Blinds on the other side of the window shielded any view.
What hit him as particularly odd was the utilitarian feel of four blank white walls, a table, and a chair in the middle of the room. They usually went in for a snazzier style than this.
A black box the size of a gift box for a writing pen sat in the center of a basic gray metal table.
"Please have a seat, Duff." The tinny voice came from a speaker he now saw above the window.
The door lock clicked.
Duff stared at the doorknob, then at the window. "What's going on?"
"I'm Consul Vestavia. Do you have the vial?"
"Yes."
"You injected the woman with the other one?"
"Of course," Duff said, wary now. "I did exactly as instructed."
"Good, but I'm sorry to tell you there's a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"We've encountered one case of airborne infection. Took a while for it to show up."
"What!" Duff's eyes bulged. His mouth dried out.
"Yes, but don't panic. That's the reason we're in two different rooms, just as a precaution. And that's why I sent for you right away."
Sweat trickled along Duff's neck.
"You deserve the contents of that vial you're carrying. There's a syringe on the table. You have my permission to inject yourself."
The antidote. His knees weak, Duff scrambled to fish the vial from his pocket. He sat down at the table and reached a shaking hand to open the black box. The syringe inside was more precious than gold at that moment.
He jabbed the needle at the rubber-sealed end of the vial and missed, cursed, then jabbed again and drew the liquid into the syringe. He stretched out his arm, relieved to find a plump vein standing up. Duff stuck the needle in and injected the fluid, clenching his teeth over the burn.
The loud panting he heard was his own. He was hyperventilating.
"Take it easy. You'll experience some discomfort due to receiving a stronger dosage through injecting rather than a diluted amount in water."
"Y-yes, sir." Duff thought about Teto. Must not rank high enough to be saved. Too bad for Teto.
"You have served the Order well on this project."
Duff tried to calm down and let the medicine work.
"Not quite finished, but I'll be fine. Don't worry. I'll deliver the other two vials to the cities once you tell me where. Be there in time for the vote." His skin itched and his mouth tasted awful.
"That's not necessary. We've always had everything in place to assure the anticipated outcome of the pharmaceutical company vote in the Senate."
"But the Fra said"
"Fra Bacchus is no longer in charge of this operation."
Duff shivered. "Are you now a fra?"
"I am much more powerful than a brother. You address me as Father."
Duff drew back in shock. He scratched at his skin. His stomach churned. "No one in the Fratelli de il Sovrano is more powerful than a fra. This is blasphemous."
On the other side of the window, Consul Vestavia, a direct descendant of geniuses all the way back for twelve hundred years, pressed a button. He waited as the window became transparent from both sides.
Duff stared, open mouthed. "Impossible."
Vestavia leaned back in his chair, enjoying the expression on Duff's face. "Surprised to see me? Nothing is impossible for us. True blasphemy is you and Fra Bacchus running your own little operation, putting this Order in jeopardy. Did you think no one would notice your special projects?"
"I did as instructed. I"
"Yes, you did follow instructions. But you killed Jamie Drake even when you figured out which brother he was. I gave Jamie my word he'd be safe, that he was under my protection. You killed a brilliant mind wethe angelinever got a chance to tap. The Fratelli di Sovranoi has survived for seven hundred years only because of the angeli, the truly enlightened. The fratelli are mere servants. They just don't realize that all of you will eventually serve us."
Duff's face crumpled. "I don't understand. What about" He coughed."the Renaissance?"
"It is well under way. The fratelli are executing each step toward the Renaissance they believe is within their power, for now. As one of the ten angeli, I make sure the fratelli on this continent follow the steps precisely. The viral attacks in remote areas have been tests to see the level of response from different nations. This attack on U.S. soil is merely one more test. We are methodical and patient. It takes time to slowly collapse the walls of an enemy. Citizens will lose faith in ruling governments when we build fear with biological warfare and undermine financial institutions. With twenty-one hundred strong across the world in prominent positions, the fratelli are undefeatable. And in the end, the angeli will emerge from secrecy to take their place as the rulers."
