The Cotten Stone Omnibus: It started with The Grail Conspiracy... (The Cotten Stone Mysteries)

by Lynn Sholes

  The hush that descended on the room was suddenly interrupted by a piercing scream coming from the playroom.

  “It’s Tera,” Lindsay said, springing to her feet.

  Alan raced right behind Lindsay across the office into the playroom.

  Devin sat on the floor shaking his hands beside his head and rocking.

  Lindsay rushed to Tera, sweeping her daughter into her arms. “Baby, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  red alert

  Tera stopped screaming and pointed to the TV screen. “He’s red! Momma, he’s one of the Ruby people.”

  Everyone focused on the image of a man speaking at what appeared to be a news conference. Across the top of the image was the banner, The Tragic Death of Dr. Philip Miller. Underneath the speaker was the graphic text title, Rizben Mace, Secretary of Homeland Security.

  “My God,” Alan said. “She’s pointing to Rizben Mace. And she says he’s—”

  “Red. A Ruby,” John said. He turned to Cotten. “That goes along with Miller’s suspicions connecting Mace to the theft of your phone.”

  Unlike the others, Cotten was not looking at the television. Her eyes were transfixed on Tera. The others were talking, but to Cotten their voices were background noise like wind through distant trees. Nor could she see anything other than Tera as cascades of lights swirled about her, blinding Cotten to anything else. She felt as if she gazed through a tunnel of dazzling white light with Tera in the center.

  “Cotten?” John said. “Are you okay?”

  Lindsay had her arms wrapped around her daughter. She let go as the child met Cotten’s stare. A slow, wide, smile grew on Tera’s face. “Hello,” she said in nearly a whisper.

  “Hi,” Cotten said, feeling an avalanche of emotion roll over her. “Motnees,” Cotten said softly, going to her knees.

  Tera came to her, touching Cotten’s tear-streaked face. “I knew you would come,” she said. “I told Momma you would.”

  Cotten enfolded the girl in her arms. For a moment, she recalled childhood memories of Motnees appearing in her room at night. They would talk for hours about the things of life that Cotten now realized were, at the time, beyond her years.

  Finally, she held Tera at arm’s length. “The time is near, isn’t it?” she said quietly.

  Tera nodded. “Devin is blue, like me . . . Indigo. But the bad people are red—Rubies.”

  At that instant, Cotten understood the danger, the urgency, and the risk. The final conflict was about to happen. Only one force could win. Good or evil. Indigos or Rubies.

  _____

  After the scene in the playroom, everyone including Tera and Devin returned to Alan’s office.

  “So what is a Ruby?” Alan asked when everyone was seated.

  “Before I explain, let me give you some background,” Cotten said. “I was recently in Moscow. You may have heard about the presidential assassination attempt on the news.”

  “It was a brave thing you did,” Alan said.

  “Thank you,” Cotten said. “It was just before I was to leave for home that I received an urgent call from Lindsay. She told me that Tera was in danger—that someone was coming to take her daughter from her.”

  Tera nodded as she sat on her mother’s lap. “Rubies.”

  Lindsay hugged her. “Hush, sweetie.”

  “It’s all right, Lindsay,” Cotten said. “In reality, Tera may know more about this than anyone.” She looked back at Alan. “You mentioned when you called me that you don’t believe your son was kidnapped for ransom. You said it may have been industrial espionage—that Devin had memorized vital computer code for your Destiny project and the kidnappers needed to have him recreate it for them. Is that right?”

  “Yes,” Alan said. “It just makes more sense to me than the ransom theory.”

  “Then, we need to find a connection,” Cotten said. “And we think it’s what Tera calls Rubies.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Kai said. “There is no connection. Alan, this is a total waste of time.”

  “Please, Kai,” Alan said. “If you’re right, then we’ll all be out of here by lunch.” He looked back at Cotten. “So you believe that Rizben Mace is a—”

  “Mace, Mace, Rizben Mace,” Devin said, one hand jiggling chest high.

