Cassandra laughed. “Maybe his heart will give out and save us the trouble.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Castiglione del Lago, Italy
Mike heard Nicholas speaking low into his cell phone. She opened her eyes, pleased and relieved her vision was now clear and her brain was working just fine, thank you. Her body felt clearer, too, and stronger.
Nicholas punched off his mobile. He was by her bed in a moment, his hand out to touch her face.
“You’re awake.”
“I am. Your hand is so warm, Nicholas. I like it. Can I sit up?”
He adjusted the bed until she was upright.
“That’s better. No dizziness, no weird feelings. I’m good to go.”
“Good to go, are you? Right this minute?” His hand cupped her chin.
“No cough, no swimmy head. Maybe a bit of a flu feeling, but that’s it. Oh, all right, lower that eyebrow. So I’m not quite one hundred percent, but I’m close. Help me up and get me to the bathroom. Did you bring my go-bag?”
He nodded, helped her to her feet, stood still, letting her rest against him for a minute.
“Okay,” she said, and straightened, pulling away from him. He stuck to her side as she walked to the bathroom. When he opened the door she said, “I did it. Nope, you’re not coming in. Hand me my bag, please.”
He handed it through the door. “Call if you need me.”
She shut the door as Dr. Sienza appeared in the doorway. “She’s up?”
“She is. She walked by herself to the bathroom. No hesitation. She’s going to get dressed.”
Dr. Sienza put her hands on her hips. “You know she should stay another day at least, let me run one more CAT scan, make sure her head injury isn’t going to cause any problems.”
Mike opened the door. She’d managed to get her hair into a ponytail. She was pale but upright, now dressed in pants, her boots, a white shirt and jacket.
“Sorry, Dr. Sienza. Really, but I can’t stay. Without me, he would crash and burn and the case would go sideways. He needs me.”
“But—”
“Come, Doctor, what would you do in my place? Look at him. He simply can’t take care of himself, not without me at his side.
“I promise to take it easy. I promise not to rush into anything. I can heal just as well on a plane or in a hotel room as I can here. Give me some pain pills, whatever you think best. Nicholas has medical training. Nothing will go wrong.”
Nicholas turned to the doctor. “Is it safe?”
“At least let me do a full neurological exam now, to see if there is anything that could be a worry.”
“Fine,” Mike said, “then I’m out of here.”
“You look as pale as the sheets on your bed.” Nicholas sounded worried.
She took his hand. “Nicholas Drummond, you know I won’t slow you down.”
“Both of you, stop arguing, so I can examine Agent Caine.”
Dr. Sienza sat Mike on the bed and began her examination. She asked her a series of questions, checked her reflexes, her pupils, her pulse. When she was through, she nodded and stood up. “I must say, Agent Caine, you have recovered nicely. You’re young, you’re in very good shape physically, and this has helped you bounce back much more quickly than I expected. I’m also pleased to see that you are cogent, and the concussion doesn’t appear to have any noticeable effects.”
She paused, looked at Nicholas, then back to Mike. “To answer your question, Agent Caine, if I were in your situation, and I had to keep someone I cared about safe, I’d do exactly what you’re doing.” She lightly laid her palm against Mike’s cheek. “Stay safe, Agent Caine, and don’t let harm come to your partner.”
“I won’t,” Mike said. “I won’t ever.”
“And you, Agent Drummond, you will keep her safe.”
Nicholas said, “That could happen if I could only talk her out of leaping off tall buildings in a single bound.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Mike rested her head against the window as Nicholas drove and filled her in on everything he’d learned, from Ben and Penderley to Gray and his discoveries about Lilith Forrester-Clarke.
“Gray said Lilith’s credit cards and passport confirm she was in London three weeks ago. She wasn’t dumb enough to put the Fortnum and Mason gift hampers on her credit card, but Gray pulled the CCTV footage from the cameras at F and M and there she was, carrying two hampers. One for Elizabeth St. Germaine and the other for David Maynes, Cassandra and Ajax’s father.”
“So, murder, pure and simple. Those two are frightening, Nicholas. Imagine, having your own father killed.”
“Evidently they believed he’d gone too far when he turned historical and private family papers to Elizabeth St. Germaine.
“I also asked Gray to send the CCTV footage to Penderley. I’m sure by now they identified Lilith’s fingerprints—she was in MI5 after all—and the tox screens found poison in both St. Germaine’s and Maynes’s bodies.”
His mobile rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered, putting it on speaker.
An Italian voice said, “This is Deputy Inspector Nando, Agent Drummond, Dr. Sienza’s brother. I wanted to update you on the situation in the Kohath palazzo, namely the tunnels in the mountain. We have found several bodies, including the female victim you spoke about. We have identified her as an employee, Lilith Forrester-Clarke, just as you said. The Carabinieri request that you come back to the palazzo for full interviews.”
“I have told you everything, Inspector Nando. The dead bodies were all Kohath guards and I never knew their names, except for one—Harry. Also, I am about to get on a plane and won’t be able to come back right away. Can you tell me, did you find Grant Thornton?”