"I-I didn't know about you, but I can serve you now." Duff coughed harder and shook. Sweat covered his face and arms.
"You have broken too many rules, but two in particular. The sin of the flesh and unnecessary deaths. Did you think no one would find out about the women you took out on your boat who never came back?"
Duff grabbed his head with both hands. "The serum is making me sick."
"As it should. You see, I figured out what you and Fra Bacchus were trying to do to me. The virus is not airborne. You just injected yourself with the virus. You will now become the supreme sacrifice as a message to any who fail to follow the rules."
Duff twisted out of the chair in pain, hitting the floor and convulsing. "No! Give me the antidote. Pleaseeee." He screamed and jerked. His body curved at unnatural angles. His wailing cries filled the speaker.
Vestavia smiled and removed the DEA badge from his suit that identified him as Special Agent Brady and placed it on the table at his right. The door to the hallway opened.
"Hello, sweetheart. Figured you'd be ready to celebrate."
Vestavia turned to Josie, who carried two martinis. She handed him one and sat down on the arm of his overstuffed chair. "Brilliant plan to spike Fra Bacchus's wine, then send Duff the text message. Nothing nicer than predictable servants."
"Thank you, my dear. Duff really thought I didn't know he'd stolen my weapon to kill Jamie. I consider this act a matter of weeding out the gene pool." He studied Josie's flawless features. He had to give the fratelli credit. They were unmatched when it came to choosing women who would serve the Order. But he was the master who had seen potential in this woman to be more than a mere servant to the old fratelli.
Duff writhed in pain, screaming and clawing at his skin.
Josie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "How long will it take, Brady?"
"Father," he corrected.
She grabbed her throat. "I'm sorry, Father. I meant no disrespect."
He pulled her onto his lap and cupped her breast. "That's all right. You'll have all night to pay penance while the rest of the plan falls into place."
"As always, I am a loyal angeli servant." She smiled seductively.
"Your family trained you well and their loyalty will be rewarded."
"The reward of serving you is ample." She eyed his crotch.
"More than that, you're about to get a promotion."
"Really? I'm honored, Father. When will this happen?"
"At the same minute I receive my promotion and you're given orders to hunt me down."
*
Nathan paced his room. If they were going to hand him over to the Louisiana penal system, what were they waiting for?
A sick feeling hit him. Could they be waiting to see if Terri died? It had been almost twenty-four hours. Please, God, tell him she'd lived. She survived the short flight to Kenner, but he'd been taken away in handcuffs the minute they landed. Nobody had said a word. Strangely enough, he'd been given clothes and toiletries, then put in a room with a bathroom and shower. This three-story building was close enough to the New Orleans airport to hear the jet traffic landing and taking off.
The door opened, admitting Carlos.
/> Must be time to go, but Nathan wasn't leaving until someone told him Terri's status. "How is she?"
"See for yourself." Carlos walked out.
Nathan caught the door before it shut and followed close behind. Carlos led him down a hallway with doors and up a set of stairs that opened on to the equivalent of a small hospital ward.
He paused at a glass window. Terri lay on the other side. She was alive. Only one tube ran from her arm to a drip. He noticed Carlos waiting next to an open door and moved forward.
When Nathan passed in front of him to enter, Carlos said, "Don't think this means you're going to be free to go and don't try to make a run."
"I said I'd give myself up and I will. No fighting."
Carlos's forehead creased with mild curiosity. "Interesting."
Nathan walked over to Terri and took her hand, which felt small and cold. He brushed his palm over her hair and leaned down to kiss her, not giving a damn who watched from outside.
The door whooshed open. A brawny guy in a white coat entered and checked her vitals. "Looking better this morning."
Nathan turned a worried face to him. "Will she be okay?"
