by Alex Siegel
"Six dollars," the girl said.
"Cheap."
"Yes. Dr. Carefree doesn't believe love should cost a lot of money."
Marina completed the transaction and stuffed the wafers into the pocket of her jacket. She regretted not bringing some kind of forensics kit. Just plastic bags would've been good enough.
Dr. Carefree was still delivering his sermon, and she listened some more.
"To achieve freedom, we must have courage," he bellowed. "It takes courage to say, 'no, I will not be bound by the fascist rules of my parents.' It takes courage to break the chains of forced monogamy. It takes courage to try new partners. The easy, cowardly path is to simply accept a lifetime of 'same old thing.' We might as well hack off our genitals, lock them in a box, and throw away the key!"
"Ouch," Marina murmured. "He really is bitter. I wonder if he had a bad divorce."
Katie frowned. "I don't understand what he's trying to accomplish." She shook her head. "What does he get out of this?"
"He's certainly a powerful public speaker," Ipo said. "He should perform on a stage."
"He is," Marina said. "I think he's a professional actor. Some of his gestures are classically theatrical."
A young man wearing a bright yellow jumpsuit approached the team. He was carrying a clipboard and a pen.
"Can I have your names and addresses, please?" he said cheerfully.
Marina cocked her head. "Why?"
"Dr. Carefree mails out a weekly newsletter."
"How much does it cost?"
"Nothing," the man said.
"That's nice of him."
"Yes. He's a great guy."
"Why doesn't he use e-mail?" she said. "That would be a lot cheaper than stamps."
"He thinks it's too impersonal. Address, please?"
She didn't have an address she could give him. The Society usually used post office boxes for these situations, but those arrangements hadn't been made yet. She looked at Ipo and Katie, and they just shrugged.
"Sorry," Marina said. "We don't need any more junk mail."
The man in the yellow jumpsuit walked off with a disappointed expression.
"That reminds me," she whispered. "I need the list of all the safe houses in our territory. We should check all of them to make sure they're still secure and properly stocked."
"That will take a while, ma'am," Ipo said. "There are dozens. Some are way out in the desert."
"It has to be done. I've desperately needed a safe house several times during my missions. They can be a life saver."
Dr. Carefree was still speaking, and Marina gave him her attention.
"We now come to the communion," he said. "Please, put a wafer on your tongue, but don't swallow."
Everybody in the audience put a wafer on their tongue except for the Spears. Marina frowned. She was sure those little, white cookies contained something nasty. She had seen this kind of trick before.
"Repeat after me," Dr. Carefree said. "I will open my heart to all forms of love and companionship."
The audience echoed the words even though the wafers forced them to mumble.
"I will expand my horizons... I will live proudly by my own moral code... I will not fear strangers... I will embrace instead of reject... I will take pleasure without guilt... Peace and tolerance will be my way. Now chew and swallow. Thank you. Good bye." Dr. Carefree walked off the stage.
"Come on!" Marina said urgently. "We need to talk to him."
She jogged around the edge of the crowd. Ipo and Katie followed close behind. Dr. Carefree's followers were breaking up and heading in different directions, and Marina had to dodge to get around them.
His guards had formed a cordon to keep the crowd back. He was walking quickly towards a small parking lot adjacent to the field. When Marina tried to approach Dr. Carefree, a guard stepped in her way.
"Sorry, ma'am," the guard said. "The doctor doesn't talk to anybody after a sermon."
"But I'm a reporter..."
"That includes reporters."
Marina watched in frustration as her target sat in the back of a green Mercedes. She memorized the license plate before the car drove away. She pulled out her phone and sent the number as a text message to Min Ho.
The guards went to their own cars and also left. Marina snagged several more license plate numbers.
She turned to Ipo and Katie. "Let's hurry back to headquarters. I want Corrie to start analyzing these wafers ASAP. We need to know what kind of poison those poor people just ate."
The team began the long walk to the van. Marina had thought parking in Chicago was tough, but San Francisco was a cruel joke. There just weren't enough spaces on the streets, and public garages were rare. Golden Gate Park had only a single garage, and it had been completely full. Ipo had parked several blocks away in a residential area after circling for a while.
At least the weather was ideal for a vigorous walk. The ocean breeze was nature's perfect air-conditioning.
They left the park and entered a neighborhood. The houses were bigger and probably very expensive in this part of town. They were still packed very close together though. The biggest front yard was maybe ten feet by twenty. Narrow slots between the homes served as driveways to parking in the rear. The cars on the street were so close together, the bumpers were almost touching. Marina liked all the cheerful colors.
"How are you guys doing?" she asked.
"What do you mean, ma'am?" Ipo said.
"I'm sure both of you are still very angry about what happened to your team. Being forced to work with a man who participated in the betrayal must be like rubbing salt into the wound. On top of that, a new commander was dumped on you. I'd certainly be bitter if I were in your shoes."
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Eventually, Katie said quietly, "It's been tough, ma'am, but we'll get through it. The mission is what matters. Hanley isn't a bad guy once you get to know him. You seem very competent, too."
"Thanks," Marina said. "Ipo?"
