Shadow Zone (28 page)

“I remember you from the expedition.” She smiled. “You’re the one who never sleeps.”

“Not when I’m on a project I love. But when I finish here, I’ll probably sleep fourteen hours a day.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Hannah introduced him to Kirov, Eugenia, and Charlie. “So where is Melis?”

“She has a visitor and said she’d be late. She entertained him on the boat last night.” He motioned down to the coastline almost a mile below, where
Fair Winds
was docked next to a tram that connected the waterfront area to the museum.

“The fund-raising never ends,” Hannah said.

Aziz smiled. “In any case, she should be here soon.”

Hannah was still taking in the spectacular vista before her, with the miles of the Greek coastline giving way to the breathtaking blue waters of the Aegean. “Not a bad place to come to work every day.”

“I’d rather be out on the ocean, but this will do.” Aziz shrugged. “Melis tells me you have some special TK44 samples that should go straight to the lab.”

Hannah lifted the portable cooler. “Right here. Just lead the way.”

Aziz motioned for them all to follow him through the automatic sliding glass doors of the museum laboratories. “We’ve only been back a couple of days, but we’ve been working nonstop to try to crack this.”

“Any success so far?” Hannah asked.

“A little. We know that exposing these particular alga to high concentrations of nitrogen causes them to grow at an incredibly accelerated rate. They spread like nothing we’ve seen. But as far as we can tell, they wouldn’t represent a danger to local populations. There has to be something we’re missing.”

Kirov pointed to the cooler. “The answer may be in there. Professor Lampman produced these in his lab. If you can analyze what he did, it might yield a solution. Some of his notes are also in there.”

Aziz’ eyes lit with eagerness. “We’ll get right on it. Melis has made it our top priority.” He swiped his badge on a wall-mounted scanner, and the doors opened to reveal a large lab that literally gleamed with brushed aluminum and polished glass on almost every surface.

Hannah looked around in amazement. “I can see why Melis is always fund-raising. This is incredible.”

“It’s a dream,” Aziz said. “We just don’t feel like we’re studying history here. We feel like we’re making history. Melis Nemid has ruined me for every other job I’ll ever have.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Hannah said. “But you might have to go out and make your own amazing jobs.”

“I guess you’re right. It worked well enough for you, didn’t it?”

Hannah nodded. “And Melis.”

Aziz took the portable cooler from Hannah and handed it to a lab assistant. “Prep these for the bioscanner, please.”

“May we take a look around the museum itself?” Eugenia asked.

Aziz nodded. “Of course. The tech people are still working on the interactive exhibits, but almost everything else is in place. I’ll take you down there.”

Five minutes later, they entered the museum’s grand atrium, framed by half a dozen massive pillars that had been brought up from the ocean floor. Between the pillars were striking multicolored mosaics that Hannah remembered seeing in
National Geographic
after Melis’s first Marinth expedition.

Eugenia spun completely around, trying to take in everything. “This is incredible. It makes me wish I’d lived in Marinth.” She looked at Hannah. “I had no idea they’d created things of such beauty.”

“Most people don’t. It’s one thing to see a relic in a book or magazine, but another actually to stand in front of it. The Marinthians were technologically savvy, but they also took pains to make things aesthetically pleasing. They felt it would stimulate their creativity.”

Charlie stood in front of a series of mosaics depicting a massive fishing party on the open sea. He shook his head in awe. “My father would have loved these. We went fishing together once. It was kind of nice.”

Kirov stepped toward the mosaics. “Your father would have already planned how to walk out of here with them.”

Charlie managed a smile. “That he would’ve.”

“I’m sorry I’m late.” Melis was hurrying toward them. “It took me longer than I thought it would to get through breakfast and get up here.”

“Forgiven.” Hannah gave her a hug. “Aziz told us you were wheeling and dealing with a guest.”

“Wheeling and dealing? Yes, you might call it that.” Her gaze had zeroed in on Kirov. “You must be Kirov. I’ve heard about you. I’m Melis Nemid.”

He stepped forward and took her hand. “And I’ve heard about you. You must be extraordinary for Hannah to feel such loyalty for you.” He introduced her to Charlie and Eugenia. “And your museum is magnificent. We dropped the TK44 samples in the lab but couldn’t resist a look around.”

