The Carbon Cross (The Carbon Series Book 2)

by Randy Dutton

  He looked at his partner. “Think I should ask Gabriel?”

  The dog growled.

  “No, you’re right again. We still don’t have proof, and the last thing I want are more Russians. Besides, it may all be a very close but inexact match. Let’s backtrack by looking into the husband.”

  Another half-hour passed.

  “Nothing adds up. This Pete Heyward is an upstanding academic, war hero and amputee. And he comes from a well-off Dallas oil family, hardly any ties to anything Gabriel would be involved in. There’s only a short mention of a dismissed scandal involving his father. Seems his old man was accused of assassinating a Maldivian official. Wow, that reminds me of Agency intrigue from the old days. It’s the only tie-in.”

  “Okay, presumably we’ve got her first and middle names.”

  “How does she tie in with Gabriel?” He did more searching with little result. He swigged the beer and tossed the empty into a waste basket.

  “Okay, let’s try this. Gabriel’s now working for Alexis Swanson, so maybe that’s the connection.”

  He cross search Anna Catherine and Swanson.

  Moments later, he leaned back as the results flooded in. “Wow!”

  An hour had passed before Duke leaned back from the monitor. “You’re right, she’s connected. There’s too much to read right now. Let’s identify our next move. We need to check this woman out. Fortunately”—he held up a piece of paper—“we have the address from the medical chart.”

  Kyler yipped.

  He chuckled. “Yes, you’ll be seeing Mary again. That was part of the deal...I have to make her dinner.”

  Chapter 87

  April 8, noon

  Heyward House

  The Rott’s ears lifted. Raising her brown and black head from the heavy Fuzz mat blanketing the front yard, Talos’ eyes looked above the trees. She growled at the peculiar black bird hovering a hundred meters above the property. Alerted, Shade ran to her aid and together they sought to chase out the barely audible intruder slowly moving toward the house.

  Anna peered out the office window at the two barking dogs focused on something high above her line of sight.

  “Probably another hawk,” she cooed to the baby cradled in her arms. “But just in case....”

  Bringing her computer out of hibernation, she looked at the security screen that would indicate possible intrusions.

  “Everything’s green...it’s nothing.” Her voice was warm and reassuring. Gently she hoisted the child up and down while walking to the kitchen. “It’s been two hours. Flap your wings...you’re a bird...a very hungry bird.”

  Meanwhile, the dogs gave up barking and continued stalking the strange high-flyer as it now tracked in a large rectangular flight pattern high over the house. Minutes later the buzzing bird moved away and made long sweeps of the large property.

  The dogs trotted back when the invader retreated past the river bluff.

  Duke thumbed the iPad ground station throttle control. Watching the screen’s 3-D image, he dipped the tablet like a joystick and piloted the eight-propeller drone over the county road and a last line of trees.

  The octocopter struts extended and softly settled onto the Fuzz-covered field.

  “Not bad for a ten minute recon.”

  Duke extracted the memory chip off its gimbaled camera, folded the blades and extended arms, and placed the compacted 6kg drone back into its storage case. Stepping to the parked van hidden in a neighbor’s fallow field. he opened the side door. Kyler jumped in, ahead of his master.

  Slipping onto the van’s desk chair, Duke opened a beer, took a gulp, and put it in the cup holder. After wiping his chin with a sleeve, he put the flash drive into his computer to verify the video scan was adequate. Finishing a cursory run-through, he nodded and shut it off.

  “Okay, Skylar, tonight we’ll analyze the images in more detail. Our target’s a professional. I’ve no doubt she’s installed some surprises for intruders. We just need to know what and where they are. The infrared should help. Once we determine her capabilities and vulnerabilities, I’ll be able to thread the needle through her net.”

  He glanced at a second computer monitor.

  “But first, let’s see if she’s caught on to our surveillance....”

  The shepherd jumped up on an adjoining chair to watch the electrical spikes and valleys.

