Devil's Gold (43 page)

Cassidy felt almost brand new. A few more hours of sleep would probably aid in returning a bit of color to her face, but there wasn't time for luxuries.

Jake drilled his fingers against the tabletop then stood up, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Why wouldn't NWP proceed with staking a claim at this site the normal way instead of all these backhanded, dark-allied maneuvers?”

Valerie dropped a large basket of muffins in the center of the conference table. “I can answer that.”

Cassidy and Jake responded at the same time. “You can?”

Her mouth curved up in a secretive smile. “You didn't think I just pushed papers, did you?” Valerie slid into the chair next to Michelle and picked up a blueberry muffin. Peeling the wrapping off its bottom, she glanced at Jake. “I've received Cassidy's security clearance.”

Cassidy frowned. “Why do I need security clearance?” Michelle inched the basket of muffins in her direction.

“That way we won't have to whisper behind your back,” Jake said, reaching behind her and palming the same type of muffin. He held a chair out for her, and she sat down.

“I appreciate that,” she said, not quite certain she was comfortable with the classification that allowed her into the inner sanctum of Black Stripe. “Tell us what you know, Valerie.”

“Right. One of my assignments was to filter all information regarding your mission in Africa. The official statement of purpose was for you to research and generate a positive report regarding the effects of oil production within the Niger Delta.”

Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Mission impossible.”

“What you didn't know was the reason for that report.”

“I know that OPEC requested it. I assumed it was a ploy for more payoff money.”

Valerie shook her head. “Not quite. New World Petroleum requested rights for the area you designated up there.” She pointed to the whiteboard. “The officials in Port Harcourt refused unless NWP provided a positive report and steps for improving the livelihoods of those within the Niger Delta.”

Cassidy frowned. “That doesn't sound right. Why would they do that? It's in their best interest to turn the other cheek and accept blood money.”

Valerie popped the last piece of muffin in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “From what I could unearth, the pressure from OPEC, stemming from the unrest sparked by the rebels, prompted the local government to take affirmative action. That way it would appear they were protective of this region and fighting for its people's right. If they refused to take affirmative action, OPEC could step in and take a stronger hand in governing this zone.”

Jake sighed and nodded. “Makes perfect sense.”

“But I didn't write the report,” Cassidy added. “Why didn't they hire someone else?”

“Because ZEBRA is the who's who of environmental studies,” Michelle mumbled, chewing on her muffin.

Cassidy glanced at Jake, and he offered her a half shrug. “Possible,” she said and pushed back from the table. Collecting her discarded muffin wrapper, she tossed it in the garbage can. “We believe we know what they want but how are they going to achieve control?”

Jake leaned back in his chair and uttered one word. “Genocide.”

Cassidy gaped at him. It had been a theory, but facing the realism was an entirely different matter. “How could they possibly accomplish that without creating a worldwide upheaval?”

He left his chair and stood in front of the whiteboard. Picking up the black pen, he made an X to the north of Port Harcourt, another X above the red square Cassidy had drawn, and a final X to the left of the Warri dot. “This is where they've purchased land.”

“How does that point to genocide?”

Jake drew a line and connected the marks he'd made. “You build a wall.”

Michelle snorted, then coughed when she inhaled muffin crumbs. “That's a bit far out, don't you think?”

“Yes,” Jake agreed. “But it's why they pay us the big bucks. Thinking outside the box is our expertise.”

Cassidy stood and stretched. “It's still a theory. Once we reach the coordinates pinged on the geological survey, we'll know more. If what Jake believes is true, there'll be evidence.”

“Speaking of the Niger Delta, we'll be landing in Principe in approximately two hours. I suggest we change into our tactical gear and prepare ourselves.”

“Tactical gear?” Cassidy didn't have any such thing. She glanced down at her jeans and shirt and wondered what else she was supposed to wear.

Valerie waved at her. “I took the liberty of ordering you a kit. I'll dig it out from the supplies and bring it to your compartment.”

