Springing into action, Walter bounded for the door. “Yes sir,” he nodded. Daylight pierced the dark room’s interior as he pulled it open, creating stark contrasts within. Reflexively, he covered his eyes with one, enormous arm.
Golden light flickered across Niclas’s face as the inside of the open pocket watch reflected like a mirror in the sun. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a vision of his father in the polished metal. His hand flinched, causing him to drop the antiquated timepiece to the floor. The distinct sound of breaking glass distracted him only for a moment as he quickly turned to see Walter still patiently holding the open door. Taking a deep breath, he composed himself and leaned over to pick up the pieces of his broken keepsake. After more than fifty years of tireless movement, the gears had come to a halt. His hands trembled as he closed the watch and ceremoniously returned it to his shirt pocket.
He stood tall, his spine cracking audibly, and gathered up the canister he had left sitting on the counter. “We’ve lingered here too long. We must hurry, Walter,” he urged, shuffling to the door as quickly as he could, given the stiffness which had quickly found its way back into his weary bones. The shimmering image of his father’s worried face still burned in his mind. Niclas couldn’t say just why, but after all these years it felt as if the one thing he once had in abundance was suddenly turned against him. Time was running out.
Chapter 33
Regulations
AS SETH STEERED the old Ford Galaxie toward reservoir sixteen, her big 352 V-8 engine let loose a deep, guttural growl. It had been some time since someone other than Leo had been behind the wheel and the faithful vehicle was not being shy about voicing its displeasure. Leo’s forlorn look as he rode away in Agent Toth’s Crown Victoria was still rattling around in Seth’s thoughts when he took another tire-squealing turn toward his destination. At first, he was unsure if his partner was going to miss him or Gertrude, but after some consideration he was sure it was the car.
Despite the need to concentrate with every turn as he barreled headlong down sleepy residential streets, Seth found himself pondering the motivations of the man he was clamoring to find. From what Professor Shukla had said, things the man had done, even if unwittingly, haunted Niclas Kappel. Why now would he be doing something like this on purpose? How one atrocity would make amends for another was beyond Seth. He couldn’t make sense of it but knew that no matter the motivation, Kappel must be stopped at any cost.
Gertrude’s tires skidded loudly as Seth stepped hard on the brake pedal, nearly overshooting the small parking area adjacent to the pump station. He removed his seat belt and quickly pushed open the heavy car door with a loud creak. He ducked out of his seat, keeping his distance from the main building until he could get a good look at the surrounding area. Without the detailed set of directions from Captain Fillion, Seth was certain he would never have found this place with just the address. The building had a low profile, was painted battleship gray, and was without windows. The surrounding chain-link fence was laced with menacing razor wire. There appeared to be only one entrance from this side of the building, up worn-looking cement stairs. Mounted on a nearby telephone pole, a solitary security camera rotated slowly back and forth as it scanned the area. It was a good bet that whoever was inside already knew he was here. They had called this type of structure an ‘Alamo’ during field training: No escape routes, but getting in was going to cost you. If the failed siege in Waco Texas had proved anything it was that some scenarios just plain suck.
Although aware that there may be eyes watching him from inside, Seth didn’t see any vantage points for an ambush, at least not until he attempted entry into the building. Drawing his weapon, he moved quickly toward the stairs but skidded to an abrupt halt when the shrill ring of his cell phone emanated from his coat pocket. “Dammit,” he cursed under his breath, stopping abruptly and running back to the relative safety of the vehicle. Angry at himself for forgetting to silence the phone before moving in, he closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He knew that a mistake like that could have cost him the element of surprise, or worse. Deciding that the element of surprise had been unlikely with the surveillance anyway, he activated the cell’s hands-free speaker and placed it on the driver’s seat. “Agent Alexander,” he spoke quietly as he peered over the top edge of the open car door and drew his weapon.