"I think she's going to be fine."
"How did she survive when the others didn't," Nathan asked.
"Yeah, how come?" Terri asked, groggy.
He glanced down to see her smile at him. Nothing could have brought his heart all the way back to life but that.
The doctor jotted notes. "Best that I can tell, she was injected with antibodies, not the virus. If she hadn't been hit with such a large dosage, she wouldn't have gotten so sick."
Carlos came in. "She going to be okay, Mako."
"My doctor is named 'Mako,' as in a shark?" Terri asked.
"She's going to be fine," Mako told Carlos, then turned to Terri. "That's my agency name and don't believe anything they tell you about me."
"You got an hour, then back to your quarters," Carlos told Nathan.
"'Quarters'? You mean cell," Nathan countered.
"Call it whatever you want, but I'll be back in an hour."
Stoner passed Carlos on his way in. He smiled at Terri and shook Nathan's hand. "You're looking much better than yesterday."
"Thanks, Stoner. Hows Grandma? Is she upset?"
"Just calm down. Your grandma is doing real fine. She was pretty scared until I told her you were safe, then I took her to my maw maw's house. Maw-Maw lives alone and normally don't cotton to strangers, but she really likes your grandma. They were talking up a storm this morning when I checked on her. Of course, she wants to know how you ended up in that schoolhouse with a crazy man."
"Oh, I know. I've got a lot of explaining to do," Terri said. "But at least she'll be around for me to explain to."
Stoner shook his head. "I don't understand why Duff injected Terri with the antidote."
Nathan snorted. "I don't think he realized it was. The crazy bastard must have mixed up the vials and thought he gave you the virus."
Stoner picked up the remote and pointed at the television in the corner. "By the way, you need to see what's on TV."
The image lightened to show a sterile newscaster. "Zolono Pharmaceutical Corporation came out miraculously, within thirty hours of the viral outbreak in Chicago, with an antidote. The CDC received an anonymous tip, which they passed on to the DEA, resulting in a scandalous report that Zolono had created the viral outbreak as part of an elaborate plan to gain the support needed for the upcoming Senate vote."
The scene flashed to an arrest in progress.
Terri jerked. "Turn that up."
"... CEO of Zolono was arrested today by DEA agent Josephine Silversteen, daughter of the prestigious Silversteen Banking firm, along with Zolono's top scientist after a tip that the attack in Chicago was linked to the next Senate vote on a potential takeover. The DEA acted on what they called indisputable evidence delivered to their office in New Orleans, which led to the discovery of a vial of the virus at the Zolono laboratory. Concurrently, in D.C, lobbyist Parker Jones was arrested for orchestrating this "white-collar" terrorist attack with 1.5 million dollars transferred to him from Zolono to secure the vote. Upper management denies any knowledge of this heinous crime. In another top story, international investor and rare wine collector Victor Bacchanalia was found dead in his New Orleans hotel room last night, of an apparent heart attack... "
Stoner lowered the volume.
Terri was stunned. "I've never liked Josie, but I've always given her credit for being good at her job." She looked at Nathan. "Wonder if she snaked Brady on this?"
He shrugged. "I've been kept in the dark since I got here."
Stoner gave Nathan a headshake and shrug, indicating he couldn't see Nathan until now. "Carlos told me the DEA has been informed, but that's all I could get out of him. He said Joe and Tee would fill you in."
"Okay." Terri squeezed Nathan's hand.
He smiled down at her.
"Yeah, I know," Stoner said, turning to the blinds that he closed. "I told Carlos to do himself a favor and let you two talk. He said he'd give you an hour, so I'm going to cut out before it's up." He pointed the remote, flicked off the TV, then put his hand on the door handle.
"Stoner?"
He stopped. "What?"
Nathan walked across the room and extended his hand. "Thanks for everything. I wouldn't be here and Terri wouldn't be alive without you. Hope to see you again in ten years."
