The Killing Code (8 page)

“
I’ll do that. Thanks for your time and good luck with your patient.”

Alan w
as frustrated with his interview with Adler but he felt a faint glimmer of hope. Dr. Tinsley had mentioned the experimental treatment they were going to test on Bryan Adler and Alan hoped that this might provide some kind of thread for him to follow. He needed to speak with Helen’s colleagues at Blue Sky Biotech and see if he could pick up any leads there. He retrieved his gun and belongings from the check points, got in his car to drive home and focused his mind on how to approach the interviews with Helen’s fellow scientists.

Chapter
5

“I’m telling you Senator Davies, if someone doesn’t stop this guy, he’ll completely monopolize the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in the U.S! We’ve got to form an antitrust task force to investigate Devlin Industries and block this takeover before it’s too late.” Matt Lewis’ face was tense with anxiety as he paced back and forth in front of the senator’s desk.

“You need to calm down
son - you’ll give yourself a heart attack. I understand your concern but Alex Devlin is the most wealthy and powerful man in the country. We have to consider the possible repercussions of such a confrontational action.” the aging Senator from New Jersey tried to sooth Lewis’ angst.

The long time consumer rights advocate turned to gaze at the elder statesman and sighed heavily.
His years of experience belied his relative youth. At only thirty six years of age, he had been highly successful in his field for almost fifteen years and this particular case had his hackles up.

“With respect s
enator, this situation calls for more than simple concern. Do you understand the level of influence this one man can have over the cost of healthcare if his latest acquisition goes ahead? He’s already a multibillionaire, how much does one man need! Is there no end to his greed and lust for power?”

“I hear you son but we must proceed with caution.
There are a lot of ducks we need to get in a row before we can make a move against Devlin. We also have to tread carefully to avoid tipping off his allies in Congress before we’re fully prepared. If he gets wind of what we’re doing before we’re ready to fight, he could wipe us out and I have to think about my campaign for reelection.”

“I get it.
But please; can’t I ask Congressman Taylor to at least get the wheels in motion? I’ve got a meeting with him tomorrow and I don’t want to waste any more time.”

“OK Matt, go ahead but make sure he clearly understands the need for discretion.
That man is prone to loud and visible crusading. It’s how he keeps getting reelected. If Taylor agrees, get him to call me so we can devise our strategy together. We need to weight the task force with allies if we want to win this battle.”

“That’s great Senator - thank you!”
Lewis’ eyes lit up and his furrowed brow relaxed.

“Call me when you’ve had your meeting so I can keep abreast of Taylor’s movements on the matter.”

“Will do. Thanks again.” he called over his shoulder as he hastened out the door then left the building to catch a taxi back to his office.

It was a living, breathing shambles of papers, folders, documents and photos covering the desk, chairs, tables, walls and floor.
He had been investigating Devlin Industries for the past three years, and his drive to stop Alex Devlin’s rapidly creeping stranglehold on the healthcare industry bordered on obsession. Aside from the obvious potential for an all powerful monopoly in healthcare through the latest takeover Devlin was attempting, Lewis’ very competent digging had turned up evidence of a network of companies which separately held significant interests in some of the country’s major food manufacturers. When these companies’ holdings were combined, their voting power was enough to hold significant sway over that vitally important sector as well.

Lewis had used all his wiles and experience to uncover the tenuous links of these virtually anonymous companies to Alex Devlin himself and he was determined to do something about it.
The chaotic appearance of his office was an intentional effort to confuse any attempt to locate his evidence and only he knew exactly where to find the vital pieces that he hoped would eventually indict Devlin. He retrieved about forty documents from their various hiding places amongst the chaos and shoved them into the feeder tray of his photocopier. As the machine whirred away at its task, Lewis pulled an untraceable cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number he had memorized long ago.

“It’s me.
I need to get a package to you for safe keeping. I’m getting very close to exposing Devlin and I need some insurance.”

He listened intently and acknowledged the instructions from the man on the other end of the phone then hung up.
The copier finished its work and Matt tucked the original documents into a manila envelope and sealed it. He took the photocopies and inserted them into a binding folder and put them into his briefcase then locked his office and briskly left the building.

Arriving at his destination, he looked nervously around the large bus station for the lockers he was told to find.
Spotting them in the far corner of the terminal, Matt composed himself and waded through the sea of people that filled the building. He found the locker number as instructed, placed the manila folder full of originals inside, inserted some coins and turned the key to lock it. Shoving the key in his pocket, he then proceeded to the men’s room around the corner, checked the stalls for occupants and entered the last stall to find the false ceiling tiles as described in his phone conversation. Standing on the toilet, he lifted the middle tile and placed the locker key inside, an inch to his left then dropped the tile back into place. He waited a moment in case anyone else had entered the room then flushed the toilet, washed his hands and left the terminal. Relieved in the knowledge that such vital evidence would soon be in very safe and capable hands, Matt left the building, flagged down a taxi and headed for home. He wanted to be fully prepared for his lunch meeting with the congressman the next day and also needed some well earned sleep before making the four hour drive to Washington.

Unknown to Matt, a pair of steely blue eyes followed and observed him from the upper floor of the bus terminal.
These wise, knowing eyes which had seen so many things people should never have to, were set in a lean, chiseled face with a strong jaw line. He was handsome but for a deep, ugly scar running from his forehead to the middle of his right cheek. Standing six feet one inch, he was tall but not obviously so and had a lean but powerful frame developed through a life of elite military service and over two decades chasing perfection in a number of different martial arts. Jake Riley, as he was known, watched to ensure that Matt Lewis hadn’t been followed and no one suspicious entered the men’s room after he left. Once fully satisfied that Matt’s movements had gone unnoticed and no one had followed him, Riley pushed himself away from the railing and started down the stairs to the main terminal area.

