Chapter 18 #2
“Our beer has been exquisite,” Viktor said without a moment’s hesitation.
“And we thank you for your help in getting the main piece of equipment. It’s been so delicious that we go through a batch in a matter of days.
At the moment, we’re sorry to say, we’re out, but we have another batch brewing as we speak.
When you arrived, Alexei, our brewmaster, was out in the barn specifically attending to it. Isn’t that right, Alexei?”
“That’s right,” Alexei said. He glared across the island at Viktor, feeling a pang of irritation at the man especially because he was the one responsible for them not having left Essex Falls on Monday when they planned.
“Too bad,” JD voiced. “I would have liked to try it. Spending more than six thousand dollars on a fermenter blows my mind, but to each his own. Anyway, let’s talk about the truck.
I didn’t know this but Brent Phillips, the guy who owns it, had been giving Ethan serious grief for several days about wanting it back.
Now that I am handling the Diehard affairs, how do you propose we deal with this problem? ”
All eyes went to Viktor, who cleared his throat and said: “Would some cash change Mr. Phillips’s mind about wanting it back? Obviously we need transportation.”
“I imagine so,” JD said with a shrug. “I’m willing to suggest it. How much should I say you are offering?”
“Let’s let him decide, provided it’s reasonable,” Viktor said.
“That should work,” JD said. “Okay, I’ll talk with him and let you know.
” JD then drained his beer and put the empty bottle down on the granite countertop.
“Next issue and the most important: I know you people were aware of how pissed Ethan was getting that only Alexei and Dmitry were showing up for our maneuvers and even for most of our lectures. He wrote in his notes after Sunday night’s operation that he was going to terminate your role with us and kick you immediately out of this mansion.
He even wrote that he’d threatened you, Alexei, saying that he’d get the Essex Falls police involved concerning your IDs if you didn’t do it.
Whether he would have followed through, we’ll never know.
Nonetheless, the more I think about the situation, the more I find myself agreeing with Ethan and his conditions.
We Diehard Patriots haven’t been getting what we signed up for, and considering all the money we’ve been paying, it’s pissing me off, too. ”
For a few moments silence reigned as the five men stared at each other across the expanse of the kitchen island. For several beats no one moved or even breathed. The only sound was the distant melody of summer songbirds drifting in through the open windows.
“Well,” JD broke the silence he’d created.
“It seems to me that there is an easy solution here.” He looked directly at Viktor.
“How about making some changes. Let’s sit down and plan some very specific militia and weapons lectures for this coming weekend as well as another major nighttime operation.
We can include some combat tactics of your choosing.
Commander, you are the authority, and I’d like to announce to my members that you will be involved personally. We all look up to you.”
“Done!” Viktor stated without the slightest hesitation. “But I’ll need some time. What I’ll do is work on it this evening and come up with a number of lecture ideas and a proposal for a special operation.”
A lopsided smile appeared on JD’s face. He shook his head in surprise. “Well, that was easy,” he said.
“In fact I’ll get right on it this afternoon,” Viktor assured him.
“Alexei will be in contact with you about it all tomorrow. However, since it is already Thursday afternoon, planning a major operation for this weekend and expecting it to be successful is too optimistic. After all, there wouldn’t even be enough time to procure the necessary ammunition. ”
“Understood, Commander, thank you!” JD said. He saluted and then got to his feet, as did Alexei and Dmitry. Viktor and Nikolai stayed put.
“One final thing,” JD added, switching his attention to Alexei.
“I hope you’re planning on showing up for basketball again this afternoon.
If you do, there might be enough for full court five-on-five.
I heard from Dr. Bob that the visiting doctor from New York City is bringing one of his friends who’s supposedly quite a player. ”
“Sorry, but please let them know I won’t be able to make it,” Alexei said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do out in the brewery.”
“That work can wait,” Viktor interjected to Alexei’s shock. Viktor then added: “He’ll be there.”
“Perfect,” JD said. “Okay, see you later, Alexei!” With a wave to the others, he turned around and headed out of the kitchen on his way to the back door.
For a few beats the four Russians stared at one another. No one spoke or moved. They all knew that JD had suddenly changed from a useful simpleton to a potential threat. The rear door was heard opening and then slamming shut. Viktor broke the silence. “We need to talk,” he said.
Alexei and Dmitry dutifully regained their seats, and the moment Alexei was situated he said: “Why the hell did you tell JD I’d come to basketball today?
” he questioned. Although he knew he was overstepping his bounds by speaking up in such a fashion, he couldn’t help himself.
There was too much irony involved. The one time since they arrived that he didn’t want to participate, Viktor was directing him to do so.
“I was thinking I shouldn’t play today,” he continued.
“Yesterday afternoon I was forced to approach the forensic pathologist and start a conversation, which was very uncharacteristic behavior for me. The reason I gambled doing it was because it was the only way to possibly find out why he was here in Essex Falls. Tonight, he’ll undoubtedly expect to pick up where we left off.
He actually specifically said as much, and there’s not going to be any way for me to avoid it.
Heaven knows what he might ask. I sense that he is a hell of a lot smarter than these local imbeciles, and I worry that he’s even been to Amsterdam, which will put me in a difficult position, to say the very least.”
“I trust you will be able to handle it,” Viktor said with a wave of indifference.
“At the moment, the pathologist is not our problem. JD is our problem. He made reference to our IDs and the police but didn’t elaborate.
I need you to find out from him as discreetly as possible what he knows of our origins from Ethan’s papers. ”
“Why didn’t you ask him when he brought it up a few minutes ago?” Alexei questioned irritably.
“Simply because it would have given the issue too much emphasis. At that moment he was obviously vexed and uptight, which had to be handled with delicacy and which I believe I did. As you plainly saw, he immediately calmed. But we have to be certain where his mindset is. Ethan I trusted, or we wouldn’t be here.
I spent almost two months communicating with him daily before offering to come to Essex Falls.
JD is a total unknown, particularly this new JD who seems to have found a new persona in his new role.
What worries me is that we might have to rely on Novichok once again if he knows too much, because I’m absolutely committed to one more theta prion release.
Theta prion deserves a bigger calling card than a mere dozen cases.
Personally, I’d like to see double that, which brings me to the status of the fermenter.
How is this current batch of yeast doing? ”
“I was just about to add the colorimetric dye to estimate the theta concentration, if there is any, when Dmitry burst into the barn and dragged me up here,” Alexei said with frustration.
It seemed totally unfair to him that he was the one who most wanted to have already left Essex Falls, and yet here he was the one who had to do the most work to keep them there.
“Well, get your butt back down there and do it,” Viktor commanded. “As soon as we do this final release, we can get the hell out of here.”