Ipo grunted. "I'm still struggling with my anger. The boss was like a father to me. He was a great man."
"I'm sure, and it's hard for me to understand what you're feeling. I never lost my commander. She was promoted instead, and the man I love replaced her."
He glanced at her. "How did that work? Wasn't it awkward taking orders from your lover?"
"Very." She nodded. "We certainly had difficult moments. My... personality defects didn't help. I have anger management issues, particularly regarding male authority figures. I had a traumatic experience when I was a teenager that still makes me bug-eyed when I think about it."
"I'll keep that in mind, ma'am."
Marina heard angry shouting through an open window. It sounded like a man and a woman were fighting. Curiosity forced her to walk over to the window and to listen.
"If that tramp calls this house one more time..." the woman screamed.
"She's not a tramp!" the man replied. "She's a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul!"
"She's a slut! She doesn't give a shit about our marriage or our kids. She only wants your dick in her cunt!"
"You're so closed-minded. Everything is black and white with you. Can't a man have a little fun?"
"Fun?" the woman screeched. "That's what you call it? You cheating asshole!" There was a crash.
"You want to play rough? Fine. Come here, bitch. I'll show you rough."
The woman cried out in pain, and Marina heard the sound of breaking furniture. She fought a deep urge to intervene.
"We have to do something," Katie said in a low, urgent voice.
Marina shook her head. "This isn't our business."
The woman desperately cried for help. She sounded terrified.
"He could be killing her," Katie said.
There was another crash.
Marina winced. "I know. Maybe it's part of God's plan."
"I don't think so," Katie said. She marched towards the front door of the house.
"Wait!" Marina said. "If anybody is going to bend the rules, it will be me. I'm in charge here."
She went to the door and pounded on it with her fist. There was no response, so she pounded again with all her strength. She was about to kick the door when it finally opened.
A man in a blue suit looked out at her. He had bloodshot eyes and uncombed hair. "What!"
Marina stabbed him in the neck with her fingernails and gave him a dose of venom. He took a few steps backwards and collapsed.
She looked through the open doorway at a woman. Her lip was swollen and bleeding. She was cradling one arm with the other.
"Get this man out of your life," Marina said. "Call the police if you have to. The next time he attacks, I won't be here to save you."
She abruptly walked off. Ipo and Katie followed.
After Marina cooled down, she said, "Dr. Carefree is poisoning the city with his bullshit. We have to stop him."
Chapter Eight
Marina looked to her right and caught a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. Even though she had seen it a number of times, she still couldn't take her eyes off it. There was so much power in that cold, blue water.
She was riding in the back seat of the van. Ipo was driving, and Katie was riding shotgun. The team was speeding south on Highway 1 which ran along the coast. The beach was so close, Marina could sometimes hear the waves crashing. The highway had wonderful, sweeping curves which invited aggressive driving. She had seen several motorcycles, and they looked like a lot of fun.
She took out her phone and called Min Ho.
"Ma'am?" the hacker said.
"I sent you some license plates. What have you found?"
"They belong to Frisco Protective Services. It's a private security company specializing in bodyguards for the rich and famous. Very pricy."
"Dr. Carefree is using them," Marina said. "Did you hack into their computers?"
"We tried, but their firewall is too good. I think you'll have to go there in person if you want more information."
She frowned. "Then we'll need appropriate cover stories. Posing as FBI agents should work. We'll be home in a few minutes. Start working on the new identities."
"That's a problem, ma'am," Min Ho said. "We don't have a badge printer. We ordered one, but it won't get here for five more days."
"We can't wait five days. We need it now."
"Then you'll have to buy the printer directly from the supplier. Otherwise, I can't make FBI badges."
Marina sighed with irritation. "Fine. Just tell me where to go."
* * *
Ipo drove the van into the parking lot of an industrial park. All the buildings were just big, white boxes with doors on the front. There weren't many windows, and Marina thought that was a shame. The surrounding hills were nice to look at, and the many trees had interesting shapes. She didn't understand how anybody could build in this area and not provide good views of the countryside.
Ipo parked in front of one of the doors. A sign read, "Plastic Printing Supply Co."
"Let's make this quick," Marina said. "I still have wafers in my pocket that need analysis."
She climbed out of the van and went straight into the store. It was just a small, empty room with a glass counter. Dozens of sample badges were under the glass. Another door led to a back area, and when she peeked through, she saw a crowded warehouse.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" a clerk behind the counter said.
He was a short man with a dense, black beard. He was wearing a white, button-up shirt.
"Yes," Marina said. "I need to buy a Supercard Elite 4 Printer."
He raised his eyebrows. "That's our best model. Let me see if I can find one." He went into the back area.
Ipo and Katie had joined Marina in the store, and everybody looked irritated and impatient. This excursion wasn't a good use of their time.
The clerk returned with a big, blue box the size of a washing machine. He was pushing it on a rolling dolly.
"Last one in stock," he said. "You're lucky. That will be 5,499 dollars, but before you pay, I need you to fill out some paperwork and show me two forms of identification."
