Christina hiccupped, brushing tears from her over bright eyes. “I don’t know how much more I can take.” Her lips quivered. “I thought Nathan loved me. I thought he was a good man. But he was such a monster!”
“I never dreamed he’d turn on you. Or I’d have castrated him before I left.”
Christina pulled back, gazing at Melissa with wide luminous eyes. Shock registered on her face.
Her vocabulary had become more colorful since she’d lived at the carnival. She’d forgotten her sister was still a genteel society woman, unaccustomed to such language or sentiments. She’d try to curb her tongue around Christina, but Melissa wasn’t the same person anymore. She’d grown.
Traffic picked up as they approached downtown and the sun set before they reached their destination. The paparazzi followed, snapping photographs, so she tried to cover her face with her arms and hands. Christina did the same.
They passed through a guarded gate into a parking garage that wouldn’t allow the press to follow. The driver parked the car and unfolded his long length from the vehicle.
“Shall we, ladies?” The blond agent opened their door and held it for them.
“Follow me,” the dark-haired agent who had been driving tilted his head. His voice was gruff. He set off at a brisk pace, his footsteps echoing in the parking garage. At the first checkpoint, he showed his badge and signed in after exchanging a few words with the guard.
Melissa stared around FBI Headquarters, aware that people stared at her. Brightly lit offices were filled with desks, computers, and papers. Men and women in sedate suits bustled back and forth quietly.
“In here, please.”
Both agents wore their badges prominently on their jacket pockets now, so Melissa could see their names. The blond good-looking one was Brent Sitorsky and their driver was Randall Herman.
Herman acted like the senior partner. Circling his wrist, he gestured to the oblong table in the center of the floor surrounded by hard wooden chairs.
“Would you like some coffee?” Sitorsky asked, smiling.
“No.” Melissa shook her head. Nauseated, she didn’t want food or drink.
An attractive young lady with dark brown hair scraped back into a bun and wearing gold rimmed glasses slid quietly into the room with a tape recorder. She busied herself setting it up.
Herman straddled a chair backwards, staring at them. “Agent Neubauer will record our session. It’s standard procedure.”
The young woman glanced up and smiled, nodding.
Sitorsky closed the door and perched on the side of the table, his expression quizzical. His pants leg hitched up, revealing a black sock and an expanse of blond hairy leg.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Herman said. Pinpointing Melissa with his gaze, he asked, “Tell us the events leading up to Senator Alexander’s escape and Agent Mulligan’s death. And what you know about a bomb being planted in the President’s car.”
She didn’t like the sound of this. “Don’t we have the right to have an attorney present?”
Christina nodded sharply, her lips pursed.
Herman favored her with a sigh. “I thought you were innocent?”
They were innocent! Well, except maybe for borrowing and crashing that small plane and doing the same with the car, running from the police. Trivial, nothing compared to trying to kill the President of the United States. Still, they sounded as if they might crucify her anyway.
“I’m not saying another word until we have legal representation.” Melissa crossed her arms over her chest mutinously.
Christina nodded again, smiling. “Our family attorney is John Rascomb, Esquire. He handles all matters for the Vanderbilt-Smythe Estate. We demand you call him.”
Herman sighed and flicked his head at Sitorsky. “Call him in here ASAP. Better yet, send a squad car to pick him up.” He cast an apologetic smile at Agent Neubauer.
The female agent pursed her lips as they quirked into a momentary smile.
“I’ll take tea or soda if you have it,” Melissa said. Her throat was parched. Looking at her sister, she asked, “What about you?”
“Hot tea will be fine.”
“I’ll see what we have.” Sitorsky unfolded his long length and ambled into the hall. The door stayed open half a crack and they were able to hear snippets of a passing conversation.
“Two rogue generals and their followers seized a missile complex in Missouri and are threatening to launch missiles at Lebanon, Washington D.C., and China. They were told in the event that the assassination attempt was thwarted, to launch.”
Sitorsky and Herman lunged for the door and shut it.
