The Leaves in Winter (12 page)

“You can’t just release something like that on the world. Once in the wild, the chance of mutation leaves the door open to any possibility – most of them bad.”

“I’ve read the reports – how Ghyvir-C resists mutation. That’s one of the anomalies that kept research on the virus alive all this time. We don’t understand how it does it. Oddly enough, its ability to resist mutation seems engineered.”

Faye paced. “I don’t know.”

“We have to find out what caused this. Once we do, we have to take extraordinary measures to reverse it. If everything gets done without the world knowing, all the better.”

A cold silence fell between them. Colin dropped his gaze to the floor.

“You’re at a pivot point. You’ve been given a unique opportunity. Think of the consequences if we do nothing. How often do you get asked to make the ultimate difference is something so critical? What kind of outcome do you want to see?”

Faye halted and let her sight roam the range of advanced bio-lab equipment around her. She thought of New Year’s Day only weeks away. The flow of time suddenly seemed borrowed for everyone. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

Colin stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“We need three things. First – confirm our findings that sterility exists. Second – diagnose how and why this happens. Third – engineer a way to reverse the effect in a package that can be delivered by a sputnik virus.”

“Why a sputnik?”

“That’s how we think this whole thing started.”

A realization swept across Faye’s face.

Colin nodded. “You’re right – the common cold doesn’t cause sterility. As you’re well aware, inside Ghyvir-C is a sputnik, a parasite virus. We believe something with the interaction between the two viruses causes sterility. We need you to discover what that is and then figure out how to reverse it…”

Colin left the thought hanging for Faye to complete.

“…then all that’s left is to decide how to deliver it around the globe.”

Colin nodded. “Without alarming anyone.”

Faye felt her heart race. “It’s hopeless, ridiculous, not possible.”

“Then we better get started.”

Faye couldn’t smile. “We’ll need to isolate the sputnik.”

“Already done.”

“Sequencing should be done on regional samples of the parasite. We need to determine if the sputnik shares Ghyvir’s resistance to mutation.”

“Good idea.”

“The markers you found need to be correlated with the RIDIS database.”

“As we speak.”

“Sounds like you’re already onto this.”

“I have a good team but we’re few in numbers. None of us have the direct experience you’ve had with these two viruses.”

“Can we get more people?”

“Not likely. They’d have to pass TS-4 security. By design and necessity, group size is meant to be limited.”

Faye walked back into the hallway. “Where do I sleep?”

Relieved she was onboard, Colin stepped to another elevator. “Right this way.”

Chapter 10

Jubilee Hills Police Station

Hyderabad
India

It was the ragged end of a frustrating day. Janis Insworth walked into Road Number 18 Police Station for the third time in one afternoon with failing hope and little expectation. Each visit before resulted in delays, excuses, claims of more pressing business, finally promises to have word for her later.

This time her arrival drew an immediate response. She was escorted directly upstairs to the office of Detective Inspector Syed Koteswara. Instead of feeling buoyed with optimism, the prompt attention gave her reason to pause and fortify herself. No news is better than bad news.

“Please, sit down. Thank you for your patience.”

Koteswara’s manner was cordial. Nonetheless, Janis could tell he had troubling business to attend to. She sat across from him and watched as he shuffled paperwork on his desk. He was a stocky man with a fresh haircut and a wide mustache.

“Excuse me, I’m still getting settled in the new building. It’s quite something, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it’s very nice.” Anxious to be on with it, Janis restrained the urge to press him for information right away.

Koteswara perused an open file while he talked. He was obviously filling time to give himself a chance to catch up on the latest report.

“Yes…we were all excited to move in. You might have heard on the news about the gift of 50,000 rupees given to the police by Sri Hari, the famous film actor. We bought furniture with it.” After a pause to read, he gazed up from the file and looked Janis up and down. “That chair you’re sitting in was purchased with his gift.”

“Very generous of him.”

His gaze, all over her, was too noticeable. He wanted her to be aware of it. If his intent was to deliberately make her feel uncomfortable, he’d succeeded. Maybe he wanted to bring her emotions to the surface. See what, if anything, she might be hiding. A sexual innuendo was out of place. His reason had to be elsewhere.

