith smirked back at him. “I’ll be good.”
We cruised up to the Peace Arch border and took our place in the queue of cars waiting to cross. My heart pounded. I hadn’t crossed the border for several years, and never without one of my parents taking the lead. Would I be convincing if I answered their questions?
I’m a crappy liar, even if I’m lying by omission. They’ll see right through me.
“You’re going to be fine,” said Ilya.
“We’ll be in Seattle before you know it. And San Francisco is closer than you think,” said Jonah.
Our turn came next at the border guard’s window. Our line had moved quickly and I hoped to keep my mouth closed. We had all given our passports to Cole so the guard could review them all at once. If Cole did all the talking, we would be fine.
“Passports please,” said the guard.
Cole handed the booklets to the guard.
“Where are you headed?” asked the gruff barrel-chested man seated above us.
“Seattle.” Cole’s answer was cheerful, but short. Good so far.
“What is the nature of your trip to Seattle?” said the guard. He examined each passport in turn, looking at our faces one by one rather than holding eye contact with Cole. A fresh surge of anxiety rushed through my veins.
“We’re visiting a friend. We’re going on a road trip,” said Cole.
The border guard looked concerned.
“How long do you intend to travel through the US? What destinations will you be visiting?” said the guard.
“Um, we’re going to Seattle and then we’re driving down to San Francisco.” The confidence in Cole’s voice wavered.
“And your occupations?” said the guard.
“We’re unemployed at the moment. Our employer recently went under,” said Cole.
“That’s not what I asked you,” said the guard. “What do each of you do for a living? And who
was
your employer?”
“I’m, uh, a geologist. We worked for Innoviro Industries. And my friends are, uh–”
“We’re a rock n’ roll band!” Faith blurted out in a poorly rendered British accent.
“Okay. Sir, please pull the vehicle ahead and park in one of the stalls in front of our office.” The guard pointed towards empty parking spots and the building next to us. We should have been driving away into the stream of moving traffic! What the hell was Faith thinking?
A new border guard exited the building to greet us. This guard was tall and big-boned with a blond bob under her border authority ball cap.
“Women, come with me please,” she said. “Men, remain in the vehicle and a male border guard will be with you momentarily.”
Obediently, I got out of the car and slung my backpack on my shoulder.
“Leave your bags. They will be subject to search along with your vehicle. You can take your wallet or anything containing relevant documentation,” she said directly to me.
“You’ve got to be kidding with this. I was joking.” Faith rolled her eyes.
The female border guard frowned at her. “Unless this is your first time crossing the Canada-United States border, you should know this is not the time or place to make jokes with officials. This is the longest undefended border in the world–a privilege we’ve achieved by closely monitoring all cross-border traffic.”
We followed her, wallets in hand, into the small single-story office building. I ventured a glance back at the guys back in the car. They were talking, but all facing forward.
Stupid girl! What have you gotten us into?
“Are you going to deny us entry to the U.S.?” I asked as calmly and politely as I could manage.
“Entry into the United States is not guaranteed. You need to cooperate fully and submit to a search,” said the guard.
“You’re searching the car with dogs, right?” said Faith.
Shut up! Please just shut up!
I thought angrily.
As we followed the guard down a hallway, I suddenly realized why a woman had been sent to retrieve Faith and me separately. Her mention of a male guard for the guys should have tipped me off as to what was coming next. The border guard gestured at a door with an icon of a gloved hand on it.
We entered the room to find a plain rectangular table and two stacking chairs on either side. The walls were bare. The only other item in the room was a small camera mounted in the far corner.
“Remove your clothing down to your bras and underwear. Turn out your pockets and empty your shoes,” said the guard.
My pulse throbbed and white noise squealed in my ears. I could barely breathe, but I followed instructions. I even removed my socks. I looked over at Faith who clearly seethed with rage. I expected the guard to produce a rubber glove and snap it onto her right hand.
The guard sifted through our clothing and patted both Faith and I around our breasts and backsides. She didn’t ask us to remove anything else and neither of us volunteered.
“You can get dressed. Come back out front when you’re ready.” The guard abruptly left us staring at our piles of rumpled clothes.
“What the hell were you thinking with that stupid rock and roll thing!” I hissed at Faith.
“It was a joke. Everyone in the car knew it. The border guards knew it. They’ve got badges so far up their asses, they can’t handle the tiniest bit of humor,” said Faith.
“This is the goddamn border, Faith, what did you expect them to do?” I said, raising my voice.
“Chill out honey. They’re letting us go, aren’t they? We haven’t done anything, so they can’t hold us,” said Faith.
“I’m glad you’re confident,” I said scathingly, and struggled not to say how stupid I thought she’d been.
We finished dressing and walked back down the hall to the main door. The guard was gone, so we left the building. The guys were nowhere to be seen, but the contents of Cole’s car from dash to trunk had been unceremoniously emptied onto the ground.
Faith didn’t say a word. She began repacking the trunk. I followed her lead and picked up the mess around the front of the car. I hoped she blamed herself as much as she blamed the border guards. The guys returned as we finished repacking the car.
“Ready to go, now, Faith?” Ilya’s direction to be cool at the border made more sense.
“Yeah, sorry, my bad,” said Faith.
“Just get back in the car,” said Cole.
“Let’s go get some food and forget about this,” said Jonah.
We reached Blaine, Washington within an hour and Cole found a fast food drive-through for lunch. Jonah also wanted some fresh air, so we headed for a city park with a picnic table instead of eating in the stuffy car.