by M. V. Kallai
“But there I was, walking through the main science atrium this morning when I heard your name mentioned. Then I remembered hearing somewhere of your friendship with our very own Colonel Ganesh,” he paused, waiting for some sort of reaction at the mention of Ganesh’s name. There was none. Camden remained cool as the Major finished.
“Well, we thought it in our best interest to bring you in.”
Camden’s face remained calm and a smile slowly emerged on his face. He spoke with almost an undetectable amount of sarcasm.
“Well, Major, I can assure you that I know nothing of a theft. But, I am always happy to reopen my research from the past,” he nodded slightly at Mace. “I will assume that the real reason I am here is because you’ve hit a bump in the research and you need my help. So, what can I help our fine government with today?”
Mace was impressed with his coolness. He so enjoyed these cat and mouse games.
“You can start by telling me when you last spoke to the Colonel.”
“Of course, may I assume Ganesh will be joining us? It’s always so nice to catch up when we can.”
“You may not assume anything, Professor.”
With the tone of Mace’s voice, Camden guessed that Ganesh either was not coming to his assistance or had already been accused and dealt with.
“Do you know the real reason you are sitting in this room?” Mace asked him.
“I can’t say that I do,” Camden responded intelligently. “Usually, I receive a formal invitation with a project briefing before I arrive at a government building. I am also usually offered something to drink, coffee, tea, water….with ice.” He stressed this last one and cut his eyes over to Aldretti for the briefest of moments.
“Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, Professor, but today, you are not a guest and you are not here because we need your help, so, you can let that fantasy go. You are my prime suspect in the biomer theft and you will be held here until I get some answers, so, I will ask you one last time professor. Is there anything you would like to tell me?”
“Wow,” Camden replied, “Surprisingly Major, there is nothing that I would like to tell you. I would however very much like to speak with the Colonel, now. I am correct in that he is your superior here, aren’t I?”
“This has nothing to do with him now. Not yet anyway,” he mumbled a little too loud. This comment of Mace’s told Camden that Ganesh had yet to be implicated. There was hope.
“That’s odd, because from what you just told me, it has everything to do with him. How else would you connect me with this little crime of yours?” Camden asked. “In fact, I will not speak to you or anyone else again until I see him.” He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, rocked back a little in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
The major laughed a low sinister laugh and squinted his eyes at Camden. As he turned to storm out of the room with his soldiers at his heels, he shot his first look to Aldretti.
“Make sure he stays thirsty!” he ordered. “I will be back in half an hour.” He sneered back at Camden one more time before the door slammed behind him.
Chapter Thirteen
To Make a Spy
Eight floors down from where Camden was being held, Colonel Ganesh walked into the officer’s lounge and sat at a round table. He pulled a toasted ham sandwich out of a paper bag and relaxed his shoulders for the first time since breakfast. He took a bite and chewed slowly. Moments later, the two other TRU Colonels walked in, heavy in conversation. Ganesh stopped chewing for a moment to listen. He had taken it upon himself to eavesdrop since he had taken this new position.
The taller and older of the two, Colonel Talper was listening to the short and balding Colonel Cline, who was speaking just above a whisper.
“…and Magner has just been in to see him, said he was a real jackass.”
“I found him nothing but courteous and helpful when I worked with him on the space flight simulation project. What has it been? Six or seven years now.” Talper replied, also barely audible.
Ganesh swallowed hard and tried to be as still as he could without looking like a statue.
Could they be talking about Camden? He thought and wondered how much time he had before he would be sitting next to him in that interrogation room.
“Well, I imagine our true colors come out under real pressure,” Talper continued and the two men chuckled.
“He may have earned his arrogance fair and square, but this government paid for a whole hell of a lot of it. The fact is, if he wasn’t hiding something, he would be cooperating,” Cline said.
“True, true,” said Talper. “Still though, Magner isn’t necessarily the most congenial officer on this project.”
