Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It was on the tip of Gary’s tongue to yell No fucking way. His heart pounded, and he was simultaneously hot and cold.
This could be dangerous.
Worse, it could be deadly. There were already three dead bodies to support that—three that they knew of, at any rate.
He forced himself to remain calm. He raised his chin and met Nathan’s equally calm gaze.
“Join you? In doing what?”
“I’ve already told you why I want you in on this.
Your track record speaks for itself. And as for Mr. Porter here…
.” Nathan stared at Dan, his head tilted in a manner so reminiscent of his sister.
“You helped the Boston police department catch Ludlow, didn’t you?
Plus you helped recover that painting. And let’s not forget what you did in Chicago and NYC. Those cases are a matter of record.”
Dan arched his eyebrows but said nothing.
Nathan turned his head toward the kitchen area. “Where’s that coffee? A man could die of thirst with you around.”
Mike mumbled as he brought a fresh pot to the table. “What am I—a barista who happens to carry a gun?”
“But you make such great coffee,” Nathan said with a smile.
Then it morphed into a grin. “Now that was flattery.” He poured himself a cup and sat back against the seat cushions.
“Detective Mitchell, both you and Mr. Porter have been looking into the deaths of Leo Deakins, Eddie Ray, and Jonathon Wilmer. You—”
“But that’s what I do,” Gary remonstrated. “Investigate murder. This is so far beyond that, it’s incalculable.”
“And I have no clue what you expect from me,” Dan added.
Nathan’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Neither do I. It’s just….”
Dan gave a nod. “I know, you get a sense for these things.”
“I might have this totally wrong. Nothing may happen.” Nathan sipped his coffee. “But in case it does, I want to be ready.”
Gary’s stomach roiled. But ready for what?
Dan stared at Nathan, his gaze narrowed. “What do you know that you’re not telling us?”
“I’m only going by what I know about our two friends.”
Dan’s gaze didn’t waver. “But you don’t think you’re wrong, do you? They are going to carry out this test.”
Nathan fell silent, and Gary’s scalp prickled. “You can’t ask us to be a part of this if you’re not going to share details.”
More silence.
“Hey.” Sam squeezed Nathan’s knee. “You’re not about to scare me more than I already am. Whatever’s on your mind, say it.”
Nathan drew in a deep breath before looking at Gary.
“Okay. Here’s what I really think. The evidence points to an imminent test, yes.
But I feel everything Sam’s discovered points to something much bigger, much deadlier.
Think about it. How many people could they infect using a nebulizer to deploy the pathogen?
Not that many. But if Robert Martin genetically modifies a virus… .” He shivered.
“And you think that’s where this is headed,” Gary concluded.
“Yes, I’m afraid I do. So if we can stop the test, prevent it somehow, maybe we’ll also prevent what is to come, with your help. And you need to be prepared to move swiftly—with your passports at the ready.”
Passports?
Reality set in with a speed that made him dizzy and his muscles go weak. His throat refused to let him speak.
He doesn’t mean…. He can’t mean….
Gary replayed Nathan’s words in his head, but they would not compute. Dan’s eyes were huge, all body movement frozen.
Finally Gary found his voice, although his words came out garbled.
“Wait a minute. I’m a Boston detective. I can’t go with you to God knows where.”
Nathan cocked his head again. “So you’d be okay with Dan coming with us?”
Oh fuck.
Dan gaped at him. “I’m not going anywhere without Gary.” Nathan’s eyes gleamed, and Dan frowned. “You knew I’d say that.”
Nathan gave a shrug. “Let’s say I had a hunch.”
Gary had to know the truth. “I wouldn’t let you go without me. But I have to ask: Do you want to help them?”
Dan brushed his hair back from his face. “Do you remember what Nathan said when he came to see us yesterday? He said he could access all kinds of information, but that I could see things he couldn’t. That’s why he wants me there—wherever there happens to be.”
Gary wasn’t convinced. “I know how you feel about this. Remember when we talked about one of the detectives asking if you could be ‘loaned out’? Isn’t this the same thing?”
Dan stilled. “No, I don’t think it is. This isn’t one of your coworkers who thinks he has too much work and wants a quick and easy solution.
This isn’t about helping one of them find the bad guy.
” He gazed earnestly at Gary. “What Nathan wants me to do is help him prevent something… monstrous from occurring. And if there’s a chance I can do that?
” Dan squared his shoulders. “Then yes, I want to help.”
There was no way Gary could argue with that. It was why Dan did what he did—using his gift—because he wanted to help in cases where those investigating were baffled.
And maybe his gift had never been needed more.
Gary struggled to keep things on a practical level. “We’d need permission.”
Nathan frowned. “From whom? The chief of police? Lieutenant Travers?”
“I doubt that is a matter of record. You’ve been doing a little digging.”
Another shrug. “It’s what I do. And as far as your lieutenant is concerned, I might be able to grease a few wheels. Because I really want Dan along on this. Leave that with me.”
Gary stared at him. “We haven’t agreed to do this, okay?
And maybe I’ll consider it—if you answer my question.
Do you have any theories as to why Professor Martin could be doing this?
Because I have a real problem here. I’ve met the man, all right?
