The Soul of the Matter (34 page)

Still, the time the search took had been enough for Dan to take a quick shower and rest for a short while. While he could have used more rest, at least the vise of fatigue around his head had dissipated, and his mind was sharp.

Now it was time to head downtown to finally meet with Evans. Certainly they both had a lot to say to each other. He had to make sure that it didn't take so long that it would interfere with the plans he had confirmed back at the monastery.

In five hours, he needed to board a commercial flight, alone, using false identification.

Chapter 66

E
vans's stone-cold face chilled the air over the bare metal table as he glowered at Dan in a small, windowless, concrete room located deep inside Boston's FBI offices. Two hulks, sidearms in full view, flanked Evans.

Tired of waiting for Evans to speak, and wanting to convey both innocence and confidence, Dan spoke. “I presume you brought me here for reasons other than staring. I'm not that good-looking, nor your type.”

“Did you already forget what took place in Seattle and at your apartment?”

“I'm sorry, if an investigation is underway, I'm not allowed to comment on it,” Dan answered curtly.

A flash of real anger flashed across Evans's eyes. Evidently, whatever latitude Dan had previously enjoyed was gone.

Without altering his gaze, Evans said in a slow, emphatic voice, “You need to listen
very
,
very
carefully and, for a change, weigh your course of action wisely
before
you do or say anything. The well-being of one young girl, or of you or your traveling companion, is of no consideration
whatso
ever
in comparison to what is at stake.”

After a pause meant to allow Dan to absorb the words, Evans continued. “Lawson, I don't know what you know, but it's time you stopped screwing around and started cooperating. Events of the highest importance are unfolding. You have no idea what steps people in Washington want to take with you. The only reason I'm here, and you're not there, is that
our
leadership views my relationship with you as an asset, and I negotiated a deal on your behalf, presuming you're
wise enough to take it. Otherwise, well, things work a bit differently these days. Indefinite custody in a location where we'd have the autonomy to gain your cooperation, while leaving your new friend to fend for herself, would be the least of it.”

Dan's mind raced through questions and possibilities. What led Evans to speak to him this way? The explosion at the physics lab was catastrophic but localized. The fusion technology, while revolutionary, shouldn't lead to international conflict. Stephen's and Sam's deaths were terrible, but hardly rose to the level of a national security concern.

On the other hand, Sergei's involvement didn't bode well. Had others somehow gained access to Stephen's work, despite Dan's precautions? How much of what Evans was saying was real, and how much was just a bluff? He looked as serious as Dan had ever seen him. Surely that was part of the intent of having Evans face him now—that Dan would recognize it. But what if Evans was being bluffed as well? Evans could be sincere while nonetheless being misled. Dan had to choose his response prudently. If Evans's arms were being twisted, if Dan made it clear to Evans he was playing the expected part for the benefit of the broader audience that was undoubtedly monitoring their interaction, Evans might recognize Dan's unspoken thoughts, and help guide him, with communication only they would recognize
.

Referring back to their conversation at Stephen's MIT office, Dan replied, “I don't understand why the government is treating Stephen's death as a national security issue by trying to connect it to an explosion at a research laboratory that worked on unclassified, non-defense-related physics technology, and then trying to connect that to me. Whoever was after Stephen's genetics work went after Sam Abrams in Seattle . . . not me. Isn't it obvious they had reason to do that?”

Evans's face first tightened then softened just slightly into a knowing exasperation, as though Dan had answered exactly as Evans had expected.

Continuing, Dan said, “And I'm confused by your saying ‘our leadership.' I'm retired.”

Evans withdraw a sheet of paper and pushed it across the table to Dan. “Actually, you were on temporary leave. Fortunately for you, we recently discovered a ‘clerical error' that prevented the final processing of your retirement papers. Otherwise the agency technology you've been using—including accessing classified databases, using government protocols to access private consumer data, such as cell phone tower usage, misdirecting Chinese hackers to NSA resources to bring them to the attention of US government cybersecurity investigators—would all be viewed as serious crimes, with potential sentences of several lifetimes. But as the paper in front of you states, that you
will
sign, you've been reinstated to active duty, and all of the aforementioned activities were legal and at our behest. The agreement also includes a confidentiality clause. Only a handful of people will know you are an active agent. You are not permitted to disclose this to anyone other than me.”

