by Liz Wolfe
“I did the same damn thing you did, Mom,” she gritted out through clenched teeth. “I had a choice to make, and I chose to save the one I thought had the best chance of survival.”
“The same thing I did? This is nothing like I did!”
“Really?” Zoe asked her.
“Absolutely. I took Matteo because he was the only one I could take. And I knew you would be well taken care of. No matter what you think of me, Zoe, it wasn’t an easy choice to make. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’ve questioned it every minute of my life since.”
Zoe steeled herself against the anguish on her mother’s face. “And I took you because there was no way to take Matteo. The difference is that I’m not questioning it because I’m going back for Matteo.”
Mira slumped against Ethan. Tears streaked down her cheeks until she sobbed herself to sleep.
“That was a bit harsh,” Ethan said to Zoe.
“Shut up, Ethan.”
He did for a few minutes, then he continued as if Mira had never awoken. “Have you heard from Drake?”
Zoe shook her head. “Not for a while.” She felt guilty about not telling Ethan that Drake might be working for the Order. And she wasn’t even sure why she wasn’t telling him. Drake had told her that appearances could be deceiving and she wanted to believe that it only looked like he was working for the Order.
She wanted to believe he wasn’t lying to her.
“He hasn’t checked in with me, either. He’s probably pretty deep undercover trying to get information on that terrorist group.”
“There’s a terrorist group?” she asked.
“It’s a completely separate op from the Order. Drake has an undercover persona he’s used for a few years. The director thought he might be able to use that to find out what a new terrorist cell is up to.”
“So, Drake’s doing that and being my handler?”
Ethan nodded. “I’d feel better if Drake was close by. I don’t like the idea of you being inside the Order all alone.”
“I’m fine, Ethan. Besides, they need me for one more job. As long as they need me, I’m safe.”
“They’ll know you rescued your mother.”
“So?”
Ethan sighed. “You go back and then what? You do another job for them and they kill you because they have everything they need.”
“Yeah. If I actually give them everything they need.” Zoe sat up and leaned over to grin at him. “See, Ethan? I’m getting the hang of this spy thing.”
January 12, Florence, Italy
Frank Stubeck waited in the small parlor for Capo. He’d taken the express train from Bern yesterday and checked into a hotel for the evening. Of course, he could have phoned Capo with his news. But he’d been working such long hours in the research lab that he felt he deserved a small vacation.
His first night in Florence, he’d dined on pasta and wine at a small restaurant and then taken a walk through the streets. Since he lived at the research facility and it was so far from Bern, he usually ate the food that was brought in. The food was reasonably good, but it didn’t compare to the cuisine available in Florence. This was a treat for him, and he planned on staying the rest of the week. He already had tickets to a play, and plans to visit several museums. And, of course, a list of fine restaurants. And besides the minivacation, Frank wanted to tell Capo his good news in person. Surely, the leader would be impressed with the millions he’d obtained by creating the Neurotox. And Capo didn’t need to know about the small portion he’d reserved for himself. Stubeck believed in what the Order was trying to achieve. But he also knew that it wasn’t guaranteed. If they failed, he wanted a cushion to fall back on. He’d earned it, he deserved it, and he’d taken it.
“Taking a break from your research?” Capo asked.
“Yes, Capo. I find I work better if I allow myself a break now and again.”
“There’s no better place than Florence. Such a beautiful city.”
“Oh, yes. Florence is one of my favorite cities.”
“And your research on the HIV vaccine is going well?” Capo asked.
“Very well. The constant mutations of the virus are a challenge, but we are making progress.”
“I’m pleased.” Capo nodded. “Eliminating that virus will be a great service to mankind.”
“Actually, I wanted to come here to give you some good news.”
“Really? What is that?”
“A few months ago, I met with a man who was seeking a neurotoxin. I was able to produce and refine an existing toxin to his requirements and have just received the final payment. A total of one hudred fifty million euros. All for the use of the Order.”
Frank was surprised at Capo’s blank expression. He’d thought Capo would be thrilled with the money. Perhaps he hadn’t understood.
“What kind of neurotoxin did you develop?”
“It’s amazingly effective,” Frank explained. “I was able to refine it so that it works immediately. Within minutes.”
“Works? How, exactly?”
Frank sat up straighter, eager to explain. “It activates the clotting factors in the blood. Then as the clotting factors are quickly used up, hemorrhaging occurs. First from capillaries and then quickly from the veins and arteries, until the subject bleeds out. The customer was very pleased.”
“Who was the customer?” Capo asked.
“He gave the name of William Russell, but I doubt that was his real name. He appeared to be from the Middle East.” Frank shrugged. “But the money was wired to our account without delay. That is all that matters.”
“No! It is not all that matters.” Capo stood up. “I can’t believe you did this. You should have checked with me first. Have you any idea what you’ve done? What these people will do with something like this?”
“But they paid so much money and—”
Capo waved his hand to stop the man. “These people are likely terrorists. They will use the neurotoxin against whomever they disagree with. And we have no idea of who that might be, do we?” Capo paced across the room. “The Order does not support terrorist activity. You should know that. Our goal is to create a peaceful world, not to encourage terrorists.”