Stoner smiled. "We'll see about that." He walked out.
"Ten years. What do you mean?" Terri pushed up on elbows.
"Lie down and take it easy," Nathan groused.
"I'm fine. I feel a little like I'm ready for real food." She shifted over when he got to the bed.
He sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders, hugging Terri to him. "That's good to hear. You need to get better."
"What was that crack about ten years?"
Didn't think she'd let that go. "I turned myself in."
"No!"
"Yes. I told them I'd go willingly so they'd get you medical help."
"But Nathan, you didn't do anything wrong."
"The NOPD thinks I killed people. I didn't so they won't find any evidence, but I've still broken parole big time."
"What about Duff? He admitted killing Jamie."
"I watched you die in front of my eyes and swore I'd stop searching for revenge if you lived. You asked me once what Jamie would want me to do. He said in his last letter to me that he hoped I would eventually find peace and be happy. I thought he meant I'd find peace once I made his killer pay, but I knew in that minute Jamie would want me to let it go and do something good for the world. That was his way. I'll just have to wait until I'm out of prison again for a chance at living his way."
"Oh, Nathan, what are we going to do?" She reached up and kissed him before he could answer. He wrapped her up tighter, feeling as though his world made sense if only for the few minutes he had now.
He kissed her, savoring this one for all those he'd miss.
When he peeled his lips from hers, he stared, into eyes that cared so much, his heart ached at the thought of leaving her. Just once, he'd like to get it right. He kissed her and held her close for a long time, wishing for the impossible again.
Just wasn't in his cards to have a life of his own.
"You can't spend the next ten years of life waiting on me," he finally told her.
"Oh, I won't spend them being quiet. They aren't putting you in a prison until I've exhausted every means to keep you out. I love you."
He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I love you, too. So much that I won't let you wait. I've already told Carlos I'll go willingly and not fight my sentence. I gave my word."
*
The twelve ruling Fratelli de il Sovrano elders in the United States met around a black onyx marble table in a Phoenix hotel owned by one member.
Fra Diablo called the room to order. "I'd like to welcome our newest elder approved unanimously
. Fra Vestavia was successful in finding the traitor within our Order. Every international Order has been informed of the penance paid. Though he was once a revered general for us, Duff was sacrificed as an example to all who would deceive the Order. He committed the sin of defiance, the sin of flesh, and of unnecessary deaths. Our success depends on discipline, from all. For that reason and the recent unexpected seat left open by Fra Bacchus, Fra Vestavia will now join the table as an elder."
Fra Vestavia had been standing near the door and now took the vacant seat. "Thank you all, brethren. I'm honored for this promotion. We all grieve for Fra Bacchus, who succumbed to heart failure during his sleep. May he rest in peace. Anton Marseaux failed to contain his people so we can no longer support his position in New Orleans. We'll have someone to take his place shortly."
Murmurs echoed his last comment before Fra Diablo said, "Please share what you learned while exposing the traitor."
Pulling papers from his briefcase, Fra Vestavia passed a set for each around the table. "The first round of viral tests has been successful. Once we have completed the study of national defense response, we can move to step two. In the meantime, I have found an exciting opportunity that we should explorenowwith six months left until the U.S. presidential elections and the dollar on decline with Canada. We can make surgical strikes that will reverberate around the world and turn allies into enemies."
* * *
EPILOGUE
Terri tapped her fingers on the chair arm, tired of waiting on Joe and Tee to start this meeting. Joe had said to be in the Nashville, Tennessee, headquarters at 1330 hours and by her watch it was 1335. They'd kept her in the infirmary for two more days, then sent her home for another four... without seeing Nathan.
You need the rest, Terri. She'd heard that one time too many. She was fine, more than fine, and ready to set a few people straight. Terri pushed forward on the chair to get up when the door opened.
Carlos held it open. Nathan stepped inside the room, damp hair pulled back into a ponytail. He looked tired.