by Lisa Harris
“You scared me when you didn’t answer my calls or texts,” Aiden shot back.
“Yeah, about that—”
“Look, once we get this virus under control, we’ll work on our protocols so that the next time we dig up something big, we won’t have a communication breakdown.”
“Aiden.” Rachel had joined their huddle unnoticed.
Iceman eyed her approvingly. “If this beauty is the brains behind what you’ve been up to, no wonder you’ve laid low.”
“Leave it alone, Ice.” Aiden indicated they all should sit. “This is Dr. Rachel Allen. An epidemiologist and viral researcher at Gaumond Labs.”
“Aiden has always kept the best for himself,” Iceman said, like he was joking. But the words had a knife-blade edge.
“Really?” She wrapped her hands around one of the warm cups to steady her nerves. “That’s not been my experience at all.” Hair rose on the back of her neck in defense of what she perceived to be a cut against the man she’d come to care for. No. She couldn’t allow herself to think that way.
Aiden pushed one of the cups of noisette toward his friend. “Tell me what you know about what’s happening in Tibet.”
“It’s bad. The disease is spreading rapidly. We need that virus.”
Rachel saw a flicker of hesitation in Aiden’s eyes. “We’ve been doing some extensive testing.”
“What kind of testing?”
“The kind that brings an end to an outbreak before it becomes a pandemic.”
“Old man Zimmern helping you?”
“I’m here in Istanbul, aren’t I?”
“Which is why I’m here now. I knew you’d go to him for help. We need to get the virus back to DC. This is bigger than the both of us.
Aiden shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
Rachel looked up. Two men dressed in black, the two men who’d chased them out of Gaumond Labs, were headed toward their table. “Aiden!” she whispered.
Aiden’s gaze darted to where she’d nodded then back to Iceman. “You were followed?”
“It’s not possible.”
The men were coming closer, their hands going to the guns tucked inside their jackets.
Rachel flipped the table as one of the men in black shouted at them. Hot coffee spilled into Iceman’s lap. “Run!” she screamed as she grabbed Aiden’s hand.
Chapter Fifteen
Aiden jumped to his feet. Shots rang out and the glass pastry counter exploded. He pulled Rachel through the people scattering for cover.
“This way!” he shouted, as the three of them ran out the back door and turned into the crowded walkways of the market, trying to disappear into the crowd. He’d been certain they hadn’t been followed to meet Iceman, but someone had tracked them down. Or had it been Iceman who’d given them away? He’d heard someone call out Iceman’s name—Calum—or had he just imagined it?
At the moment, the only thing that mattered was that someone had found them. He guided them through a maze of narrow avenues and streets beneath the covered marketplace, his mind on only one thing. They had to lead whoever was after them away from Charlie and the virus.
They weaved in and out of haggling shoppers and sellers and through the crowded passageways lined with small shops selling everything from jewelry to furniture to leather goods and every kind of trinket in between. Iceman plowed into a container of rolled carpets, scattering them across the floor. Someone shouted. Aiden gripped Rachel’s hand tighter, dodging around a group of tourists. He glanced behind them as they took another right then ran out of one of the exits. Once outside, he glanced behind them again. He couldn’t see the men who’d come after them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there.
“Come on!” He hurried down the narrow one-way pedestrian streets until he found a small alcove with a painted doorway. He tucked Rachel against the wall and squeezed in to make room for Iceman. Aiden’s heart pounded as he glanced down the street sprinkled with people casually going on about their lives, but there was still no sign of the men he recognized as the same men who’d chased him and Rachel through DC.
He gripped Rachel’s elbow. “You okay?”
Rachel nodded. “I think we lost them.”
“I think so too, but I need to talk to Charlie.” Aiden pulled out his phone, his frustration mounting when the old man didn’t answer.
“Here’s what I don’t understand,” Rachel huffed, still trying to catch her breath. “If they want the virus, why are they shooting at us? Doesn’t that seem counterproductive?”
Aiden turned to Iceman, still alert for signs of the armed men dressed in black. “Do you know who they are?”
“Man, I’m as clueless as you are.”
“They called your name.”
A sick feeling washed through Aiden as his mind forced him to go to a place he’d been avoiding. He, Rachel, and Charlie had hashed over the possibility that it had been someone on the inside who was involved in stealing the information. But surely it wasn’t Ice. They’d been best friends in college. Aiden had helped get him a job in his father’s company. He’d trust him with his life. But something wasn’t adding up.
“Ice?”
“I don’t know. They must have followed me. I’m sorry. I tried to be careful.”
Something about his friend’s response seemed off. Aiden wasn’t buying his excuses. “You know who they are, don’t you?”
“Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it has to be someone after the virus.”
“Yes, but you said you had information on who was behind this.”
“I do, but not here.” He glanced down the street. “We need to go somewhere safe. Somewhere private.” Iceman’s phone dinged. He ignored it. “Let’s go.” He was nervous. On edge. They all were. But it was more than that.
Aiden caught a flicker of panic in Iceman’s eyes. “Why are you really here?”