“If you say so,” Cassidy replied, still confused as to what tactical gear encompassed. “I'm going to organize all this paperwork and make a few calls. I'd like an update from the CDC as to the status of CPV-19.” She began shuffling loose papers together and stacking them in neat piles. Reaching her laptop, she shut the lid and unplugged it.

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

She turned her head and grinned at Jake. “Sure. I'm used to snoozing on conference tables; it's one of my favorite pastimes.”

“I'm not joking.”

Cassidy bent down and picked up her canvas bag. “Neither am I.” She shoved the laptop into its compartment and then filed the papers into another sleeve.

“We have two hours. You can nap.”

“Stop it. You sound like Valerie.” She gathered up the power cord from her computer and placed it into a side pocket. “One mother aboard is enough.”

Jake sighed and mumbled something derogatory under his breath.

It made Cassidy feel all warm and fuzzy that he cared, which irritated her.

Valerie popped out from behind a door Cassidy never knew existed. She handed Cassidy a small black duffel bag. “There ya go.”

“This is my tactical gear?”

“Yes, ma'am. Everything you need will be in there.” She disappeared back through the door, humming a Garth Brooks tune.

Cassidy scrutinized the bag, holding it at different angles. “What's in here?”

Jake grinned. “Clothes and other stuff.” He whistled the same tune Valerie hummed and left her alone.

“It's the other stuff that concerns me.” Cassidy picked up her canvas bag and hefted the tactical gear on her shoulder. She headed into her compartment mentally cursing Valerie for sticking a tune in her head. Singing softly, she smiled. “Love this song.”

She dropped the bags on her bed. Cassidy tugged the gear bag closer and yanked on the zipper. Within the interior she discovered camouflage military clothes. She grinned when she pulled out the pants and tank top. Never in her life did she think she'd be sporting the muted splotches of a soldier.

Cassidy dug deeper and unearthed a large knife with an ankle band attached to its canvas case. “I like this.” She slipped the blade from its cover and twisted it in the light, admiring the sharp jagged edges. “Very pretty.” She tipped the gear bag upside down, and all sorts of goodies spilled onto the bed. Canteen. Glock. Holster. Bandana.

Cassidy stripped out of her jeans and polo shirt and pulled on the pants, tank top, and over jacket. There were pockets galore. She strapped the knife to her ankle, gun to her waist, and shoved the other paraphernalia into accommodating folds in her clothes. The socks made her hum in delight. They were made of a blend of cotton and lycra, making them lightweight and breathable. A definite advantage over the thick wool socks she normally used.

She bent and pulled her boots on and laced them up. “Thank you for not replacing these.” Cassidy couldn't imagine breaking in new shoes over the next few days. Her shoulders shook in revulsion at the mere thought. “Can we say bloody blisters?” A watch with a large face and built-in compass was next, and she secured that around her wrist.

Cassidy gathered her hair in her fingers and quickly French braided the curly mess, pulling it tight and neat against her head. She snapped a hair band in place at the end, then wound the bandana around the braid and secured it at the bottom. “Wish I had a mirror.” G.I. Jane reporting for action. Smothering a giggle, Cassidy stepped out of her compartment.

“I like you in my colors,” Jake said from the conference room.

Cassidy glanced down at her outfit. “I think the green is a bit over the top.”

Michelle chuckled and moved past Cassidy to sit at the table. They were dressed identically except for the bandana. The ecologist wore it on her head, cap style. “Valerie says there's a call from the CDC with an update on the virus you requested.”

“Okay.” Cassidy nodded. “Let's get them on video conferencing.”

Michelle pushed buttons, and it was only a few seconds before an image flickered on the screen. A group of people in heated discussion gathered around an oval table. Cassidy leaned forward and moved the mike closer. “Liv, is that you?”

Liv Somers, ZEBRA biologist, glanced up and beamed a large smile in Cassidy's direction. “When the chips are down, you call in the best. How the hell are you, Cass?”

Cassidy bent her head and smothered a smile. Jake rolled his eyes at the woman who was originally assigned to Pod Gray Wolf before Black Stripe became involved. “Tell me where you're at?”

“Let's see … the first thing on my list is a note from the park rangers. The body you discovered on Yellowstone River is one Jason Gold. Heard of him?”

