Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(45)

"Let me think about this," I held up a hand. After all, I'd be involved if we went forward with that idea.

"Cori, I know you can send him a mental message-you've done that before," Nick turned to me. "At least let him know he may be in danger."

"I can do that much," I agreed. "Richard is more than trustworthy, and I'd pull him away from there now, if I thought I could get away with it."

*

Dr. Richard Farrell

Private Journal

"The sighting turned out to be a whale," the radio crackled at my elbow.

"Understood," I held the button down to reply. "Keep looking in the area."

"Yes, sir."

I released the button with a sigh. I sat in the back office in a small building in Wales, Alaska, wondering how things had come to this. I'd gotten word from Leo Shaw that information on the supposed animal experimentation done by the Program had been leaked to the media.

A photograph of the team sent to the facility in Nevada to investigate the disappearance of the creatures was included in a follow-up article, which clearly showed me as a member of that group.

Oddly enough, none of those stationed at the Nevada facility were shown anywhere. Clearly, the public now believed that the Secretary of Defense, a noted scientist and several others were involved in this illicit experimentation.

I wanted to laugh, but the situation was far too serious.

I wondered, too, who would come looking for me first-the media or the enemy.

Our research facility was spare and rough-only a few comforts had been hurriedly provided as it hadn't been used in several years. The personnel I had with me were more accustomed to assisting with research rather than carrying rifles and guarding anyone.

Richard? Corinne's voice floated into my mind. We think you're in danger. I know you're alone right now-I just wanted to give you a heads up to lock the door-I'll be there in two minutes.

My sudden movement sent the metal chair scraping across the bare, concrete floor as I slid off it. The lock was forced shut as quickly as I could manage it.

*

Corinne

I couldn't convince Ilya that I would be fine going alone, so he went with me. Richard was waiting for us when we arrived.

"What can we do?" Richard asked the moment we materialized inside his tiny office.

"Isn't this below your pay grade?" I looked around me-there was nothing comfortable about this place, including his office chair.

"Scientists are often the last ones considered where comfort is concerned," Richard offered a smile. "Tell me there's a way you can get me out of here without causing a fuss."

"I have a way, but you may not like it," I said.

Actually, the Ukrainian mountain had suggested it, and the idea was a sound one.

"What's that?"

"You're about to have a heart attack," I shrugged. "A small plane will arrive to carry you out of here to a hospital. Sadly, you won't make it. You'll be dead like the rest of us."

"Not in the literal sense, I hope." His words were dry.

"I hope not, too. Rafe says he can fly the plane, so we'll be your disguised medical personnel."

"What about the body-when you get me to a hospital?"

"I'll take care of it," I said.

"When?"

"How about before dinner? Say-seven or so?"

"Sure."

*

Notes-Colonel Hunter

If Corinne hadn't sent a mental message, I'd believe what I was watching on television. Dr. Richard Farrell, the scientist everybody was currently vilifying in the media, was dead of a heart attack, according to physicians in Nome, Alaska.

He'd been flown from Wales to Nome for treatment after suffering the attack, and was now dead.

According to the physicians and the media, anyway.

Corinne let me know that Richard was now safe in Anchorage, in disguise like the rest of them.

If this were real, I'd think that common decency would keep the media off his back, now that he was supposedly dead.

Nothing was farther from the truth. The background the Program had carefully built for Dr. Farrell was being tested-to its limits. I was grateful we'd built a background for someone who should have been dead years ago from natural causes.

Whatever Corinne had done to provide a replacement body for Dr. Farrell had worked flawlessly-extensive tests were run to make sure of his identity. Dr. Richard Farrell was now officially dead.

It made me wish I could do the same-I couldn't walk outside my office or drive up to my house without the media crowding around and asking questions while shoving microphones in my face.

Madam President-naturally-had to distance herself. It was planned, too, that my resignation as Secretary of Defense would come the following week. In the interim, I would be hounded to death by people asking questions about something I hadn't been involved in.

Did Askins expect me to point fingers in his direction? I figured he had a defense carefully planned that excluded him and the Joint Chiefs from any blame in the matter. After all, there were no photographs made available showing him leaving the Nevada facility.

Laci now spoke with Shaw several times a day. I'd thought our marriage was finally back to what it should be-this threatened it all over again. This time, I wouldn't get Laci back if she decided to leave me.