Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) (16 page)

“What is it then, what are they trying to infect us with?” Warwick asked. He gripped the back of Owen’s chair.

Owen scrolled through the screen and pointed to a line. “It doesn’t say what people are infected with.”

“Then what does it say?” Bree asked. I could tell she was intentionally forcing her voice to appear calm.

Owen shook his head. “It’s strange. It says here, the first bomb was the one in Bournemouth.”

“Yes,” The three of us said, as one.

“Well, according to this, it exploded right on the sea front. Right in a tourist area.”

“It was out of season, there wouldn’t have been many there,” I said.

“Yes, but there was some sort of convention going on at the time, so the place was packed.”

“But, what were the people infected with?” Warwick shouted.

“That’s what’s confusing. Not all of them were. Some people were injured in the blast. But, of those who died, only a handful were killed by the biological weapon.”

“How?” I asked, searching for the answer over his shoulder on the screen.

“They don’t know. According to this report, the people seemed to have some sort of sudden implosion.” Owen leaned back in his chair, like he wanted to distance himself from what he was reading.

Warwick stood and paced the room. “What the fuck does that mean? Implosion? How the fuck can a person implode?”

Owen pointed to the screen. “That’s what it says. I don’t think the police have a clue what’s going on.

“That ties in with what Teresa said.” I sank back onto the bed.

Warwick stood over me. “I thought you said you didn’t know what it was?”

“I don’t. But, when I spoke to Teresa, she said the people were suffering from an extreme case of something called necrosis. She said it was a full cellular breakdown. That’s more or less imploding, right?”

“Anything else you forgot to tell us?”

“Hey!” Owen pulled Warwick’s arm back. “Leave her alone. This isn’t her fault and blaming her isn’t going to help.”

Warwick shrugged and folded his arms. “Well, where do we go from here then?”

I sat back on the edge of the bed. A plan was swirling around my head, forcing itself to form.

“Okay, Owen, you keep digging. See what other information you can find from these reports. Print everything off. Bree, you and Ash go through everything Owen prints up. Look into similarities between the explosions. Were they the same kind of explosive, same size blast, or same biological weapon?”

Bree nodded and grabbed a pad of paper from Owen’s desk. “I can’t get Ash until we can leave the house, but will get to it on my own until he gets here.” She scribbled down notes as she spoke.

“What about me?” Warwick asked. He still stood facing me, his arms folded.

My brows furrowed in confusion. “But, you’re not on our team.”

He laughed. “I am now. I think this is more important than finding out what happened to the Mary Celeste.”

I looked at him puzzled. “The deserted ship?” I asked. “But why would you be researching that?”

“Because, Spring asked me to be in her group, and that’s what she wanted to research.”

I gulped, forcing back the irritation from the mention of her name. “I don’t mean to be blunt, Warwick. But, you’re not exactly friendly with me. Why would you want to be on my team?”

“I don’t have to be your best friend to work with you. What’s important is stopping these bombings. If working with you will do that, then I’m in.”

I ignored Bree sniggering from across the room. He was right; this task was bigger than friendship or university grades. The bombs had to stop. And, if the police couldn’t figure out who was setting them, we had to. I stood to face him.

“Alright, Warwick. You’re in. But, we already have one of you Spiders on the team, so you’ll have to work alongside each other. What area do you specialise in?”

“Electronic surveillance.” He replied. “Monitoring activity on electronic devices, recording online behaviour, that sort of thing.”

Owen stood and slapped him on the back. “Fantastic. Jay can cover the visual and audio, you can work with me on the digital.”

The two guys sat together by Owen’s computer. I held my hands up, waving for an explanation. “Meaning?”

Warwick twisted in his chair. “Owen can hack into a system, while I plant a replication virus. It will copy everything they do on their end and send it to us.”

“If Warwick can do this, I won’t have to keep hacking in. It will just keep updating the reports to us,” Owen said, excitedly.