Cline chuckled again at this comment while Talper poured two cups of stale coffee for the both of them.
Talper looked over his shoulder.
“Afternoon, Ganesh,” he said.
“Yes it is,” Ganesh replied, smiling as he said it.
The two men were still chuckling and Ganesh joined in as they sat down with him at the small white table. Since Ganesh thought he might be a suspect in the security breech, he expected the subject of conversation to change now, as to keep him out of the loop. He was right, of course, because right away Cline asked Talper how his family was doing. Their small talk continued and Ganesh joined in politely interjecting concern or happiness at the appropriate moments in the conversation. He was mostly thinking of their earlier conversation, though. Ganesh’s thoughts were on Camden. If, indeed, Cam was being held upstairs, he needed to come up with a plan…and quick. He trusted Camden with his life, but he was a man who loved his luxuries and men like that usually didn’t hold up so well under extreme interrogation.
Any type of interrogation would seem extreme to Camden. Ganesh thought.
Ganesh finished his lunch quicker than the other two officers, but tried not to seem in a hurry to his tablemates. He strolled casually over to the beverage table and sorted through the tea selection. He pretended to check his watch, made a selection, poured a cup of hot water and dismissed himself politely. He hotfooted it down the hall to his office. He sat casually at his desk and began to steep the tea he had brought with him. The blinds to his office were just barely cracked open, so any passersby would not see anything conspicuous about his activity. He cut a small square from a blank piece of paper and scribbled something on it. He then put the remainder of the sheet of paper through the shredder behind his desk. Ganesh folded his little note in half and picked up the teacup, discarding the used tealeaves, and walked out of his office again.
Ganesh hoped he could make it to the interrogation rooms, eight floors up on level thirteen, without bumping into that asshole Magner…or anyone for that matter. He walked to the very end of the corridor to take the service elevator, which no one ever used. Riding this compartment would allow him the chance to discretely look down the corridor on the thirteenth floor before he was noticed. That way, if Mace was up there, he could duck back inside before a confrontation.
To his relief, the holding cell corridor was deserted. Ganesh emerged from the elevator, holding the cup of tea. His shoes echoed on the polished stone floor and he tried to walk lightly, feeling damn ridiculous tiptoeing and carrying a teacup. If he and Camden got out of this unscathed, Cam would owe him one! Most of the rooms on this level were dark, but four had lights on. Ganesh peered into the small triangle window of the first lit room and saw a young heavyset soldier sitting with his head in his hands. He was cuffed at his wrists and ankles. Damn fool, Ganesh thought, assuming stupidity that sometimes accompanies youth was surely what had landed him here. The second and third rooms were empty. Ganesh figured they would probably be occupied by the end of the day and wondered if one had been prepared for him. He would know soon enough.
Ganesh looked through the window into Camden’s interrogation holding cell. He was sitting with his hands folded on the table. He looked fairly relaxed and was talking with the guard that was in with him.
To an outsider, it would look as if he was having a conversation with a good friend, but Ganesh recognized the subtle expression on Camden’s face, indicating he was bullying the guard. Ganesh chortled and opened the door. Aldretti stood at attention and saluted the colonel.
“What’s your name, soldier?” Ganesh asked with a deep authoritative voice. He did not look directly at Camden, who stood up as soon as he entered.
“Carl Aldretti, Sir!”
“Well Aldretti, go ahead and get out of here and leave us alone for awhile.”
Aldretti’s face dropped.
“Don’t worry,” continued Ganesh in a sarcastically sweet voice, “I’ll call you back when I’m finished.”
“Sir! I cannot leave. I am under a strict order not to leave this room under any circumstance. Sir!”
“I see,” said Ganesh. “Who gave you this order?”
“Major Magner, Sir!”
“Well don’t worry about it then. I ate that pissant for breakfast this morning, SO GET OUT!”
Aldretti’s face went completely blank.