Walking through the crowded room, his highly trained eyes searched for anything out of the ordinary until entering the men’s room to retrieve the locker key from its hiding place.
He then moved to the locker, opened it and folded the manila envelope into the inside pocket of his jacket. With one last visual sweep of the terminal, he stealthily disappeared into the crowd.

*****

At his modest but tasteful Washington apartment, Private First Class Damien Fraser of the United States Capitol Police sat on a chair in his bedroom, polishing his shoes. Following his daily regime, he had risen at five thirty in the morning and gone for a half hour run then returned to his home to do three sets of fifty pushups, three sets of twenty chin-ups and eat breakfast. After showering, he set out his crisply pressed shirt and suit then got out the shoe polish and brush. He was a former Marine who took pride in his professional appearance and enjoyed the reliability of a good routine. Damien had joined the US Capitol Police right after his military service ended and his experience as a Marine had allowed him to breeze through police training. He had served in several different areas of the Capitol Police since graduating and been promoted to Private First class in record time. Since being assigned to congressional protection, PFC Fraser had proven his worth protecting junior members for two years before being assigned to protect senior Congressman Stewart Taylor. He enjoyed his job and considered Taylor an honorable man who was firm but fair and in many ways reminded Damien of his favorite sergeant in the Marines.

Congressman Taylor had made a name for himself as a man of action in Washington.
He was a very experienced representative who had successfully headed many committees and sub-committees investigating cases of corruption, fraud, antitrust and other serious matters. The vast majority of his constituents genuinely liked him and he consistently won reelection by a wide margin. His skills and capabilities were very well respected in most political circles and feared by anyone who had something to hide. Taylor’s hand-picked staff members were the best in the business and through their skills, experience, mutual respect and trust, operated as a well-oiled machine. He had assembled the brightest researchers, investigators and legal minds available into a highly effective and cohesive unit. Any organization or individual who came under their scrutiny had very good reason to fear swift and decisive justice.

The congressman’s long time friend and ally, Matt Lewis had put Devlin Industries onto his radar during a phone call a few days earlier and aside from the obvious potential antitrust case against the company, Matt had alluded to more sinister activities which he wanted to discuss in person.
He had asked Taylor not to mention anything about the matters to his team until after they met and went over the mounting evidence together. Taylor honored Matt’s request and was intrigued to see what his very competent and determined friend was getting his teeth into. Their meeting was set for twelve thirty in the afternoon and to maximize their time, the congressman had ordered lunch to be catered in his meeting room.

It was nine in the morning when he arrived at his office, his two US Capitol protection officers in tow.
He had at first considered the precaution unnecessary and restrictive but had quickly changed his mind a few months later, when Officer Damien Fraser had prevented a deranged stalker from stabbing him. He had already warmed to Fraser before the event despite his initial feelings about the security detail but after the attack, his respect and appreciation of the former Marine rose to a whole new level.

“Good morning Rita.” he called out to his personal secretary as he entered his outer office.

“Good morning congressman. Your coffee is on your desk along with the Post, the Times, and the Journal. There is nothing particularly remarkable in the newspapers so I’ve set the documents that require your signature up as your first order of business before your ten o’clock with the union people and the meeting room is prepared for your twelve thirty with Mr. Lewis. You’ve also got a conference call with the Mayor at eleven thirty.”

“Thank you Rita - I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“It’s a good thing you don’t need to think about that, there’s no room for it in your schedule.” Rita said with a wry grin.

The congressman smiled playfully, “I wish you could teach my wife some of your famous organizational skills.”

“And I wish your wife would teach me some of her famous cooking skills. Please thank her again for the banana muffins; they were delicious.”

“I’ll do that.
Hold my calls until after nine thirty Rita.”

Damien Fraser opened the heavy oak door to the inner office, his eyes gave the room a once over and he nodded approval.
Taylor walked into his office, sat at his desk and took a long draw of his coffee then looked down at the pile of unsigned documents. He picked up his pen to make a start as Fraser and his partner, George Geoffrey exchanged a few words before closing the door with Geoffrey remaining outside and Fraser taking up his post inside.

“Do please have a seat Damien.”
Congressman Taylor called across the large room. “You can’t stand there all day.”

“Thank you sir but I’m happy to stand for now.”

“Suit yourself but it’s going to be a long day.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks sir.”
Damien said dryly.

Amused by Fraser’s humor but also genuinely concerned, Taylor replied, “From my point of view, they could triple your salary and it wouldn’t come close to enough.”

“Thank you sir but money isn’t everything.”

“Indeed not Damien.
Indeed not.”

With that, the congressman got on with his work and the day progressed as scheduled with Rita Hill’s stern hand ensuring punctuality was strictly adhered to.
As the time neared twelve fifteen, Damien Fraser excused himself to do a quick sweep of the congressman’s meeting room. As he opened the office door and walked out, he absent mindedly scratched at the back of his neck and informed Geoffrey of the sweep.

Fraser exited the outer office and proceeded a short way down the hall to Taylor’s meeting room.
It was used by other members from time to time as needed but was designated as Taylor’s due to his seniority and high volume of meetings. It was standard protocol to sweep the room before each meeting because of its shared nature. Damien held his pocket sized digital bug detector out and began his sweep. After checking all possible bugging sites, he went to the window and made sure the locking mechanisms were secure then left the room. There were two deadbolt locks on the door. One was for the use of other members and their staff and the other required a unique key that was only available to Congressman Taylor, his personal secretary, and the head of his security detail. Fraser pulled his key out and locked the door to ensure no one else entered between his sweep and the twelve thirty meeting. He then returned to Taylor’s outer office where Matt Lewis was now seated, waiting for his meeting with Taylor. Fraser knew Lewis from his many previous meetings with the congressman and greeted him.