  Alan spoke to his son. “Devin, let the adults—”

  Devin looked up at the ceiling. “Forever, Kai. Love, Kai.”

  “What’s he talking about?” Kai said. “Alan, can’t you shut him up?”

  Then both of Devin’s hands waved vigorously on each side of his head. “Return path. Kai at Cybermailserv. Received from mxm-0-one dot corp to rmace at dhs dot gov.”

  Kai stood and stepped away, her face reddening.

  In a monotone, Devin continued, “Rizben, I can’t take it any more. I need you, I need you, I need you. Forever, Kai.”

  “What is he saying?” Cotten asked.

  “E-mail. Devin’s repeating e-mail that he’s read,” said Alan, his eyes slowly settling on Kai as he began to understand.

  “This is bullshit,” Kai said. “I can’t believe—”

  “Return path,” Devin said. “Rizben Mace at dhs dot gov. Received from zzp-0-six dot corp to kaic at cybermailserv dot com. Tor working on the little bastard. Hades project almost complete, but the element is unstable. Found a way to fake the kidnapping. It won’t be long now. I need you, too. RM.”

  Devin stopped rocking, his hands dropped to his lap, and like everyone else in the room his eyes were trained on Kai.

  the truth

  “He’s making this shit up, Alan,” Kai said. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Kai inched away from Devin.

  For a moment, Alan was speechless, trying to process what he had just heard. This guy, this Rizben Mace, was Kai’s lover? And the Hades Project had to be a quantum computer that he was building. Kai knew who had kidnapped Devin all along. She was a part of it. He shook his head. “You’re right,” Alan said. “My son doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s simply reciting something he’s seen, like any of the thousands of texts he’s ever read. But this time it’s your e-mail, Kai. Devin can’t make things up. He doesn’t know how.”

  “Fucking little retard,” Kai said. “Snooping around where he doesn’t belong. He gives me the creeps.”

  Alan moved within inches of her, backing her against the wall. His jaw clenched and the tendons in his neck stood out. “All along, you’ve been feeding Rizben Mace inside information about my company and our product. But you couldn’t give him the Destiny code because you didn’t know how to get access to it. So you allowed Devin to be taken from me.” His fists were balled at his sides. “Jesus Christ, Kai, who are you? We loved you. I trusted you. And all this time—” Alan drove his fingers through his hair as he looked around at everyone in the room. “Fuck.” He shot his gaze back at Kai. “Fuck you!”

  After a long silence, Lindsay said, “Why don’t I take the kids to the playroom?” She gathered Devin and Tera up and led them away, closing the door behind them.

  Kai tossed back her jet hair and smoothed her red, silk brocade dress about her hips. “All right. It’s true. But it’s nothing personal, Alan. I’m not in love with Rizben Mace. That was just to get him off. It was something I knew he wanted to believe.” She raised an eyebrow at Alan. “I don’t love him or anyone else for that matter. It’s a job. That’s all. After this one, there will be another. As they say, every woman has her price.”

  “Funny you should say that, because I don’t think you calculated the price you are going to pay,” Alan said. “I intend to have you arrested for conspiring to kidnap my son and for industrial espionage. The Destiny code is worth millions, and my son is priceless. You’re going to have a tough time working your next job from inside a federal prison. I’ll do whatever it takes to put you away for life.”
>
  “And what proof do you have?” Kai said. “The word of your little carnival freak reciting some e-mail that’s long been deleted? The cops already told you who kidnapped Devin and why. I’ll walk away from this free and clear.”

  “You’ll deal with the FBI first,” Alan said, stabbing the air with his finger. “You can count on that.”

  Cotten stood, and Alan turned to her. “I’m sorry you had to see this, Ms. Stone. I apologize for any embarrassment to you and Cardinal Tyler. This is a private matter, a disgrace.” He turned back to Kai. “You’re a disgrace. You disgust me.”

  “You don’t have a clue who you are working for, do you, Kai?” Cotten said.

  “I’m freelance. I work for myself.”

  Cotten laughed. “Wow, you are in denial.”

