"Easy. Tell her the lie in front of Askins and the Joint Chiefs. Tell her the truth later."
"That sounds horrible," I said.
"But necessary. Let them think they took you down in their well-calculated explosions. You'll be on your own to track the enemy for the most part, but with you seemingly out of the way, he may poke his head out of his shell, anyway. People are already working on their presidential runs. If he's not in the public eye soon, how will anyone know to vote for him?"
"I honestly don't give a fuck about politics. I just want the bastard dead," Rafe hissed. "What are you planning to do with the prisoners downstairs?"
I could tell he wanted to kill both of them.
"I have contacts," Matt offered. "With Corinne's help, I think we can lock them up for as long as necessary."
* * *
My help entailed disguises for Marcus and Dublin Mary. They now looked like escaped criminals that Matt assured me were dead-but nobody besides him and a handful of his agents knew that.
They'd be transferred back to their respective prisons, held in private cells and nobody would ask questions.
"We have transportation arranged to get back to D.C." Auggie said as he surveyed my work. Marcus glared at all of us from the cot inside his cell. After his capture, whenever he saw me, all he could say was "dead."
He was saying it now.
Repeatedly.
Somehow, the enemy had fucked with his head. Leo, who'd examined Marcus and asked him questions shortly after his arrival, said he'd never seen anything like it. He'd seen victims of brainwashing and mind control before, but that had always taken time to achieve.
Marcus' alteration had taken hours, at most. I still couldn't see past the fog of it, so we were no closer to an explanation than we were before.
Blood and tissue was extracted from Dublin Mary, so Richard Farrell could study it to see whether there was a way to tell who she was before, but Auggie didn't hold any hope for that-she was an exact replica of the original, fingerprints included. All I could do was consider that the drug was damned efficient in what it did.
"How much of it is left?" I turned to Auggie. "The drug?"
"Plenty. It only takes a small amount for a human, depending on their weight."
"So the Russians may have even more of it. Has anybody been able to duplicate it?"
"No, thank God."
"Are you going to report that Marcus is dead, then?"
"For now. They'll believe that-they wouldn't leave him alive if they were in our shoes."
"Good."
"Corinne, what are you going to do?"
"Make it impossible to talk about any of us or the Program," I said, lifting a hand. Auggie stared as light formed around my fingers, until it shot straight at Marcus' head.
No, he wasn't harmed. He merely had memories blocked about his time with the Program and anyone else involved, including the enemy.
I didn't want him carrying tales to fellow prisoners or prison guards. At Auggie's nod, I did the same for Dublin Mary. Let someone question them now. They wouldn't get a thing.
I turned to leave the holding cells, Auggie and Leo right behind me. "I'm no longer updating my files, Corinne," Leo informed me as we stepped inside the elevator. Auggie hit the button for the main level while Leo nodded to me. "By this time tomorrow, we'll be back in D.C., with news for Madam President. This facility will be closed and off-limits, according to the official records."
"I'm leaving necessary personnel here, to do mop up," Auggie said. "Nobody will know that James isn't directing the closing of a military facility. Don't let anyone see you, Cori. Or any of the others."
"What Colonel Hunter is saying is-don't die, Corinne. You, Rafe, Maye and Nick are all we have to fight what's coming. I'm beginning to worry that it's something worse than any of us might imagine," Leo reached out to touch my cheek.
"I'll do what I can," I said. "All of us will."
"You don't happen to have more of those cell phones-the ones we can't seem to trace or unscramble?" Auggie asked.
"You checked, huh?" I turned to him as the elevator opened on the main level. "It's borrowed technology. Nobody here knows anything about it-yet. I'll make sure everybody has one," I nodded. "Before you leave."
* * *
Ilya
"They won't be able to talk about us or anything connected to the Program. In fact, they don't know what it is, now." Corinne walked past me, opened the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of orange juice and filled a glass.
"So Marcus doesn't recall what he did?" I asked.
"He didn't before. Someone or something made that happen."
"Does that make him innocent?" I was ready for an argument if she said yes.
"No. He did his part in this. He's responsible for thousands of deaths. I can't even watch this on television, Ilya. It's too horrible."
I'd seen the news-they'd broadcast images of floating bodies-at least they'd aimed their cameras at those appearing whole or mostly so. The FBI was on the scene. I figured Matt's crew and a few other agencies were there, too. So far, nobody had stepped forward to take responsibility for the bombings. Everybody referred to it as an act of terrorism anyway.
News agencies in every state had interviews with families and loved ones affected by the bombings. Tourists from other countries were also getting airtime-several countries were demanding answers from the U.S. Government for the deaths of their citizens.
I didn't envy the President or the Secretary of State-it was their job to unruffle those feathers while they desperately searched for answers.
"We're officially dead, Ilya." Corinne came to me and pressed her body against mine.
"My love," I wrapped my arms about her and spoke in my native language, "We have been dead for quite some time."
* * *
Corinne
James stood between Rafe and me while we watched Auggie, Laci and Leo climb into an electric cart for their trip through the tunnel. Matt's vehicle was behind theirs. He was saying goodbye to Opal, who'd elected to stay with us.