“Yes sir,” he answered abjectly and left the room.
Ganesh saw out of the corner of his eye that Camden was fighting back a smile. Ganesh appreciated the effort and walked over to the table. The two men did not shake hands.
“It’s about damn time,” Camden started, still smiling but with slight frustration in his voice.
“I came as soon as I knew.”
“Are you telling me that that jackass Magner actually told you I was here?”
“Nope. Overheard a conversation at lunch.”
They both let out a laugh.
“You know, these rooms aren’t monitored audibly due to the sensitive nature of the conversations that take place here, however there is a recorder in the wall for files and reference. And we are being watched,” Ganesh instructed.
“I understand,” replied Camden. “Am I to assume that the cup of tea is for me?”
“Ahh,” said Ganesh “It is indeed.”
He set the cup and saucer on the desk but did not let go yet.
“The hospitality is terrible in this place,” Camden joked reaching for the beverage.
Ganesh leaned forward slightly and whispered, “Drink it…discretely.”
“Of course,” Camden whispered back with a raised eyebrow.
Camden picked up the teacup and saw the small folded paper that was hidden underneath. He sipped the tea, smiled at the pleasant warm liquid and furtively removed the paper as he set the cup back on its saucer. He felt a tiny piece of lead in the crease of the paper when he managed to unfold the note, one-handed under the desk. His face suddenly contorted into a pained expression. He did this to distract the video monitors away from his hand.
“What am I doing here, Ganesh?” he acted. He put his hand on his forehead and elbow on the desk so he was able to look down to the note in his lap. In tiny letters, it read:
I am a suspect. Working on a plan.
Is what I gave you safe?
Since the cameras couldn’t see his face, Camden cringed at the words on the paper. He had a hell of a time maneuvering the tiny lead in his lap to write back. He finally managed to get seven words on the paper to give back to Ganesh.
Get to Lee
Use Ari
Not safe
He looked up to indicate to Ganesh that he was finished with his dramatic act.
“I will try to come back and see you again,” Ganesh said. “Be strong, Cam.”
He reached out to shake his friend’s hand and Camden slid the paper back to Ganesh. Camden gave Ganesh a purposeful look to let him know that he understood what he might have to endure and that he was not happy about it. But, he would try not to let him down.
Ganesh walked out of the room to find Aldretti waiting, back against the wall.
“Aldretti! You never left this room. Do you understand?” It was a command, not a question.
“Yes, Sir!” Aldretti complied and walked back in the room with the professor feeling that Major Magner had somehow failed him. Camden sat up straight and returned to his cool and superior posture.
Ganesh rode the service elevator back down to the fourth floor and was walking into his office when he heard Mace Magner’s voice call out.
“Colonel Ganesh. Just the man I’ve been looking for.”
Ganesh thought of about ten smart remarks to respond with, but took the high road and decided it wasn’t worth the effort.
“What can I help you with, Major?” Ganesh asked Mace as he re-closed the door to his office and stood in front of it, so it was clear to Mace that he would not be invited inside.
“I’ve just spoken with General Pike,” Mace answered. “He has a sensitive matter to discuss with you. He asked me to pass the message along.” Mace had a satisfied look on his face like a child gets after tattling on an older sibling. “He will call you sometime today on your office line,” Mace finished.
This was a tactic that the military used when they didn’t want someone wandering the building or overhearing conversations, the very things Ganesh had been doing for the past hour. Waiting on a phone call from a superior officer, a General no less, would conveniently confine one to their office…for as long as necessary.
Ganesh nodded in acknowledgement and waited until Mace saluted him before he turned his back on him and went into his office. He sat behind his desk to wait for the call from General Pike.
General Pike was the head of TRU and oversaw the entire Myris operation from the space transport and biomer mining operation, to the robotics and weaponry unit. He was also the General who had recommended Major Mace Magner for his position here, which gave him an extra set of hands to work in all the unit projects. Ganesh had worked closely with General Pike once before and while they got along just fine professionally, their views on politics, science, and ethics differed significantly. Ganesh felt sure he had been put here by the heads of government to somehow undermine the General’s authority, a task he felt he was succeeding at… until today.
