Chapter 5
Maggie
“It’s organic matter,” Nancy said with her readers on.
I nodded my agreement.
“But what is this?” I pointed to an element I’d never seen before.
She shook her head and backed away as Irene snatched the black framed readers from her daughter but still squinted at the phone screen.
“I’ve been a pharmacist for fifty years and I’ve never seen it before. But, my knowledge of elements is very subject to medicinal.” She tipped her chin up to me with the glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. “You’re a chemist.” She stated.
“My expertise is cosmetic,” I explained. “And, college freshman chemistry, simple standard teachings.”
Tommy coughed and took a big gulp of water. Irene and Nancy peered at him then back to me.
This was a pivotal moment in my relationship with James’s future family. Tommy knew I had extensive knowledge of elemental properties in regards to explosives and poisons from my past career. But even I had to admit defeat in what this missing element was.
I blew-off my ex-husband’s reaction with a shrug and restarted the conversation.
“Here’s what I recognize; phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, limestone.”
The elements were eerily similar to my current unfinished and infuriating research for biodegradable sunscreen, causing me sleepless nights.
“It appears to be the elements in soil from what you would find on any volcanic island.” James added. “The only thing different is that last one.”
“I have software in my lab that could run the proximations of what it is. But I can’t access it without…”
“Internet,” The whole group sighed.
“What bothers me more—” Alex said from across the patio. “Is how, after months of no cell service, we all get the same text.”
Agreement washed though the group.
“Katia,” Ritchie said.
My former computer expert and the most gifted hacker I’d ever worked with was back in California with her husband and kids. Retired from her arguably illegal responsibilities that I’d once placed upon her, now worked for the FBI in their counter-hacking unit as an agent.
I glanced down at my watch. “It is seven in the morning there.” I said to Tommy. “She could get into my system.”
The Tinian’s all glanced at each other in confusion except for Eleni. Alex’s scowl was directly on me.
“You can call her from the land line,” Richie added.
“Maybe she could find out what’s happening with the cell service and internet too,” Tommy said.
Eleni stepped forward and placed a hand on her confused grandmother’s arm. “Yiayia, I think you’d better sit down. You too,” She nodded to Gianna, Nancy and Alex. “James and I have some things to explain.”
Tommy and I left Ritchie and James to help inform the family what was about to transpire when we called Katia aka Kelly Tennent aka “Cheeks” about this mystery.
“You see, Maggie aka “Lips” —-” Richie started to say when Tommy followed me into the house.
“She’s not going to answer,” Tommy said pacing.
“Lips?” Katia said in Russian on the second ring. “You’re in Greece?”
I grinned and shook my head, knowing my Katia would be on even so early. Tommy stopped and his eyebrows rose.
“Yes, it’s me. I’m here with “Nose”,” I said in my best Odette Bulov accented English.
“English it is,” she said and I heard her tapping on a few keys. “Hey, did you know the internet is out all over that island? It looks like a black hole on the map.”
“Do you know why?” Tommy took the cream-colored receiver from me.
“Hang on,” She instructed and more keys tapped as Tommy and I had our heads pressed together to listen into the earpiece. “Ever Heard of ‘Olympia Mining Corporation’?”
“No,” we both said together.
“Hmm, me neither. But, okay. Done,” She said, “Anything else?” she asked as a series of beeps came from our cell’s and more from outside to jubilant cheers.
Tommy and I grinned at each other. She’s still the best.
“Yes, oh brilliant one,” I added.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Katia giggled. “Call me Obi Wan Kenobi,”
“No, I will not,” I said flatly. “Can you get me into the Chemistry Department server at the Loyola Marymount?”
“Uh, not legally,” she said. “It would be against my oath as a United States Government employee to—-”
Clacking sounds and mumbling.
“Class four platinum firewall, data sliding—-two, four, eight—-” Katia whispered to herself. “Let me—”
The line went dead.
A text came through immediately from an unknown number.
The sever has several firewalls, it may take me a few days to get through.
I nodded and showed it to Tommy.
“We are going back on the late ferry tomorrow. How about you?” he said as we paused for a moment reliving our old lives when we were a team. He didn’t need to say we missed working together, that we missed Ivan.
I swallowed a big lump of nostalgia and loneliness.
“Me too,” I said. “The six-thirty to Piraeus.”
He took my hand and led me back outside to the table of riveted Greeks listening to Richie tell our secrets.
Irene stood slowly, her hands shaking from the disease but her eyes strong and focused.
“You would have shut me down once upon a time,” she said.
James had given me the dossier on Irene Koumaros-Ritter of Chicago, IL. I knew all about her radical days, her arrests for civil disobedience and her multiple organizational affiliations. She was a leader, like me, in a past life.
The truth was, I worked for whatever government paid me the most. I had no loyalties.
“No,” I disputed her. “I liked your style. It would have been against everything I believe in to shut you down, or profitable.”
“Yeah,” she eyed me suspiciously. “You say that now. But back then…”
I chuckled. “I was a kid in the ‘70’s. I was into the Muppets, not a revolution.”
“Still, I’m going to watch you very carefully,” She pat me on the arm and limped by. “Kalinighta,” she called and waved her hand as she walked away.
Wow, I really liked and respected her and I didn’t like or respect very many people. Irene was one in a million.
I had the feeling many people felt that way about her, it was almost like she was the opposite of the wind. She was drawing me in to her cadre instead of blowing me away, and I kind of wanted that.
Alex rushed past me with a stern expression and caught up with her taking her hand, she pulled it away and grumbled to him in Greek.