Melissa and Christina exchanged worried glances. She read fear in her sister’s eyes. Answering fear leapt in her heart.
My God, was this Nathan’s doing? Had she heard right? Rogue generals, fueled by Nathan’s failure to kill the President, were planning to launch nuclear weapons? She wanted to ask but knew better to wait for John.
Chapter Eleven
Cody was thrust into a dark room and made to sit on a hard chair. A spotlight blinded him; he closed his eyes.
A voice boomed out of nowhere, everywhere, reverberating eerily in the blackness. He couldn’t see the owner of the voice with the light glaring in his eyes.
“Your boy Alexander is creating one hell of a mess. If you cooperate, you might get off with life in prison instead of the death penalty.”
Death penalty? A mess?
“What mess?”
“Don’t play dumb with us, Richards. We know you’re on Alexander’s payroll. Do you deny it?”
“Yes. I mean no!” That sounded real convincing.
“It can’t be both. Which is it?”
Cody expelled a huge sigh. His ribs ached where he’d been beaten by the good Reverend and the Lions.
“I was retained by Alexander to find and retrieve his fiancée, Melissa Vanderbilt-Smythe. I was told she’d been kidnapped and needed rescuing.”
Impatience snapped in the interrogator’s voice. “We’ve been told you were much deeper into the organization than that, Mister Richards.”
“That’s all I did. I found her and she set me straight on a few facts.”
“What facts?” The disembodied voice was getting more and more disconcerting, rankling on his nerves. His muscles were cramping, sitting in one place so long. Rolling his shoulders, he worked out the kinks.
“She told me he was very abusive to her. That he was forcing her into marriage.”
“So you still turned her over to him?” Derision laced the man’s voice.
“No!” Cody jerked upright in his chair. “Once I knew what he’d done to her, I wasn’t going to hand her over.”
“But you did.”
“No, I didn’t. Alexander’s men kidnapped us. FBI Agent Mulligan ambushed us. He was Alexander’s right hand man. He set me up. He and that Brother Larry.” Contempt dripped from his voice. He hated hypocrites. “Talk to Brother Larry. Maybe you can get it out of him.”
“Agent Mulligan was on assignment, infiltrating some suspect cult.”
Fury boiled in his veins and Cody jumped up. “Well, then he was turned. Ever hear of a double agent? He was as rotten as they come.” He paced the room, going in and out of the light.
“Sit down, please. Now who do you expect us to believe? An agent with a spotless service record? Or a no account ex-cop with a rap sheet?” The voice grew deadlier. “We don’t have time to play games. Tell us where Alexander would hide? What he plans to do next.”
“I don’t have a clue. He’s crazy. He thinks I want revenge for Waco.” Cody scowled, trying to think like a crazy man. “What would your typical religious fanatic do if pinned in a corner?”
“Who’s the mole in the government telling these generals what to do?”
He peered into the light. “What generals? What mole? It was probably Agent Mulligan. Maybe the good Reverend himself.”
Voices whispered together. “Look,
we’ll cut you a deal. You help us stop the missile launch and apprehend these rogue generals and their units, and you’ll get amnesty.”
Cody roared in frustration. “What rogue generals? What missile launch?”
Frustration colored the interrogator’s voice. “Bring the others in. Maybe one of them will slip and tell us what we need to know.”
“My God! What missile launch?” Picking up his chair, Cody hurled it at the voice with all his might. “Goddammit! You’re holding me illegally, now I demand some answers.”
“You’re in no position to demand anything, Mr. Richards. You could be looking at death row for crimes of this magnitude.”
“I’d love to help, but that’s all I know. Other than these guys are religious fanatics. They’re totally nuts. They’re hiding in the woods, holding sacrificial rituals.”
“You thought this information unimportant?” The voice became deadly quiet.
“Of course not! Hell, we were captives. We couldn’t get to a phone to call you. It’s some friggin’ nightmare.” Cody felt like a trapped animal and dug his fingernails in his palms to stop from punching a hole in the wall.