  Duke’s index finger traced a line. “See that peak and plateau? That electrical signature reveals she’s still cooking dinner. And there’s another that shows the refrigerator’s ice crusher operating.... We’re clear.”

  He emitted a chuckle.

  “Gotta love the Internet of Things! Smart-grid compliant appliances sure make surveillance easier.”

  After removing the sensor clinging to the power line, he drove his white van out of the tall grass and parked a kilometer down the road. From a box of six he extracted three splotchy brown objects, each the size of a roll of quarters.

  “Now to install Wi-Fi surveillance cameras along her access road.”

  Lifting a rubber cap on a camera’s side, he attached a USB2 cable and connected the other end to his computer.

  “Okay, camera’s looking good...battery’s at 100 percent and the Wi-Fi signal’s strong.”

  He pulled off a cap that covered half the cylinder body. Three thin nails were now exposed. Pulling on gloves, he stepped into the bluff’s lower tree line and pressed each of three cameras into a tree trunk, setting them at different angles. Their camouflage design blended with the Fuzz clinging to the tree bark.

  Returning to his van, he took off the gloves and tried brushing Fuzz remnants off his black coveralls.

  “We’re done here, Partner. Now we go home and monitor her comings and goings.”

  Chapter 88

  April 22, noon, Earth Day

  Heyward House

  Like a stage curtain, the sectional door descended. Now safe within the garage, she lifted a swaddled Connor from the parked stroller and cradled him in her left arm. She draped a long-strapped diaper bag over her right shoulder, ensuring its zipper was open and contents readily accessible. Dressed in a sweat-soaked Lycra outfit, and still breathing hard, she entered the house.

  Waving her wrist band over a keypad caused a sensor to flash. All alarm panel lights went green. Her hand brushed damp hair from her face and tossed a wet headband onto the kitchen island.

  With a free hand hovering over the bag, she walked past a hundred dollar bill prominently lying in a dish on the island. Her eyes lifted and lingered at the sheathed katana mounted horizontally above the mantle. The downward curve of its warrior blade had an aesthetic appeal for her. The antique’s lineage only dated to WWII and lacked the heritage of the Masamune seven-layer katana she left behind in France. It was a concession to Pete not to buy a much more valuable sword since the public trade of such weapons is more readily watched. In a slow traverse across the great room to the crib, she methodically scanned the few other wall-displayed antique weapons to determine if any had been disturbed.

  Such indicator items had real value. Her intent was to tempt potential thieves that somehow bypassed her alarm sensors. Greed would reveal their presence...and seal their fate.

  With everything seemingly in place, a slight grin of satisfaction formed. Leaning over the crib, her lips touched Connor’s forehead before lowering the gurgling child onto the mattress.

  Returning to the kitchen, she placed the open bag on the island. Pressing a freshly poured iced tea against her forehead, she momentarily cherished its chill. Gulping it down and crunching the crushed ice, she re-poured and re-entered the great room.

  After clicking on the TV, her foot rolled out the exercise mat. Talos and Shade, both panting from their daily run, bounded in through the utility room’s electronically-activated pet access door and lay down on a rug.

  The noon news came on while she started cool-down stretches.

  “This is Jill Brent of Global Heartbeat Network for a special E
arth Day presentation broadcast live from the White House Briefing Room.”

  “Oh, that was today, wasn’t it? Gotta save the Earth by controlling its people.” Anna grumbled sarcastically while lying down and drawing her knees to her chest and arching her spine inward.

  The sound of crunching coming from both dogs drew her attention. “What’d you guys bring in...sticks? You’re going to leave a mess for me to clean, aren’t you?”

  She dismissed them for the moment and returned to the program.

  “For those of you just joining us, President Fernandez has just signed several executive orders intended to help save our planet from the ravages of mankind.”

  The president stepped up to the microphone holding a Green Bible in his left hand. “Now for questions.”

  He pointed at the BBC correspondent to his left.