What are we going to do, Ilya? I asked.
Cabbage, we'll use everything we have to track those madmen. I'd ask you to destroy Askins and the Joint Chiefs, but that would alert the enemy and make him more than suspicious. Colonel Hunter will be watching them, as will Director Michaels.
The moment Auggie left us behind, we'd become ghosts. All we could do then is operate behind the scenes, without letting the enemy know. If we were lucky. If we weren't and the enemy found us, we could be just as dead as everyone would believe.
"You never told us who you were," Leo was back and standing before me.
"Oh. That." I lowered my eyes and stared at my feet. "Harriett Majors. Heard of her?"
"The queen of mystery," Leo beamed at me. "I have all her books. Most of them, I've read more than once."
"I'll sign them for you, if we live through this," I said.
"I'd like that." He walked back to the cart and climbed on. Auggie nodded to the driver and they drove away. Matt nodded to Opal and to us as he followed in their wake.
"Harriett Majors?" Rafe lifted an eyebrow while James was content to stare at me. "I had all your books. My daughter read them before she was old enough. She loved them, too."
"Huh." I turned my head away. "You have no idea how hard it was to invent everything again from scratch. I couldn't touch any of my former characters."
"You have a son," James breathed.
"Yep. He gets all my royalties, now. Last I heard, he was partying at Harvard. Still playing the my mom was a famous author and she's dead, card."
"The official report said you and your husband died in an accident in Wales."
"I know what the official report says. I have no idea whose remains they substituted for mine when the bodies were sent back to the States."
"I never wished I could tell somebody I met somebody famous so much," James breathed.
"Stop treating me like a cel
ebrity," I said. "I'm just Corinne, now."
"Who has three pen names," Rafe reminded me.
"Yeah. Well, I have more important stuff to do, now." I turned and walked toward the elevator.
* * *
Ilya's arms folded around my shoulders, his chin rested atop my head and he sighed as we both stared out our window at Puget Sound, far in the distance. Surprisingly, the day was clear and sunny. Auggie, Leo and Matt chose a good day to fly out of Seattle.
"They'll set up a meeting with the President and the others," I said. "When they get back. Auggie's planning to tell them that they had to make sure we were among the dead before reporting it. The Program will officially close-at least our part of it. I'll be interested to see whether they decide to scrap it or try again."
"I hope they bury that filth where nobody will ever find it," Rafe breathed against my hair. "It is causing too much trouble in the wrong hands."
"Would you like to place a memorial-for Jeff-in Ketchikan?"
"Yes. He was a faithful soldier, who died in the line of duty. I wish to take the others, too. We will pay our respects."
"All right."
* * *
Nobody would have recognized us. We looked like a group of schoolchildren, dropping a wreath into the waters an hour later. Opal stood beside Nick, who hugged Maye as she wept. James gripped my left hand, Rafe my right as we watched the wreath float away.
"From these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion," Rafe quoted. He'd memorized the Gettysburg Address. His words were poetic and heartfelt.
"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain," Opal added.
"Goodbye, Jeff," I said. "May your next life be a happy one."
* * *
Ilya
"James, we know that Marcus likely reached someone in Vancouver," I said once we were back at the facility.
"Stands to reason," he said. "He got that phone somewhere between Vancouver and Ketchikan."
"Then, Mary conveniently shows up not far from where we are, just as Corinne suspected she would, effectively distracting us from chasing after Marcus."
"True."
"Can you find information on when her ticket was purchased? Were we targeted all along, as Corinne believes? Was Mary waiting for us to spot her in Seattle? Did Marcus have some hidden instruction that Corinne may have missed when he joined the Program? I know she didn't like him from the first. Colonel Hunter should have been more attentive and let him go immediately."
"I'll dig into this," James promised. "I just need my laptop."
He was in our kitchen following the return from Ketchikan, waiting for us to tell him what we wanted him to do.
"Hide your tracks," I called out as he ambled toward his bedroom.
"I will." He waved a hand as he walked away.
"I hope we don't walk into another trap," Corinne murmured. "What do you want for dinner?"
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
"We're closing the facility in Washington State," I said. Matt Michaels and I sat in the Oval Office with Madam President, Merle Askins and the Joint Chiefs.
We'd already informed her that everyone left in the Program-Maye, Jeff, Nick, Corinne and Rafe-were dead in the Ketchikan ship bombings. Madam President looked ready to cry. The others appeared stone-faced. I'm sure Corinne might have read their satisfaction at what they were hearing, however.
"We waited until we had proof," Matt slid a file folder onto her desk. "It's all there, DNA evidence, photographs of what remains we could find," he shrugged. "I lost one of mine in the bombings, too."
Matt was so efficient it was frightening. It was his idea to present proof-he figured Merle would be quite interested in that.
"We can't even mourn their deaths," the President murmured, placing her hand on the file folder.
"That happens every time we lose an agent," Merle Askins said, his voice stiff. "They all know the risks."
"You're speaking of my friends," Madam President snapped.
"Of course. If you'll excuse me, I have an agency to run." Merle Askins rose from his chair.
"Colonel Hunter, do you need time away?" the President turned to me.
