“The analysis will take some time.” Dr. Kane stood up. “I’m assuming you want to Wait for the results.” she nodded. “I’d prefer to assist you.” A frown creased the skin between his eyebrows. “If this is sarin, it’s deadly.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any sense in asking how you came to possess this canister, or this encapsulation carrier case.” The speculative gleam in his eye vanished and his hand shot up. “No, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
Tracy wouldn’t have answered him anyway, but she appreciated his reluctance to know any more than was necessary for him to do what he had to do. In fact, she blessed him for it.
.“All right, Captain. You can assist,” he said. “Come with me.
Three hours later, dressed ‘in chemical gear, Dr. Kane looked over the lab table at Tracy, his expression grim. “We’ve got confirmation.”
“What is it?” The muscles in her back and neck screamed, protesting her bending double over the table for so long. She twisted to loosen up. At least wearing the heavy ,ear in the lab was more comfortable than it had been out in Area Fourteen. After that hellhole, almost anywhere would be a breeze-except Leavenworth.
He hitched a hip against the edge of the table. “It’s not sarin.
“It isn’t?” Surprised, she stared at . him through her mask.
“No. But it is an unknown derivative of it. We haven’t seen it before.”
His gloomy tone clearly conveyed that he grasped the gravity of the situation. “This is stronger than sarin. A lot stronger. It’s odorless, colorless, and lethal.”
“As suspected.” Ten times as strong and as lethal.
Cheap and effective.
Dr. Kane rolled his shoulders, stretching out a kink, then wrinkled the bridge of his nose, as if he longed to rub it but couldn’t because of the mask. “We don’t yet know the long-term effects of sarin, and now we’ve got a derivative of it to worry about.”
Adam had been right. Retrosarin. Oh, God Retrosarin!
And Paul had created it. “What do we know about sarin?” she asked Dr. Kane.
“Not enough.” He secured the canister, then turned to walk out of the lab, motioning for her to follow. “Right after the Gulf War, we burned a pit of ammunition. It turned out to have chemicals in it-sarin. A respectable number of our own troops suffered extremely lowleavel exposure. Because of what happened in the war-and after sarin was improperly applied during a terrorist attack on a Japanese subway-several research projects to study the long-term effects of lowleavel exposure to the chemical are now in the works. The problem is that, until those incidents, there were no long-term effects. Typically, a minuscule amount of sarin kills.”
He stepped into a decontamination chamber and waved her inside. “There is an antidotes type of bleach-but this derivative is substantially stronger. That antidote won’t be effective.”
No antidote? If Paul created this monster and didn’t create an antidote, she’d kill him herself. The chamber door slid closed. “Is there any possibility that the sarin antidote might be strengthened and be effective?”
“I’d bet against it.” He pushed the controls to begin the decontamination and, when the red light on the control panel came on, he sat down on a tile bench that ran end to end inside the chamber. “At one time, the United States stockpiled sarin, but controls have tightened. It was developed in Germany, and it isn’t difficult to produce, by any means, but it has to be manufactured in a lab. My guess is this derivative does, too.”
A lab-Like Keener Chemical’s lab. Tracy’s heart sank. Oh, Paul. What in the name of heaven have you done?
Why? Why have you done this?
She sat down on the bench beside Dr. Kane. There wasn’t conclusive proof Paul had sanctioned or participated in the exercise that had killed Alpha team but there was no denying his involvement any longer. No room for hope. Paul had to be up to his eyeballs in this conspiracy.
Reuger and his men flashed through her mind. Had they worked for Paul? He would want the canister retrieved. When Hackett and O’Dell failed to find it, it seemed logical Paul would initiate his own search. He had too much to lose by not locating it and hiding the truth. Keener Chemical-his life and pride, his family business.
He’s already married to Keener Chemical. Janet had said it, and she’d been right, Dr. Kane sighed. “I’m still not clear about what exactly is going on here, but I’m up against the wall. This derivative is extremely dangerous, Captain. In the wrong”, hands, it could wipe out entire communities.” A bell sounded, and Tracy swerved her gaze to the control panel. The light was green. She stood up, stripped off the chemical gear, leaving on her jeans and T-shirt, -then sat back down, Dr. Kane slid her a wary look. “I see that you’ve done this before.
She tugged down on her shirtsleeve. “You don’t want to know.”
