Cloud Invasion (22 page)

He was cleaning out his desk to make room for whomever took his place. His assistant almost screamed when Ilya and I appeared inside the office and blew the door shut with power. Evidence of the creature's temporary occupation of the space was everywhere-the new Director would be forced to redecorate.

"Don't scream again," Ilya cautioned Merle's assistant, holding up a hand. "You won't like my reaction if you do."

"Are you threatening us?" Merle snapped.

"Seriously? I wouldn't bother to threaten you-I'd just make you dead, Merle," I deadpanned.

He backed up against the window, hoping, I'm sure, that the cavalry would gallop in to rescue his sorry ass.

"I came to make an offer," I said. "Come clean about your real boss, and I'll cure your cancer."

"My real boss was the President," he began.

"Which one?" I asked sweetly.

"What?" he sputtered.

"You know what I'm talking about, so stop pretending. Tell me what he looks like now and I'll fix your lungs. No worries."

I saw the fear come over him, then. He wanted to live, but the horror of what his boss might do to him was greater. Fortunately, I was able to read that in him-there was no fog on his brain. At least not yet. He knew Hal Prentice was posing as the former President. He knew the real former President was behind Hal Prentice's masquerade. He didn't know much past that, but a confession would call out the enemy, at least. Askins wasn't willing to cooperate because he was terrified.

"Fine," I tossed up a hand. "Just remember that I offered." Ilya and I disappeared.

* * *

We heard from Auggie and Matt Michaels later the same day. Hours earlier, a technician in Matt's employ had found a tiny chip in one of the rockets I'd deactivated in Colombia.

It had a code on it.

I had to pick both of them up at Auggie's office, but that wasn't a problem. "We think we've found where these things are manufactured, or at least some of their components," Auggie said as Ilya set glasses of iced tea in front of him and Matt. "We traced the chip back to a factory in Russia, but that's not where they're making the rockets. We had to do some careful maneuvering, but the chips were delivered to a building on the Russian-Ukrainian border. We believe they're transporting the chips underground to manufacture the rockets elsewhere."

"Where is that?" I asked.

"Here," Auggie pulled up a map on his tablet. I stared in dismay at a map of Chernobyl.

Ilya cursed in Ukrainian over my shoulder. "They're doing it there, because people are kept away from the area," Matt explained. "For obvious reasons."

"My son was questioning activity there when he was killed," Ilya snapped, the accent heavy in his voice. "By Baikov."

"And they likely laid low for a while afterward," Auggie nodded.

"I do not want my cabbage anywhere near that place," Ilya exploded.

"I wasn't suggesting that," Auggie said. "Calm down, I think we may be able to get someone else in there. Photographs are all we need."

"Let me guess-you have someone watching satellite feeds, now?" I asked.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Matt turned to me.

"Who is it?"

"Don't worry, this isn't the same one who watched the South American feeds-we're keeping an eye on him already."

"Good. Have fun getting your photographs," I said. "I really don't want to go to Chernobyl."

"You think they're using the underground site near Chernobyl-2, don't you?" Ilya breathed.

"Yes. Know anything about the Russian Woodpecker?" Matt's left eyebrow lifted.

"Hmmph. I laugh at American conspiracy theories."

I looked from Ilya to Matt and then back again. What I understood from all that I wouldn't want to say. Not in public, anyway.

"There was a tunnel from that facility into Russia," Ilya confirmed. "It was reported to be blocked when Ukraine became independent."

"Ukraine doesn't realize it's being used again," Matt said.

"Corinne?" Auggie gave me a pointed look.

"Hey, don't look at me," I raised both hands in surrender.

"Who are you sending in there?" Ilya asked. "I warn you, if they are caught, it will not go well."

"I'm sending Opal," Matt said.

* * *

"Are you sure?" I asked Opal for the third time.

"I can get in and out," she said. "No problem."

"Can you speak Russian?" Ilya asked.

"I can say
nyet
," she laughed.

"Look, I'll know if you're in trouble," I said.

"Cori, stop worrying about me," she leaned forward and hugged me. "You have enough on your plate. Let me do my thing."

"All right."

"I still do not like this," Ilya crossed arms tightly over his chest.

"You could come, too," Opal pointed out. "And bring Corinne, because she can haul your stubborn ass out of there when it needs to go."

"Honey, let's go," I said, allowing my shoulders to droop. "I don't want anybody in more danger than they're already in."

"In and out," Ilya commanded. "When I say leave, we leave, you understand?" My face was in his hands as his eyes locked on mine.

"Okay," I squeaked.

"Good. Come, I will make sure you dress appropriately."

* * *

Appropriate dress was all black with black athletic shoes. Apparently, Ilya conveniently failed to remember that we hadn't been seen when we visited the facility outside Seattle.

