Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“You don’t know that for certain,” Mike said, his tone gentle.
Samantha blinked. “You’re really going to go with mansplaining this? To a scientist? I’ll say this for you—you’ve got balls. But do that again and you might not get to keep them.”
Despite his churning stomach, Dan couldn’t rein in his laughter. “What happened to the politely spoken Dr. Phillips?”
She flashed him a look. “She got pissed. And scared as hell.” Samantha aimed a hard stare in Mike’s direction. “Can you come up with another explanation for what I found? One that fits all the information I’ve discovered so far?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing. He’s sold out, I tell you. He—”
Mike held up one hand, and Dan heard a car engine.
“Stay here,” Mike whispered, hurrying to the front window and grabbing his holster. He peered through the blinds and relaxed visibly. “It’s okay. It’s Nathan.” He opened the door.
“Good,” Gary muttered. “He has some explaining to do.” He held his chin high, his arms folded. Dan recognized the signs.
Samantha wasn’t the only one who was pissed.
Mike waited by the door, and Samantha remained in her seat.
She huffed. “At least Nathan believes me.”
Mike glanced over his shoulder at her. “He says he does.”
Dan winced. That had to hurt.
“If Mike comes out with any more stuff like that, she’s going to saw him off at the knees,” Gary murmured.
Dan had to agree. He’d known Samantha for all of five minutes, and even he knew better than to provoke her. What Samantha needed right then was support, not doubt or disbelief.
He hoped Chambers would provide the former.
Then he realized he wasn’t about to wait for Chambers.
He raised his voice. “Mike?” When Mike turned to look in his direction, Dan gave him an unflinching glance.
“Of course Nathan believes her. He helped her disappear, didn’t he?
And I’m assuming packing her car with explosives was his way of showing how seriously he took her concerns.
I get that you’re trying to score points off her for the mansplaining comment, but you know what?
She nailed it. So don’t give her any more bullshit, because she really doesn’t need that right now. ”
Mike flushed, then mumbled, “Sorry, Sam.”
She blinked. “Okay.” Sam peered at Dan. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And Mr. Porter?” She gave him a shaky smile. “You get to call me Sam.”
“Fine—as long as I’m Dan and not Mr. Porter.”
Her smile widened. “You got it.”
Chambers paused in the doorway. “Sounds like I’ve missed something.” He walked into the house. “Anything to report?” he asked Mike in a low voice.
Mike shook his head. “All quiet here. Sam’s just gone through what led up to her being here. And now I get why you let Mitchell and Porter in on this.”
“Impressive, aren’t they?”
Dan got the feeling they were meant to hear that part. He stood to greet Chambers, but Gary beat him to it.
“You can stop with the flattery, okay?” Gary’s face was flushed. “Because I’m not buying it.”
Chambers came to a dead stop. “Excuse me?”
Gary narrowed his gaze. “Don’t you think there’s something you should have told us when we met yesterday?”
He frowned. “I sent you here, didn’t I? I knew she’d tell you everything, and quite honestly, it should come from her.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Chambers’s frown deepened. “Then what?”
“How about the fact that you’ve plunged us into a situation—an investigation—that is way above our pay grade.
And even though she tries to hide it with humor, your sister is frightened, and with good reason.
” His eyes bulged. “You’re in the intelligence community, for God’s sake.
You have the manpower, the resources, to deal with this. Why bring us into it?”
Chambers drew himself up to his full height. “Now wait a minute. Can I remind you of something? I told you to back off, remember? And you ignored me.”
“Okay, yeah, we ignored you. That doesn’t explain why you did a one-eighty and pulled us into this.
I’m just a cop. A cop who’s feeling out of his depth, frankly.
” Then Gary froze, his eyes wide. “Except it’s not me you want in on this.
” He turned slowly to face Dan. “It’s you he wants, isn’t it?
Except he couldn’t come right out and ask for your help.
He sent us here, relying on your instincts, knowing you couldn’t leave it alone once you knew the whole story. ”
“None of us know the whole story,” Dan said quietly, his stomach churning.
“Not even Samantha—sorry, Sam. She knows her version of it. Chambers probably has another. And after hearing what she’s discovered, I’m pretty sure I’m out of my depth too.
That doesn’t mean I’m not willing to help them.
If I can. Because this situation makes my skin crawl.
” He sighed. “I told you once. Your insights are as valuable as mine. Maybe he wants both of us?”
Chambers walked over to Gary and Dan. “Let’s pretend I just came in, and start again.
” He looked Gary in the eye. “It wasn’t flattery, by the way.
You’re not ‘just a cop.’ You’re one of the finest detectives in the police department.
And that isn’t flattery either—that’s the truth.
I told you I looked you up. Now, I understand how you’re feeling after hearing Sam’s story.
Kinda like you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, right? ”
“Except it feels like I’m still falling, everywhere is dark, and I can’t see what’s at the bottom—or if there even is a bottom.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here, because I have information that’ll add some light to that darkness.” Chambers bit back a smile. “And that came out way too corny.” He held out his hand, and Gary shook it. “Are we good?”
“I don’t know about good, but we’re better than we were when you walked through that door.”