“Like, copy and paste?” Bree asked.

“Exactly. I can plant it so they won’t know,” Warwick said.

“Can you do it to all the places we’re collecting information?”

“Yep, no problem. Well, most likely, anyway.” Warwick twisted back to the screen.

I paced the room, running through the events in my mind. My friends mumbled to each other, talking through information they were finding as they researched. I couldn’t keep up with it all. I knew I needed to get my head clear on everything as a whole if I was going to lead this investigation successfully.

“I’m going to contact Ash, Jay and Fern. I’ll tell them we’re having a team meeting tomorrow afternoon. That should give me enough time.” I said, as I headed to the bedroom door.

Bree lowered the paper she was holding up to her nose. “Enough time for what?”

“As soon as we get the all clear, I’m going to talk to Levins again.”

The all clear didn’t come until nine in the morning, when a man in a yellow vest banged on our door. Bree and I rushed to rip the plastic bags free. Paint splintered away from the wood and I grimaced at the idea of having to repair it. The man told us that the danger was over and we were free to leave the house. He ticked off a box on a clipboard. From the look of the list, he still had a lot of houses to get to. We asked him what had happened, and if everyone was safe. He shrugged and told us that was all he knew. As he walked back down our path, I ripped my coat from the peg, grabbed my bag and ran from the house.

Groups of people were headed in the same direction: toward the science blocks. I passed the Keep and the coffee shop, still able to see clouds of smoke hovering over the campus.

The first science block I approached was grey with dust. The broken windows were boarded up with sheets of rough looking ply wood. I rounded the first building and stopped with a gasp.

The far lab, the furthest from the other science labs, was in ruins. The entire roof and upper walls were missing. Rubble of broken bricks and glass scattered the ground. Yellow tape prevented me from getting closer, but I could see that there was nothing left from the inside of the lab. I gulped back the thought of Mark heading toward this warzone. A twisted sheet of metal lay close to where I stood. I sucked in a breath as I realised it was a lab table. It was twisted like a piece of tin foil. No person could have survived this if they were in the building.

“Bit grim, isn’t it?”

I jumped as Karissa spoke from behind me.

“Karissa! We were wondering where you were last night. You okay?”

“Me? Yeah, I’m fine, was staying in tower block C.” She winked at me, though I had already guessed what she was implying.

“Oh, good.” I looked back to the rubble. “This is terrible.”

“Yeah. Wonder who left the gas on? Bet they’re going to be in for it.”

“Gas on?”

“That’s what I heard. Gas explosion apparently.”

“But, there was more than one explosion.”

She screwed her face up in confusion. “More than one gas leak?”

I shrugged, not wanting to insult her by explaining the fault in her logic.  My mind raced to change the subject.

“So, how’re you getting on with your task? Who’s on your team?”

She smiled at me sweetly, like I was confused. “Team? Where am I supposed to get a team from?”

“But, you
are
researching something for your task?”

She shrugged again. It seemed to be her fall back expression. “Course I am.”

“You mind if I ask what?”

She beamed a wide grin at me. “The true story of Robin Hood.”

I laughed, then fumbled to straighten my face when I saw she was serious. “But, Robin Hood wasn’t real. It’s a made up story.”

“I know that.” She shoved my shoulder playfully.

“Then, how can you research it?”

“By
proving
it was made up. Good idea, eh?” Her bright smile shone wider, glowing against the destruction beside us. “Anyway, I have to get moving. I need to get changed and sorted for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Party at E block. You coming?” She was already walking away.

“Not tonight, sorry. But, you have a good time,” I called, after her.

My heart sank as I watched her almost bouncing along the path, her red hair floating behind like a halo of flames. She waved and hugged her many friends as they passed; a human ray of sunshine.

I felt like a thunder cloud who wanted to ruin her day. How could Llamp agree on that subject? It didn’t make any sense. We had to show every area. But, what if she was being allowed to fail? Would Llamp actually tell us if our work wasn’t good enough?