Dan tried to stifle his surprise and anger.

Noting this, Evans said, “Save the outrage. You were very good. It took a number of our absolute best, and increased capabilities that were developed since you left—I mean, went on leave—to identify your activities. Now, take a few moments to read the agreement, but not too long, before signing it.”

Dan was relieved to note that Evans had mentioned nothing of Dan's private, encrypted storage, both cloud-based and using other servers. The techniques Dan had used for that should have still been beyond the best detection methods, unless someone knew what it was and where to look for it. Plus the trip wires he had installed would have signaled him had anyone attempted to breach his security. Reading the agreement, he noted a clause stating he was required to disclose all information, of any nature, on any subject, that was requested. That was something he was not going to do until he knew more of what was going on, including exactly what it was that he had. And that required that he get to Italy to meet with Father Michael, without government oversight.

Evans noticed Dan's eyes lingering on the clause and said, “Forget about whatever the agreement says. It means whatever we want it to, whenever we want it to, until we want it to mean something else.
Just sign it so no one doubts your cooperation. If time wasn't critical, more than your signature would be required. Of course, there is always the John Doe investigation, if you prefer a different course. There are no time limits or constraints on that, as long as we get a judge to sign off on our activities, and you can be certain only judges that grant our requests actually get appointed to their positions.”

“That's a hell of a system.”

“It's what the nation needs,” Evans replied, his voice flat.

Something in Evans's now matter-of-fact manner, indifferent to rights, struck Dan as odd, something that someone who didn't know Evans so well would miss. Evans was a true fighter for the America he believed in. He wouldn't abuse core liberties without showing significant remorse, and there was nothing like that in his expression. Dan wondered if Evans was opening a side door for both of them to walk through that no one else would notice. He'd have to play it through to find out.

“You know how illegal this is, don't you?” Dan said, testing his theory.

“And you know you're appealing to the wrong guy,” Evans said with an exaggerated, dismissive shake of his head.

Dan signed the paper and shoved it back to Evans saying, “Now I'm authorized to know everything you do—that is, if you want to get the most out of me.”

“Need-to-know basis only,” Evans replied, withdrawing a folder from his secure briefcase and placing it on the table in front of him. Looking at the two agents flanking Dan, Evans said to them, “You guys aren't cleared for this. Have a seat outside the door until I call you back in.”

Once the agents had left the room, Evans said, “You're a real piece of work. You happen to resume contact with your estranged friend just as he has lots of interaction with the head of a fusion research lab that blows up from something that wasn't supposed to be possible. I tell you to stay out of trouble, and a security camera in San Diego records you in a confrontation with Sergei that, lucky for you, he wanted to avoid. You go dark, and we have no idea where you are. You show up in Seattle and find someone you say you never met be
fore, tortured and dying in your room. Then you ditch my guy for a few minutes for a ‘
bathroom break
' during a run they shouldn't have let you go on.”

“Still nothing that warrants this treatment,” Dan replied.

“We don't have time to play cat and mouse with each other. And my knee has ‘accidently' turned off the recorder, so you'd best talk freely,” Evans said, opening the folder on the table. Passing the top image to Dan, Evans said, “Here's the situation. The fusion explosion, as much tension it caused with other countries and interests, is an afterthought compared to what you are looking at right now. Each colored dot on the geographical image represents the location, type, and relative quantity of significant amounts of nuclear material. Somehow, not only did Viktor Weismann figure out fusion power, but he developed the means to produce the image in front of you. You understand what this means? Imagine if a country knew where everyone else's nuclear weapons and submarines were. Even worse, what if a country didn't have this technology but knew another country did? Rogue nations would be in a ‘use it or lose it' situation. Major powers might think they had enough of an advantage to act.”

