Deadly Echoes (3 page)

“First, we need to get to a computer and watch a video,” Lauren said “Then I'll tell you everything I know.”

Lauren led Stephanie to the spacious master suite where Lauren's laptop was set up on a desk. Both women huddled close as Lauren's fingers flew over her keyboard to bring up YouTube. They stood in silence as the video began. When the link to the other website was established, they both flinched at the graphic images and then watched the appearance of the Eco-Watch Zodiac. When it was over, the scientist in Lauren replayed the video while Stephanie turned away.

“That was awful, how can you watch it again?” Stephanie said.

“Scientific observation is rarely accomplished by looking at something once.” Lauren sat and watched the video three more times before she leaned in and froze one of the images. She opened the search engine, and brought up a page of various images of actual Eco-Watch Zodiacs. She arranged them on the screen next to the Zodiac in the shark video. “Like this.”

Stephanie turned to look at the screen. “What am I looking for?”

“Look at the outboard motors,” Lauren said. “Donovan likes Mercury Marine. Every Zodiac in the Eco-Watch fleet is equipped with twin Mercury outboards. Now, I don't know Mercury from
any other outboard, but the motors in these two pictures look different.”

“You're right. They're not the same. The Eco-Watch engine is taller and thinner. The other one is counterfeit. But we knew that already.”

“We did,” Lauren refreshed the YouTube page. “But the 245,852 people who've watched this video have no idea. They think Eco-Watch did this.”

Lauren clicked away from YouTube. “I need to forward this information to Peggy at Eco-Watch. It's something the lawyers and the public relations people need to see.”

“What about the other things Donovan told you?” Stephanie asked then looked around the room. “You don't think the apartment is bugged, do you? We can talk about anything, right?”

“We're good. Officially, I'm still an analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency so my friends at the CIA drop by and sweep the place regularly.”

“The CIA? You're a meteorological analyst for the DIA—you predict weather.”

“From time to time I do a little more than that,” Lauren replied. “Anyway, this morning a man Donovan didn't recognize called and asked for Robert Huntington. He said he knew who Donovan was and that he was going to destroy everything that was important to him. Then the caller told him where to find the YouTube video.”

“And John Stratton's death is a part of this?”

“The killers used an Eco-Watch Zodiac to gain access to John's yacht. They waited until the yacht had been found to post the video and call Donovan. Everything's got to be connected.”

“Their first mistake was warning him they were coming for him,” Stephanie said. “We both know how he is right now. He's going after these people, right?”

Lauren nodded. “When does all of this stop? I want things to even out, so he and I can maybe find some firmer ground. Death threats and bodyguards is no way to live.”

“Maybe this is exactly what he needs in terms of finding some focus.”

“What do you mean?” Lauren was taken aback. Stephanie wasn't usually so direct. Her upbringing was such that she defaulted to diplomacy and tact, like her uncle.

“I'm saying that Donovan has been more than a little lost since you left. He recovered from his physical injuries, but emotionally he was pretty messed up before you left, and he's not any better now—how could he be?”

“He seems better,” Lauren said, but she knew the words sounded hollow.

“It's okay. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. We both know that Donovan eventually does something with his turmoil and anger. He channels it into something useful. I mean, look at everything he's accomplished in his life. After his parents died, he made Huntington Oil into a global force from what had been a regional family-owned company. Then he lost Meredith and fell apart. From that despair sprang the idea of faking his own death, changing his entire life, including his appearance, and then using his fortune to help others. He built Eco-Watch into a first-class nonprofit scientific research foundation, one of the best in the world. That's what he needs right now—to feel that need for focus, for action. Once he does, things usually start happening.”

Lauren admired the passion Stephanie had displayed, and loved her for it, even though she remained skeptical of her husband's ability to deal with even more stress. “I know he's done those things. He's one of the most capable men I've ever met. That's the problem. He does
things
instead of dealing with
issues.
It's why we're not together. He hides from his past, from everything really, including me.”