“Thank heavens I reached you! I was afraid your phone was turned off,” said Professor Shukla, the relief in her voice apparent despite the telltale crackle of poor phone reception.
Not in the most comfortable position for a conversation, Seth tried to hurry the conversation along. “I’m about to search pump house sixteen. Can you make it quick?” he asked, pulling the slide back on his pistol as he loaded a bullet into the chamber with a resonating click.
“Kappel won’t be there,” said Manisha, her voice urgent, but certain.
Crouching down behind the door, he turned toward the phone. “What makes you say that?” he asked, his finger still hovering over his pistol’s safety.
“The police department connected me with the Madison Water Utility and told me exactly what area of the city each pump sends water to,” she said quickly. “The pump you’re at now distributes drinking water primarily to the UW campus.”
“That sounds like a pretty big target to me,” said Seth, flipping the safety toggle to the off position as his shoulder’s tensed.
“Not in July, it’s not,” she assured him. “Based on water usage this time of year, my best guess would be that Kappel will contaminate the pump that serves the capitol building and the rest of the downtown area,” she hypothesized.
Seth could hear the sound of a pencil tapping repeatedly on a hard surface while Manisha spoke.
“Also, it just so happens that the reservoir was drained for maintenance and will be refilled today, which means the virus would permeate the system more quickly than if introduced to a full, already chemically-treated well,” she added, her voice quavering slightly as worry continued to invade her thoughts.
Re-engaging the safety, Seth loosened his grip on his sidearm. “Which pump are we...?”
“Reservoir seventeen,” she answered quickly, having anticipated his questions, her tone urgent.
A menacing chill slithered quickly up Seth’s back and seemed to coil around his neck like a python. “Why are you telling me this?” he demanded. “You need to warn Leo and Joshua. That’s where they’re headed!” he urged. He holstered his firearm and jumped into Gertrude’s cavernous front seat, nearly crushing the cell phone in the process. He grabbed it and placed it on the passenger seat.
An audible sigh, barely distinguishable from intermittent bursts of static, radiated from the phone’s speaker. “I tried, but it went straight to his voice mail. Their phone must be turned off,” said Manisha, her voice riddled with frustration.
Nodding, Seth realized the likely reason why they couldn’t be reached. “It’s regulation when attempting to go quietly into a potentially hostile situation,” he said, reaching down to pull the seat belt across his body and clip it in place. It was easy to imagine Joshua annoyingly quoting the field manual to a disinterested Leo as they saw the pump house.
“One of the city engineers I spoke with said that the pump technician at seventeen didn’t answer the last time they called him, either. They figured he was on break,” she said, swallowing hard enough to be audible through the phone.
It seemed ever more likely that Leo and Joshua were heading into a dangerous situation. Seth reached above the sun visor and removed the sheet of paper John had given him before leaving on his own fruitless search. “I have the address and I don’t think it’s far from here,” he said, hoping his mental map of the area was accurate. “Call Fillion and bring him up to speed. Ask him to send everyone he can spare to reservoir seventeen,” he ordered, leaning toward the phone to ensure he was being heard.
“I’ll call right away,” she agreed. Thinking the call had ended, Seth rea
ched over to pick up the phone and put it away. He stopped suddenly as the sound of a shallow breath caught his attention. “Please hurry,” whispered Manisha, and the phone went silent.
Securing the phone in his pocket, he reached for the ignition, which still held Gertrude’s overburdened keychain. As he turned the ignition key, nothing happened. The chime of jingling metal was the action’s only effect. “Oh dear Lord, not now,” seethed Seth, turning the key a second time. Again, only jingling. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned bone white. “Listen, I know we haven’t always gotten along, but this is for Leo,” he pleaded, loosening his grip. “I’ll put premium in next time, too, I promise!” he said, resting his forehead on the top of the steering wheel as he turned the key again.