Opal was dressed in black, just like we were, when we met in the kitchen again. "Don't be detected," Matt warned. "Any sign of it, you get the hell out."

"Sure thing. I'd salute, but that just seems silly," I said.

That's when I saw the dimple in Matt's cheek for the first time. "Come on, you know you want to laugh," I said.

He choked trying not to laugh.

"Now you know what I've had to deal with for years," Auggie told Matt.

"You poor thing. I'll buy you ice cream when I get back," I teased.

Matt burst out laughing.

"Cori," Auggie warned.

"Yeah."

* * *

I saw the actual Russian Woodpecker when we arrived where Ilya directed. It was a huge metal frame, stretching far into the night and towering above the trees that grew around the base.

Fact and fiction of conspiracy theories aside, it was used during the cold war to detect any missiles lobbed in Russia's direction. The metal frame of it stood as a testament to the nuclear standoff. I realized that base-jumping tourists now leapt (foolishly) off the thing at times, but that was their reason for being there, not mine.

Want inside the underground facility or in the tunnel leading into it
? I sent to Ilya and Opal.

Tunnel
, Ilya responded.

Tunnel
it is
, I replied and moved us there.

You sure we can't be seen?
Opal's mindspeech made me want to laugh.
I know you knew
, she said.
Thanks for keeping my secrets
.

I told you I would
, I said.
Come on, we'll be moving in a bubble-you won't need to walk. I don't want to put pressure on anything
.

Only a small part of the underground facility was actually in use, and that turned out to be the part closest to the tunnel. The rest was blocked off, with a thick wall between it and what was accessible aboveground. Ukraine was harboring the enemy without anyone being aware.

Passing computer stations and technicians dressed in plain black uniforms with no insignia, we eventually reached the manufacturing room.

Idly, I read a notice written in Russian hanging on the wall, concerning the safe handling of all components.

Piled at the end of a long assembly line was a rack of tiny rockets. The rack stood six feet high and twenty feet long, and was nearly full of the small explosives. Ilya snapped photographs inside the silence and invisibility of our bubble, while Opal and I watched the placement of three more rockets on the rack.

Calculating mentally, I realized there were enough rockets there to destroy thousands of targets. I shivered.

Out now, cabbage
, Ilya said.

I got us the hell out of there.

* * *

"There's a reason they're doing it there," Opal said when Matt asked after studying the photographs. "It takes the blame from Russian shoulders and places it on Ukraine instead, in case anybody finds out."

"This is impossible," Auggie rumbled, looking from one photograph to another.

"You see this," Ilya tapped one of the photographs.

"What is it?" Auggie asked.

"This measures the radiation levels there. See-the indicator shows it is safe enough, although the level is still somewhat high."

"So they're monitoring the radiation from Chernobyl, still," Matt said. "Probably a wise decision. That gauge is huge, though. We've got tiny ones that probably work better."

"Seventies technology," Ilya explained. "They tapped into what was already there, as long as it was still working."

"I swear I saw a floppy disk being used in the computer room," Opal said.

Auggie huffed a humorless laugh. "Leftovers from the nuclear standoff. Most of the technology from that time period is still in use for the nuclear weapons program."

"Yours and theirs," Ilya confirmed.

"Watch out, your spyness is showing," I said.

"Internet," Ilya said. "See for yourself."

"Well, now we have to figure out how to tie this to the right people," Auggie said, rising and stretching. "Need to check in with the President first, though. What can we do about all those rockets in the meantime?"

He'd pointed his question at Matt.

I answered. "Already taken care of," I said. "They'll look live when they're sent out. They'll go dead before they reach their target."

"Like the ones fired at us in Colombia?" Opal's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Yeah."

Chapter 15

Corinne

"Watch out, your coolness is showing," Opal grinned at me.

"Nah-the cool part will be figuring out how to move that mess from Ukraine back to Russia and send the blame where it belongs."

"I worry that this is only a temporary fix-we're still no closer to finding the mastermind in all this," Matt observed.

"You are correct," Ilya agreed.

"I'm concerned about the ultimate purpose of it," Auggie said.

"Me, too," I rubbed Auggie's back.

"We should probably get back," Matt said. "Before somebody comes looking for us."

"Okay," I said.

"You may consider bringing James and Shaw for a short visit," Auggie said. "I think they're feeling left out."

"I can do that," I shrugged. "When?"

"Tomorrow? They'll need time to pack."

"All right. I'll be there tomorrow at noon. They can have lunch here."

"Corinne," Auggie began, "I don't want you to do anything foolish, or anything without letting me know, first. I have a report that you showed up in Askins' office and made threats."

"I offered to cure his cancer if he gave up his boss," I said. "I never heard of that being a threat before."

"You can do that?" Auggie frowned.

