Blind Run (25 page)

She knew the pitfalls of cutting corners when working with human DNA. The slightest error, miscalculation, or misinterpretation of data could result in the unthinkable. A stillbirth would be a merciful end versus the alternative, a child born chronically ill or deformed in any one of a thousand ways. “The end justifies the means, is that it?”

“In this case, yes.”

“What kind of monster are you?”

He recoiled. “Monster?”

“You’ve disregarded every scientific and ethical code of decency, and those children are still paying for your arrogance.” Remembering Danny’s friend, who’d disappeared in the middle of the night, she added, “Like Sean paid.”

“Sean?” Turner frowned, perplexed, then brightened. “Oh, yes, well, I’m afraid he didn’t make it. All great advances require sacrifice.”

“How noble of you, since Sean made the sacrifice, not you.” She didn’t even try to keep the fury from her voice. Otherwise, she might start screaming. She had to focus on the victims she knew about and the children still living under this man’s thumb. Because if she thought about those who hadn’t survived, who’d died before taking a breath, or been destroyed at Turner’s command, she’d go mad. “What about George Taleb? Was he a mishap, too?”

“George?” Turner laughed abruptly. “Very good, Dr. Decker. How did you find out about George?” When she didn’t answer, he waved the question aside. “Never mind, George was my assistant, and he did a very stupid thing. He stole one of our children with the intention of exposing my work to the media.”

“So you had him killed?”

“Me? Oh, no.” He shook his head. “That was Cox’s doing. A rather brutal man, really. But none of that matters.” Suddenly, he was at her side, dragging her to the window. “Have you ever seen a more beautiful set of children? You, of all people, should appreciate the work I’ve done here. These children have every advantage.”

“Every advantage?” She pulled away from him and backed up. They
were
beautiful, but also lacking in fundamental ways. She thought of her son, and the life he’d had before he died. He’d been a happy child, filled with light and love. “You’ve denied these children their most basic rights. What about family? Freedom? They know nothing of either.”

“Don’t be absurd, they have a good home here. They’re well cared for, educated, healthy.”

“All except Callie with her weak immune system. Is she one of your mishaps?”

A slow smile crept across his face. “Callie’s very special.”

“So special that you’ve kept her and all these children locked up like rats in a cage?”

“Certainly what we’ve given them makes up for that?”

She leaned forward, pinning him with her gaze. “What could you possibly have given them that’s more important than the opportunity to lead a normal life?”

“Health, Dr. Decker. I’ve given them perfect health.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ETHAN LEFT DANNY
in a hotel room.

He knew the kid hated staying behind, but he had things to do and couldn’t take the boy with him. Danny was already in too deep, and Ethan wouldn’t risk exposing him to further danger by dragging him around the seedier side of Seattle.

As they’d driven across the country, Ethan had listened to Danny’s stories about the island and put together the kernel of a plan. It was high risk, but that wasn’t surprising. Especially with Cox on the other side of the fence.

First Ethan needed a boat and had decided to get it in Seattle, where he was less likely to arouse suspicion. In a town the size of Anacortes, it would prove more difficult. One misstep and he’d have the local authorities breathing down his neck. Besides, he knew people in Seattle, men who owed him or who were simply afraid to deny him.

His best shot was Tony Rio, a small-time smuggler who also owned and operated a legitimate charter service.

Ethan found Rio Charter without any trouble. It was one of the few charter companies with an office at the marina on Lake Union. He strolled past the single-story wooden structure to a refreshment stand near the docks and bought a cold drink. Then he sat at one of the picnic tables where he could see the front of Rio’s building.

He’d first met Tony Rio six years ago.

A group of terrorists had illegally entered the country. The FBI had apprehended and detained all but their leader, Aswad Ben Zafir. When a ten-day, nationwide search had failed to secure him, Cox dispatched Ethan and his team. It would have been a routine mission, except for one thing: Cox had sent Marco Ramirez with them.

They spent a week hunting down Zafir, finally cornering him in Seattle, where he’d arranged transportation out of the country. Rio, who ran guns north to the Canadian border and brought back drugs, was the conveyor. Although all he knew about Zafir was that he had a small cargo and lots of cash.

As Ethan’s team closed in, Zafir took Rio hostage. It was a fatal mistake. Ethan would have taken the terrorist in alive if given a chance, but while Ethan tried talking him down, Ramirez put a single bullet between Zafir’s eyes.

