Christen
Monday, Safe House, Singapore
There was a knock at the door and another man showed up in the room.
“Special Agent Steve Finley – FBI Terror. Lynx asked me to stop by.”
“Perfect timing,” Lynx said.
Christen saw Johnna shifting in her seat. She wondered if Johnna thought the FBI might be treading on her territory.”
Lynx turned to the camera. “Steve is a Zoric expert.” She looked back at Steve.
“We already made Zoric connections to the Paraguay kidnapping. And now it looks like Momo Bourhan was a Zoric tool for the other two attacks. All that happened under a black Islamic extremist flag, but currently it’s looking more like a political play. A lot of time, money, and manpower is being invested. This must be something big,” Steve said.
“Agreed,” Lynx said. “Ever since your sister Meg was talking about helium, I’ve been playing with that idea. The market is worth billions, and it is held in few hands. If there were a crisis that ‘B’ in billions could quickly become a ‘T’ in trillions.” She turned to face the FBI guy. “One of my questions is about the Paraguayan kidnapping. The two young boys were taken to press the grandfather to make sure a vote moved through his subcommittee. Can you tell us what the vote was about?”
Steve Finley hesitated.
“Let me tell you what I think it was,” If it was classified, Lynx could probably get a yes or no out of Steve before she could get all of the information, Christen absolutely was understanding now the power and high esteem that this woman enjoyed from those around her. “Last month, at the time of the children’s kidnapping, we were focused on upcoming legislation that was supposed to go through the senate arms committee, thinking that was the impetus. However, he’s also a high-ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. When I looked at the tasks they had taken up, there was legislation that concerned fracking and natural gas. The industry wanted to expand its operations. And this didn’t pass out of the subcommittee to a vote by the Senate. Natural gas operations are also helium operations. Is that the vote, the push, the influence that the kidnappers wanted exercised? Because that legislation had received a ton of public backlash and looked like it was dead in the water.”
“Yes,” Finley said. “That’s it.”
“And at the same time the Bowmans were dragged off their yacht in the Red Sea,” Lynx said.
“Well isn’t this interesting?” Johnna scooted to the edge of the sofa.
“Please,” Christen stared into the little lens on top of the TV that she assumed was sending their images back to the meeting room. “My father is ill? What do you know about that?”
Johnna turned to her and put her hand on Christen’s shoulder. “Your dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor, they did a biopsy. The doctors’ first thought was that it looked like it might be a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive form of brain cancer. There are a few things they could try, but if he were kidnapped and didn’t get the interventions, it would be a death sentence. Besides the baby-making with London, getting the lab reports back was one of the reasons your dad stayed in Singapore.”
“Benign,” Nutsbe said. “Lula sent that information yesterday morning. He needs an operation to remove the pressure and stop his headaches but other than that he’s good.” The computer dinged. “‘Karl and Gregor have left the building. Check video,” he read.
“Check video for what?” Johnna asked. “Is Blaze following them?”
“No, ma’am,” Striker said. “He has a concussion and has been ordered to stand down.” He turned to Nutsbe. “Can you put the video up on the screen?”
“Satellite’s still intermittent. I’ll let you know when it comes through.”
“D-day,” Lynx said. “Christen,” she said gently. “What a terrible experience you’ve been through. And here, we’re handing you a lot of very upsetting information. You’ll need to let us know if you need a break.”
“Where’s my dad?”
“He’s on Davidson Realm. He went with Lula and his security team on the helicopter. The weather didn’t show up as a concern until after they left, and they arrived before there were any issues. The helicopter came back and took London north of the city to see a friend. She’s expected back by this evening,” Lynx said.
“Without outside comms they may not know how bad the weather got on the north end of Sumatra. They are probably just now expecting the yacht to pull into the harbor,” Gator said.
“And now I have a question for you, D-day. Why is it best for Karl if you died before your dad?”
Christen blinked.
“I’m imagining it has something to do with wills. If he died before you did, you would receive your inheritance. Then if you died it would go to whomever you indicated in your will.”
“In my will I leave everything to the Fisher House – my trust fund and what have you.”
“If your dad died first you would have inherited from him,” Lynx nodded, trying to direct her down a thought path.
Christen thought it through. “Well, there are four of us kids, and we’d divide things up equally. That would be one less. Unless, London was successful in getting knocked up but then that would be par for the…”
“There,” Lynx said, “That thought. What was it.”
“I’m in charge of the twins shares until they turn thirty. That’s eleven years away. I have seventy-five percent of the vote.”
“Why would your dad do that?”