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the tiny folded note he and Camden had now written on. He read Camden’s words again.
Get to Lee
Use Ari
Not safe
Ganesh knew for sure now that he was being watched for the biomer theft and because he was guilty, he knew he couldn’t contact Lee Tripple directly. Camden and Lee were too close. It would make Ganesh’s involvement obvious.
Ganesh wasn’t sure who Ari was. He thought he remembered the name, but he couldn’t put a face to it and he couldn’t imagine what connection this person had to the stolen biomer. Camden had assured him that Lee Tripple would be the only other one to work with the biomer and it was out of necessity. Ganesh had accepted that. Besides, Lee wouldn’t care about where the material came from or how it was acquired. He didn’t see right and wrong like a normal person and only spoke to the government when they needed his science to solve something for them. It wasn’t in his nature to offer information from a project for which he wasn’t specifically recruited. This third person, Ari, however, gave Ganesh a deep sense of unease.
Ganesh thought a few more minutes then all of a sudden, smacked his desk with two open palms and said aloud, “Bearden Leitner!” It was brilliant. Ganesh would get to Lee through the eager scientist. He pulled out a new piece of paper from his desk to work on a recommendation for the naive sergeant. He felt a twinge of guilt for what he was about to do. It was a great plan, but if it went south, it would destroy Leitner’s career…his life. He shook his head. It was worth the risk. Someone had to create a countermeasure to the living weapons that were being developed downstairs, in case the project got out of hand…which in Ganesh’s mind was very probable.
An hour later, with no call yet from General Pike, Ganesh paged Bearden Leitner to his office. An innocent meeting as far as anyone keeping track was concerned; just a superior writing a letter of recommendation for an ambitious young soldier.
Bearden came bounding in, beaming from the excitement of his prospects of working with Lee Tripple. He hoped that Colonel Ganesh had mentioned his friendship with Professor Camden Riles, anything to give him an edge on the competition.
“Good afternoon, Sergeant.”
“Hello again, sir. I was happy to get your page. I really appreciate your vote of confidence.”
Ganesh could only half smile.
“Yes, well, you seem opportunistic and without fear…almost to a fault. ” He finished the sentence in his head.
Bearden looked a little confused at the Colonel’s choice of adjectives to describe a lab assistant’s position. Ganesh nervously handed him an envelope. It was sealed and on the outside it read:
For Lee Tripple Only
“Son, I don’t want you to forget that I did this for you,” Ganesh said quite seriously. His hand was a little shaky when Bearden took hold of the envelope.
“Yes, sir,” Bearden replied in a sort of questioning voice, trying to maintain his gratuitous tone.
Before he let go of the letter, Ganesh added, “It is imperative that this letter be delivered to Lee Tripple, and Lee Tripple only. It must absolutely not leave your hands until you directly place it in Dr. Tripples’.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied again, with even more bewilderment.
“Can I count on you, son?” Ganesh clapped his left hand on Bearden’s right shoulder in a fatherly way, as he asked this. And as he suspected, it put the young Sergeant at ease again. Ganesh felt Bearden take a deep breath and a smaller version of his overly eager smile returned to his face.
“Of course you can count on me, sir.” His hero worship of Ganesh returned and Bearden told himself that a man of his stature must approach every task with this level of seriousness, even insignificant ones like writing reference letters.
Ganesh released the letter with a feeling of remorse that he and this young man had just become government spies and allies, whether or not Bearden discovered his true role in this whole thing. Bearden put the letter in his jacket and patted his chest with his hand to assure Ganesh of its security. Ganesh nodded to him and Bearden took it as his cue to salute the Colonel and take his leave, which he did promptly.