The engine seemed to roar to life before the key had been fully turned. “Yes! Atta girl!” exclaimed Seth. He put the car into reverse and pressed hard on the accelerator, forcing rubber fumes and white smoke to billow from the tires. He turned the wheel sharply and brought the bulky car around with a screeching 180-degree turn.
Slamming his foot to the floor, Agent Alexander again found himself racing down Madison’s side streets. Danger lay at the end of this journey, he could feel it. This was not the first time he was sent hurtling headlong into such a confrontation. As a rookie police officer full of optimism, he had always felt that every situation could have a positive outcome if the right tactics were employed. He hadn’t believed in no-win scenarios back then. Maturity, and one terrifying, life-altering experience in particular had taught him otherwise. His focus on this mission had abruptly changed. Acutely aware that the pit growing in his stomach was for the safety of his friends and not a result of anxiety about what Niclas may do, it no longer mattered what the madman’s motivations were. The only thing of importance to Seth was that he get there in time.
Something in the way Gertrude sailed steadily through the turns told him that time may, for once, be on his side.
Chapter 34
Breaking Down
THE UNMARKED BUT quickly recognizable shape of a deep blue Ford Crown Victoria emerged from the shady frontage road running parallel to pump station seventeen. Recalling his tactics training, Agent Toth pulled the vehicle along the far side of a large green van, which would provide cover should someone be watching their approach from the building.
As soon as the vehicle came to a complete stop, Leo pushed open the passenger side door and quickly exited. Playing the part of passenger tended to make him carsick, but tolerating the ride while also having to endure a litany of reminders about regulations when entering a potentially hostile situation was enough to make anyone queasy. He leaned heavily against the van, keeping it between him and the drab municipal building, as he took a few deep, cleansing breaths.
Staying low, Joshua walked around the back of the car and joined Leo next to the van, his weapon already drawn.
Though Leo’s carsickness passed quickly, it was soon replaced by a very different kind of unpleasant feeling. A quick scan of the area told him that they were at a significant tactical disadvantage. “Do you remember what we call a structure where the way in is also the only way out?” he asked, throwing an easy one to his regulation-quoting companion.
Nodding confidently, Joshua quickly offered an answer. “I remember during hostage rescue training there was an Agent Perkins who referred to it as an Alamo. That’s what this looks like to me, too,” he agreed. “Except they can see us, and we can’t see them,” he added, pointing to the nearby surveillance camera aimed in their direction.
Letting out a long exhale, Leo shook his head. “That’s just lovely,” he said sarcastically. “I guess we’d better see if anybody’s home.” Unclipping his holster, he decided to leave his weapon undrawn.
Skeptical, Joshua raised an eyebrow. “So, your plan is to just walk right up and knock on the door?”
Pointing to the top of the narrow staircase, Leo shook his head. “That’s a solid steel, reinforced door. Knocking may be our only option unless you happen to have a battering ram in the backseat,” he said, looking doubtfully at the Crown Vic.
“That’s not exactly standard equipment for an agency vehicle,” shrugged Joshua.
Groaning disappointedly, Leo knew he should have made Seth take the Crown Vic. “It is in mine”
“Like you could find it,” said Joshua under his breath, but still loudly enough for Leo to hear. “Anyway, you’re in charge, so make a call,” he challenged, reluctantly deferring to the senior agent.
Peering through the van’s bluish windshield, Leo considered the tenuous set of stairs leading to the stronghold. “That’s it then, we knock,” he sighed. He waved toward the security camera and smiled a toothy grin as he stepped out from behind cover and approached the concrete base of the stairway. Holding the thin railing tightly with his left hand, he put his right on the grip of his sidearm and began a cautious ascent. He glanced over his shoulder briefly to ensure his rookie companion was playing his part. Despite his lack of field experience, Joshua was proving to be cool under pressure. Following with precise adherence to tactical procedure, he stayed a few feet behind with his weapon at the ready. Leo remembered his first time in a hostile situation and how frightened he had felt. No matter how calm Joshua appeared to be, there was little doubt that he was feeling it, too. Training helps, but fear never really goes away.