He leaned back. “This is a neighborhood police station. As you know, your case is being handled by SIT, the Special Investigation Team. They’ve asked me to be point of contact on the case. The truth is, we’re understaffed. There are only four Inspectors and 12 Sub-Inspectors in SIT for all
Hyderabad
. Each neighborhood gets by with less.”

“I realize that but I was told there might be promising leads.”

“Who told you that?” As Janis hesitated over the name, Koteswara waved it off. “It doesn’t matter. The Assistant Commissioner believes the future of this case is out of our jurisdiction.”

“How can that be? My daughter was kidnapped in this neighborhood.”

“Yes, but the promising leads you talk about all suggest Alyssa was taken out of the country. All we can do here is reconstruct past history. Finding her is a future event that must be pursued somewhere else.”

“So is that it? You do nothing more?” Her voice quaked with emotion. “You’re just a messenger because SIT has given up?”

“It’s understandable you’re upset…”

“Damned right! My daughter was taken in broad daylight. I gave you a description of the men, the car, the direction of travel…”

“Be assured, we are ready to work with any outside agency…”

“What about local connections to the kidnappers? What about following up on how they got her out?”

“This was done by professionals. They knew very well how to hide their tracks. Of course we will investigate any new information as it comes up. I have to be honest with you. We don’t expect much in that regard.”

“I can’t accept that. I was told there would be an investigation of money transfers to anyone associated with the group New Class Order. Certain individuals were arrested for vandalism of NovoSenectus property. I was told there would be background checks…”

“All well and good. Some of it has been done. Some of it is in the pipeline.”

“The pipeline?”

“There is a method to police business. You really must trust us on this. We are still in contact with
Stockholm
authorities and we’ve begun checking with local airports to have them review any irregularities with non-commercial flights.”

“So what am I supposed to do? You don’t have any more information for me. Where do I go for help now?”

“Investigations take time. The main thing is not to despair.”

On the verge of tears, Janis stood to go.

Koteswara leaned forward. “There is one other thing.”

Janis froze then turned back with curiosity as Koteswara checked his notes.

“Inspector Sudarshan would like to see you at Central Crime Station tomorrow morning at ten o’clock for a deposition.”

“You need a sworn statement from me?”

“It’s been requested of anyone who was with Malcolm Stowe during the last few days. You saw him on several occasions, isn’t that right?”

Janis recoiled. However did he know that? “Yes, but why Malcolm?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Janis gave a shake of her head. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you knew. Malcolm Stowe died late yesterday.”

Janis felt faint and sat back down. “How?”

“An automobile accident.”

“What time?”

“Late afternoon.”

“Where? What happened?” Janis was dazed.

“It was a single car accident in an area quite a ways west of here.”

“I don’t understand. Why do you need depositions if it was an accident?”

Koteswara rocked back and forward in his chair. “It seems Mr. Stowe did special security work for your employer, NovoSenectus. Were you aware of that?”

“I knew he was a Security Agent. I assumed he protected the corporate campus but I didn’t know his role for sure.”

“According to the company, he had in his possession a variety of sensitive items that must be returned. They want to find where he might have left the material as soon as possible.”

“Are they suggesting someone has this material improperly?”

“No, nothing of the sort. As a security agent, Mr. Stowe was privy to many things the company would rather not share with competitors. Some things would be tempting to any thief. Malcolm’s accident was so sudden, naturally there are loose ends. They just want to be sure everything he had is properly returned.”

“You need sworn statements for that?”

“The company wishes to be thorough – just in case anything comes up later that involves an Intellectual Capital Property Crime.”

“Do you have any idea what’s missing?”

Koteswara rocked forward and stopped to check the file. “Looks like standard items. The same things every employee would have to turn in – cell phone, laptop, cardkeys, access badges.”

“I see…” Janis stood to leave once again. “You said Inspector Sudarshan…”

“…ten o’clock at Central Crime Station. Shouldn’t take more than an hour.” Koteswara scribbled something on a slip of paper. “Here, in case you have any questions, you can email the inspector directly.”