“It’s a nightmare all right.” The disembodied voice of the interrogator reverberated in the small, sterile room.
The door opened and light filtered in. Dust mites shimmered in the air as Brother Larry, Brother Daniel, and the other gruesome cult members filed in. All were handcuffed and chained. They clanked as they shuffled their feet.
“Maybe your colleagues can shed more light on this situation.” The interrogator’s voice adopted a singsong quality.
“They are not my colleagues,” Cody mumbled in disgust. “They’re some wacko Koresh-type cult. Every one of them is certifiable, especially Brother Larry. He tried to kidnap Miss Vanderbilt-Smythe back in New Jersey.”
“I was trying to help the young lady,” Brother Larry denied, in a church-like voice. “I saw this man trying to kidnap this young woman....”
Seething, Cody rounded on Brother Larry. “I saved her from you. All anyone has to do is ask the lady, she’ll tell you. What kind of mess have you and the good Reverend made? What’s going on? Rogue generals? Armed missiles?”
Brother Larry lifted his voice with a sermon-like quality. It resonated in the dark room. “Dear brothers, we live in an evil world. Only a handful of disciples are fit to survive and start a bold new order. But we are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, for God’s glory.”
“Shut up!” Brother Daniel lunged at Brother Larry. “Stop rambling like an idiot.”
Survive? Sacrifice? Cody’s blood chilled and he was bone cold. “What brave new world?”
“Don’t say another blessed word.” Brother Daniel’s voice reverberated, dangerously quiet.
“You’re not the lamb.” A wicked smile flavored Brother Larry’s voice. “I don’t take revelation from you.”
“You’ll shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you permanently.” A tussle broke out and Cody stepped back out of the way.
“Break it up!” Annoyance rang clear in their host’s voice. “Tie them up if you have to.”
“Police brutality! We’ll get outta here on technicalities.” Brother Daniel chuckled. “You can’t treat us like this. I know the law.”
“In matters of national defense, we can do whatever’s necessary.” Supreme assurance tinged the interrogator’s voice.
“What time is it?” Brother Larry asked.
Cody had no clue. His watch had been confiscated and he felt as if he’d been caged in here forever.
“Two a.m.” The voice came from the darkness.
Brother Larry clapped his hands and laughed maniacally. “Praise the Lord! The time of deliverance is upon us. You can’t stop us now.”
“Stop what?” Every cell of Cody’s being echoed the words. What diabolical plan were they hatching? How evil a megalomaniac was the Reverend?
“They’re going to make their demands any moment.” Brother Larry snickered and crossed his arms over his chest.
“What demands? Who?” The interrogator’s voice sharpened, booming into the room.
“The Reverend and the generals are about to demand that the President abdicate power and that the Reverend be made the Commander in Chief--of the world. And that we be released and granted full pardons.” Brother Larry nodded at Brother Daniel, a smirk playing about his lips.
“We don’t deal with terrorists. The United States never has and it never will.” Steely determination rang in the interrogator’s voice.
In all Cody’s years on the police force and in detective work, he’d never been involved in such a dangerous situation. It felt surreal. Cold sweat broke out all over him. They were talking about crazy things--annihilation of the human race. Armageddon....
“You have to deal with us or we’ll nuke the whole east coast. The four beasts will avenge the lamb.” Brother Larry got up on his evangelical pedestal to preach.
“And China, and Lebanon,” Brother Daniel added, sneering. “The whole government will be blown to smithereens and half your population with it.” His cheeks puffed out and he made a whooshing sound. “Brimstone will fill the sky and the revelations will be fulfilled!” His hands fanned out in an arc, his fingers fluttering in the air, mimicking nuclear fall out.
Brother Larry’s eyes twinkled, maniacal like Alexander’s. “Then China and the Middle East will retaliate. And the skies will be filled with hail and fire mingled with blood. Mountains will be cast into the sea. Stars will fall from the heavens. The sun will be smitten. Woe to all sinners. Woe to you who do not believe. Woe to you who slay the lamb. For you will fall into the bottomless pit of despair.”
