Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(44)

"Any finger pointing at the President?" Opal asked after joining the crowd.

"Not yet. I figure it's only a matter of time."

"Where, this time?"

"Outside Sitka," James said.

"That means they're definitely in Alaska somewhere," Rafe wiped his hands on a kitchen towel before lifting the tablet from my fingers.

"We can't go after them-for obvious reasons," Maye said.

Opal lifted an eyebrow at Nick, who shrugged.

"How long will it be, you think, before they begin to believe we're really dead?" James pointed his question at Rafe.

"If it were me, I'd wait at least a month and place as much temptation to draw them out as I possibly could."

"What sort of temptation, honey?" I asked.

"I don't want to frighten you," he said, setting his hands on my shoulders.

"More people are going to die, aren't they?" I whispered.

"It's likely," he said.

*

"Cabbage, wake up, my love."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

I was still trying to get used to the hours the sun kept in Anchorage. I knew something was wrong, just from Ilya's voice.

After wrapping me in a robe, he herded me toward the media room, where the others were already gathered, watching the early morning news.

"To recap," the D.C. journalist announced, "The White House and the Secretary of Defense have been tied to an experimental program, which went terribly wrong. Classified documents were passed to a New York Gazette reporter, who published the story this morning. There has been no comment from the President on these allegations, and the Secretary of Defense has refused requests for an interview."

"Three guesses who released those documents," Maye huffed.

"The photographs taken recently of those survivors from Montana were printed with the article in the newspaper," James said. "Only they're not labeled as such. The whole thing is listed as experiments on animals that went wrong. They're saying the animals escaped and could be dangerous."

"And it gets better," I mumbled. "How is Askins going to dance away from that? He was in charge of that part."

"He may have photographs of us at the Nevada facility," James hung his head. "From the security cameras they have, there."

"So we get tied to that shit while he stays squeaky clean?" I snapped. Yes, I needed coffee. And sunshine. I had no idea how quickly I'd get either.

"We're dead, remember. I wonder what they'll say about that? You notice nothing was said about human experiments, instigated by former President Phillips."

"Are they expecting us to prove the lie by coming out and defending ourselves?" Nick asked. "To spell out why we were in Nevada to begin with?"

"This is completely f*cked up," Opal sighed.

"Auggie will be forced to resign," I said. "Because all this is top secret. He can't say what all of us are or can do, or what the Program really is. Merle Askins is a dick, and he's using the usual scare tactics to freak out the population. They'll expect monsters under beds and in closets. For real."

"All they'll have to do is hand over photographs of DB," Nick said. "And then say they don't know where he is, now. Which is true."

"Better yet, they only have to produce photographs of DB in the Bering Strait, and everybody will go batshit," Opal said.

"You know, that's probably what they're letting the others out for," Maye observed. "They're looking for signs of DB."

"Too bad he doesn't look like a dolphin," Opal offered.

"Too bad they all don't look like dolphins," Nick agreed. "Everybody loves dolphins."

"Maybe Merle Askins should be a dolphin. I'd like him better that way," I said. "By the way, who all knows where Richard Farrell and the facility staff are? What I really mean is-are they in danger because of this?"

"I'm not sure anyone else knows," James began.

"Right. If he's using a phone or e-mail, somebody knows," Maye snapped. That threw me back for a moment-Maye liked Richard. Since I'd shut off reading those around me, I hadn't realized that, yet.

"Maybe we should get you there-in disguise," I said.

"What?" At least three people threw that question at me, all of whom were not Maye.

"Hey, nobody will know it's her," I said, attempting to defend myself.

"Colonel Hunter will object," James began.

"Colonel Hunter is in enough hot water," I said. "Richard Farrell may need somebody who can kick ass," I added. "If Merle Askins is looking for DB, too, what are the odds he's looking for Dr. Farrell first?"

"We should consult with Colonel Hunter," Maye said. I could see the hope in her eyes, however, and had no desire to kill it.

"I have an idea," Nick said. "Why don't you disguise him and bring him here? Let one of his guards take his place."

"That may be a death sentence," Rafe pointed out.

"At least they'll be alert to the fact that they're in danger," Maye said. "They can request more troops-that's standard and has nothing to do with us."