As he reached the top of the stairs, Leo pushed lightly on the heavy metal door. To his surprise, it creaked open slightly to reveal a small, dimly lit room and a panel teaming with glowing lights like something from a low-budget science-fiction movie. The steady resonating din of the water pump could be heard, and felt, throughout the building. As he took one step inside, the sound became deafening.
“FBI!” Leo announced loudly into the dark room, raising his weapon and visually scanning the area illuminated by the sunlight coming from behind him. “Show yourselves and put your hands on your head!” Drowned out by the reverberating echo of machinery; his demand was met with no response.
As his eyes adjusted, he could make out the figure of a person leaning back in a chair with feet propped up and crossed on a tabletop. Appearing to be taking an afternoon nap, a hard hat was pulled down over the man’s eyes and his bearded chin was tucked toward his chest. Warily approaching the resting man, Leo yelled to rouse him. “Sir, FBI. Wake up sir!”
Entering the room a moment later, Joshua swung the door fully open, letting light flood in from the outside. Concealed shadows disappeared to reveal a figure approaching Leo from his blind side. There was precious little time to scream a warning. “Watch out!” Still partially in shadow, a huge man leapt at the unsuspecting Agent. As he raised his firearm, Joshua felt something grip his face around the nose and mouth. It suddenly occurred to him that he had neglected to secure the area immediately around him before moving in to help his partner—a true rookie mistake if ever there was one. Trying to pull away from the bony grasp, he heard his weapon fall to the floor as the world around him went dark.
Looking up just in time to see what seemed like a part of the room moving toward him, Leo attempted to bring his weapon to bear on the assailant. Struck with enough force to knock his weapon from his hands, he crumpled to the ground. His eyes blurred as the massive figure again lunged toward him, grunting audibly with the effort. Instinctively, Leo rolled away and came quickly to his feet. He could see the silhouette of his attacker standing broadly in front of him, pausing as if surprised at his quarry’s ability to evade capture. Stepping back, Leo felt his leg bump against something on the floor. He looked down and immediately recognized Joshua, lying motionless near the open doorway. Out of the corner of his eye he sensed movement and turned to see an old man lunging toward him, holding something white in his hand. Trying desperately to stay out of reach, Leo stumbled over Joshua and out the open door. He tried to regain his balance by grabbing the railing as he landed awkwardly on the first step. The rickety metal flexed
outward, springing away from his outstretched hand. Grasping at nothing but air, his arms flailed and he fell onto his back, sliding painfully down the unforgiving steps. As he hit the first landing his upper back struck with a heavy thud, while his momentum carried his legs upward and back over his head. He would have continued somersaulting down the last flight of stairs had it not been for his right leg catching between the two horizontal bars of the tarnished metal railing. A sickening crack, followed by an anguished scream, heralded his jarring halt. His first thought was to look around and see where the cry had come from, but intense tingling in his twisted leg told the story. It did not seem possible that the hideous noise had come from himself, but there was no other possible explanation.
Feeling consciousness wane, Leo tried to move, but instantly yelped in pain. Holding his right leg reflexively, he felt something sharp sticking into his palm. As he looked down he saw blood, pulsing from his lower thigh like an artesian spring, increasing and decreasing flow with every ragged beat of his heart. He realized in horror that the bone had broken completely and pushed its way through the skin, tearing through muscle, tendons, and veins along the way. With unfocused eyes he peered to the top of the stairs and saw the pale face of an old man looking down at him, still holding a white rag in his hand. Leo’s eyes rolled back, his vision slowly fading from the pain and loss of blood. As the rest of his senses began to shut down, he was amazed to find that there was little pain. His perceptions provided nothing more than a collage of images. His parents, relatives, Seth, and, of course, Gertrude all revolved around a new central image. A feeling of peace swept over him as the image of Manisha comforted him while he drifted further and further into oblivion.
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