“Right.” He grimaced. “Anyway, I have no choice but to report this to Environmental and General Nestler. I can’t wait any longer, not knowing what I know.”
Nestler. The wild card who could be a good or a bad guy. Was she totally insane for holding out hope that he proved to be good? “I understand, Dr. Kane. But please, for your own protection, retain a sample of the derivative. Hide it somewhere safe and tell no one about it-no one. Not until you hear otherwise directly from me or Captain Burke. If we survive this, we’re going to need it as proof. If not, you’ll need it to develop an antidote right away.”
“Burke is alive?” Shock flooded Dr. Kane’s eyes.
Tracy nodded. “And risking his life to protect the rest of us.”
Dr. Kane swiped a hand through his hair, ruffling it. The brown strands caught the light and shone gold. “Are you saying this chemical is already in the wrong hands?”
She didn’t answer him. “When you notify Environmental and General Nestler, it would be wise for you to simultaneously notify nonmilitary officials.”
Her trepidation hadn’t escaped him. “Any particular nonmilitary officials?”
“I suggest the governor, your state senators and representatives, including Senator Stone, the EPA, and the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Stone serves on that committee, so that will give you a little protection.”
Blowing out a ragged breath, Dr. Kane nodded. “I’ll do that, Captain.”
“Thank you.” She meant it sincerely.
“Don’t.” He stood up. “I may not know what this is all about, but I know you’re risking yourself for the rest of us as much as Captain Burke. I owe him an apology.”
“Oh?”
“I convicted him without a trial.” Dr. Kane’s stern expression softened, and he looked chagrined. “I’m grateful. Please tell Captain Burke, and tell him I’m sorry.”
Maybe the bad guys didn’t always wear black. Maybe some did wear blue uniforms. She lowered her gaze to some of the good Dr. Kane’s white lab coat. But maybe guys still wore white, “I will. Keep the canister encapsulated until Environmental picks it up.”
“And a separate sample in a safe place. until you or Captain Burke tells me otherwise.”
“Right. Just in case.” She didn’t have to say “in case I fail.” Dr. Kane was a cleaver man. He knew it; she saw it in the way he looked at her. As if he were looking at a woman he feared would soon be dead.
Tracy couldn’t resent his reaction. It was honest. And truthfully, she felt those same fears. She didn’t have clout or a position of authority over the suspects in this case. She didn’t have covert-operations training or years of experience in the field to draw from. Hell, she didn’t even know who all of the players in this conspiracy were, much less their positions. Each of those shortcomings presented her with an opportunity to fail and gave her opposition the advantage. But she did have something they didn’t. Something in addition to a burning desire for instance and the truth.
She had Adam.
“Captain?”
Leaving the lab, Tracy stopped and looked back at Dr. Kane. “Yes?”
“The mitosis in the team you asked me about. It was there.”
So the men hadn’t been blown up. Their bodies had arrived at the hospital intact. Tracy swallowed hard. “And the children?”
Dr. Kane nodded. “Them, too.” Tracy parked the Jeep in the Maintenance lot. Sure she wasn’t being followed, she returned to the bunker. Adam opened the door from down below and stood waiting on the steps, looking as relieved as she had felt when he had returned from encapsulating the canister and disposing of the chemical gear.
He hugged her hard, and she sagged against his broad chest, relaxing for the first time since she had left him solid and sure. She could get used to this. He felt safe this. So used to this. So easily.
When he loosened his hold, she looked up at him. “We got it. It’s an unknown derivative of sarin. And Randall .was extremely, obvious, Adam. I also discovered he had sent a resume to Paul at Keener Chemical.” And seeing it had humiliated her. Infuriated her. Randall’s friendship hadn’t been genuine. She had been a means to an end, a solid contact between Randall and Paul. “He wanted a job, and ‘from all signs, he got it.”
Adam sent her a consoling look. “Moxley’s an arrogant ass and a stupid man.”
Rhetoric or not, Adam’s words soothed her wounded ego, and she smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
He looped an arm around her shoulder, and walked down the steps to the apartment. “Dr. Kane cooperated?”
She nodded, then filled Adam in on specifics. Midway through, she saw she had only half of his attention and chided him for it. “I risked my neck and you’re not even listening?”
