He lowered his aim to Jake’s knee and squeezed the trigger
. Jake let out a loud involuntary grunt and fell heavily to the floor, holding his wound as blood oozed through his fingers.
Alan was horrified by the despicable act and the assassin’s cold
cruelty. His beady eyes darted to Alan and he said, “Now I can relax and enjoy the show and if your stupid friend here can stop his sniveling, he can watch too.”
Alan was now yawning uncontroll
ably and Devlin, smiling smugly said, “It won’t be long now. Very soon, sleep will overcome you and the hallucination will implant. Don’t worry; once the killing code in your brain has done its job, we’ll give your disappointing friend a fitting farewell. Goodnight Mr. Beach.”
Alan’s head slumped
forward. Devlin went over and pinched the detective’s ear hard to be certain he was asleep then unlocked the handcuffs and replaced the Glock 9mm into its holster at Alan’s side. He contemptuously patted Beach on the back of the head then turned to walk back to his desk and out of the camera’s view. As he sat down, he clicked the remote to start recording but when he looked back at Beach, the blood drained from his face. Devlin’s gaze was locked; watching in stunned silence as Alan calmly raised his Glock to point it not at himself but directly at Devlin. The billionaire’s jaw dropped in shock and he tried to speak but nothing would come out. Beach smiled and in a mocking tone said, “Surprise.”
The South African
assassin started to raise his gun toward Alan but before he could get a bead on him, Jake loomed up from behind and smashed the heel of his hand into the side of the small man’s head, shattering the temporal bone and rupturing the temporal artery. The little man slumped to the ground with blood quickly filling his brain cavity. Before the assassin could die from excess intracranial pressure, Jake grabbed his Para .45 and pumped one of the heavy slugs into Rygaard’s knee. As the man shrieked in pain, Jake said, “One good turn…” and a few seconds later the South African was dead.
“What…how…” was all
Devlin could manage as Alan walked toward him to take his pistol from the desk.
Jake
pointed his Para .45 at his titanium knee. “Titanium beats lead every time.” he said.
With Jake covering Devlin,
Alan returned his Glock to its holster then reached up to the front of his neck and began peeling a layer of perfectly matched skin color latex away from his throat. He continued to pull the material all the way around the back of his neck until it finally let go with a comical ‘fwap’.
“You were right Jake, that spider web stuff
did the job. What was it…Golden Woven something?” He asked while carefully examining the tightly woven, gold tinged material inside its latex outer coating.
“Golden Orb Weaver
.” Jake said matter-of-factly.
“Wow, that implant thing
must be really small – I can’t see it anywhere.” he continued calmly. “Oh well, I guess they’ll find it at the police lab.”
“
Yeah, I guess they will Alan.” added Jake, as Devlin grimaced in disbelief.
“And I bet they’re going to love this
high definition recording of Devlin’s victory speech!” Alan said smiling as he held up his digital recorder.
“I’d put money on it!” Jake laughed.
Devlin’s face turned bright red with anger and he suddenly lunged at Alan, grabbing for the detective’s throat. Reflexively, Alan swung his left hand inward toward the back of his attacker’s right hand, clamping his fingers around the meat of the thumb. His right hand rose simultaneously to hook his thumb underneath Devlin’s hand as his fingers gripped the middle of the palm. Continuing the single smooth, circular motion, Beach twisted the business mogul’s hand counter-clockwise and past the shoulder, forcing him to his knee then onto his back. Alan held the hand tightly in place, jamming his knee into Devlin’s ribs then he knelt on his prostrate body and looked up at Jake for approval.
“Ten out of ten
grasshopper…ten out of ten.” Jake said proudly. “Now, do you mind if we get a bandage for my knee?”
Chapter 1
9
Alan leaned back with a sigh of satisfaction with Holly draped across his lap on the sofa. He stroked her soft brown hair then sadness briefly crossed his face as he traced his finger gently over the scar on her shoulder and surveyed the moving crates piled neatly in various spots around the room until Holly suddenly sat bolt upright, exclaiming, “It’s on Alan!”
She reached for the remote to turn up the volume and they both watched intently as the special news bulletin began.
*****
“This is Marissa Wilson with our continuing exclusive
coverage of the Devlin Industries conspiracy case. It’s been almost a month since I first broke this astounding story and I’m now standing outside the federal courthouse where the multibillionaire owner of Devlin Industries, Alex Devlin, and Eric Rothstein, the well known computer gaming tycoon are facing multiple murder charges, and several counts of criminal conspiracy, as well as sedition and potentially; treason. The role of Professor Linus Gelling, Head of Research and Development at Blue Sky Biotech, in the case is sealed by the court. The prosecutors so far, will not discuss the reasons for sealing Gelling’s involvement but a secret source has told this reporter he may have turned state’s evidence against the conspirators in exchange for leniency. Neither the Department of Justice nor corporate executives from the Devlin group or Blue Sky Biotech are available for comment.