“I understand why you feel the way you do, and I'm not choosing sides. You know I love you both. I've been around Donovan since he was a kid, seen what he's been through, and at times I've wondered how he can function at all. Let him do what he does, but please, whatever you do, don't give up on him—it would be the
worst thing possible. He's about to get back into a game he does better than anyone, and it's going to do wonders for his state of mind. He'll fix this. All I ask is for you to hang in there until this is over.”

“I hope you're right, but I'm afraid for him. He doesn't need this right now. We both know that when he's threatened, he's reckless. If something happens to him, then all of our waiting and trying to figure out who we are to each other is gone—lost forever.”

The Eco-Watch Gulfstream 500 had already covered four thousand miles, and Donovan and his team were about to start their initial descent into the Lihue Airport on the island of Kauai. The nine-hour-and-fifteen-minute flight from Eco-Watch's headquarters at Washington's Dulles Airport had been a blur of activity.

The Gulfstream 500 was only two months old. Donovan had christened the aircraft
The Spirit of da Vinci,
after its predecessor. In the cockpit was Michael Ross, Donovan's closest friend and Eco-Watch chief pilot. Michael was captain for this flight, and Donovan acted as co-captain, splitting his time between his flying duties and the activity in the back of the plane.

“Michael,” Donovan poked his head into the cockpit, “I need a little more time back here, are you still good?”

“Yeah, we've got another twenty minutes before we start down.”

“Thanks, I'll be back in fifteen.” Donovan turned and headed back to the cabin. The passenger section of the
da Vinci
was anything but plush. Instead of an opulent boardroom, there were a series of modular workstations. Stacks of computer equipment and monitors were linked between stations by thick conduits. The flying science platform could be modified to perform any number of high-altitude missions from hurricane surveillance, atmospheric sample recovery, to a myriad of imaging capabilities through a purpose-built camera and antenna array blended into the belly of the 85,000-pound jet. Capable of altitudes up to 51,000 feet, a top speed of 575 mph, and a maximum range of 5,800 nautical miles, the Gulfstream 500 was a highly mission-capable aircraft.
The Spirit of da Vinci
was just one of the many reasons Eco-Watch was considered one of the top-tier organizations in the scientific community.

Today's mission was less about science and more about damage control. Seated in the back was William VanGelder, as well as Eco-Watch's director of security, Howard “Buck” Buckley. Buck was the newest member of the veteran group, a former Navy SEAL who had been assigned to Eco-Watch on a temporary basis on two previous occasions. Now in his mid-thirties, Buck was still in shape, his features were open, friendly, and his demeanor easygoing. But just under the surface was an understated lethality that commanded respect. Seven months ago, Donovan had been so impressed with the man's performance that he made him a job offer that was impossible to turn down. The mission statement of Buck's newly formed department was to oversee the far-flung activities of the organization and protect the people and assets within Eco-Watch. In the interview process, Donovan quietly explained that Buck had an unlimited budget, but with that came the expectation of a zero margin for error. This crisis was the first test of that agreement.

Via satellite, they'd just watched the statement released by Eco-Watch denying any involvement in the attack on the Japanese fishing vessel. The information about the outboard motors that Lauren had discovered had been forwarded to both the FBI and Coast Guard. That the Zodiac was counterfeit was verified. The YouTube video was now at 1,194,997 views and climbing. Every news outlet was showing an edited version of the clip on television, and Eco-Watch headquarters, which was located at Dulles International Airport, just outside Washington D.C., was being besieged by a crowd of reporters, as well as groups of protesters and a far smaller collection of supporters. So far, the Fairfax County Sheriff personnel were keeping the peace. Inside the locked-down building, a handful of staff were manning the phones, carefully taking each call, recording anything that could be construed as a threat.