My stomach churned at the thought.

I backed up and ran to the doors of the closest lab, a new surge of determination driving me forward. I was going to solve this mystery. I was going to pass uni and stop these bombs.

The rooms were empty. I pushed my way through door after door, searching for some sign of life, any sign of Mark or Levins. I slammed open another connecting door when I heard a yelp from the other side. I forced my way through to see a girl holding her nose.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I said, as I rushed forward to see if she was okay.

“It’s alright,” she said, muffled from behind her hands, “I don’t think it’s broken.” Teresa pinched her nose.

“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t find anyone, is everyone okay?”

“We’re all through here.” She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. “Here, come on.”

I followed her through to the next room, relief lifting from my shoulders. She pushed open the doors to reveal three white lab coats milling around metal work benches.

“Someone’s here to check we’re still alive,” Teresa said, sarcastically. She winked at me and grinned.

The three coats turned to reveal Levins, Mark and Fern.

“Thank goodness you’re all safe,” I said, feeling suddenly formal.

“Hey Roz, where’s Mendel?” Mark asked. He was holding a small glass flat dish, scraping a stick around its insides.

“He’s fine. I left him back at my house.” I stepped forward into the room. “Is everything okay? With the explosion, I mean.”

Levins handed Fern a file as he spoke. “Now’s not the best time, Miss Grove.”

I was about to agree and back away when my resolve shifted. This investigation was needed and I was the one who had to push to get answers.

“I realise that Doctor Levins, but my investigation has progressed and I need to speak to you.” I stood ridged, my words lingering in the air.

He twisted and looked at me curiously. “Your investigation?”

“Would you like me to talk to her again?” Teresa asked.

Levins held up his hand. “No, no I will speak to her. This way, Miss Grove.”

I followed Levins from the lab. Mark didn’t look up as I left the room.

We entered a dark room. I blinked as Levins clicked the light switch and the fluorescent lights flickered to life. We were in what must have been his office. There was a wooden desk, bowed under with piles of paper work. Every surface of the walls were filled with overflowing shelves. Books, folders and papers looked like they were teetering on the edge of collapse as they hung over at every angle. He indicated to a worn chair beside his desk. I sat and waited for him to seat himself. Instead, he began rummaging in a filing cabinet.

“I have to ask, Doctor Levins, was there anyone hurt in the blast?”

He reached into the filing cabinet and pulled out a set of keys. “Teresa caught a little of the blast. We’re quite lucky it was a small bomb, this time. Easy enough to pass as a gas explosion” He grinned back at me, knowing I hadn’t fallen for the cover story.

“Really? She looked fine just then.”

“She was very lucky. She was just passing close to the building when it went. If it wasn’t for these old thick walls, she may not have been so lucky.”

“Her work wasn’t ruined, was it? I know no-one wants to fall behind here.” My insides shuddered at the thought of failing.

Levins shrugged. “No. That particular lab block isn’t often used. It’s more of a storage area really. She was just passing,” he said, as he began pulling books from one of the shelves.

“Can I help?”

He shook his head, but didn’t turn. “You’re continuing to research the bombings? How far have you gotten in your research?”

I crossed my legs and sat back in the chair. “We know that each of the bombs have contained some form of biological weapon. The police don’t know what it is, except it seems to make people implode. What’s really confusing is that not everyone gets infected. Some people don’t suffer with,” I paused, determined to get the pronunciation correct, “extreme necrosis.” I felt ridiculous saying the words aloud to an actual scientist. “And, I know you’ve been brought in to advise.”

He stacked the books from the shelf on the floor beside him. Behind, sat at the back of the shelf was a small black safe. He stretched up and pushed one of the keys into the lock. It clicked and he opened it to reveal a stack of paper files. He reached in and pulled one out.

He turned to look at me, appraisingly. “I need to know I can trust you, Miss Grove.”