“I think he thought I’d be more conservative and hold Karl back until the twins were wise enough to help make decisions. I never gave it much thought. I never thought he’d die before everyone was the right age and then, like I said, I’d arrange for someone else to manage my shares and give the money to Fisher House as they take care of wounded veteran’s families. I have zero interest in the business or the money.”
“With you out of the picture, your father would have to change his will or your older brother would have a hundred percent control?”
“Exactly.”
“Here we go,” Nutsbe said. He touched a key and the lights went out.
The two men, Karl and Gregor, stood in the hallway. Blaze was watching from behind the crack of a door.
“I need to call my father and let him know all the guests and security is fine, but that Christen went overboard.”
“He’ll ask if there is a search,” Gregor said, this time they were speaking in English.
“It was a typhoon. He won’t be so idiotic. I didn’t make it out with a phone. May I use yours?”
Gregor pulled it from his pocket and handed it over. “You won’t be able to get through. Your father was worried about the Fivey allies intercepting what was happening on his island this weekend, so his security team put up scramblers. No signal could go in or out. It won’t stop satellite images from being taken. They could see us if we were on the grounds, but that won’t give them anything interesting. Have you checked in on the others?”
“The security force is fine except the new guys. Gator went overboard trying to save Christen. Blaze got conked over the head and has a concussion.”
“By debris?”
“Impossible to tell,” Karl smiled widely and gave every indication that it had been done on purpose.
“Mark that,” Lynx said.
“Roger.” Nutsbe tapped the keyboard.
“The other guests are being looked at by the doctors – we all got pretty banged up. Dehydration and nerves. Taro had to be sedated. We’ll have to try this again when everyone is steady.” Karl handed the phone back to Gregor. “You’re right, nothing went through. I’m going to take security with me and head out to the island.”
“How?”
“Boat. London has the helicopter. I talked with the airport.”
They leaned in and spoke inaudibly, then the two men shook hands.
“Hey,” Lynx called out. “It looked like Gregor was palming something. Can you get in on the handshake? His lips were moving, I didn’t hear that last part, but given Karl ’s reaction, it was important.” Christen saw nothing like what Lynx described. Not a reaction, not something being passed between the two…
Nutsbe’s fingers moved over the keyboard. “Here we go – you caught it, Lynx. He’s palming a white screw top bottle that looks like it might be eye drops. Christen saw it now too as Lynx pointed at the screen to help them all focus on the right spot. The computer is working to isolate that conversation and scrub the ambient noise. Two seconds, please.”
Nutsbe put the video back at the beginning again. He tapped the arrow to make it play and they heard Gregor say, “You have yourself in a difficult spot my friend. With your sister dead, your father will write a new will. We do not know what that will could say, to whom your father will pass power. I believe that you are the one rightful heir. You have been his right hand all these many years. You know the business. You have the contacts that have made all of this work. If it weren’t for you, the whole global helium crisis would not exist. It has taken you years of plotting. Years of developing. Years of perseverance. You deserve to steer the ship as you take your place at the global table of prestige.”
“Thank you. I can’t say I don’t disagree.” Karl frowned. “I’m afraid I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.” He reached out to shake Gregor’s hand. Surprise and curiosity filled Karl ’s gaze. He jerked his head back and to the left. Their hands held as Gregor leaned in.
Nope. No one could understand what was whispered. Nutsbe rewound to that point fussed with his controls and let it play again.
“This in his cocktail and by morning you will find your father succumbed to a heart attack while he slept. An autopsy, if one is required, will show only natural cause.”
Karl smiled slyly, sliding his hand into his pocket. “Thank you.”
“What is that? What was that?” Christen was on her feet.
“The Zorics are known to use poisons to kill their enemies. It works best on those who are already in delicate health,” Lynx said. “They’ve discovered one, that is now classified information, that would do this.”
Christen took two steps toward the image of Lynx on the screen. “A Russian poison like plutonium 210 that killed that FSB guy?”
“More like the sea wasp box jellyfish Taro was talking about.” Lynx said.
“If this tape was made a while ago. It just uploaded to the satellite. Karl is heading there now. I’ve got to get to him. I’ve got to protect my dad.” She was heading out the door when Johnna grabbed her.
“Don’t be rash.” Johnna grabbed her arm. “You don’t go without a plan. And proper clothing. Christen you’re not even dressed. How are you going to convince someone to take you to the island looking like that? You need to stop and be tactical.”
Christen turned and glared around the room. “Alright. Let’s make a plan. But it spools up now.”