The evidence
has mounted quickly and the US Attorney’s office has committed a team of the country’s top prosecutors to see this case to a speedy conclusion. A verdict is expected to be forthcoming within the next few days.
I will keep the public informed of any updates as they come to hand.
This is Marissa Wilson reporting from Washington.”
*****
Holly turned to Alan wide-eyed, “Wow…looks like she really owes you now!”
“
Yes, that should keep her off my back for a while. And there should be no hesitation if I ever need a favor from her again. The network has moved her to Washington on a permanent basis and her status is virtually untouchable. Apparently they’ve even given her an executive producer title.”
“
Well, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing – is she still going to be trying to get in your pants?” she teased.
A cheeky smile creased Alan’s face,
“Well, she’s only human after all.”
Holly grabbed a cushion and swung it
playfully into Alan’s face. “You tease!”
He chuckled
good-naturedly and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t worry darling, I only have eyes for you.” Then he stared deeply into her eyes as sadness fell over him and he said, “I’m so sorry for what happened to you. I don’t know what I would…”
Holly placed her finger over his lips and said, “Shhh…I
t wasn’t your fault. Besides, I’m more than capable of dealing with it – I’d better be or I won’t make a very good psychologist, will I. Now that we’re safe, I can look at the whole thing from a different perspective. This may sound strange but it was actually rather exciting – and I finally got to meet your boss!” she smiled playfully. “Don’t worry Alan, I’m fine; honestly.”
They kissed deeply until Holly pulled away
and pouted, “I’m going to miss you though.”
“It’s only a few weeks
Doctor Stuart. Now that you’ve finished your dissertation, you can move to New York and set up house for us. I’ll follow right after graduation.”
“Do you really have to go through the whole training course
?”
“It’s the FBI honey; I don’t think they’re going to let anyone cut corners at the academy.”
“Well, I thought that Jake’s friend would have been able to help you out.”
“I think he’s already done more than enough.
To get into the FBI Academy at my age and without having to go through regular channels is a big deal.”
“Considering what you did, they should make you
Honorary Director of the whole bureau!”
“
I’m sure I’ll be getting some leg-ups once I’m an agent. The president certainly was very expressive of his gratitude but this is the real world and any recruit who wants to be an agent needs to be properly trained and pass all the required tests.”
She sighed then looked
away, “I know…I’m just going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too but it’s not like I’ll be locked away in
some kind of boot camp. I mean you can come for weekends and holidays. The training will be over before you know it and we’ll be together for good.”
“I like the sound of that Special Agent Beach!”
“Whoa, don’t jump the gun. It’s only Agent Trainee Beach for the next five months.”
“With your experience and success as a detective, you’ll be Special Agent Beach soon enough.”
“Maybe you’re right but if it wasn’t for Jake, I never even would have applied.”
“Speaking of Jake, whe
n are we going to see him and his beautiful new lady again? I’d like to thank the man who saved my future husband’s life again.”
“Who knows?
Angie’s very secretive about her location – she could be anywhere really. Obviously Jake knows where she is but I guess they’re probably onto some new case by now. With Jake, you never know – he’s one very motivated and disciplined man. Anyway, are you ready for dinner with Captain Walker and his clan?”
“I just need to put some lipstick on and I’m ready.
It seems funny to call him Captain Walker after becoming so close to him and his family while you were off saving the world.”
“I wouldn’t say saving the world – more like catching a ma
dman. Anyway, Tom deserved the promotion and having one of his detectives involved in the biggest case this country has seen in years didn’t hurt his chances. I’m really happy for him but at the same time, quite amazed that he was able to keep your rescue off the books. I still have trouble seeing him as a highly trained killer. He’s such a family man!”
“Well, you didn’t see him in action like I did.
Trust me; be glad he’s on our side.”
As the couple got ready to leave Holly’s apartment
; halfway across the country, near Groom Lake, Nevada, a helicopter approached the side of a massive rocky escarpment. Professor Linus Gelling watched out the window as the military chopper neared its destination. It was his third trip back since he was seconded to the top secret base a month earlier and he was always amazed by the fact that there was no road or track leading to their destination. In fact, even from the air, there was no trace whatsoever; no indication of what lay under that huge, red, rocky escarpment. He wondered how they managed to bring in so many supplies and so much technical equipment without leaving the slightest trace. He didn’t dare to imagine the amount of earth moving and construction equipment it must have taken to build the massive bunker in the first place.
The
Twin Huey utility chopper touched down twenty yards from the edge of a large outcrop and waited just long enough for Gelling and his two guards to exit before the pilot wound up the rotor, adjusted the pitch and lifted the powerful beast into the sky, heading back to the secret air base it came from.