“I just got the latest operational list from Peggy.” Buck held up
several sheets of paper he'd lifted from one of the printers. “She's contacted every member of Eco-Watch's board and put them on alert as well as our twenty-five largest donors. Most are foundations and trusts, but she's reaching out to anyone who may be at risk. I've also directed that any potential threat, no matter how small, be immediately routed to me so that appropriate action can be taken.”

“This is a nightmare.” William rubbed his temples. Despite the long flight, he was, as always, still dressed in his suit, tie snug at his neck. “Is it possible that John was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

“Anything's possible,” Buck replied. “But I think it's highly improbable. With two counterfeit Zodiacs in play, it's a coincidence of the highest order.”

“I agree with Buck,” Donovan added.

“If that's a given,” William continued. “How on earth can we realistically expect to protect everyone connected to Eco-Watch?”

“We have to.” Buck replied. “But I also think that this group is fairly small, which limits their geographical reach. If John Stratton's yacht was the base they used to attack the fishing vessel, then they're probably still somewhere in Hawaii. If they've left the islands, there are only so many places to go. I think with the FBI's help, we'll be able to narrow the search pretty quickly.”

“Buck, what about our people? Where is everyone and how can we best protect them?” Donovan asked. As director of operations he had a running idea of what projects were currently in progress, but it didn't include specific knowledge of each employee or exactly where they might be.

“Okay,
The Spirit of Galileo
is currently on the ground at the Keflavik Airport in Iceland. The flight crew and the Austrian scientists are at the hotel. Security is now in place for the clients, crew, and airplane.”

“Good. What about the ships?” Donovan asked. “Have they confirmed their new orders?”

“Yes, the
Atlantic Titan
is on full alert off the coast of West
Africa. Twenty-four-hour security measures are in effect as well as fifteen-minute reporting intervals to headquarters. If something happens, we'll know in a hurry. The
Pacific Titan
is in port in Se-ward, Alaska. They should be underway by this evening. There have been some scattered protests from local fisherman, but it's under control. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have been apprised of the situation and know the position of our vessels and have stepped up their vigilance of ships in the area.”

“What about our people not attached to Eco-Watch ships or planes?” Donovan asked.

“They're easier to camouflage and protect. There are our liaison people working with NASA, JPL, Woods Hole, and the Scripps Institute, but by their very nature, those facilities are secure. Then there are the people working in conjunction with several universities and corporations on various research and development projects. Those in remote locations are probably the safest due to their minimal contact with the outside world. Regardless, I've directed all of our people to break up their routine, switch hotels if possible, and avoid wearing anything that might identify them as being connected with Eco-Watch. If they suspect anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, they're to contact local law enforcement and then call me. The airplanes and ships, the high-value targets, are at the highest risk and, of course, headquarters and senior management.”

“What are our immediate plans once we land?” William asked. “The State Department has informed me that the Coast Guard is in charge of the vessel while the FBI is investigating the murders. We can pull on assets of both services.”

“Since I believe we're at the greatest risk, I took the liberty of calling ahead to some connections I have in the Navy.” Buck handed around sheets of paper that listed eight men's names. “There will be a small group of former SEAL team members meeting us when we land, men I know. Their job is to protect the airplane, as well as us, and act as backup for anything we do. They'll also be doing advance security sweeps at the hotel and any other destinations we travel without law enforcement on hand. I've
arranged for a helicopter to be standing by to fly out to Stratton's yacht. I'm not sure if it's still on the beach or if high tide has allowed them to pull it off the sand. We'll know when we land.”

“Where's Beverly?” Donovan asked, looking at William, as he knew the elder statesman had been in touch with her.

“She's with the FBI. She identified the bodies of her husband and their crew. There was a captain, two engineers, three stewards, and the chef. All told, there were eight fatalities—all died by a single bullet wound to the head. All Beverly could tell me before she broke down was that John had been tortured before he was killed. They weren't going to release the bodies anytime soon, so her intention was to turn around and go back to California.”