Janis stepped forward and read the paper as she took it in hand.

[email protected]

She nodded at him and he nodded back. There was nothing more to say.

Janis couldn’t speak. Her mind raced too fast. Shock and surprise, terror and dread; another colleague was dead and it felt like a trap was being set.

Koteswara wasn’t on the level with her. What did NovoSenectus tell the police? Were they playing it straight? Maybe they didn’t care if Malcolm’s death looked like a murder. What was the last assignment given to Malcolm? Did they lure him to a remote place west of the city expecting no loose ends? Did they ransack his house after they couldn’t find the missing items in his car? Did the police even check his house? How did Koteswara know Malcolm was with her recently? Had she been followed to the train station?

The appointment at Central Crime Station was a more immediate concern. What would be asked of her tomorrow if she showed up? What could she say?

Janis crossed the lobby of the police station and hurried into the light of day feeling as if she had escaped. The police were only doing their duty.

NovoSenectus had made the whole matter look like a legitimate concern. Mass’ corporation was a major corporate presence in the city, employing thousands. It was easy to leverage the police to do its bidding. It all appeared so matter-of-fact. No wonder Koteswara toyed with her, gauging her discomfort. Everyone suspects something more – even if everyone has to pretend otherwise.

Aware someone might be watching her, Janis slowed her pace walking to her car. She got behind the wheel and waited for a semblance of composure that didn’t come. She couldn’t tell the police the truth and there was no future in trying to live a lie. Riya and Malcolm had both died because they possessed certain information.

Now she had the laptop.

That made her the next target.

Janis drove into traffic with an aimless need to move forward. Stunned with indecision, she followed traffic for an hour without settling on a destination. Where to go now? Home was no longer a sanctuary. Work was no longer a safe haven. In the trunk of her car, in the space where the spare tire should be, Malcolm’s laptop and cell phone lay wrapped and hidden in a blanket.

Powerful forces would kill to have those things. But getting rid of them wouldn’t help. Not now. Janis had to assume that Eugene Mass wouldn’t take chances. Anyone who had discovered his plan must be eliminated. No loose ends. Even if she did the unthinkable and drove to NovoSenectus to turn in the missing items, she was sure the result would be the same. Within hours, she too would have some sort of accident.

An hour and a half after leaving the police station, Janis was still on the road, driving in circles looking for a way out. Night had come to
Hyderabad
but it offered no rest. Nothing was left for her there. She would surely die if she stayed. Koteswara had confirmed it – Alyssa was out of the country. If she was ever going to be found, Janis needed to leave the country too.

Janis turned the wheel in the direction of the airport. She felt that one simple action dividing her past life from an unknown future. Suddenly, the two of them were very different things. Her old life was gone. She knew that now. It would never come back. There was nothing left but a future she must take day-by-day. It was a decision she was forced to make. She was only beginning to realize how stark and sharp-edged life could be when forced to survive on those terms. The detective had summed it up; finding Alyssa
is a future event that must be pursued somewhere else
.

She parked in long-term parking and bought the first ticket she could get going anywhere in
Western Europe
or the States. The nearest departure was a flight to
Miami
with connections in Bengaluru and Paris. Flight time, nearly twenty-eight hours. She sat waiting on the concourse not knowing if she would go all the way. She wasn’t sure where she was going at all. Running away, it didn’t seem to matter.

Clutching the laptop with cell phone in pocket, she was handed back her ticket stub. She hurried onto the plane and belted herself in her seat. For the first time in her life, an airplane seatbelt felt like security. Her eagerness to be in the air was tormented by delays on the ground. Her worst fear was seeing airport security come on board to take her into custody. Did anyone know she was at the airport? She paid for her ticket with cash from an ATM but was someone tracking bank transactions? Nervousness bordered on paranoia.

To distract herself, she opened Malcolm’s laptop. It powered up out of hibernation just where he had left it. With fingers hovering over the keyboard, Janis wavered. What now? The keyboard exuded a power, a potential force for good. How would she wield it?

She brought up Malcolm’s email client and opened a new email. Checking his contacts list, she selected the one person she was most interested in having a discussion with.

Knockout Mouse.