Twice. And I’m finding it extremely difficult to match up the professor who shared his enthusiasm and excitement about their work with the same man who is possibly working on ways to kill people in vast numbers. ”
“You spoke to Robert?” Sam straightened. “When was this?”
Gary consulted his notebook. “October first, when we went to the medical school to ask you about Jonathon Wilmer, and again the following day after the news reported you were dead.” Somewhere in his brain, an alarm went off.
Yeah, about that….
“How was he?” Sam asked in a low voice.
“Devastated. At least that’s how he came across. He spoke in glowing terms about you, your work… the benefits for mankind. And that’s why I’m finding it hard to believe all this.” He peered at her. “You didn’t believe it at first, did you?”
Her face fell. “No, I didn’t. And that’s why I think someone has a hold over him. They’re forcing him to do this. And maybe he’s putting on such a supreme act because he can’t let anyone see what this is doing to him. He has to appear normal at all costs.”
Gary was sure there was something Sam was deliberately not seeing, but he kept silent on it.
A spasm etched its way across her face. “He really was devastated?”
Dan nodded. “And I’m not sure it was an act. Say you’re right. Say he told his buddies to take you out. Maybe he believed they’d been successful, and what crushed him was the knowledge that he was responsible.”
“I think there’s another way we can look at this,” Nathan murmured.
When Gary gave him a speculative glance, he sighed.
“If the professor really is under duress, I don’t think he’d be capable of such an act.
Yes, I know you want to believe that, Sam, but I don’t buy it.
Something is pushing him towards his terrifying goal—we just don’t know what that something is. ”
Gary turned to Nathan. “But you said you had a few ideas about his motives.”
“I also said you wouldn’t like them.”
Gary raised his eyebrows. “How about you let us be the judge of that?”
“Fair enough.” Nathan began talking, and the more Gary heard, the wider that rabbit hole became, until it had widened into a chasm that he tumbled into, the daylight receding above him until it was only a pinprick of light.
Nathan can’t be right. He can’t.
Because if he was, there was no hope for the human race.
“When you’re this quiet, I get worried.”
Gary shook off the thoughts that had clouded his head since they’d left Provincetown. “I’m still trying to get my head around all this.” Rain had fallen, and the tarmac gleamed in the headlights of the oncoming traffic.
“Have you come to a decision?”
“No, but I think you have.” He’d known that several hours ago. Sam had put together a meal for them, but no one seemed to have any appetite.
Hardly surprising, given the circumstances.
They’d probably be hungry by the time they got home. There were leftovers in the fridge to nibble on before they tumbled into bed.
Not that Gary thought he would sleep much.
“We’ve come this far. I think we should see it through. It’s not as if we’ve solved the case, right? And what if pursuing this helps us to do that?”
“Ah.” Gary nodded. It seemed he and Dan were on the same page. “I’d had similar thoughts.” He just wasn’t sure if he was ready to capitulate. “You know this could be dangerous, don’t you?”
“Nathan says he has a team. He’ll look out for us.”
Gary had to smile. “God, I love your confidence.” Another pause. “You trust him.”
“Yes, I do.” Conviction rang out in his voice.
And Gary trusted Dan’s instincts.
“And what if we get a call, and he says, ‘Pack a bag. We’re going to Australia’?”
“Then I’ll check online to see if I need to take sunscreen and to find out what everyone will be wearing down under,” he said with a shrug.
“Just like that?”
Dan’s voice was firm. “Just like that.”
His decisive tone was enough to help Gary finally make up his mind.
When he spotted the sign for Quincy, he turned off the highway and headed west.
“Are we going somewhere?”
“Yup.”
Dan said nothing for a moment. He let out a wry chuckle. “Well? Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope.”
Dan peered through the windshield. “Isn’t Quincy where—”
“Yes, this is where Ludlow took you that day, but don’t worry, we’re not going to go down that particular memory lane again.”
“Good. Just checking.” More beats of silence. “Gary, if you don’t tell me where you’re taking me, I may have to kill you.”
“Which I don’t recommend, because that would result in me crashing the car, and we’d both end up dead.” He frowned. “I need to concentrate. I’ve only been there once.”
“Can I help? I can look up directions on my phone.”
“Nah, I’m good.”
God, he hoped he was.
Eventually the sign for Milton came into sight, and Gary breathed a sigh of relief. “Almost there.”
“I’d be relieved if I knew where there was.”
Gary scanned the street signs, searching for familiar landmarks, houses. When he spied Collamore Street, he smiled. “And we’re here.” He pulled up in front of the house and switched off the engine.
Dan peered at the white-painted house with its steep gable and neatly manicured front lawn. “Who lives here?”
Gary said nothing but got out of the car. Dan followed as he walked up the steps to the front door and rang the bell.
Please be home. Please don’t still be at work.
Footsteps came from inside, a light flickered on above their heads, and the door opened. Travers stood there, his eyes wide.
“Gentlemen. Normally I’d ask what brings you to my home, but I’ve just had a phone call from someone from Homeland Security—a very mysterious call, I might add—and you two were the topic of conversation. So you’d better get in here. And I hope you can tell me more than he did.”
Gary stepped into the hallway, Dan following.
Travers stared at their faces. “I’m going to need a drink for this, aren’t I?”