  “Mr. President, do you believe your Executive Orders modifying the US Constitution’s basic freedoms will withstand a Supreme Court challenge?”

  The President put the bible down and grasped the sides of the podium.

  “Absolutely! The Constitution is a living document that shouldn’t subject citizens to live under rules written by entitled white men who died two centuries ago and with no idea what life would be like today. As such, every citizen’s responsible for the words he or she chooses to use. We’re helping Americans by protecting them from ideas and speech that is offensive or hurts the government they chose to represent them.... Similarly, the right to association and assembly were never intended to allow criminal elements to combine forces. As the Department of Homeland Security expands its known threat list, these criminal elements will be illuminated...publicized...and targeted. Next.”

  He pointed to the GHN reporter. “Jill.”

  “Is it true the UN Secretary General demanded the Constitutional changes?”

  The president nodded to a UN spokeswoman sitting in the press room. “We are in concert with the UN’s interest in promoting global freedom and responsibilities. This can only be done by working together under a single set of rules. The Constitution no longer fits a global template.”

  He pointed to a reporter from the Christian Science Monitor.

  “Mr. President, every religious group – including the Vatican – has expressed anger over the US government endorsing the new UN Bible as the word of God. Why was Earth Day chosen to unveil it, and aren’t you worried about alienating the tens of millions of religious voters?”

  “Let me be clear”—the President held the Green Bible high—“like the US Constitution, the Bible was well-intentioned but flawed...outdated, if you must. As living documents, they needed to be amended to incorporate the new realities. Mother Earth is the true victim and ultimate savior of humanity. Mankind does not have dominion over animals, but rather has the social responsibility to force others to abide by the natural order. This new bible reflects our progressive beliefs. And what better day to reveal the truth about mankind’s place on Earth than International Earth Day?”

  He pointed to a Technology Review reporter. “Yes.”

  “Sir, the UN recently changed the five Oxford Principles to just one – geoengineering decisions are to be made only under the purview of the UN. Can you tell us why the other four principles of public participation, disclosure, independent assessment, and governance before deployment were removed?”

  “Good question. Over the years we’ve struggled with intransient power brokers who blocked what was best for our planet and, consequently, for our society. Public participation in the decision-making just wasn’t allowing government the freedom and expediency we needed to solve our problems.”

  The TR reporter continued standing. “Follow-up question. Our investigators have been stonewalled about the approvals of the carbon dioxide-absorbing technologies released into the environment. Under the earlier Oxford Principles, these technologies would have been scrutinized and likely blocked from release. Isn’t your administration at fault for the current biological plague?”

  President Fernandez’s affable expression turned stern. “Let me be clear. I inherited an ecological catastrophe from my predecessors! Under my administration, we’ve done everything possible to save the planet from their mistaken policies. And I think it’s safe to say, we’ve succeeded. But with success comes sacrifice.”

  The president turned and pointed to the darker blues on the global image projected behind him. “Mother Earth is blessed with some new species that will cleanse our air and our water of excess carbon dioxide. As the OCO-2 satellite images illustrate, the presence of these species proves technology trumps faith. In just a few short months, the carbon sinks have intensified. Now, it’s up to every global citizen to make accommodation with these species.... Next.”

  “Dan Feeny, Slate Magazine. Mr. President, first off, we want to thank you for today’s decision to ban cats”—grumbling from other journalists threw the reporter off stride—“yes, ban cats! We applaud you for trying to rid the planet of this parasitic species, which, though helpful in our pre-industrial agriculture past, now kills bird populations and adds to our global carbon footprint. Will you extend this ban to other species such as dogs, pet birds, and exotic reptiles?”

  Unnerved by the president’s actions, Anna stopped stretching and embraced her bare knees. With tight lips, her eyes misted as the memory of the killing of Styx and Perses intruded on her post-workout calm. Her eyes shifted to Talos and Shade sleeping nearby and her heart warmed with reassurance.