“I’ll take that.” Chambers gave Dan an inquiring glance. “I’m almost afraid to take your hand after what happened the last time.”
“If I see something I shouldn’t, my lips are sealed. Does that help?” Dan smiled. “Here’s where I tell you my gift doesn’t work twenty-four seven. The likelihood of me shaking your hand and instantly learning your deepest, darkest secret is extremely remote.”
Mike chuckled. “Ooh, boss. You have secrets?”
Chambers stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Tell me there’s coffee.”
“More coffee coming right up.” Mike scuttled off toward the kitchen area. “I forgot. You get mean when you’re running low on caffeine,” he muttered.
“I heard that,” Chambers called out. He offered Dan his hand, and they shook.
Sam stood. “I’d better get a hug or you’re a dead man.”
Chambers gasped. “After all I’ve done for you? Let’s not forget I’m the reason the world thinks you’re dead.” He gave her a tight squeeze. “You okay?”
“So-so.”
“I’m here, all right? I’ll keep you safe.”
She chuckled against his chest. “I’m the oldest. I’m supposed to keep you safe.
” She took a step back and gave him a searching glance.
“Tell me you have news.” She gestured to their surroundings.
“I don’t want to sound churlish—I mean, you found me a safe space, and you did make me disappear like I asked—but I’m going stir crazy here.
And I’ve only been here for fifteen days. ”
Dan cleared his throat. “Mr. Chambers, do you—”
Chambers held up a hand. “Call me Nathan.”
“Nathan. Do you have any evidence that supports your sister’s theories?”
He didn’t want to believe Sam possessed an overactive imagination. She came across as levelheaded and insightful. But on the other hand, if she was right….
“And maybe a theory or two as to why someone would do this,” Gary added. “Especially someone of Professor Martin’s status.”
“I have a few ideas. I don’t think you’ll like them.”
“Try me.”
Nathan sat on the couch, and Sam joined him. “The problem is, we don’t know enough about Professor Martin—whether he’s working alone or is part of a small group.”
“Then you do believe Sam,” Dan remarked.
He nodded. “Unfortunately, I do. Sam’s uncovered some disturbing evidence. And when you add to that the very interesting company he’s been keeping….”
“What company?”
“He’s had regular meetings with two men over the last few years, both of whom once worked for the CIA, now retired.
What we don’t have is any information as to how they came to know each other.
We’ve cross-referenced their backgrounds and come up blank.
They didn’t go to the same schools, the same colleges, and we don’t think their paths crossed as a result of their work. ”
“What is it about these men that concerns you?” Dan asked.
Nathan jerked his head in Dan’s direction. “It shows, huh? Let’s just say it’s disturbing to find Professor Martin involved with them.”
“But if they’re ex-CIA, they must be okay, mustn’t they?” Sam observed. Nathan gave her a fond smile, and she expelled a breath. “That means nothing, does it?”
Gary’s brow furrowed. “Hang on a minute. How can you know Professor Martin has been meeting up with these men for years? You didn’t even know about his involvement until recently—did you?”
“You’re right. We weren’t tailing him. We were tailing the other two, for reasons I can’t explain.
Then the professor showed up, and I got interested.
I knew he worked with Sam. She spoke so highly of him that my curiosity was piqued.
But yes, there have been meetings in different locations.
They even rented a cabin up at Lake Gregory, near San Bernadino, in February of 2015.
Judging by all the stuff they took with them, they were going fishing. ”
Gary frowned. “He went all the way to California to meet them? For a fishing trip?”
“Don’t forget the February part,” Mike added. “I mean, who the fu—who the hell goes fishing in February?”
Before Nathan could respond, Sam butted in.
“I think Nathan’s wrong. I think Robert is working alone.” She glanced at Nathan. “They could all have met when he worked for the CDC. That’s possible, isn’t it? And what’s wrong with doing a little fishing with friends?”
“If they’re friends, fine. But if there’s another dimension to their relationship, then I’m right to be concerned,” Nathan murmured.
“You said yesterday that I might be useful.” Dan speared Nathan with an intense gaze. “What exactly do you want me—us—to do?”
Nathan clasped his hands. “My men have been following our two ex-CIA guys, and something is coming. Don’t ask me how I know that.
When you’ve been in this game as long as I have, you get a sense about these things.
I’ve got a team on alert, but I can make last-minute changes if I have to.
Once we get an idea of what they’re up to, we’re ready to make a move.
There’s a jet standing by at Hanscom Field. ”
Gary caught his breath. “You think they’re getting ready for another test.”
Nathan nodded. “Except we don’t know where or when. You’re not the only one who feels as if he’s in the dark. So we have to be prepared to move at a moment’s notice.”
“Then you think these two men are involved? They might play a part in the test?” Not that Dan needed to hear his reply. What rolled off Nathan was a tangled mess of emotions—fear, anxiety, apprehension—and Dan was sucked into the burning heart of it.
Because if Sam was right, Professor Martin was about to let smallpox loose on the world yet again.
“Yes, I do.” Nathan spoke with a calm Dan envied. He paused, his gaze locked on Dan. “So there’s only one thing I need to know. Will you join us?”