Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) (12 page)

“That’s what Levins is working on now. He’s trying to figure out what’s been added to his delivery system and how it’s choosing people.”

I read through my notes, my hands trembling. Levins was right, this was too big. I couldn’t hope to understand something like this, even being so close and seeing it first hand, didn’t shed any light.

“What about the people who were infected?”

Teresa looked at me and grimaced. “It wasn’t pleasant. From the initial reports, they seem to be suffering from extreme necrosis.”

I shook my head again.

“A mass cellular breakdown.”

“Break down? As in, the insides of their bodies broke down?” I felt the blood drain from my face.

She nodded. “Kind of imploded, in a way.”

A shudder of sickness washed over me. “What can be done?”

“Well, that’s what he’s working on. Whoever’s doing this has a very good understanding of genetics. That’s why the police have brought in Levins. It’s not just about his delivery system. It’s not just about whatever the toxin is. It’s about the combination of the two. He’s one of the few people who have a chance at understanding this and putting a stop to this weapon.”

It felt like hours later when I returned to the house. Each hobble on my crutches seemed to take me half a step back. The scene of white sheets waited for me every time I let my mind wander. How many people had perished right next to me? How many people suffered and died while I took up precious attention from a pathetic leg wound? I shook the sight of death from my mind, gritted my teeth and forced my leg to propel me forward. I was going to solve this. I was not going to sit helpless while more people died around me.

I spent the afternoon sifting through page after page of police reports. As the reports went on, there seemed to be less and less information. Whatever the police knew, they weren’t putting it in their files anymore.

With a resigned sigh, I put together the information we had gathered so far. The meeting with Llamp was in the morning and I was determined to show that even with my set back, we were on the ball. Owen had collected a massive amount of reports from the police, fire and numerous hospitals. Jay and Ash had scrutinised video footage from each scene, highlighting possible bomb locations, sizes and intended damage. They were yet to see a common face at each scene.

It was dark outside when Owen lounged on my bed,
overseeing my progress
, as he put it. I had spent the past hour printing out a summary of our findings.

“You sure we have enough to report?” He asked, for the fourth time. He was laid upside-down on my bed, his feet propped up on the wall. My blanket had somehow ended up in a heap on the floor.

“I’ve contacted the others and asked them to get any extra information to me tonight. We can’t miss this deadline.”

“No, we can’t,” he said, and looked at me pointedly.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him in my chair. “Go on. You’ve found something out, what is it?” His face told me it wasn’t good.

“Not so much found out. More, I’ve been piecing things together.” He closed his eyes while he spoke; shifting so he laid straight on my bed. “When you told me what you and Ash were talking about…”

I knew when he meant. After Ash and I had had the conversation about people who fail, we were wondering what happened to them.

“Yeah, we think they get sent to some secret prison.”

“No, they’re sent home. They continue with their lives as before.”

“Then why are you talking like you’re about to hit me with something big and nasty?”

He let out a short laugh. “Because, they don’t seem to last very long.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s always natural causes, usually by either stroke or heart attack. But, one by one, they’re all gone.”

“Are you serious? You really think we get killed off if we don’t pass this place?” I laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “They can’t go around killing us, it’s part of the government.”

“Exactly. Just by training here, we know a top secret element of the government. If we fail, do you really think they’ll let us just return like nothing happened?” He leaned up on his elbows. “Roz, we can’t take the risk. I hope I’m wrong, but if I’m not, we could all end up dead if we don’t get through this.”

I watched as the printer spewed out sheet after sheet of text; information vital to discovering the truth, and pulling us through.

“Then we won’t fail. I’ll go back to…”

I jumped up as my bedroom door slammed open. I instantly regretted it as a spike of pain shot through my injured thigh and I fell back to my chair. Ash stood in the doorway, papers in hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” he said, dryly, as he handed me the papers, his face emotionless. He sat on the edge of the desk, on the other side of the room.

“You didn’t interrupt, Ash,” I said, “we were just talking about how were going to get through this test.” I looked through the papers he had just handed me. “What’s this then?”

“Reports Owen gave me to review. Look on page six.” He waited while I flipped to the right page. “See that? They’re talking about a shipment of explosives which were stolen a couple of months ago. They don’t think they’ve left the country, which means they could be the ones the bomber used.”

I scanned the page and found the section he was talking about. “This is just after Levins lab was broken into too. Which means, that the bomber, if they’re using these stolen bombs, have had this planned for a while. Great, that means they’re well organised.”

Owen covered his face with his hands. “Which means they knew what Levins’ research was, and how to break into a military base to steal bombs. And, they have the brains to actually use it.”

Ash stood and looked at me, his face hard. “You’ve already been to the lab to talk to Levins? I thought we were going together?”

“Oh, I didn’t think. I’m sorry Ash. I went this morning when I got back. I just didn’t want to waste any more time.”

“And taking me with you would waste time?” He folded his arms and turned to Owen. “Did you go too?”

Owen sat up on the bed. “Me? No, I only just found out now. I’ve been working on the police reports all day.”

The room fell silent. Ash watched Owen. Owen looked to me out of the corner of his eye, clearly unnerved by Ash’s abruptness. I gripped my crutch and walked to the door.

“Owen, can you watch the printer?”

“Sure.”

“Ash, you want to help me get some more information?”

He followed without word, holding the door for me as we left the room. I didn’t speak as I fumbled down the stairs. We made our way out of the house and along the path. I was getting better at negotiating the crutch and only stumbled a few times.

“Where’re you heading?” Ash asked, without emotion.

I looked up to him and sighed. “Nowhere.” He stopped and watched me. “What is it, Ash? We can’t be a team if you’re pissed off at one of us and can’t sort it.”

He thrust his fists into his pockets. “This isn’t about the team.”