"Richard could do that," I flung out a hand. "If Askins wants to die with that much blood on his hands, then so be it. I made the offer. It still stands. He hands over his boss and everybody's happy. He gets to live longer, too."

"Corinne, the public is already wondering-and rightly so-how a huge creature was lodged so tightly into Askins' office that it took a butcher job to get it out of there."

"I hope they're wondering why Askins was making creatures to begin with," I huffed.

"Look, I didn't intend to start a fight," Auggie held up a hand. "I just don't want information leaked on what you can do. It can be twisted to work against us."

"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "People have died in plane crashes recently, Auggie. Maybe it's time to let the enemy know what he's really up against."

"Corinne," Rafe hissed, gripping my arm. "You will stop this immediately. We do not need disagreement among us now."

"Fine. Tell Leo and James I'll be there tomorrow," I said and stalked away.

"Corinne," Auggie barked. "You have to take us back. Now."

I did, but I wasn't happy about it.

At all
.

* * *

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"I think she's tired of everybody second-guessing every move she makes," Matt said the moment Corinne disappeared and we found ourselves inside my office. "Look at it this way-Askins likely knows now that she can find him. He's seen enough to know she can kill him without thinking very hard about it. If he's closely connected to the enemy, well, it may draw his attention away from shooting down airplanes."

"If she finds the enemy, he knows she can kill him, too," I sighed. "He's hiding from her-you can bet on it."

"We spoiled his plans in the Middle East-or Corinne did. I have satellite images of dead creatures being unloaded from the plane Askins sent. Except for the one that landed in Askins' office, they sent the worst of the lot."

"I'm sure they wanted to tie those things to us-or to me directly, and that would have brought on a war with every country in the region." The thought had just hit me-likely Corinne had seen it long before I had. She'd neutralized the problem before it became a problem.

"She was protecting you just as much as she was protecting the country," Matt blew out a breath. "I guess we ought to find a way not to fight with her. In the meantime, I think I can put some of my agents around the entrance to that tunnel, to watch for the next load of rockets going out of there. Once we have those images, we can call the Russians to account."

"Good. Let's hope we can take care of that part and keep Corinne out of it."

"I'll keep you posted," Matt nodded and walked out of my office.

* * *

Corinne

I was still fuming when I picked up James and Leo the following day. Not just at Auggie, but at Ilya, too, who'd used the Rafe persona to castigate me in front of everybody.

"Hello, Corinne," Auggie said the moment I arrived in his office. I didn't speak to him. Instead, I hauled James and Leo out of there quickly, without asking if they were ready.

Yeah, I was pissed and rude at the same time.

"Want to talk about this?" Leo asked the moment we landed in the huge beach house.

"Honey, I'm so mad right now, I don't want to talk to anybody," I said, patting his shoulder instead of apologizing. "I'll get over it," I said. "Make yourselves at home." I disappeared again, defying anyone to send mindspeech to determine where I'd gone.

* * *

I hadn't been to a bookstore in more than a year. Settling at a café table inside the Corpus Christi chain store, I sipped a latte and looked around at the shelves of books. My books used to be on those shelves. Some of them still might be-the mass-market versions, anyway.

Gone were the days of hard-cover releases and book signings. Nowadays, I released my work mostly in e-book format, with quality paper sales a faint afterthought. I hadn't written anything in weeks, too, because of the mess and intrigue surrounding a former U.S. President and his flunkies.

I'd lost myself, somewhere amid the list of crises that threatened all of us. After receiving the drug a second time, there'd been no period of adjustment for me, like there'd been the first time.

I'd been forced to hit the ground running, while those around me continued to question every move and decision I made.

Yes, I realized every relationship had its bumps and potholes, including relationships with friends. Auggie and I had our share of those. When he thought I was useless, he'd tolerated me. Chastised me at times, when his non-military charge chose to do things differently.

Brushing tears away, I lifted my latte and transported myself to the beach house.

* * *

Ilya

She reappeared, took a seat at one of the round, wood tables on the deck and drank coffee from a bookstore coffee shop. There was a flowerbed at the front of the house. I went there first before approaching Corinne.

* * *

Corinne

A pink hibiscus bloom was set carefully in front of me as I wiped more tears away. My coffee cup was dry-I'd finished my drink. Ilya took the chair across from mine, settling on the wooden seat, which creaked slightly beneath his weight.

Dark eyes searched my face-I figured I looked horrible after crying for half an hour.

"I love you," he said. "I beg you to never forget that, even when I am being an ass."

"I know," I quavered, covering my mouth with a hand to hide the trembling of my lower lip. Fresh tears fell, so I turned my head away.

"Here, now." He rose and came to me; I watched as he knelt beside my chair and wiped more tears from my cheeks with his thumb. "It hurts my heart to see my cabbage cry."