  On the broadcast, President Fernandez put his hands on the podium and solemnly responded, “This was a tough political and personal decision. As you know, my children have a Persian. But science and practicality win out on this debate. Earth Day is about saving our planet. Cats are cute, fun, and friendly. But to Mother Earth they’re destructive, resource intensive, and unnecessary in today’s modern society. Each cat has the carbon footprint of a compact car. Let me quantify that for you. Victoria University of Wellington calculated that the cat population of the 10 largest feline-friendly nations requires agricultural land totaling more than the size of Montana to support them. And that doesn’t include cat litter disposal.

  “My executive order reflects the new UN position and does not advocate cruelty. It doesn’t promote poisoning or shooting cats. Rather, it grandfathers existing cats so they may live out their...nine lives.”

  Most of the reporters groaned.

  The president continued, “The regulation only mandates that all cats be spayed or neutered, but no new cats should be allowed to be born. As to your question, yes, we are drafting a similar order on non-working dogs, and other exotic pets.”

  Anna blinked to clear her vision. Last summer’s traumatic surveillance camera images of her beloved dogs shot dead in her villa’s front yard raised her pulse. She stared at the president.

  “You’re despicable!” Her attention shifted to the very quiet Talos and Shade. “Guys...the government’s coming for you. Watch yourselves!”

  Her eyes returned to the president as he pointed to Fox News, and said, “Yes?”

  “Mr. President, earlier today you announced Earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have crossed the peak – what some experts refer to as the ‘Carbon Cross’ – and will level off. Our sources say that with the invasive species increasing their environmental dominance, the reduction of CO2 will exceed mankind’s and nature’s emissions—”

  “Excuse me, is there a question coming?” Fernandez asked petulantly, then momentarily looked to his left at Jack Dowell who was writing a note.

  “Yes, Sir. Have any of your science experts warned you of the possibility of these species causing carbon dioxide levels to crash and adversely affect agricultural production and Earth’s biosphere?”

  Anna eyes shifted again to the sleeping dogs.

  “A carbon crash?!” Fernandez shot back. “What a bunch of right-wing conservative...” He paused. “No! Our experts assure me Earth’s atmosphere will slowly return to balanc
e, and most of the extreme weather events will diminish....”

  Anna muttered, “Kumbaya.”

  President Fernandez pointed to a young lady in the front row. “Yes, from the Huffington Post.”

  “Mr. President, Is your administration still trying to undo Alaska’s purchasing its freedom from Russia? And can you explain why our Treasury didn’t use the China Bonds to pay down part of our own debt?”

  Leaning against the sofa, Anna’s elbows went on her knees and her chin rested on interlocked fingers. “This ought to be good.”

  “First off, the illegal government of Alaska violated the environmental principals upon which America is operating. We disapprove of their intention to resume fossil fuel exploitation and we are investigating any malfeasance in the deal they concluded.... Second, the China Bonds were worthless to the US because we refused to engage in economic blackmail. Beyond that, no comment!”

  Anna considered the president’s comment on investigating malfeasance, wondering if any of this would come back to bite her. She chuckled softly.

  I could use the presidential pardon against any charges the president might demand. Her smile faded. But would it matter if my identity’s revealed? We’ll either be running...or dead. Instead of giving it all away as I promised Pete, I should use it to create an exit strategy. Maybe find a place in a....

  Her eyes had refocused on the sleeping dogs. She stood and walked to them. “You guys okay?”

  Still no response but she detected a slight drool from Talos.

  Her eyes narrowed and her pulse jumped.

  She no sooner had made a single quick step toward the diaper bag when a man’s voice from behind her boomed, “Stop where you are!”

  Whirling into a fighting pose, her vision focused down the 6-inch barrel of a Smith and Wesson .38 special revolver extending from a big man’s right hand. His left was holding her iPad.

  “Don’t worry, Anna, your dogs are just drugged. I’d never hurt someone’s pet...or child...unnecessarily.”