She was right, there wasn’t anything more he could do. It amazed him how this woman was able to influence him, and often the right way. He sighed. “Do you always have to have the last word?”
Fox watched Parris smile one of her captivating smiles. “Yes, I do.”
Epilogue
Somewhere west of Kimberly, Northern Cape, South Africa, one year later
The red Bell 407 helicopter cruised at a low altitude through the night sky, above the rocky desert terrain. From their location, the pilot and his female passenger had flown over some of the diamond mines-Northern Cape’s chief industry-but diamonds didn’t concern the passenger. She had inherited a large fortune from her recently deceased husband, the former CEO of a major South African pharmaceutical company.
It was the second time in her life that she’d been widowed. Again, her late-husband was the victim of a massive heart attack. This time, it happened only a week after they exchanged vows at a private ceremony.
She may have lost her greatest achievement just one year ago, but the Clarity drug still served her purpose. Especially since it made it easier to swindle the poor rich fool out of every penny he had in order to fund her own organization, which was still in its infancy. Once it was fully realized, she would be the chief supplier of chemical and biological weapons in the region. She would research Clarity herself this time. And once she was satisfied she would recreate The Promise.
After they flew over a barbwire fence that surrounded what used to be a former apartheid-era, government-run research facility, the pilot brought the helicopter closer to the ground. When the landing skids touched down, Dr. Tabitha Marx stepped out onto the gravel surface. She buttoned the top button of her three quarter length wool coat to block the night chill. She’d lose it later in the day, when the sun came out.
Most people who knew her a year ago wouldn’t have recognized her now, since she had undergone cosmetic surgery nearly seven months ago, giving her a longer nose and higher cheekbones. She had the same youthful look, but with shorter, jet black hair.
As the rotors from the helicopter came to a stop, Marx and her pilot, who was armed with a South African R5 assault rifle, walked to the top of a staircase and descended it into the ground. At the bottom they both continued through a tunnel that was lit only by two flickering light bulbs, until they came to a reinforced steel door. Beside the door was a red-lit keypad and Marx punched in the five-digit code. The keypad switched from red to green. There was a beeping sound and the steel door slid to the side.
Marx unbuttoned her coat as she and the pilot walked down the hallway. She couldn’t help but think that one of the scientists should have greeted her, as they normally did when she came to visit or to work. But that wasn’t the case this time. When she got the phone call an hour ago, telling her that a major hurdle had been bypassed in research improving Clarity, she wanted to witness it herself.
But when she got to the main laboratory, she witnessed something else that made her freeze immediately. The pilot instantly raised his R5 and swept the entire room with it. Of the ten scientists that she expected to see, none were there. There was a muzzle flash from within the shadows ahead and staccato shots threw the pilot against the wall, he dropped to the ground.
Before Marx could look down at the pilot she heard another shot and she felt a sharp object pierce her right quadriceps. She screamed as she dropped to the floor and saw a feathered dart protruding from her leg. She reached down, pulled it out, and threw it away, but it was too late, the numbness had already set into her leg.
She put most of her weight on her left leg, as she got up and leapt over to the wall for balance. She made three successful hops before her left leg collapsed under her, and she fell to the floor. Although she sensed it was pointless, she was unwilling to quit, and she pulled herself forward with both arms, dragging her legs behind. She heard footsteps behind her, but she kept pulling herself towards the steel door, as she felt the numbness creep upwards to her shoulders. It was only seconds later that she was completely paralyzed, and for the first time in several months, she felt powerless.
The footsteps got closer, and then stopped. Although she couldn’t turn to see who it was, she could tell there were two individuals. A chill ran up her spine. Through the corner of her eye, she saw one of them get down on one knee. An object was gently pressed on her ear. She realized it was a mobile phone.
“Dr. Marx, how are you? I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person to watch the destruction of both you and your operation, but I sent two good friends of mine on my behalf. Oh, and if you’re wondering where your team of scientists are, they’ve all been arrested by the South African authorities.”
The satellite phone was pulled away and she heard a beeping sound a second later. Her eyes dilated, aghast at the sound of Yuji Tanaka’s voice. She then felt the tip of a boot slide under her stomach and flip her onto her back where she saw her two assailants, both dressed in black three-quarter-length leather jackets and boots.
“It’s nice to see you again,” said Fox, holding his own R5. “You showed a real gratitude to the two Clarified Boeisho agents who helped you escape a year ago. I guess anyone’s expendable once they’ve served their purpose to you.”
“I like your new face,” said Parris. “But it doesn’t do much to hide who you really are. I’m sure your latest dead husband would agree.” Parris switched her sniper rifle from one hand to the next.
Fox shook his head. “As they say, bad habits die hard. It was only a matter of time before one of our Advanced Imagery Satellites was moved into geosynchronous orbit over Johannesburg and began recording all telephone conversations coming from your neighborhood.”
Fox and Parris watched her facial expression change from fear to anger, showing the same cold glare they both were used to seeing.
Marx felt her heart race and she had trouble breathing. “What have you done to me?”
“Oh, that?” said Parris. “As you know, you’ve just experienced near total paralysis. In about two minutes, you’re going to suffer a massive heart attack. And by that time, this facility will be your tomb.”
Fox took a pocket-sized photograph from his breast pocket and held it out for Marx to see. “This is Warrant Officer Pat Hiller. He was a good friend of mine. A little over a year ago he died while serving his country and protecting the free world. This was after he and his SEAL unit were cowardly set up to die from a weapon you developed.” He tossed the picture on top of her and looked at Parris. “Shall we go, Dr. Nita Parris?”
He tossed the R5 back into the main laboratory.
“Yes, we shall, Warrant Officer Ridley Fox.”
In the same dramatic fashion, she too, tossed her sniper rifle back into the laboratory. They walked away, leaving Dr. Tabitha Marx just as she breathed her last breath.
As Fox and Parris got to the top of the staircase and headed towards the helicopter, Fox took out a Canadian one-dollar coin. “Heads or tails?”
“Heads.”
Fox tossed the coin in the air, caught it on the back of his hand and looked at it. He pocketed the coin, took out a small black box from inside his jacket and handed it to Parris as his satellite phone rang. “Yes?”
“Not too much trouble, I gather.” It was Tanaka.
“No, just a quick in and out.”
“Will you require anything else from the Boeisho right now?”
“Not right now. Your supplier was more than helpful. Thanks again. We both owe you one.”
“Take care, and give my best wishes to Dr. Parris.”
“I’ll let her know.” Fox pressed the off button and climbed into the Bell 407 helicopter with Parris. When the propellers were at full speed, he lifted it up and cleared the barbwire fence.
Parris held the black box up in front of her, extended its antenna, and pressed the button. There was a loud explosion and a bright fiery ball erupted from the open air entrance to the facility.
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Document version: 1
Document creation date: 18.07.2012
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Pandora's Succession Page 26