“Cut the Biblical mumbo jumbo. What’s the code word to stop these lunatic generals from launching?”
“Oh ye of little faith.” Brother Larry shook his head and a lock of his oily hair fell across his forehead. “The only way to stop the beasts from devouring your planet is to give us what has been decreed from the beginning of time. Hand over the President and exalt Reverend Alexander to his ordained position by God--Prophet and ruler of the World.”
“You’ll never get your demands met if you’re dead.”
“Our souls are prepared to die. Are yours?” Brother Larry started mumbling a mantra, his eyes rolling back in his head. His pupils dilated.
They were at an impasse, or so it seemed. Cody knew never to deal with terrorists; however, he’d never met such zealots.
“How long before they launch?” The voice became more demanding.
Brother Larry chanted tunelessly for a few more moments, his eyes clouded over. “They will launch at three a.m. Pacific time if our demands are not met.”
“Key-rist! That’s not enough time to give them the President even if we wanted to. We don’t have that kind of authority. The United Nations would have to decide something of this magnitude. I don’t even know if they’re in session.” Panic laced the interrogator’s voice.
“Nevertheless, Brother, you only have until three a.m. or the Beasts will devour the enemy.” Brother Larry looked very serene for a man on the brink of death, almost as if he welcomed it. Enjoyed it.
“Where are the generals? Which generals? Which missile silo have they taken over?”
Brother Larry smiled widely and squared his shoulders. “They’re in Zion, home of the lamb.”
Cody closed his eyes, remembering his Sunday school teachings. Zion lay in Missouri. But was it merely the state of Missouri as was drawn on the map now? Didn’t it include a longer, broader section of the middle of the country? Perhaps Kansas? Nebraska? The Dakotas as well?
“What military installations do we have in Missouri and Kansas? They have silos, don’t they?”
“Let’s say we want to hand over the President to you and your generals, at what base do we do this?”
“McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas,” Brother Daniel said. Bags puffed under his milk chocolate eyes.
“Get ‘em out of h
ere! Put them in complete isolation from everyone else and from each other.”
As they were marched out single file to their new cells, Cody overheard, “Self-righteous bigots. We ought to put them on a deserted island and nuke them.” The voice running the show sounded thoroughly disgusted, even scared, now.
As soon as Cody was separated from the other captives, he was escorted back to the room. “What’s going on?” he asked when he was shoved into the room. This time the lights were on and several men sat around a long rectangular table.
“Have a seat, please.” A dignified black gentleman with close-cropped graying hair, a clean-shaven face, thick glasses, and a perfectly tailored three-piece gray suit, rose to his feet and motioned to a chair. “I’m Chief M.J. Devereaux, and we have a proposition for you, Mr. Richards.”
Cody hitched up his pants to sit down, feeling grubby next to the well-dressed agents. “What proposition? Shouldn’t you be saving the world from apocalyptic Jim Jones-like Alexander and his disciples instead of dickering with me?”
“We want you to help us save the world, Mr. Richards, from megalomaniacs and self proclaimed messiahs like David Koresh. In fact, we’re depending on you to avoid another Waco type disaster. They’ve been planning their day of reckoning for a very long time and this seems to be it. Only this one’s for the whole world.” Devereaux peered long and hard at him.
“What can I do? I’m just an ex-New York cop that got drummed off the force for misconduct.” Sarcasm slipped from his tongue glibly. He slid a sly glance at everyone sitting around the table. “Besides … I thought you believed me to be in league with those cultist crazies. You would allow me within a hundred miles of nuclear devices?”
“Mrs. Alexander swears under oath that you’re not involved with those men. I don’t think you are either or I wouldn’t even be telling you this.” The man’s voice deepened and he stripped off his thick glasses and squinted at Cody.
“Then why do I need to make a deal to be absolved of charges? Why blackmail me?” Cody crossed his right leg over left knee.
Deadly Love Page 16