“I’m sorry, Capo. I thought the money was so important.” This was not at all what he’d expected. Instead of gratitude, he was being chastised for his actions.
“Wait here,” Capo instructed. He left the room and took a back hallway to Weisbaum’s office.
“Karl, we have a slight problem that I need you to handle.”
“Of course.” Weisbaum stood when Capo entered.
“Stubeck is here from the pharmaceutical research facility in Switzerland. The fool has made a horrible mistake. He developed a powerful neurotoxin and sold it to someone.”
“What? Without saying anything to anyone?”
“Exactly. He said the man who bought it appeared to be from the Middle East. I assume he’s a terrorist. God only knows what they plan to do with it.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any way to find them?” Weisbaum asked.
“I doubt it. The man used a false name. We might be able to trace them from the money transfer, but they will probably use the toxin before we can find them.”
“What do you want me to do with Stubeck?”
“He has to go. It’s obvious that he’s unsuitable for the Order. This happens occasionally, of course. Not every father indoctrinates his son adequately.” Capo shrugged.
“I’ll have it taken care of immediately.”
15
January 12, Florence, Italy
“HANK. NICE TO SEE YOU again. What’s up?” Drake pulled off his leather trench coat and draped it over the back of a chair in the entryway.
“Nice to see you, too.” Hank Robertson waved to Drake. “Follow me. I have something to take care of.”
“Sure. Can I leave my coat here?”
“No problem.” Hank led Drake across the hall and down a hallway. “How’
ve you been? Anything exciting going on?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. Tracking down the bad guys for the CIA. Bummer that they sent me into the field, though. I was really hoping I could get you guys the information you wanted.” Like hell. He was mostly hoping that he could get Hank out of this and somehow not destroy his career with the CIA. “What about you?”
“Nothing special, really.” Hank opened a door and flicked a light switch, illuminating a narrow stairway. “Just doing my job with the Order.”
Drake followed him down the stairs and into a long narrow room. Hank punched a code into a keypad and opened the door, motioning Drake to walk through. On the other side was another long narrow room with five metal doors. Drake recognized it. He’d been held in one of those rooms a few months ago. The nerve endings that hadn’t totally healed twitched at the ends of the scars on his rib cage. Hank punched in another code at one of the doors and opened it.
Inside a man sat in a metal chair, much like the one Drake had been chained to. The man was sweating profusely. His head shot up when they entered.
“What?” he asked. “What have I done? I only wanted to help. I obtained a huge sum of money for the Order.” His head drooped again. “I don’t understand,” he whimpered.
“You don’t need to understand,” Hank said.
“But if I just knew what I did wrong, I could fix it. I swear. I’d do anything.”
The man’s pleading seemed to have no effect on Robertson. Drake watched as his former commander walked to a table and picked up a Colt.45. He held the gun loosely in his hand and looked at Drake with a half smile, then shook his head.
“I really hate this shit.”
Drake forced an answering smile and nodded. What the hell was Hank doing? He figured he must need information from the guy and was trying to scare it out of him. Well, hell. Drake had done the same kind of thing. More than once.
“Try to be a man, for God’s sake, Stubeck,” Robertson said.
Stubeck’s head jerked up. “Yes, of course. I just don’t know what you want from me. Just tell me and I will comply.”
Robertson shook his head, lifted the gun, and shot Stubeck.
Drake jerked, then immediately tamped down his reaction. Stubeck slumped forward in the chair, held up only by the ropes that bound him, a bullet hole in his forehead.
“Damn. I really hate this kind of shit,” Robertson repeated. He laid the gun on the table and turned to Drake. “But you know how it is. Some guys just don’t get it. This one took it upon himself to act without the Order’s blessing.” Robertson shook his head. “Didn’t even have the fucking sense to let the Triumvirate know what he was doing.”
“Too stupid to live?” Drake asked with a chuckle that he hoped didn’t sound as forced as it felt.
“Pretty much,” Robertson agreed. He pulled out a chair from the table and sat in it, ignoring Stubeck’s dead body behind him. “I’m glad to see how you’re taking this.”
“What?” Drake asked. “The fact that you had to take care of someone?” He shrugged. “It happens.”
“Good to know you feel that way. Time might come that you have to do the same kind of thing.” Robertson grinned at him. “Think you can handle it?”
“You think I couldn’t?” Drake asked. “Hank, you know me better than that. I can do whatever needs to be done.”
“That’s what I’ve told them. In fact, I’ve assured them you can handle it.”
“Well, we’ve both been there. We know that sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.”
“Even if it’s someone you know?” Robertson asked.
Drake stared at Robertson. “Sounds like you have someone specific in mind.”
“The Order needs one more document. After that, she’s a liability. Don’t get me wrong. The Order would rather not kill anyone. But Zoe knows stuff that could hamper the Order’s efforts. It’s for the greater good.” He leaned back in the chair. “Since you’ll be with her on the heist, they figure you’re the best one to take careof her.”