The three men walked
in silence to the foot of a rocky wall and one of the guards put his hand on a natural looking six inch square rock, which silently drew inward and to one side to reveal a high tech biometric security system with enhanced retinal scanning technology. He entered a code into the keypad then moved his face in for the system to scan his eye. The other guard did the same, followed by Gelling, and the huge rock wall emitted a deep groan as it began to pivot on a twenty five inch diameter case hardened steel spigot. A few seconds later, a gap wide enough for a supply truck opened up for them to walk through. The door was elevated two inches above ground level to avoid leaving any trace of its movement across the desert floor, while still allowing trucks to drive into the facility’s loading bay.
As they entered, the massive door began to close behind them and two MP
’s approached to pat all three men down and check their identification. Once satisfied, they waved Gelling and his guards on to the metal detector and body scanning station, and from there, they continued toward the elevators. A guard pressed the call button and they boarded as the elevator doors swished open. He then selected underground floor number seven and the car flowed smoothly downward to its destination.
The doors opened to a wide hallway
and the men turned left then walked about seventy paces past various electronically sealed, steel doors with coded numbers above them. Gelling wondered how many of these rooms there were in this place but whenever he asked, the response was silence. They finally reached the number Gelling had come to know as home. One of the guards leaned in for a retinal scan and Gelling followed. The magnetic lock clunked open and the guard pushed the door open for Gelling to enter then let it close automatically.
Alone again, Gelling reflected on his new life.
His room was certainly comfortable and well appointed with every accessory he could ask for. It had tall ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, a very comfortable lounge area with a modern entertainment system, and his sleeping quarters were like a five star hotel. He really couldn’t complain, but the fact that he was basically a prisoner in this secret facility was a feeling with which he was still coming to terms.
Still; his work had always come first and his laboratory
was comprehensively fitted with the most up to date equipment of its kind in the world. He had excellent support staff and the freedom to work unhindered – as long as he met the milestones his military hosts set for him. In the outside world, he had lived for his work. He’d sacrificed any kind of personal life many years before so if he thought pragmatically, this was really no different to his former life as a free man – at least he hadn’t been sent to some maximum security federal prison, like Devlin had. No, he really couldn’t complain. The government needed him and it was nice to be needed. His work was just as important to them as it was to him so he should be happy – but he still felt strangely unsettled and couldn’t quite put his finger on why.
He made himself a cup of tea and was sipping it while reading the newspaper, when the lock on his heavy door clunked open
and a guard appeared. “Colonel Watson would like to see you in his office professor.” the man said.
Gelling put his cup in the sink and followed the guard out the door and back to the elevators.
They went to underground floor number five and the soldier led him down the hall to Watson’s office. Gelling had met the colonel many times before to update him on his work so such visits were not unusual but this time was different. As he entered the office, Gelling saw the back of someone seated, facing the colonel at his desk. Their meetings had always been one on one up until now so he didn’t know what to expect.
“Come in Professor.” Watson called out.
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Actually, I think you two are already acquainted.”
The person stood, and as she turned, Gelling recognized her stern face.
They had met at an international conference a few years ago and he’d found her work most intriguing. Dr. Olga Voronin was a renowned expert in her very specialized field of sensory signal interpretation. She was known to have discovered several previously unknown neural pathways associated with how the brain receives and interprets sensory inputs from all five senses.
“Dr.
Voronin; it’s a pleasure to see you again. But I don’t understand – how can you be here?!” he asked.
In her heavy Russian
accent, Olga greeted Gelling, “Eet’s good to see you again too professor.”
“
Dr. Veronin has become, shall we say, disenchanted with her masters in Russia. They cut her budget dramatically because they felt that her research was stalling and would not produce any useable technology. Combine that with third world living standards and she thought it was time to approach us. Once we knew the extent of her research, the potential of combining her discoveries with your project became very obvious. The CIA helped her to defect and here she is.”
Gelling’s brilliant mind immediately
tried to process the possibilities but he couldn’t clearly identify any real benefit from combining Olga’s research with Project Hallucineers. “I’m sorry colonel but I can’t see the applications.”
“That’s because you think like a scientist and not a strategist professor.
You designed SSCH technology to help people with psychiatric disorders. It was Devlin who corrupted it for his own use. You’re looking for general human benefits where we’re more concerned with the military and economic health of our great nation on a geopolitical scale.”
“I’m afraid I still don’t follow.”
“I’m really not sure I do either colonel.” Olga said.
“This is exactly why the military should be in charge of such ventures.
We can see not only the big picture but identify opportunities where others would see nothing. You two are going to have a wedding.”
“Vot?!” Olga
demanded.