Cassidy shook her head. “No. What did his background check unearth?”

“Not much if you discard the fact that he's a brilliant scientist specializing in DNA replication.” Liz smiled.

Cassidy nodded. “Any connection with Edward Fiske?”

“According to one of the scientific Web sites, he's his lab assistant. They've been working on a methodology to successfully introduce new DNA to red bloods cells.”

“That follows in line with everything we know to date. Speaking of which, what's the news on the virus?” Cassidy pulled out her notepad and scribbled Jason's name on it.

“This is one nasty son of a bitch. The formula you discovered written on the bathroom mirror in Salt Lake City has been helpful. Dissecting the genetic composition, we've been able to isolate several areas where a possible vaccine will work. However, you do know that there's no known cure for parvo, right?”

Cassidy and Jake both nodded. “Of course, only reactive treatment for the symptoms,” she said.

Liv flipped a document onto the top of an overhead projector, and two images of the virus were displayed on the screen. Red and green were predominant colors within the body of the upper virus, whereas the lower sample appeared to contain less of the red strain. “We've isolated Fifth Disease and injected the non-mutated version of the virus into an infected wolf.” The biologist paused and took a small breath. “The cell on top is prior to the injection, and the cell on bottom is after.”

“The prognosis?”

“We've been able to cut back on the blood thinners. Heart rate is still elevated but not in the danger zone. It appears that the clean strain of Fifth Disease attacks and neutralizes the viral component of its counterpart in CPV-19.” Liv flipped off the overhead projector and stared at Cassidy. “They have a fifty-fifty chance.”

“It's better than nothing.” Cassidy pulled out her notepad that she'd shoved in one of the leg pockets of her pants. She flipped it open and scanned her writing. “Any more infected humans or canines?”

Liv shook her head and grinned. “I think your immediate response to the situation has prevented farther migration of the virus.”

“How about the wolves?”

Liv glanced down at a piece of paper that was handed to her. “It appears that the numbers we received regarding the diminishing packs of wolves were erroneous. A technical guru from the FBI fiddled with the park's GPS tracking system and,
voilà
, instant wolves.”

Cassidy frowned. “I don't get it.”

“Don't misunderstand me. There's definitely depletion in the northern packs surrounding Gardiner. We haven't determined that the virus has spread beyond that quadrant as of this date. I can reassure you, though, that the numbers to the east and south of Gardiner remain unchanged.”

Cassidy jotted some notes down in her pad and then focused back on Liv. “Have you isolated the transference aspects of CPV-19?”

“Yes.” Liv paused and conferred with the person beside her. “This is Doctor Michael Rothwell from the CDC. I'll let him finish.”

Cassidy smiled at the young man. His close-cropped curls and large eyes provided an almost angelic feature to his face, but the moment he began to speak the seriousness of the situation was loud and clear in his voice. “Beyond the normal parvo transfer, i.e. digested feces, we discovered spores within the wolves' nostrils.”

Jake and Cassidy sat forward and glanced at one another with panic in their eyes. “Are you saying this thing is airborne?”

Dr. Rothwell folded his hands and nodded. “That's exactly what I'm saying.”

E
DWARD HEARD MUFFLED VOICES, THE FOG OF A DRUG-INDUCED
sleep shadowing his mind. He struggled upward through the thick blankets of confusion and disorientation. His thoughts slurred, and he battled against the urge to release himself to the comfort of sleep. A deep metallic hum vibrated against his ear. Edward concentrated on the noise and broke through the last barrier created by the narcotic injected into his veins.

His eyes fluttered open and he blinked in rapid succession, attempting to clear his vision. It was dark. A thin line of natural light flickered along the edge of one wall. Edward craned his neck and followed it to the source. He squinted, making out the rounded edges of what appeared to be a small porthole.

With a quick scan of everything that ached, Edward realized his hands were no longer tied. They'd obviously dumped him in here and cut the ropes before leaving. He moved to a sitting position, rubbing first one wrist and then the other. Circulation returned, and his fingers no longer held that tingly numb sensation from when they'd first been bound behind his back.