Chapter 21 #2
His gaze slid to Emily before it returned to Natalie. “It means someone wanted to hide something. I’ve done something similar for one of my men. He changed his name, and I helped the Navy bury any documents with his old identity so he could go undercover.”
“Then Irina has something to hide,” Nat said.
He shrugged. “She or the government. Her recruitment into the FSB and her rank tells me she was in the thick of things for many years.”
“Why move to Texas?” Emily asked.
Natalie held up Irina’s picture. “That’s a question I’d like answered.”
The more he thought of Natalie talking to Irina Matveev, the more he felt it was a bad idea. “Say Irina is running the Russians. You won’t be able to change her mind about calling off the hit.”
“The hit?” Emily repeated, her voice pitched higher. “Natalie?”
Natalie put a hand on Emily’s arm. “Look who I’m with, Em. A SEAL. Like you said, he will keep me safe.”
Emily didn’t say more, but she wasn’t as convinced as Natalie. At least Nat believed he’d keep her alive, and that’s exactly what he planned.
“What if it isn’t Irina?” Natalie asked. “What if she knows something that could help us?”
He conceded that she had a point, but it wasn’t worth putting her so close to danger. “That’s a lot of ‘what ifs.’”
“The sooner we learn who is controlling the group, the more leverage we have. And right now, we need some of that. We’re flying blind, and while I might not be a SEAL, even I know that’s not good,” Natalie said.
They needed to know who was in charge of the Russian assassins. She was right, leverage was something they required in order to retrieve Orrin. He just didn’t like the fact that Nat was going to talk to a woman who could’ve decided to end her life.
“If we’re going to do this, we need to have a plan and several escape routes.
She smiled. “Of course.”
He went back to examining Irina Matveev’s life on paper. She appeared to be a normal citizen, but looks could be deceiving.
He caught Natalie staring at him. When he met her gaze, there was something in her deep green eyes. He felt her observing him often, and he wished he knew what she was thinking.
Natalie always cloaked her feelings, and time had only made her a master of it. She’d shut him down quickly enough earlier, but the memory of their kiss still lingered on his tongue.
If only he knew what to say to break past the walls she’d erected to keep him out. At times, he felt he was close, but mainly it seemed as if she would never be his again.
He knew what he asked. At least, he thought he did. He desired her. There was no denying it, even if he wanted to. Seeing her, touching her, inhaling her intoxicating scent were all reminders of why he’d fallen head over heels for her in the first place.
He didn’t care what he had to do, but he wanted Natalie with him. Always. Owen wasn’t sure how it would work with his part in the SEALs or her work, but he was willing to find out.
He looked away from Nat and through the glass toward Simon, while making a mental list of everything he needed to do to get ready for Natalie to speak to Irina—as well as get away.
To his surprise, Natalie came to stand beside him. She fidgeted, showing her nervousness.
“We could screw this up.”
He nodded. “But we won’t.”
“Irina could be the key.”
“I hope she is. I also hope that she’ll give us something, but in all likelihood, she won’t.”
“Thanks for bursting my bubble,” she said as she faced him, smiling.
He grasped her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Do you want to know why I think this will work?”
“That would be very helpful, because I’m beginning to second-guess myself.”
“You have a kindness about you, Nat. An openness that people gravitate toward without even realizing it. We can use it to our advantage.”
A small frown formed on her brow. “Openness?”
“If Irina is controlling things, you’ll surprise her with a visit. If she isn’t, we might learn some information. Either way, I’ll be watching. Nothing is going to happen. That I swear.”
“Where will you be?”
He grinned, unable to help himself. “Somewhere I can get a clear shot off at any target who looks as if they’re coming for you, and somewhere I can get out of quickly to get to your side.”
She paused, considering his words. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“This is what I do.” He wondered if she realized she’d moved closer to him. He gently rubbed his thumbs in circles on her arms.
Her guard was lowered. He didn’t know why, nor did he question it. He forgot Emily was in the room as he tilted his head. He’d been craving another kiss ever since the first. The hunger to taste her again was driving him mad with desire.