Dan didn't bother trying to restrain his surprise and concern.

Noting this, Evans said quietly, “I see that you do understand the extremely dangerous implications. Where did Viktor get this technology, and what was Stephen's involvement?”

Unprepared for the revelations he'd heard, uncertain of the right course of action, still clinging to trusting Stephen, Dan struggled with what to say to Evans. On the one hand, Dan wanted to help avoid global catastrophe. On the other, he might also have knowledge that could be even deadlier than anything that might be unleashed by the images. And there was also a good chance that as well-intentioned Evans probably was, higher-ups, with far less noble intentions, could misuse whatever Dan provided. And Dan still needed to continue his pursuit for Ava's treatment, wherever that may lie.

Deciding on a middle course, Dan said, “Stephen believed he had decoded the human genome and how it directs human development. Incredibly, he said it utilized a form of algorithmic processing that begged the question of its origin. Somehow, the processing takes a
small amount of DNA and turns it into a much larger set of instructions. He wanted my help in setting up a highly secure environment where he could store his work. I did that. Then Stephen was going to show me everything he had discovered, but he died first. I'll give you what Stephen gave me,” Dan said, intending only to give the encrypted files of the raw data, the only ones he had he passcodes for, that would be useless without the rest of Stephen's work.

“As for Viktor, I don't know of any relation in their work, can't see how there could have been.” While Dan was prepared to turn over the fusion files to appease the government, he wanted to hang onto them for leverage he might need in the future.

Evans showed no emotion during Dan's revelations and remained silent afterward. A faint breeze from the HVAC system chilled Dan. Slowly, Evans pulled another page from the folder, then said, “This is Stephen's autopsy report. The real one, not the sanitized version we gave his widow. Stephen was injected with a powerful drug that was starting to take effect when he died. It acts as a high-powered truth serum while also weakening resistance to pain. Had Stephen not died then, it was likely that he would have been subjected to the same treatment that Sam Abrams was in your Seattle motel room. An analysis of the area found broken glass from a medical vial in an area were he was likely held before trying to escape. Whatever had been in the vial had been tainted from the dust, dried cleaning fluids, and other compounds on the basement floor, although we did identify traces of unusual chemical compounds and a broken vial of blood that was also too contaminated to trace.”

Dan was reeling from the information. What had Stephen been doing in a search of a cure for Ava? Composing himself, Dan asked, “Who did this to him?”

“You mean you don't know? You were there,” Evans answered.

Not bothering to ask how Evans knew, Dan answered, “I arrived after he was dead and the people who had taken him were gone. I didn't get a close look at them. Who did this?” With anger, Dan added, “Was it Sergei?”

“He probably was there, but he is just the lieutenant for a shadowy figure who goes by the name of Sarastro, one of the leaders of
an organization that calls itself The Commission. We've only become aware of both recently and haven't been unable to learn much about them. Its members are rumored to be some of the most powerful people in the world, in places of great influence,” Evans answered.

“What did they want with Stephen?”

“Stephen was involved in espionage, trading technology he obtained from others, including Viktor, for foreign experimental treatments for his daughter. He must have known she would get sick again. Stephen had an arrangement with The Commission for the treatment, but they got wind of Viktor's work and went after Stephen. After he died, they went after his associate Abrams, probably to get the same information that you now hold. Turning it over to us is the safest thing you could do for yourself and others.”

“I don't believe Stephen would do that, no matter how sick Ava is and how desperate he was to save her,” Dan asserted.

“There is no way Viktor came up with the physics breakthroughs by himself. Stephen had introduced him to another physicist, John Welch. Both had accessed technology within various government facilities. If you have a better answer, now is the time to share it. Who knows whom Viktor shared his information with. Also, we believe that Sousan Ghardi had something to do with getting the tritium that caused the explosion. You can bet, if she has any of Viktor's information, she's going to do something with it that won't be in the best interests of any of us.”