Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(39)

Blood and tissue was extracted from Dublin Mary, so Richard Farrell could study it to see whether there was a way to tell who she was before, but Auggie didn't hold any hope for that-she was an exact replica of the original, fingerprints included. All I could do was consider that the drug was damned efficient in what it did.

"How much of it is left?" I turned to Auggie. "The drug?"

"Plenty. It only takes a small amount for a human, depending on their weight."

"So the Russians may have even more of it. Has anybody been able to duplicate it?"

"No, thank God."

"Are you going to report that Marcus is dead, then?"

"For now. They'll believe that-they wouldn't leave him alive if they were in our shoes."

"Good."

"Corinne, what are you going to do?"

"Make it impossible to talk about any of us or the Program," I said, lifting a hand. Auggie stared as light formed around my fingers, until it shot straight at Marcus' head.

No, he wasn't harmed. He merely had memories blocked about his time with the Program and anyone else involved, including the enemy.

I didn't want him carrying tales to fellow prisoners or prison guards. At Auggie's nod, I did the same for Dublin Mary. Let someone question them now. They wouldn't get a thing.

I turned to leave the holding cells, Auggie and Leo right behind me. "I'm no longer updating my files, Corinne," Leo informed me as we stepped inside the elevator. Auggie hit the button for the main level while Leo nodded to me. "By this time tomorrow, we'll be back in D.C., with news for Madam President. This facility will be closed and off-limits, according to the official records."

"I'm leaving necessary personnel here, to do mop up," Auggie said. "Nobody will know that James isn't directing the closing of a military facility. Don't let anyone see you, Cori. Or any of the others."

"What Colonel Hunter is saying is-don't die, Corinne. You, Rafe, Maye and Nick are all we have to fight what's coming. I'm beginning to worry that it's something worse than any of us might imagine," Leo reached out to touch my cheek.

"I'll do what I can," I said. "All of us will."

"You don't happen to have more of those cell phones-the ones we can't seem to trace or unscramble?" Auggie asked.

"You checked, huh?" I turned to him as the elevator opened on the main level. "It's borrowed technology. Nobody here knows anything about it-yet. I'll make sure everybody has one," I nodded. "Before you leave."

*

Ilya

"They won't be able to talk about us or anything connected to the Program. In fact, they don't know what it is, now." Corinne walked past me, opened the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of orange juice and filled a glass.

"So Marcus doesn't recall what he did?" I asked.

"He didn't before. Someone or something made that happen."

"Does that make him innocent?" I was ready for an argument if she said yes.

"No. He did his part in this. He's responsible for thousands of deaths. I can't even watch this on television, Ilya. It's too horrible."

I'd seen the news-they'd broadcast images of floating bodies-at least they'd aimed their cameras at those appearing whole or mostly so. The FBI was on the scene. I figured Matt's crew and a few other agencies were there, too. So far, nobody had stepped forward to take responsibility for the bombings. Everybody referred to it as an act of terrorism anyway.

News agencies in every state had interviews with families and loved ones affected by the bombings. Tourists from other countries were also getting airtime-several countries were demanding answers from the U.S. Government for the deaths of their citizens.

I didn't envy the President or the Secretary of State-it was their job to unruffle those feathers while they desperately searched for answers.

"We're officially dead, Ilya." Corinne came to me and pressed her body against mine.

"My love," I wrapped my arms about her and spoke in my native language, "We have been dead for quite some time."

*

Corinne

James stood between Rafe and me while we watched Auggie, Laci and Leo climb into an electric cart for their trip through the tunnel. Matt's vehicle was behind theirs. He was saying goodbye to Opal, who'd elected to stay with us.

What are we going to do, Ilya? I asked.

Cabbage, we'll use everything we have to track those madmen. I'd ask you to destroy Askins and the Joint Chiefs, but that would alert the enemy and make him more than suspicious. Colonel Hunter will be watching them, as will Director Michaels.

The moment Auggie left us behind, we'd become ghosts. All we could do then is operate behind the scenes, without letting the enemy know. If we were lucky. If we weren't and the enemy found us, we could be just as dead as everyone would believe.

"You never told us who you were," Leo was back and standing before me.

"Oh. That." I lowered my eyes and stared at my feet. "Harriett Majors. Heard of her?"

"The queen of mystery," Leo beamed at me. "I have all her books. Most of them, I've read more than once."

"I'll sign them for you, if we live through this," I said.