“Good. I want everyone to appreciate Marinth as much as I do.”

“Not possible,” Hannah said. “But we can come close.”

“Go ahead and look around. I have something to do, then I’ll meet you back at the lab.”

Kirov nodded and started down the corridor with Eugenia and Charlie following behind. Hannah was about to go after them when Melis’s hand grasped her arm.

“Wait. I have to speak to you alone.”

Hannah looked at her in surprise. “Alone? There’s nothing about the samples that Kirov and Eugenia shouldn’t hear.”

“It’s not about the samples. It’s personal.”

Melis’s expression was grave. Hannah gazed at her in concern. “Is it Pete and Susie? Are the dolphins okay?”

“I suppose they are. They didn’t come with me when I left Marinth.”

“I’m sorry, Melis. I know that worries you.”

“It does, but that’s not the problem.” She was moving down the corridor. “I got a phone call yesterday afternoon.”

“Your Jed?”

“Jed is fine. Will you stop making guesses and let me talk?” she added ruefully. “Though it might be easier if we made it questions and answers. It’s not about me, Hannah.” She opened a paneled door. “It’s about you. Someone is here to see you.”

Hannah gazed at her in bewilderment. “What is this—”

“I had to come, Aunt Hannah.” Ronnie stood up from the chair where he had been sitting. “Please don’t be angry.”

She stared at him in shock. “Ronnie?” She couldn’t take it in. “What . . .”

“I had to do it.” His dark eyes were desperately earnest in his thin face. “You need me. Please don’t be angry.”

“Of course I’ll be angry.” She crossed the room and hugged him close with all her strength. “Later. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He clung to her; his voice was muffled against her. “I tried to stay, but I couldn’t. I had to know you were all right. I have to help you.”

“The telephone, Ronnie.” She tried to steady her voice. “All you have to do is call me, and I’ll be there.”

“You’re too far away. I have to be close, so I can take care of you.”

She drew a shaky breath. “We’ve got to talk about this.” She pushed him away. “After you tell me how you got here. Did your mother bring you?”

He shook his head.

“Then how—” She was trying to get it straight, and what she was suspecting was not good. “Your mother does know that you’re here?”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t worry Mom like that. She thought I was spending the weekend with my buddy Mark. I called her last night after I got here and told her where I was and that I was safe.”

“And she didn’t know before? Ronnie, how could you just take off and leave your mom and Donna?”

“They have each other. You don’t have anyone.”

“I don’t need—” She ran her hand through her hair. “And how did you get here? You’re twelve years old and an unaccompanied minor. How did you get from Boston to Athens by yourself? Surely they wouldn’t let you on a plane without all kinds of signatures and an adult to give permission.”

“It’s not that hard,” he said casually. “I checked it out on the Internet. I had a passport from that time Dad brought me to London to visit you at that
Titanic
site. I had money in my savings account from working at soccer camp last summer.”

“But how did you get on the airplane by yourself?”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it on a U.S. carrier. But Europe an airlines are cooler about it. Unaccompanied kids travel all the time with no red tape at all. I just walked up to the ticket counter as if I knew what I was doing and got on the plane.”

“Unbelievable,” she murmured.

“That’s what I said,” Melis added from behind her. “You automatically think children are going to have volumes of rules and strictures to keep them safe.”

Hannah had forgotten Melis was standing there. “And how did you get involved? How did you find him?”

“He found me.” She smiled at Ronnie. “Though I was second choice. He came to the museum asking for you. When the receptionist told him that you weren’t here, he asked for me. He said that you told him that you were coming here.”

She had mentioned it casually in that conversation with Ronnie, but she’d had no idea he’d pick up on it and run.

Not run, fly, she corrected herself dryly.

“Melis has been really nice to me,” Ronnie said. “She took me to have dinner on her boat last night.”

“Melis, I’m sorry that you—”

“Stop right there,” Melis said. “Ronnie has been no bother. I enjoyed having him. I was a little lonely last night.”