Simple. Clean. Finished.

And a direct violation of Ethan’s orders. He’d been furious, even while realizing Ramirez had just accomplished their mission. He’d used Ethan’s team to locate Zafir, then done the Agency’s dirty work. That was the first and last time Ethan had worked with the assassin, and fortunately Cox had never pushed it again.

As for Rio, Ethan should have called the locals to confiscate his boat and charge him. Instead, he let Rio go. He’d become a known commodity Ethan could control and use. Over the years, the decision had proved a good one. Tony Rio had built up the legitimate side of his business, while expanding his contacts in the underworld. Twice he’d warned Ethan of large amounts of explosives coming into the States. Both tips had led to arrests and convictions, and possibly prevented deaths.

Now Ethan needed one more favor.

Across the way, the office door opened and Rio walked out with a woman.

“Damn.” Ethan needed Rio alone.

Rio escorted the woman to a red Honda parked on the road. They stood talking while she fumbled with her keys, then unlocked the door and climbed behind the wheel.

Ethan stood and tossed the drink cup into a nearby trash can, then started back toward the building. He kept his pace easy, studying the boats along the wharf. “Okay, Tony,” he quietly urged, “let the lady go.”

They chatted a few more minutes, then finally the woman started the engine and Rio backed away. As he turned back toward his building, Ethan ducked behind a white Chevy, the last car of the half dozen in front of the charter office.

Whistling softly, Rio headed for the row of cars, and Ethan figured it was his lucky day. If necessary he would have gotten to Rio inside, but it wasn’t his first choice. He waited until Rio had reached a silver-gray Jeep Cherokee and unlocked its door. Then Ethan stood, crossed to the vehicle, and slipped into the passenger seat just as Rio inserted the key into the ignition.

“How you doing, Tony?”

Startled, Rio went for the door handle.

“Whoa.” Ethan grabbed the man’s arm and pressed the Glock to his side. “Take it easy.”

Rio’s whole body sagged with relief. “Goddamn it, Decker, you scared the shit out of me. And what’s with the gun?”

“Wave to your friend,” Ethan said as the woman drove past, “and start the car.”

“Okay, okay, put that gun away.”

Ethan sat back but kept the Glock visible. “Let’s get moving first.”

Rio scowled, put the car in gear, and backed out of the parking space. As they pulled away from the building, his temper flared. “What the hell are you doing, Decker? Showing up at my place like this?”

“Settle down, Tony. I’m not one of your flunkies.”

“Well, what do you expect? If anyone sees me with you—”

Ethan reached over and tapped the man on the arm with the Glock. “Just drive.”

Rio clamped his mouth shut, for a full ten seconds, then said, “Where to?”

“Get on the highway.”

Neither of them spoke as they left the marina and headed into downtown Seattle. Ethan wanted some distance between Rio and his home turf before having this conversation, but heavy traffic kept them moving at a snail’s pace.

“I thought you were dead,” Rio said as they stopped for a traffic light.

“Your mistake.”

“So what do you want?” Rio looked at him, then back at the road as the light turned green.

“Not here.” Ethan nodded toward the sign pointing out the highway entrance.

Rio steered into the turn lane, and they headed north.

Ethan breathed a little easier as the city fell behind them. The last thing he needed was an encounter with one of Rio’s goons. “I need your help, Tony.”

Rio threw him a quick glance.

“If you cooperate,” Ethan continued, “I’ll consider your debt paid in full. You won’t see me again.”

“Yeah, make me a promise I believe.”

“Believe this one.” Ethan smiled as if he wasn’t about to cut the man’s legs out from under him. “I need the
Sea Devil
.”

“What?” Rio turned to him, the car swerving, then straightening as he refocused on the road. “No fucking—”

“Take it easy, Rio.” Ethan spoke slowly. “This isn’t a negotiation.” Rio’s boat was fully loaded with top-of-the line navigational equipment and lots of storage compartments. Hidden storage compartments. The kind a smuggler used to run guns or drugs, and just what Ethan needed to take down Cox. “And you will give her to me.”