Natalie’s lids slowly lowered and her head leaned to the side. His heart leapt as she leaned into him. Their lips were about to touch when Simon banged open the door to the lab.
Natalie jerked out of his arms. He gritted his teeth and faced Dr. Moore, whose hair was no longer tidy. It hung loosely about his shoulders in waves.
“I think I’ve discovered what’s in the vial,” he announced.
Owen faced him. “What is it?”
“It’s new,” Simon said. He ran a hand through his hair.
Emily shrugged, her arms crossed over her middle. “I thought it might be, based on what Natalie told me.”
“Normally, we in the science community hear through the grapevine when someone is working on a new bioweapon, but I’ve heard nothing.” Simon shook his head as he looked at the floor in obvious distress.
Owen crossed his arms over his chest. “We told you it wasn’t from this country.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Simon ran his hand through his hair again as he lifted his head to look at them. “No matter how secret the endeavor is, it leaks. Nothing stays quiet. It takes years to develop a weapon of this magnitude, and nothing has been said. That’s not normal.”
Natalie moved toward Simon. “Are some countries more secretive than others?”
Simon gave her a wry look. “None want it leaked, but scientists talk. They like to tout their findings and creations. It’s hard to keep us quiet.”
“A government should be able to,” Emily replied.
Simon shrugged indifferently. “Not necessarily.”
Owen tucked that bit of information away. “So, what is it?”
“Biological agents are made up microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Along with their toxins. I’ve tested the liquid in the vial against all known agents such as anthrax, Ebola, ricin, and even the plague. It matches nothing in the CDC database.”
Natalie exchanged a glance with Owen. “What does that mean?”
“It means, Ms. Dixon, that whatever was created is entirely new.” He paused and gave a shake of his head. “I have no way of knowing what this weapon might do if used.”
That wasn’t good news at all. Owen had hoped they would discover what Ragnarok did. Instead, they were leaving just as they’d come in regards to the weapon.
At least they had something, though—Irina Matveev.
“What about a cure?” Natalie asked Simon.
“I’d have to know what it did first,” he replied.
The news was going from bad to worse. Owen watched Simon run his hand through his hair yet again, a nervous tick. He then asked, “Can you make an antidote?”
“If I had a few years,” Simon answered acerbically. He pointed into his lab behind him. “None of you seem to understand what is sitting in there.”
Owen took a few steps closer to Simon. “We know exactly how potentially dangerous it is. What we need to know is what went into designing such a weapon, and how it might be used.”
“I . . . I don’t have those answers.” Simon shook his head as he dropped his arms to his sides. “I’d have to do extensive tests. As it is, I’ve put this entire campus in jeopardy by analyzing the vial without the proper containment protocols in place.”
“You wore a hazard suit, gloves, and a mask,” Natalie said.
Simon waved away her words. “I don’t know if the liquid is supposed to be administered by ingestion, touch, or through the air. I’d need—”
“To do more tests,” Owen said over him. “We understand.”
Simon moved against the wall and pointed to the vial through the door. “Please, take that and leave.”
Natalie gathered the papers while Owen collected the weapon and tube. He walked from the lab and checked the hall for the men.
“Thank you, Emily,” Natalie said while stuffing the papers in her purse.
Emily smiled and gave her a quick hug. “Stay safe. And let me know if I can help with anything else.”
“You’ve done enough.” Owen looked to Simon. “Both of you. Thank you.”
He handed the container to Natalie, who put it in her purse. Natalie then looked up, giving him a nod that she was ready.
“How do we get out of here?” she asked.
He motioned to the map of the building on the door. “See those exits?”
“Yep. And we’re parked here,” she said, pointing to the parking lot.
“If we encounter the men, and I tell you to run, make your way through the building and around to the truck.”
She flattened her lips. “Wish I’d known this earlier. I could’ve been studying a map of the campus.”
“All you need to know is this building. Look at the map. Remember where the exits are.”
He gave her a few seconds to put it to memory. Then Owen opened the door and peered first one way, then the other. Natalie was right behind him when he exited the lab.
Though he wouldn’t say it aloud, he was ready to kick some Russian ass.