“Of course, Doctor Levins.”

He sat in the chair opposite me and held the file between us. “I need to trust that this information is used correctly and responsibly. It is not customary for me to provide a first year with vital evidence in a current crime.” He looked to the door, before returning his gaze back to mine. His frown lines creased into his forehead. “You have a team working with you?”

“Yes. Fern, from your lab, plus two Wolves, two Spiders, a Shark and me.”

“I see you’ve taken to the nicknames. Personally, I don’t like to be referred to as a Rat.”

I shrugged as he smirked. “I didn’t think you would know their names.”

“Good point.” He held up the file again. “This group are trustworthy?”

“I think so. We’ve just had one join us, but he’s determined to bring an end to the bombings, so I trust him.”

He held up his hand. “If I’m going to assist you, Miss Grove, that’s rule number one. No-one is going to go out and stop these bombings. You will help investigate and leave the legwork to the police. Is that clear?”

I nodded, though didn’t really see what the big difference was. I hadn’t gone out of my way to seek any of the bombs, yet had now been present at two of them.

“I understand that you need this to get through your task and I would never dream of hindering that. But, you have to be vigilant. You have chosen a severe subject, the danger is real.” He watched me, unblinking.

I gulped and tried not to shrink back into my chair. “We will be safe. We’re doing most of the work from the house, through computers.”

“Good.” He sighed and handed me the file. “This is for your eyes only. Use it to direct your investigation, but do not let it out of your sight. Do not upload it to any electronic devices. And, do not speak of it to anyone but your team.”

“What is it?”

He glanced at the door again before answering. “You are correct in saying that each of the bombs contained biological components. Teresa told you about the break in here?”

“And about your research being copied. It’s your delivery system?”

He grinned. “Do you understand what that means?”

My cheeks flushed. “Not exactly.”

“It means that the biological delivery system which I invented has been adapted to carry an unknown toxin which infects specific groups. My delivery system has been present within every bomb.”

He watched me, waiting for me to somehow get what he was trying to spell out for me. I thought over his words. “Your delivery system was present at every one. But, does that mean that the toxin wasn’t?”

He clapped his hands together loudly. “Exactly. Not everyone was infected, yet the delivery system was there. Therefore, the toxin must be being added at the last moment. Somehow, this is leaving some people unaffected. Now think, Miss Grove. Why would the bomber wait until the last moment to add the toxin?”

I folded my arms, tapping my toe as I tried to picture the bomber. They had a bomb, they had the delivery system.

“Well, it would be quicker for them to put it in before planting the bomb. So, if they didn’t, it must mean that the toxin is either unstable or time sensitive.” I watched Levins grin spread as I spoke. “And you say it only infects specific groups?”

“I did. We are yet to determine what differs between each group. You may hold some light there.”

My head snapped up. “Me? How can I shed light?”

“You were at an explosion. Many around you were infected, but not you.”

I felt sick. My mind raced back to the image of sitting on the floor surrounded by bodies covered by white sheets. I knew the truth about the theatre explosion. I knew all those white sheets were victims of the biological weapon. But, I also knew that for whatever reason, I had been spared. I had lived, while all those people around me had died.

“There was so many. So quickly.”

“There was. But not you, or Mark. Whatever the delivery system was told to target, it was something you didn’t have.”

“But, how is it targeting specific people? How were those people so different from us?” My voice was barely audible.

He sat back in his chair, rubbing his hand through his thinning hair. “I’m working now to decipher what it’s targeting and how to counteract it. Mark’s work has been invaluable.” He pointed to the file in my hand.

“This is Mark’s work?”

“Yes. Although we don’t know much about the toxin, we do know that it’s working on the genetic level. We think Mark’s work is the key to finding some kind of vaccine or counter agent.”

I flicked through the pages of the file, not understanding any of it. It was filled with diagrams and numbers.

“But, why Mark’s research? Did it get copied during the break in, like yours?”