  Kai’s almond black eyes flashed. “What are you talking about? I was recruited by Tor, a friend of mine, to work for Rizben Mace.”

  “You’ve been duped by the best,” Cotten said. “Mace is a big fish in an even bigger ocean of brimstone.”

  “What are you talking about?” Alan said.

  “Before you call the FBI, you may want to ask yourself what is really going on here,” Cotten said.

  Alan turned from Kai. “I think I already know, but why don’t you tell me anyway.”

  “It’s obvious that you’ve been betrayed. Kai risked your son’s life. She helped steal the secrets to your Destiny computer. That much we can surmise. Correct?”

  Alan crossed his arms and nodded. “What are you getting at?”

  “Rather than asking why Kai did it, which is obvious, ask yourself why Rizben Mace, the Secretary of Homeland Security, wants the operating system code to your quantum computer.”

  “Well,” Alan said, “Maybe he’s got an investment in our competition.”

  “And who is your competition?” Cotten asked.

  Alan rubbed his chin. “Because the technology is still in its infancy, most of our competitors are research facilities and universities.”

  “So you think a research facility or university would be a likely candidate to kidnap your son and plant Kai in your organization to steal your secrets?”

  “Well . . .” Alan said.

  Cotten said, “If it’s not research facilities and universities, then who else could it be? And for what purpose?”

  “I just assumed that it would be the competition . . .”

  “According to what I’ve found out about CyberSys, you are the ones on the cutting edge. You have competitors, but at this point no real competition,” Cotten said. “So why don’t we go ahead and rule that out?”

  “I’m a business man, Ms. Stone,” Alan said. “That’s the way I look at everything.”

  “What if it were terrorists?” John said.

  “Terrorists?” Alan said. “I guess it could be. But there would have to be a lot of capital and talent. It’s a possibility.”

  John said, “Do you know of any other country that has the technology you do?”

  “Maybe the Chinese,” Alan said. “But I think that information would be leaked or evident. It’s a very small community of groups trying to build a quantum computer. Although many are trying to do so, we’re way out front in actually developing one. And our specific progress is only known in a small circle inside CyberSys. Me, Max . . .”

  Alan looked at Kai.

  Kai raised both hands. “You’re way off,” she said. “I don’t work for the fucking Chinese. For God’s sake, I’m fifth-generation American. And I’m sure Rizben doesn’t, either. He told me he reports to some old guy who wants this quantum computer so he can sell it—for profit. Millions and millions. They’re not terrorists. It’s all about the money.

  She really doesn’t have any idea, Cotten thought. And the old guy Rizben reports to—Cotten knew who that was. How was she going to lead Alan to this conclusion without him thinking she was totally deranged?

  “So we know the lynchpin is Rizben Mace,” Cotten said. “If he’s not your competition, or a terrorist, or working for another government trying to steal your Destiny computer, then who is he? Who does he work for?”

  “I don’t know,” Alan said.

  Cotten glanced around the room. “Think about it, Mr. Olsen. Tera already answered that question.”

  negotiation

  Cotten realized she was stepping into risky territory. But it had to be done.

  “Mr. Olsen, you said you were a fan of mine. I assume that means you’ve followed my career?”

  “That’s correct,” Alan said.

  “So you are familiar with the kind of reporting I’ve been involved in. If you remember the Grail Conspiracy story, you will recall that someone was attempting to take the DNA from the Holy Grail and clone Christ—a creation of the Anti-Christ in a sort of blasphemous Second Coming. And then several years ago, there was a rash of suicides around the world that were suspected to be demonic possessions.”

  “Yes,” Alan said. “I remember both very well.”

  “I am convinced for many reasons that we are up against the same group that orchestrated both those events—the same group Tera calls Rubies, and she has identified Mace as a Ruby. He’s not just some industrial thief. He’s not doing it for money as Kai thinks. He kidnapped Devin to gain the technology to build this Hades Project mentioned in the e-mail. He tried to kill Tera for one reason—because she can identify him and members of the group he works with.”