“I am.” He pointed to his ear. “Moxley’s on the phone. He called Hackett-I suspect, right after he learned you had the canister-but the colonel was in conference with General Nestler so they’ve just connected.”
“Nestler and Hackett?”
“No, Moxley and Hackett.” Adam walked over to a piece of complex-looking taping equipment that hadn’t been on the dresser earlier, and then pressed a green button.
“That settles it.” Hackett’s voice filled the bunker apartment. “Cancel Captain Keener.”
“Excuse me?” Randall’s tone spoke volumes. Incredulous topped the list.
“Shut her up, son,” Hackett reiterated, as if speaking to an errant child. “She’s a liability we can’t afford.”
The blood drained from her face and her insides turned to ice. Tracy sucked in a sharp breath. Adam curled an arm around her shoulder, offering silent support.
Randall cleared his throat. “I trust that all interested parties approve of this option.”
“They do.” Hackett’s voice dropped, lethally soft. “And Moxley, don’t question my authority again. It’d be a shame if your activities somehow became public knowledge.” Hackett ended the call without waiting for a response.
Adam turned the machine off. “You okay ?” He rubbed at his neck, as if uncertain what she needed.
“No, I’m not okay. I’m mad as hell, Adam. I’m not hurt, or even mildly surprised.” She rubbed at her locket. I in just mad as hell.”
Adam smiled, infuriating her. He’ chose the most godawful times to smile. “Randall uses me to get in with Paul Keener, implicates me with the OSI in matters that make my integrity questionable, gets involved up to his earlobes in a conspiracy that risks national security, lies about you and your team, agrees to kill me, and you’re smiling?”
“I’m happy.”
She scowled at him, tempted to throw something. “Happy?”
Adam sidled closer, draped his arms over her shoulders, and stared into her blazing eyes. “You came back to me.
That simple admission knocked the wind right out of her sails and the indignation right out of her heart. “of course I came back.- You knew I would.”
“I hoped you would.” He stroked her cheek with the Pad of his thumb.
“Because you didn’t want to be out on this godawful limb alone?”
He gave her a slow negative nod.
“Why, then?” She hooked her hands on his sides, where his soft blue shirt met his jeans.
“It depends.” He fingered her T-shirt at her shoulder.
Honestly, sometimes talking to the man was like pulling teeth. But he had good hands. Their warmth seeped through the soft fabric and heated her skin. “On what?”
“On why you came back.”
He needed reassurance. To know he was needed. “I see”
“Do you?”
She nodded and stepped closer, until they met breasts to chest. “I had to come back because, fluff that I am, Adam, I trust and believe in you.”, “Is that it?”
Her ego still smarted from Randall’s antics and now Adam pushed, demanding to know where he stood in her heart. “I care about you, Adam. I told you I did.”
“How much?”
“Pardon me?” Pushing and wanting his pound of flesh.
“How much do you care about me? A little? A lot?
Enough to last a day or two? A month?” He turned serious, so serious her heart fluttered against her breastbone. “Enough to last … longer?”
A time. He’d wanted to say it; she sensed it as f clearly as she sensed his touch. But he feared they didn’t have a lifetime, and so he had compromised. “I think, longer.”
“How much longer?”
“I don’t know.” She tamped the exasperation edging her tone. “Life doesn’t come with guarantees. You think you have someone for life and one day you wake up and find him dead. There are no guarantees, Adam, so I don’t know how long I’ll care. I just know how I feel now. And now, I care.” .
He smoothed back her hair, leaned toward her, and rubbed their noses. “You’re as afraid of love as I am, Tracy Keener.
“Damn right, I am. Love can chew you up and spit You out. It can suck you dry.” It could and had. And oh, God, please!-she didn’t want to hurt that way again.
“What about joy? Contentment? Peace?”
“What about them?”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I’m told love can bring those feelings, too. In your experience, is that Possible, counselor?”
“Yes.” She curled her fingers into the flesh At his sides. “But then it only hurts more.”
He frowned down at her, confusion in his eyes.
“When it ends.”
“Matthew,” Adam cupped her head and pulled her against his chest. “He didn’t want to die and leave you, Tracy.”
“He might have.” She lifted a fingertip to the placket of Adam’s shirt, ran her fingertip between the third and fourth buttons. The soft fabric brushed against the backs of her fingers.