Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(60)

Ilya wore no expression—he waited to see what the President's command was. Jen and Brett—they had no idea what was going on. Farrell sat nearby, undisguised anger marring his features.

"I received a note yesterday," the President said. "From former President Phillips. I've made copies for you to see," he said, pushing four sheets of paper toward Jen. Trust him to expect the woman to act as secretary and distribute the notes to the others. I also noted that I wasn't included as a recipient. I also wondered at his reason for withholding this information from Matt and me earlier.

It's because he didn't have it earlier, Cori's voice whispered in my ear. Once again, she was in the Oval Office, shielded from sight. The information she provided made me want to shiver. It's fabricated, she confirmed. I've already told Ilya, she added.

"This is a threat against you and your office," Brett set his copy of the note on Granville's desk.

"Yes it is," Granville agreed. "I am taking steps to eliminate that threat. This is where you come in. As members of the Program, your assignment is to assist in the search for evidence at Phillips' home in Virginia," he said. "It is my plan to wait until he is away. You and my special unit will get inside, take evidence, make it look like a break-in and get out. We need to know what his plans are, you understand."

Until they discover that Phillips isn't gone and he and his goons either become dead or make Granville's team dead, Corinne said. My bet will be on the latter. Granville has no idea what he is facing, including Sirenali who can command them to shoot themselves or each other, to a brain-damaged version of Ilya, who is a loose cannon.

At that moment, I wished mightily for mindspeech. Granville had gone off the deep end, in my opinion.

He wants to be able to point a finger at Phillips—for Amelia Sanders' death, Graye Sanders' suicide and conspiring with the insurgency. I doubt he'll get the evidence he wants, Cori said. I think he wants the path smoothed for his election and get rid of an old enemy at the same time. He's been thinking about this ever since he first sat in that chair.

I guess the old saying was correct—power corrupts. It certainly looked that way from where I was standing. I realized, too, how precarious my position had become. Matt's too, when it came down to it.

The President could replace either or both of us, on a whim.

"Why am I here, then?" Farrell demanded.

"I think you know why," Granville turned to him with a smile. "I have a feeling you know where more of the drug is. Don't you?"

*

Corinne

Richard Farrell did know. Just as he'd kept blood from Maye and Nick, he'd kept a stash of the drug left over from the experiments on himself. I'd ignored it, since my life had been saved by a second dose of the drug early on. I considered it insurance, in case Ilya needed help.

Well, that time had just passed. Granville wanted to bring back the experimentation. He wanted to deepen his resources. Make his own Sirenali and who knows what else?

Farrell, I sent, Tell him that the drug and any remaining blood has been destroyed. As of five seconds ago. By me. If he doesn't believe you, tell him to check for himself. All of it has been neutralized.

You didn't, Farrell snapped back.

I did. He's not going to do this a second time. If Phillips doesn't kill him, the Lyristolyi will.

"I know where it is, but its effectiveness has been neutralized," Farrell informed the President stiffly. "I can tell you where it is, but it won't do any good."

"How was it neutralized?" Granville became angry immediately.

"Corinne," Farrell said. "She said if Phillips didn't kill you first, then the Lyristolyi would if you used the drug for more experiments."

"Then tell Corinne that she is no longer welcome in the United States," Granville hissed. "I have no control over other countries, but she needs to get off American soil."

"Your wish, my command," Corinne dropped her shield. "If your ass needs saving again, don't look to me to help you." With that, she disappeared. I listened while Granville cursed a second time that day.

*

Ilya

I'm in Canada, Corinne informed me. For now. Is it all right if Val and I use the villa in Italy?

Of course, my love. Please, take Sergei and Katya with you. I want them to be safe. I fear that Granville will want to ensure my cooperation with this mad scheme he has concocted. Taking them hostage will be first on his list.

I'll take Bekzi and their friends, too, she responded. Finch can continue his witch-hunt here in Canada without us. I think the enemy is much too smart to leave anything useful behind for him to discover.

If there were something, I feel we would have found it by now, I agreed.

Yeah. Well, you know where I'll be, she said. If you want to get away.

That may be sooner than you think, my love.

I love you, too.

I know this. Stay safe, beloved.

*

Corinne

"Leo, you should come with us. Is it possible for you to take Nathan along—as an assistant?"

"With Matt's permission," Leo agreed. "I think we can get that with little argument."

"Good. I just didn't want to leave him here to listen to Finch," I said.

Leo Shaw and I stood in the kitchen while Val shielded us—I didn't want anyone else to hear while I explained what happened in the President's meeting. Leo understood what I didn't say, too—that Auggie and Matt could lose their jobs just by pointing out the flaws in the President's plans.