“I already told you. I figured you’d come here to see Charlie—”
“Ice. . .We’ve known each other for years.” Aiden’s gaze cut from his friend to the crowded street, then back to his friend. “What have you done? They were shooting at you. They called your name.”
Iceman’s jaw tensed. His brow beaded with sweat.
“Just tell me,” Aiden said.
“I’m in trouble.” Iceman pressed his back against the doorway. “I’m sorry, okay? I never meant for things to go this far, but I needed money, and they offered me a deal if I could get them the virus, but then. . .then you took off with it, and everything changed.”
“We weren’t supposed to be at the lab, right?”
Iceman nodded. “You were supposed to think it was just a robbery.”
“Tell me what happened,” Aiden demanded. “From the beginning.”
“I got an email. They were interested in buying the virus. Somehow they knew about my gambling debts.”
“So they blackmailed you?”
“Apparently, I was the perfect mark.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I’m sorry, man.” Iceman’s chest heaved as he took in a breath. “You’ve always had everything you wanted. But I don’t. I needed the money and—”
“You sold us out.” Aiden couldn’t hold back his disappointment. “Everything we’ve worked for.”
“They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. If you were in my position—”
“I wouldn’t have compromised this mission or my ethics.” Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to take in what Ice was saying. Trying to push aside the feelings of betrayal. “Haven’t I always helped you?”
“Comes a time when a man has to stand on his own two feet. I’m tired of being your charity case.”
“Charity?” Aiden shook his head. “Ice, I thought we were friends. Friends don’t sell each other out.”
“Their offer would have set me up for a very long time but—”
“But you didn’t know how to find Charlie, right?”
�
��I’m sorry, Aiden. I need that virus.”
“I trusted you. I’ve always trusted you like a brother.” Anger and betrayal flooded through him, but those emotions weren’t going to change the situation. “Who are they?”
“An interested party. Someone who knows about the virus.”
“Whoever was intercepting our communications, right?”
Iceman nodded.
“In the wrong hands this virus can be turned into a bioweapon.” Rachel spoke up for the first time. “Surely you knew that.”
“It’s too late to stop them,” Iceman said. “And if I don’t get them what they want, somebody else will.”
“I still don’t understand why they were shooting at you if you’re supposed to lead them to the virus,” Rachel said.
Iceman’s gaze shifted to the gray cobblestone. “I got a second offer. A better offer.”
“Wait a minute,” Aiden said. “What are you saying?”
“It was stupid, I know. I really am sorry.”
“Sorry you made the deal, or sorry they’re after you now?”
“About everything,” Iceman confessed.
“We’ll settle this later. Let’s go.” Aiden pressed close to Rachel, his mind whirring as they jostled through the crowded street leading toward the ferry terminal, hoping they blended into the crowd. He didn’t know how long he could stall, but hopefully it would be long enough for Charlie to realize he needed to pack up and head for the rendezvous point. Ten minutes later, he checked his phone for a message from Charlie.
Still no response.
They boarded the ferry and headed to the upper deck. Iceman guided them to the rail where all three of them watched as people boarded. There was still no sign of the men who’d chased them through the bazaar. As far as Aiden could tell, they’d lost their tail. But not hearing from Charlie had his anxiety rising. They couldn’t go back to the apartment. Not if there was any chance they were being followed. And he couldn’t trust Iceman. Which left them where?
Rachel sat on one of the wooden benches, staring out at the gulls diving alongside the boat. Historical minarets and the distinctive domes of the mosques and houses lined either shore as the ferry sailed from the European side of the city back to the Asian side. Feelings of protection tugged at Aiden’s heart. The confinement of the lab and Charlie’s apartment had given him the illusion that he was keeping Rachel safe. He never should have brought her with him today. Never should have brought her to Istanbul. But he’d never regret the time they’d spent together.
Iceman stepped up next to him at the railing. “I really am sorry.”
“Prove it.”
“I have information on who these guys are. If I give it to you, maybe we can stop this. Your father has connections. He’ll know what to do.”
“And what happens to you?”
“We use Ballinger resources to help me disappear.”
Aiden frowned. He couldn’t believe they were even having this conversation. “You’ve clearly made enemies. My dad’s not a fan of making enemies.”
“What are you suggesting? That I turn myself in?”
“If you don’t, I will.”
“You’ve always been so perfect. Playing by the rules.”
Aidan caught the bitterness in his voice. How had it come to this? How had he not seen this coming? “What’s the name of your contact?”
Iceman hesitated before answering. “He goes by the Titan. He contacted me via a text.”
“Do you have the number?”
“I’m broke, not stupid. I kept all of our correspondence for insurance.”
“I believe you’re brilliant. That’s what makes this so disappointing.” Aiden studied his friend’s face. On the surface Ice was handsome, tan, and capable of having the world on a string. How had he missed the broken thinking behind that perfect face? “Forward me everything you have. I have someone who might be able to help find out who’s behind this.”