  Alan clasped his hands behind his head and stretched his neck down, eyes closed. “You’re asking me to take some big leaps here with all this Ruby talk. I understand the Indigo stuff because I’ve done the research, because I know my son, but now you’re talking about something else altogether.”

  “You’re right, it will be a huge leap,” Cotten said. “But whether you take the leap or not doesn’t change the fact that both groups exist. The Indigos are being brought into this world for a purpose—to do the good work of God. The Rubies are here for just the opposite reason.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Stone, but I’m not a religious man. I don’t know if I can make the leap you are asking,” Alan said, now looking up.

  “Okay,” John said. “We would be remiss if we didn’t tell you what we think, but you don’t have to buy into everything. All you need to do is understand that Rizben Mace is building a quantum computer to be used for a terrible purpose. Will you give us that much?”

  Alan nodded. “For now.”

  Cotten suddenly turned to look at Kai. “You know she holds the answers. And she’s a working girl.”

  Alan slowly turned to her as if experiencing a revelation. “Maybe you can help me make the leap Ms. Stone wants. What’s your price, Kai?”

  “Always negotiable,” Kai said, smiling.

  “Not really,” Alan said. “I can call the FBI, or as Cotten suggests, you can cooperate.”

  “If I tell you what I know, I want some guarantees,” Kai said.

  “Like what?” Alan asked.

  “When this is over I want to walk away. But I have expensive tastes, you know that. My lifestyle would demand a great deal of compensation.” With a flick of her hand, she flipped her hair over her right shoulder and dropped down into one of the large, leather chairs. She crossed her legs, and the hem of her dress rode up mid-thigh.

  Alan worked his jaw, the muscles distending and relaxing. “Perhaps it could be arranged. But it will be a one-shot deal, Kai. When you are out of my life, if you try to come back, it will be with an FBI escort.”

  Kai rolled her eyes and gave a quick chuckle. “Fair enough.”

  “All right, then,” Cotten said. “Let’s go back over one of those e-mails that Devin told us about. I have some questions. Do you mind, Mr. Olsen?”

  “Call me Alan,” he said. “And no, I don’t mind.”

  “Hades Project. What i
s that?”

  Kai re-crossed her legs. “It’s what Rizben calls some plan he has for the computer.”

  “Details,” Alan said.

  “I don’t know any—just that he and Tor had spent a lot of time mapping out a plan.”

  “That’s another question I had,” said Cotten. “Who is Tor?”

  “He’s the computer geek—the guy who designed the Hades Plan and the computer. Rizben doesn’t know that much about computers. He relies on Tor. Tor’s the one who tried to get the Destiny code from Devin—and, like I told you a minute ago, Tor recruited me.” She blinked slowly at Alan, almost flirtatiously. “My mission was to establish a relationship with you. At first we thought I could get the Destiny code, but that didn’t work out, so all I did was relay updates on your progress and any other scraps of information I came across.”

  “You told them all about Devin, didn’t you?” Alan said.

  Kai nodded nonchalantly. “And when you were taking Devin to the football game. It was a big break for Rizben. He had tried to find a way to get to Devin, but that wasn’t an easy task. The ballgame fit the bill—crowds, confusion, and no Code Adam. We knew Devin would fall for a chance to try a new video game.”

  “Damn you,” Alan said, his face looking as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.

  “You’re paying for the truth,” Kai said. “You let me know when you don’t want to hear it.” She smiled at Alan, only one side of her mouth turned up and one brow arched.

  “Where is this Tor?” Cotten asked.

  “He’s at the Hades facility,” Kai said.

  “Where is that?” Alan said.

  “No clue. All I know is that it’s in some remote location.”

  “You don’t know much,” Cotten said. “I think Alan is overpaying you.”

  “I have a question,” Alan said. “There was something in the e-mail about an element not working. What element was he talking about?”

  “Some weird shit they needed for the computer. They had some, but it was unreliable, didn’t work all the time. Sodium. Podium. Something like—”