“So, I kill her after she gets the document?” Drake asked.
“Well, yeah, but not until the Triumvirate has a chance to check it out. Gotta make sure we don’t need her anymore, you know?”
“Sure. Just let me know when,” Drake said.
January 13, Florence Italy
Zoe jogged the half mile from where the limo had dropped her off and arrived at the mansion shortly before nine. She’d hoped to be back and in her bed before the household arose, but the extra time it had taken to get her mother out had prevented that. Damn, she was exhausted. She opened the door of the mansion and stepped into the entryway, bending over to brace her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
“Ms. Alexander. Out for a morning run?”
Zoe looked up to see Weisbaum standing a few feet from her. Damn it. This day just kept getting better and better.
“You have a problem with that?” She stood up. “I have to stay in shape. Makes my job a lot easier.”
“I’m sure it does. If you have a moment?”
Weisbaum gestured toward his office.
“Sure.” Every hair on her body stood at attention. Weisbaum was being way too nice, which could only mean they had discovered that her mother was missing. She followed him into his office and slumped into a chair before his desk. “What?”
“Excuse me?” Weisbaum asked.
“You wanted to see me. I’m assuming it was about something in particular. Or maybe you just wanted to share your morning coffee with me?”
“If you want coffee, I can arrange it, but, yes, I wanted to see you about a matter.”
“Shoot. I’ll have some tea after I have a shower.”
“Your mother is missing.” Weisbaum sat and leaned his elbows on his desk, lacing his fingers together.
“No shit. I noticed that. No, wait, you told me you’d taken her. Don’t tell me you’ve misplaced her?”
“Your attitude is annoying and unnecessary,” Weisbaum said. His hands formed a steeple and his fingertips tapped each other. “Are you telling me you had nothing to do with it?”
“Oh, I’m not telling you a damn thing, Weisbaum.”
“You were the only one who knew we had your mother and brother in custody. And you are one of the few persons to possess the skills to get her out of here.”
Zoe shrugged. “And your point?”
Weisbaum sank back into his chair. “You’re very good.”
“I know, but thank you for mentioning it.” Zoe stood and walked toward the door, then turned back. “Was there anything else?”
Weisbaum held her gaze for a moment, then looked at a paper on his desk. “Only that we still have your brother.” He looked up and smiled at her. “We’ve moved him to a more secure location, of course.”
“Of course.”
“One more thing,” Weisbaum said.
“What? I’d really like to go take a shower.”
“This is your next job. Your last job.” He held a file folder out. Zoe strode back to his desk and snatched the folder from his hand.
“You mean my last job for you.” She ignored the way he raised his eyebrows at her, turned, and walked across the room. She jerked the door open, then kicked it shut and trotted to the staircase. Her foot was on the bottom stair when Drake emerged from a door.
“Zoe,” he called. “That’s the next job?” He nodded at the folder in her hand.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go over it.”
“Later.” Zoe continued up the stairs.
“Now.”
The tone of his voice made her turn around. “I really need a shower and a nap.”
“This won’t take long.”
Zoe gave up. She just didn’t have the energy to argue with him. She turned and walked back down the stairs, following Drake to the French doors that led to the courtyard. He walked to a bench on the far side of the flagstones and sat down.
“I’m im
pressed. You got your mother out.”
“But not my brother. And now they’ve moved him.”
“And I know where he is.”
“Where?” she demanded.
“Sit. First, some other things. Once you’ve done this job, they have no further use for you.”
Zoe nodded. “I know. I’m sure they have plans for me that include a nice burial.”
“You have any plans to prevent that?”
“I don’t have any plans at all right now. I’ve been up all night. I’m too tired to think.”
“Well, you’d better start thinking.” He held his hand out. “What’s the job?”
She handed the folder to him and slumped back against the bench. What the hell was she going to do? She had to get Matteo out. She’d prefer to get herself out, too. And that meant that she’d have to find Matteo before she did the last job for them.
“The Institute of Physics in Prague,” Drake said. “What?”
“That’s where the next job is. That isn’t going to be easy.”
“What are we stealing? Plans for something?”
“A crystal lens.” He flipped a page in the folder. “Evidently it’s kept in a safe in the basement. It’s a backup for the one they use in some special laser.”
Zoe took the folder from him and skimmed a few pages. “We’ll do it in two days. But, first, where’s Matteo?”
“You’ll never get him out.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“I assume Ethan took your mother somewhere. What did you tell him about me?”
“Where’s Matteo?”
“Fine. He’s in a small room under the villa. There’s an electronic lock on the outer door and then electronic locks on each interior door. There are four rooms and I have no idea which one he’s in.”
“Okay. Do you remember the name on the electronic locks?”
“What?”
“The locks would probably have the brand name on them. Do you remember what it was?”
“Securi something, I think.”
“Securitron?” she asked.
“Yeah, that sounds right. Why?” He held a hand up. “Never mind. That was a stupid question.” Zoe smiled. “Yes, it was.”