“Then what is it?”

He walked over to a patch of grass with a boulder in the middle. He sat on one side and waited for me to join him.

“I’m failing.”

“What? No, you can’t be. I thought you were one of the best in your group?

“No, I mean, I’m failing my team. I’m failing you.” He rubbed both hands over his face and through his hair. I noticed how much longer it was from when we first met.

“Ash, how have you failed me? You’ve been going through the reports just like all of us. You just found out about the stolen bombs…”

“I’m failing
you
, Roz. Look at you.” He pointed to my crutch, propped under my arm. “If I’d done my job properly you would never have been hurt.”

“Ash,” I smiled weakly, “I was out with a friend. How could you have helped me?”

He glared down at the ground. “I should’ve been there. You’re the leader of our team. I’m the Wolf. It’s my job to protect. I failed.” He kicked a rock. I watched it fly across the grass and settle near a tree.

“You’re right.” His head snapped up, eyes wide. I smiled as gently as I could manage. “You are the team protector. You and Bree are the ground team. You guys are the ones who will make every task a success. But, and Ash, I mean this; you are not responsible during down time. I was out with a friend. It had nothing to do with the task. There was no way of knowing what would happen. You can’t hold yourself responsible.”

“Yes, I can.” He stepped forward and put both hands on my shoulders. “From now on, I am fully responsible. You go to a meeting again, I go with you. Whoever this bomber is, they hit close. So, I’m going to be close.”

“To the group? You’re going to protect
all
the group?” My cheeks flushed. My voice shaking with his closeness.

“You lead the team. I protect the team.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I’m walking you to the office tomorrow.” Without giving me a chance to whimper a reply, he turned and waked to the centre of campus.

I stood in shock as I watched him disappear round a bend.

*   *   *

The walk to Llamp’s office was made all the more awkward by my preoccupation. Ash had kissed me. Given, only my forehead, but it was still contact. What did it mean? Did he like me? Was it simply a friendly gesture, or more?

I walked beside him, barely keeping up the conversation.

“You okay?” He asked, after my musings made me drift off once again.

“Me? Yeah, sure. Just want to get this meeting over and done with.”

“It’ll be fine. We’ve worked hard. And, it’s only a progress report, not the final.”

He was right, but still it felt like an axe was swinging above our heads.

I stood without my crutch beside Llamp’s office door. Yes, it helped me walk, but it was also a sign of weakness. As leader of our team, I would be damned if I was going to represent us as weak.

The report in my hands was a combination of my team’s hard work. Jay had gathered a number of suspects who were close to the explosions and possible connections they had. Fern had compiled a medical section which detailed everything we knew about the biological component of the bombs, which quite frankly, wasn’t much. Ash and Bree worked together to create a possible entry and exit strategy the bomber could have taken in each location to plant the bombs without being seen. Owen and I had prioritised all the information gathered from the emergency service and investigation reports. Each of us had produced a thorough report. I just hoped it would be enough to impress Llamp.

“Miss Grove, please present your report,” Llamp said, the moment I entered the room. She was sat at her desk, with a video camera on a tripod pointing in my direction. I fumbled to insert my pen drive into the ready and waiting computer. Feeling totally exposed, I stood by the white board, waiting for the PowerPoint to fill the screen. I let out a sigh of relief as the first page appeared on the board.

My voice grew louder and higher with every syllable. My breath catching at the back of my throat, I heaved and gulped to calm my nerves. Llamp didn’t speak. She simply sat at her desk, her fingers entwined. After the first five pages, I began to calm.

I laid out our discoveries in sections. First the bomb locations, casualty count and resulting damage. Then, I covered what we knew of the biological agent involved. As I came to a close, Llamp indicated to the seat in front of her.

“Impressive choice. A current mystery with many avenues to both success and failure.” She flicked though the notes she had taken during my presentation. “Your choice of team members is acceptable. You seem to have selected at least one person from each department. Can you tell me why you felt this was necessary?

I shifted in my seat. “In all honesty, I didn’t know entirely what I would come across during the research. I thought a student from each area would give my team the best results.” I watched her without blinking, waiting for any sign of approval. There was none.

“I see. If this is the case, why did you choose to include two custodians?”

My mind raced for an answer. I had chosen Bree and Ash because they were my friends. I never thought to come up with a reason beyond that.

“I watched them practice,” I lied, “they work as a team. I thought, as they are trained to work together in the field, it would be best to have them in my team as partners. I do believe it’s also how they prefer to work.” I flinched at the snark tone in my voice. I was sounding more and more like Llamp as this conversation went on.

She watched me for a moment before taking a note.

“And, where do you hope to go next with this investigation?”

I mouth clamped closed. I hadn’t thought this far ahead. My mind raced.

“I think, we should look into the theft of the explosives,” I said, impulsively. “If they can be traced or if they need a specific kind of environment to be held.” I held my breath, waiting for her reaction.

“I see. Well I must say, with this element of your training, I am impressed.”

I noted the clause. “This element?”

She pulled a paper file from her desk drawer. “Yes. It seems you are not doing so well in some of the other aspects of training.” She held out a sheet from the file and waited for me to take it. I reached out and clenched it with my fingertips. I didn’t dare look at it.

“As you can see, your progress in physical training and computing is not to the same standard as your leadership skills. A Mole must always have the ability to rely upon one’s self.”

My hands began to shake. I balled them into fists and held my head high.

“I can correct this. By the final test deadline, I will be better.”

“No.” She sat forward and stared at me, her hands pressed flat on the desk. “Not better. If you want to be Consummate, you will be exemplary.”

I left the room in a daze. I clutched the paper showing my current lacking close to my chest. Visions of stumbling to my death from a forced heart attack filled my mind. It wasn’t enough. All the time and work, wasn’t enough.