Marina furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"This printer could be used to create false identification. The government uses a similar model. It's a very sensitive item. We're required to verify you're not some kind of criminal. It won't take long. Just a few phone calls."
She vaulted the counter and stabbed him in the neck with her fingernails. He was unconscious seconds later. She pushed the printer around the counter, and it rolled easily on the dolly. Ipo held the door so she could push it outside.
"That venom gift is extremely useful," he commented.
Marina nodded. "I thank God often for it."
They loaded the printer into the van and drove off.
* * *
Marina walked into headquarters and went straight to the kitchen. She rooted around in the drawers and cabinets until she found a clear plastic bag. She carefully transferred the wafers from her pocket into the bag and sealed it. Then she stuffed her jacket into the nearest garbage can. It had crumbs in the pocket, and they could be poisoned. It was best not to mess around. Finally, she washed her hands very thoroughly with soap and hot water.
She looked around and spotted Corrie sitting on a couch. The scientist was reading some papers. Her rumpled, blue shirt and jeans looked sloppy on a body that wasn't in great shape to begin with. She really needed to lose some weight. Marina rushed over to her.
"I have a job for you," Marina said.
Corrie looked up at her with wide eyes. "Did you know the Gray Spear Society invented a whole new field of study, ma'am? Supernatural physics. It's amazing. It touches on philosophy, life, death, and the soul. But it's real science with real math, experiments, and everything."
"Sounds interesting."
"It's not a complete theory, of course. It's just a bunch of ideas that fit together. I only understand a tenth of it, but the parts I get are so deep, they're changing how I see the world. I keep thinking. What if somebody really smart came along and figured this stuff out? What if he solved the equations of reality? He could engineer miracles. He could change the entire universe!"
Marina shook her head. "I'm sure that's impossible. It must be against the rules, and nobody is that smart."
"What rules?"
"God's rules."
"How do you know?" Corrie said. "Have you actually met Him?"
"Several times. Now focus!" Marina held up the bag of wafers. "I got these at Dr. Carefree's sermon. I suspect they contain some kind of drug. I want you to test them."
Corrie took the bag and stared at it. "I'm supposed to test for drugs?"
"Exactly. You're a chemist, right?"
"A battery chemist, not a biochemist, ma'am. There is a big difference. I don't even know where to begin on a project like this. I'm sure I don't have the right equipment."
Marina tapped her foot with irritation. Back in Chicago, Smythe would've accomplished this task with ease.
"These wafers have to be tested. That fact won't go away just because it's difficult to accomplish, and similar situations will crop up in the future. Let's figure out a solution now." Marina sat on the couch next to Corrie.
"There are plenty of biochemistry labs in the Bay Area," Corrie said. "There are research hospitals around here. The police have forensics labs. I'm sure the FBI office in San Francisco can do the analysis."
Marina shook her head. "Using outsiders to help with our missions is risky. God doesn't like it, and innocent people tend to die. What if this lab discovers something dangerous and forbidden in the wafers? We'd have to kill the scientists to cover it up. We can't let a secret like that get out." She frowned. "Let me call Aaron. Maybe he has a suggestion."
She walked off so she could have a little privacy. She took out her phone and called her lover.
"Hello?" Aaron said. Hearing his warm voice comforted her.
"I'm stuck on so
mething," Marina said. "I need some advice."
"I'm always here for you. What's wrong?"
"I need to test some food for poison. I just recruited a scientist, but she isn't really qualified for the job."
"Is she smart?" he said.
"Yes, but she's not quite the right kind of scientist."
"Oh."
Marina looked across the room at the computer area. Ipo and Katie had brought in the blue box containing the badge printer. They were helping Min Ho and Jia assemble all the components on a table. The device looked very complex. Marina realized she would have to wait a few hours at least for her new FBI badge.
"You don't have a lot of good choices," Aaron said. "Your scientist will just have to do the work. I'll ask Smythe to talk her through the procedure and help her analyze the results."
"Thanks, but we don't have all the equipment we need, either."
"Then buy it."
Marina sighed with irritation. "This is becoming a big project. I wanted this analysis done fast."
"I'm sorry, dear, but it won't happen. You'll have to wait days for results, but it will be a learning process. Next time, it will be quicker."
"If only we could use an outside lab..."
"No," he said firmly. "I don't have to tell you how messy that could get. If they actually find poison, difficult questions will be asked."
"I know." She gritted her teeth. "Sucks."
"It sounds like you're already involved in a mission."
"It's something. We're trying to move into a new headquarters and perform an investigation at the same time. Nothing is ever easy or simple in this business."
"I wish I was there to help," he said gently. "I'll come out to San Francisco soon. You can show me why everybody thinks that city is so romantic."
She smiled. "It's a date. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Marina hung up and went back to Corrie. The scientist had the bag of wafers in her lap, and she was staring at them with a perplexed expression.
"I've reached a decision," Marina said. "You're going to perform the tests here."
Corrie's eyes widened. "But I don't know how, ma'am. I can't."
"You're going to learn. One of the legionnaires in Chicago is a doctor and an expert on poisons. His name is Smythe. He'll walk you through the process and help you make sense of the results."