"I'd like a few days," I nodded. "I'll make sure all the records are stored safely after that, Madam President."
"Thank you."
Matt and I walked out behind the Joint Chiefs, none of whom said anything to either of us. I preferred it that way. I just hoped the President wouldn't hate me when I informed her that what we'd told her had been an elaborate lie.
* * *
Corinne
"I can stay a while-Colonel Hunter has approved leave for me after I officially close this facility," James informed me at breakfast two days after Auggie and Matt Michaels left. "I got the information on Mary's cruise ticket," he added.
"What did you find?" Rafe asked immediately.
"The ticket was bought the day before Cori saw her in Seattle, down by the wharf."
"So they did plan this." I didn't feel good about falling for their ruse. They'd left just enough unclouded information in Mary's mind to lure me in.
"When will all the remaining personnel be gone?" Rafe directed his question at James while gripping my fingers in his. Not your fault, he assured me. I wished I could believe that.
"Four days," James shrugged. "Colonel Hunter is sending them to Alaska to help Dr. Farrell when they leave here."
"Has Dr. Farrell contacted anyone?" I asked.
"Colonel Hunter gets regular e-mail updates. So far, no sightings of DB. It'll help when the personnel from here arrive to help. He only has two assistants right now."
"Sightings of Mary or Baikov?" Rafe asked.
"None to report."
"Do you suppose the enemy is breathing a sigh of relief before plotting his next move?" I asked Rafe.
"Possibly. They may be waiting to make sure we don't make further appearances."
"That's comforting."
"They may make a foray up the mountain, to check this facility after James locks it behind him," Rafe said.
"You know, maybe we should visit Dublin again."
"I suggest Alaska," James shrugged. "I've never been," he added. "We're supposed to fly into Anchorage to meet Dr. Farrell. Colonel Hunter said I could stay as long as I wanted before going back to D.C."
"Anchorage?" I chewed my lower lip and blinked at Rafe.
"I can keep you warm," he shrugged. "I've been. The city isn't large, but the wilderness outside it is beautiful."
"I see more sunlamps in my immediate future," I grumbled. "Who's going to tell the others?"
"Wait, I'm getting something," James tapped his tablet. He'd gotten a message from Opal.
Got this just now from Matt. Take a look and pass on to Corinne and Rafe, Opal had written.
Below, in a short, clipped message from Matt, were two photographs taken by locals near Juneau. Bigfoot walking his monkey, the caption read.
"Oh no," I sighed. Two of our escaped fifteen had been photographed.
Chapter 9
Corinne
"They're baiting us, to see whether we're still alive," Opal said. "Matt thinks the same thing."
"So we ignore this?" Nick sounded flabbergasted.
"For now. There's no indication that they're dangerous, and Bigfoot sightings are reported several times a year," Opal said. "If they ate somebody, then we could look into it. Carefully."
"At least they sent out those closely resembling something already here," Rafe observed. "If some of the others were photographed, we could have trouble."
"Do you think they still plan to discredit the President over the Program? She wasn't the one who started it."
"She's the one who allowed the sixteen to be kept alive," Rafe said. "There are still fifteen left."
"Who have to be killed or captured by normal means, or they'll suspect we're still in business," James said.
>
"I think Matt may have some friends who can help," Opal mused, staring at the images again.
"Fascinating idea," I said. Opal turned a bright smile in my direction.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Nick lifted an eyebrow at Opal.
"Maybe."
"I may have friends who might help, too."
"Shall we plot and plan?" Opal asked.
"Sure. I'll make calls if you will."
"What the hell are they talking about?" Maye asked as the two of them walked out of the room together.
"It's better if you don't know-at least for now," I said.
"I think we should find a place to stay in Alaska," Rafe said, attempting to divert Maye's attention. "We need something large enough, but hidden as well as we can manage."
"How about one of those fish camps?" I asked. "Some of those things are really nice and look more like fancy hunting lodges."
"Are you prepared for wilderness living?" Rafe asked.
"No. I'm just making suggestions."
"I'll contact Dr. Farrell. He may have ideas," James offered.
* * *
"Anchorage, since you can get us in and out if necessary," James informed me at dinner. "Colonel Hunter worries that Dr. Farrell may be watched, so we shouldn't be together. That means he won't be meeting us there-he'll stay where he is. Besides, we'll be close enough if Bigfoot shows up again and causes problems."
"Where in Anchorage?" Rafe asked.
"Just outside, actually. We'll have some land between us and the neighbors."
"Not looking forward to snowfall measured in yards this winter," Maye said.
"Anchorage isn't that bad," Rafe grinned. "I found good restaurants the last time I was there."
"When was that?" Nick asked.
"Thirty years ago."
Nick opened his mouth to respond. "No, wait," I held up a hand. "I have to slap my forehead and say duh, first."
"Things may have changed," Nick ducked his head to hide the grin.
"Or not." Rafe chuckled.
* * *
Three days later, we stood outside my suite at the Pilchuck facility-all of us, with bags and personal items gathered about us. The other personnel had already left to join Dr. Farrell in Wales, Alaska. We were ready to go to Anchorage.
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