“Lonely? Don’t mention that word,” Hannah said. “It seems to trigger something in Ronnie. You might have a permanent houseguest.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad.” Melis and Ronnie exchanged glances. “He’s really eager to meet Pete and Susie. I think they’d get along just fine.” She looked back at Hannah. “I was there when Ronnie called his mother. I talked to her myself and told her that I’d take care of him until you arrived. She wants you to call her.”

“Thank heaven. I’d hate to have Cathy worrying about him. I’ll call her right after I have a talk with Ronnie.”

“Why don’t you go for a walk on the balcony?” Melis suggested. “The weather is wonderful this morning.” She grinned. “Sunlight can be very soothing.”

“Good idea. I can use a little soothing.” She nodded at Ronnie. “Let’s go. We have some tall discussing to do.”

“Hannah.”

She looked back at Melis. “You’re looking all worried and protective. I should have expected it. Conner could charm the birds from the trees, and Ronnie is just like him. It will be all right. I’m not going to be too rough on him.”

“I think he can take care of himself,” Melis said quietly. “I just want you to know that everything I said to him I meant.” She made a shooing motion. “Now, out into the sun with you.”

What could she say to him, Hannah wondered, as they walked along the long terrace balcony. It had to be right. Sensitive and yet firm.

“You’re trying to decide how to tell me to go home,” Ronnie said. “Dad used to say that he could almost hear your mind clicking when you had a problem.” He smiled. “He said that it was like the gears in one of the machines that you invented.”

“Well, the gears are stuck right now.” She gazed out at the sea. “I’m going to have to wing it. You know I love you. You know I’d like nothing better than to have you with me. It’s just not the right time. I’m having a few problems.”

“Then that’s why I should be with you.”

She’d said the wrong thing. Naturally, as protective as Ronnie was, that would be a red flag. She tried another direction. “You’re missing school and soccer season. It’s not the right time for you either.”

“I can do makeup in my classes. I don’t care about soccer. It doesn’t seem important right now.”

After facing the murder of his father, she could see how anything else would dwindle in importance. “Your mother and Donna. You said you had to take care of them.”

“They can do without me for a while. They have each other and Grandma. You’re alone.”

Lord, he was stubborn. Stubborn and solemn and endearing.

“Ronnie, I’m not alone. I have my crew.”

He shook his head. “They’re not close to you. Not like Dad used to be. They might not be there when you needed them.”

She was searching wildly for an answer. “I’m working with a man named Kirov. He used to be a submarine captain, and he’s very responsible.” That was certainly the truth. “He’d never let anything happen to me.”

“A submarine captain.” He was frowning. “They’re pretty cool, but I don’t know . . .”

“Ronnie, he’s brilliant and tough and—”

He was shaking his head. “I can’t go home. I don’t know him. I have to be sure.”

She gazed at him in exasperation. “Why are you being this way?”

He was silent a moment. “I told you about my dream about Dad. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It seemed okay if I came to you on my own. I think he’d want me to be here.” He looked up at her. “So I have to stay, Aunt Hannah. Until I’m sure everything is safe for you.”

What was she supposed to say now? “I can’t keep you with me. I’ve got business that’s going to keep me on the move.”

“That’s what Melis said. Is this Captain Kirov going to be with you?”

“Yes, I’ll be very safe. So you see, there will be no place for you to stay. You should go home.”

He shook his head. “Boston is too far away. I have to be close.” He smiled. “And I have a place to stay. Melis said I could stay with her on her boat. That way if you need me, I won’t have to cross the ocean to get to you. I won’t be that far away.”

“Melis is very kind, but I don’t think—”

“I won’t be in her way. She said I could help with the dolphins and maybe even have her crew teach me about boats and sailing. Dad showed me a little on the lake at home, but he didn’t have much time.”

Because Conner was always with Hannah traveling to the far ends of the oceans. She had cheated Ronnie of those experiences with his father.

“It’s all right, Aunt Hannah.” Ronnie’s gaze was on her face. “When he was home, it was great. It was the way he wanted it. I didn’t understand when I was younger, but he explained.”

She reached out and hugged him fiercely. “You sound like a little old man. I want you to be young again. I want you to jump and run and play.”

His face suddenly lit with a smile. “Then let me stay on Melis’s boat and play with the dolphins.”