“Just like that? A two-hundred-thousand-dollar boat, and you expect me to turn her over to you?” He slammed open fists against the steering wheel. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy enough to get what I want.” Ethan pressed the Glock to Rio’s side. “Or make a couple of phone calls, which would shut you down in a matter of hours. My guess, you wouldn’t even get out of the city, much less the country. As for the
Sea Devil
? Well, the cops would confiscate her and lock—”

“Okay, okay. I get it.” Rio looked again at the gun. “Put that fucking thing away, will you?”

Ethan slipped the weapon under his jacket. He wanted Rio cooperative, not terrified. For several minutes Rio didn’t say anything, and Ethan let him work through his anger. He almost felt sorry for the man, until he remembered Avery Cox holding a gun on Sydney.

“So, will I get her back?” Rio finally asked.

“If everything goes as planned, you can pick her up tomorrow night.” Otherwise, Ethan would be dead and the
Sea Devil
destroyed or in Cox’s hands.

“And if things don’t go as planned, what am I supposed to do?” Some of Rio’s earlier bravado had returned. “That boat’s my livelihood.”

“Your
illegal
livelihood. Besides, I bet the damn thing’s insured.”

Rio’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Insurance doesn’t cover all the special upgrades I’ve put into her.”

“Get over it, Rio,” Ethan said. “I’ve had a really bad week, and I need that boat tonight. Do as I say and you’ll get it back in one piece.”

Rio’s jaw tightened. “Okay, what do you want?”

“I need a supply of C4 and a high-powered rifle.”

“Jesus, Decker, you don’t want much.”

“Can you get it for me or not?”

Rio pressed his lips into a tight line, then nodded, obviously resigned to filling Ethan’s needs. “The rifle’s not a problem, but the explosives are tough. And expensive.”

“Just get it and store it on the
Sea Devil
. Then prepare one of your charter boats for an overnight trip. You’ll be making a pickup tomorrow night in Puget Sound.”

“What the hell are you up to, Decker?”

Ethan didn’t respond, Rio knew better than to ask too many questions.

“Never mind, forget I asked.” He raised a hand in surrender. “Is that it?”

“You can bring one man with you, no more. So be sure it’s someone who can pilot a boat.”

“So what am I picking up?”

“Just passengers, including me. Then I’ll tell you where to find the
Sea Devil
.”

“Where exactly are we going?”

“I’ll tell you tonight, when you deliver the
Sea Devil
.”

“If I do this, then we’re even, right?”

Ethan sat back and breathed a little easier. “Yeah, you do this, and we’re even.”

TONY RIO
was as good as his word.

He and his boat showed up a few minutes before midnight at the designated rendezvous point: a deserted pier on the Duwamish River south of Seattle. Ethan waited for him in the shadows of a nearby abandoned warehouse, with Danny a couple of feet away, safely out of sight.

Ethan would have preferred leaving the boy behind in the motel until he’d checked out the
Sea Devil
, but he couldn’t risk it. As soon as he had control of the craft, he needed to get out of Seattle. Just in case Rio changed his mind. So he made Danny promise to stay hidden inside the building and hoped the boy would follow orders for once.

Rio took his time showing off his boat, acting like a proud papa. He explained the navigational systems and controls, then took Ethan belowdecks to display the hidden storage hold which was the boat’s special feature. Inside was stowed a Remington 700 and enough C4 to take out half the damn island.

Ethan had to admire the man’s ability to deliver on such short notice, but the delay in getting under way was making him nervous. He trusted Rio to a point, as long as Rio thought Ethan’s team might appear at any moment or a shooter had a bead on his forehead. Otherwise, Ethan wouldn’t make it out of the area alive. Or if he did, it wouldn’t be with the
Sea Devil
. So he behaved like a man with five guns at his back. The act was easy to pull off. He’d played the part so long that even now, it was as much a part of him as the Glock beneath his jacket.

Finally Rio finished his tour.

“And the arrangements for the pickup?” Ethan asked.

“I have one of my boats and her captain standing by. We can leave as soon as we know where we’re going.”

Ethan dropped a large padded envelope on the table. “This is half what I’ll pay you for the weapon and explosives, plus the instructions for tomorrow night. You carry out your end of things, and you’ll get the other half and the
Sea Devil
.” It was the bulk of Ethan’s stash, but if his plan succeeded it would be worth every penny. And if he failed? Well, he’d be dead. “If you don’t show, I’d make sure
all
your insurance premiums are paid up, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Rio picked up the envelope without looking inside. “We’ll be there.”

“Make sure you are.”