Iceman pulled out his phone and forwarded the information. “Does this mean you’ll help me disappear—”
“I need to think about that.”
“Fine. I understand.”
“Iceman.”
“Forget it. You don’t owe me anything.” Iceman tugged on the bottom of his jacket. “I’m going to get some tea, but don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
Aiden watched his friend walk away, then went to join Rachel on the bench, burying his feelings for the moment. “You warm enough? They have hot drinks downstairs.”
“You trust that he’s not slipped away to secretly let them know where to find us?”
Aiden shrugged. “I hope not. Your instincts were right. I wish I had listened.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I always saw him as a brother, and now. . .How could I have missed the resentment he’s always felt toward me?”
“As hard as it is, sometimes nothing you do is enough for some people.”
“That’s not an easy thing to live with.”
“Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
Aiden pulled out his phone. “He sent me his correspondence with the buyer. I’ll send it to my dad. I’m hoping he’ll be able to help.”
“What about Charlie?”
“We can’t go back to the lab. We can’t take the chance they could track us. All I can do is keep trying to contact him.”
“And in the meantime?”
“I guess we find a place to stay under the radar.”
“Charlie’s almost done with the cloning. I think it’s time we enlisted the CDC or WHO.”
He nodded. Knew she was right. She looked up at him, eyes wide, lips pursed slightly. He suppressed the desire to kiss her again. Charlie was wrong. No matter what he did, she was never going to see him as just a normal guy. Just like Iceman. And there was nothing he could do to change who he was. They’d figure out how to get out of this mess they were in, and then she’d walk away.
A shot fired, jerking his attention away from his thoughts. They jumped up and headed toward the end of the ferry as it approached the shoreline. A commotion had broken out on the lower deck.
Rachel grabbed his arm. “Aiden. . .”
Passengers were screaming and running toward the railing as the ferry eased up to the dock. People on shore shouted. Someone had fallen overboard. A smaller boat sped away from the ferry. Shouts intensified as Aiden caught sight of Iceman’s lifeless body bobbing in the water.
Chapter Sixteen
Aiden started for the water. “Ice!”
“No!” Rachel grabbed Aiden’s arm and pulled him back from climbing over the rail, her gaze darting to find the person who’d fired that shot.
“I’ve got to help him—”
“Whoever shot Iceman must know we didn’t give him the virus. They’ll come for us next, Aiden.” She hated the tangle of betrayal and unanswered questions swirling in Aiden’s eyes. “We’ve got to protect Charlie and the virus.”
He stared at her as if he needed to sit down with a hot cup of noisette and make sense out of this before he could move. But this was an equation more complicated than any they’d solved together this week. Waiting for a clear-cut answer was a luxury they didn’t have.
She pulled him away from the dark, choppy water splashing against the dock. “Now, Aiden! We have to go now!”
Hand in hand, they snaked their way through the crowd gathering at the pier’s edge to see what had happened. With each step, she felt Aiden’s resistance to accepting the ugly truth lessen. They may never know the who, what, or why of Iceman’s decision to sell out his longtime friend. Distant sirens drew closer.
“We’ve got to disappear before the police get here,” Aiden said, his eyes suddenly clear and focused.
“Maybe it’s time to get help.”
“Who are we supposed to trust here?” Aiden’s adrenaline and self-preservation had kicked in and he reclaimed the lead. “They find Charlie and this is not going to end pretty.” He nodded toward the b
us stop. “Come on.”
They climbed aboard the next bus. Aiden led Rachel to the only empty seat. He stood beside her and held on to the overhead rail.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere off the grid until we can get ahold of Charlie,” he said. “We’ll get off at the next stop.” He leaned down and whispered, “Once we’re clear of all these prying eyes, you call Charlie and let him know what’s up. I’ll make sure we aren’t being followed.”
Rachel nodded, pulled her phone out, and mentally rehearsed the number she’d memorized for Charlie and hoped her hands weren’t too shaky to dial.
“If we get separated, or if anything happens to me, I want you to go to the Kadiköy Rihtim Otel.”
“The Kadiköy Rihtim Otel,” she repeated.
“Go there and call my dad.”
Another number, along with the number of Aiden’s burner phone, that she’d been expected to memorize. The idea that either of them could suffer Iceman’s fate was a possibility she did not want to think about.
“Aiden—”
He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “You can do this, okay?”
“This city is a maze.”
“It’s near the water, and anyone should be able to give you directions.” The bus screeched to a stop. “Let’s go.”
Rachel inched past Aiden and exited first into a cold, light mist making the street slick beneath her running shoes.
Aiden’s phone dinged.
“Give me a sec,” Aiden said, grabbing for his phone. “It might be Charlie.”
The crowd pushed her forward. She forced her way out of the throng of people toward the row of shops, then turned around.
Where was Aiden?
A strong arm hooked her around the waist. Her phone went flying.
“Don’t make a scene.” A gloved hand came from behind, showing her the weapon. She kicked and clawed against the strength dragging her away. The oblivious crowd closed in behind them the way sand fills a hole. Aiden would never find her now.