That's when my arms went around his neck and I sobbed.

* * *

Ilya

Dr. Shaw followed me as I carried Corinne toward the stairs. She still wept against my shoulder.

"No drugs," I said. Shaw silently nodded his understanding.

* * *

Corinne

"Hush, my heart," Ilya murmured against my hair as I was placed on the bed. "There is no need for this."

"Corinne, Colonel Hunter regrets his words," Leo Shaw sat on the chair beside the bed. "I know they upset you anyway."

He was right-words can never be taken back, and harsh words are remembered the longest.

"Here," Ilya sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me up so I could lean into him. His arms wound around me, holding me tight against him. "You're shaking, my love," he whispered. "Are you cold?"

"No," I shook my head.

"Panic attack," Leo murmured.

He was right-I hadn't been able to stop this one. The hurt and the panic had bubbled up and I hadn't been able to force them down.

"Breathe with me," Ilya coaxed. "Long breaths. In-and out."

"Let me know if you need anything," Leo said softly and left our bedroom.

* * *

Notes-Colonel Hunter

"I'm not sure how to reduce her stress," Leo Shaw said over the phone. I was more than grateful for the cell phones Corinne had given all of us-even Matt had attempted to trace them and was unsuccessful.

This conversation needed to be kept private; Corinne had experienced a meltdown. I was responsible and said as much. "You're not totally responsible," Shaw informed me. "I think you were the tipping point. Too many factors weighed into this, I believe, and while she has been able to manage this on her own up to a point, it eventually overloaded her."

"I still feel responsible," I said.

"Stop worrying about it-this will pass. You've had some disagreements in the past, this is no different. Besides, she didn't grieve as she should have for her son. As I said; too many factors."

"We have to find this bastard before he finds her," I hissed.

"I agree. The death toll is staggering as it is."

"At least we know he has a big connection to Russia-that has been proven time and again. I have no idea how many Baikov clones there are, but rest assured he's controlling them, and likely the Soviet President through them."

"It's possible your theory is correct-that he wants to destroy the peace between countries and then appear the hero by taking back the White House and forging peace again."

"This is a fucking sick way to do it," I said.

"It wouldn't be the first time a leader has murdered to further his personal goals."

"History is full of that," I agreed. "I worry that we'll never get past it."

"I hope we survive it-both on a personal and global level."

"Is it professional to call him a fucked up, sick bastard?"

"If there isn't a code for that in the diagnosis manual, there should be," Leo affirmed with a chuckle.

* * *

Corinne

I woke next to Ilya late the following morning. He was sitting in bed, scrolling through the cell phone I'd given him.

"Research?" I croaked. My throat fell raw from weeping and then falling asleep, so I held out a hand and
Pulled
in a bottle of water.

"A talent I wish we all had," Ilya said, setting the phone aside and taking the bottle to remove the cap.

"The cool thing is I can recycle the bottle using power," I said after drinking nearly half the contents.

"You can?" He offered a gentle smile.

"Why do you think you haven't had to empty the trash in a while?"

"You've recycled all of it?" Now he sounded surprised.

"Yeah. We each give back in our own way," I teased.

"Feeling better, then?"

"Yeah. I was tired and stressed."

"I understand. Cabbage?"

"What, honey?"

"I want to buy your ring. There are jewelry stores in Corpus Christi. I desire to take you to one."

"Which one?"

"This one." He lifted the phone and showed me the online advertisement.

"That's in a mall," I said, before realizing he already knew that.

"This is the one I want," he insisted.

"Okay. Let me get dressed."

* * *

I shouldn't have been surprised that we weren't able to leave the house without taking everybody with us.

I also wasn't surprised that James and Nathan had spent the night together. I'd understood they could be a good match-fortunately, they'd seen it, too.

I landed us in a dim hallway away from any security cameras or eyes that might see, and we walked into the mall from there. "Meet in that hallway in two hours," Leo commanded. He was the ranking officer, after all.

Ilya steered me toward the jewelry store, first thing, while the others fanned out to shop or look around. Opal and Nick headed for a popular Chinese restaurant near the center of the mall. James and Nathan walked toward the trendy electronics store, while Richard and Maye had no particular direction and strolled away, holding hands.

"They should be shopping for rings, too," Ilya breathed against my ear as he steered me on a steady course toward the jewelry store.

"Up to them," I replied and worked to match his long-legged stride.

There's a reason the jewelry stores place their engagement rings and wedding bands in an easy-to-discover spot. Ilya zoned in on them as if he had radar.

"Tell me what you like, cabbage," he said as we leaned over the long, glass case and peered at all sorts of diamonds.

I sighed when one of them caught my eye. "I'd like to see that one," Rafe pointed to the one I couldn't look past.