“There is no one here who matches his description. But as you warned me, there is a great deal of blood, bullets, and other evidence. The maid here is insisting you stormed into the house, killed her employers, and made off with their bodies. The fact that she hadn’t called us, the polizia, however, is telling.
“Regardless, Agent Drummond, the Carabinieri are insisting you join us and help us to understand what has happened. If you don’t come willingly, I fear they will detain you.”
Nicholas heard the urgent note in Nando’s voice, clearly a warning.
“You should question the maid closely. She will identify all the dead guards for you. You’d do well to arrest any staff left in the palazzo, because they know more than they’re letting on about the family’s actions today. As for the Kohaths, her employers, they have left Italy and we, the FBI, are tracking them.
“Nando, I will do all I can to help you, but you’re going to have to stall the Carabinieri for me, and wait until after we apprehend the Kohaths.”
“We have frozen the scene, but I cannot control what the Carabinieri does. About the Kohath twins—be very careful, Agent Drummond. I must tell you, I have heard many rumors about the two of them, very unpleasant rumors of unpredictable and vicious behavior. Then there is the number of guards on their payroll.
“We are a small peaceful town. Why are guards even there? For what purpose? No one can or will say—again, rumors. It is all worrisome. So again, take care. Bring them back. That would be best. For me.”
“I will try, Nando, thank you.”
He clicked off and looked at Mike.
“The Carabinieri would like to get their hands on us, I fear. Do you think Major Russo could be involved?”
“Nothing would surprise me at this point. Let’s hope they don’t stop the plane before we get in the air.”
Nicholas called ahead, explained the need for urgency.
They got to the airport in Perugia just as the plane finished refueling. They saw Trident making her exterior check. She waved, called out, “We know, we know, we need to get off the ground in the next ten seconds. Clancy’s inside, doing his flight check as fast as he can. Get inside. I’ll keep an eye out. You said the Carabinieri’s not happy with you?”
“Not a bit,” Nicholas said cheerfully.
Nicholas followed Mike up the stairs into the cabin. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised to see Louisa and Adam already on board.
Louisa held up her hand. “Don’t start, Nicholas. No way were we going to stay in Venice and let you and Mike have all the fun. So sit down, be quiet, and suck it up.”
“Sucking it up,” Nicholas said, and helped Mike into a seat, fastened her seat belt, and covered her with a blanket. He looked at the two of them. “Actually, I’m really glad you’re here. We need all the help we can get.”
“Recognition—about time,” Adam said. “Hey, Mike, you look like someone tried to drown you.”
Mike cocked an eye at Adam. “Whatever gave you that impression? I suggest you don’t answer that, Adam, or I’ll make you eat your sneakers when this is over.”
Trident said from the cockpit doorway. “Okay, guys, all buckled in? Good. We’ve got drinks and sandwiches for you. What is that? I do believe I hear sirens. And here I thought just maybe you were exaggerating. We’re out of here!”
The plane was barely wheels up when Carabinieri cars roared onto the runway and raced after them. When they were in the air, Adam pumped his fist in the air. “Way to go, Clancy, Trident!”
“Top Gun!” came two voices over the intercom.
Louisa stretched. “Is anyone ready for a sandwich?”
Laughter. Always food for Louisa. It felt good, Mike thought, as she snuggled into her nest. She heard Nicholas ask, “Did Lia and her father get off all right?”
“She was discharged just before we left Venice. She’s good. Her father loves Venice.”
Nicholas said, “I’ll bet Lia won’t have any fond memories.”
“Actually, she wants to come back with her dad. As a tourist.”
He looked from Louisa to Adam. “Listen. Mike will swear she’s one hundred percent, but she’s not. At least not quite. I suggest all of us get some sleep, it’s going to be a long flight. You, too, Adam. I’ll keep an eye on Kitsune’s tracker.”
“You also need to keep a watch on the storm.” Adam handed Nicholas his laptop. The weather panel showed the storm, spinning slowly on the radar. “The meteorologists and their hurricane models have it strengthening, but it’s still heading toward the Gulf. They expect it to become a category-three hurricane and hit Texas, but that’s all based on their computer models. They don’t know it might very well change course and head to D.C.”
“At least the Kohaths haven’t changed its direction yet,” Nicholas said.
Louisa said, “I have a hard time imagining how they’re going to pull this off.”
“Any rational person would,” Nicholas said. “Adam, Louisa, before you’re off to dreamland, let me tell you what Ben’s learned about the Kohath family history.” He told them about Da Vinci, Tesla, and Appleton Kohath, and their weather machine.
Adam asked, “Is there some sort of formula based on electromagnetics? Lasers? Use of satellites?”
“Hopefully Ben will be able to add more explanation of the machine to us.” Nicholas yawned.
Louisa said, “Nicholas, you look ready to drop. I’ll take the first watch. Make it four hours? Then you can take over.”
Half his brain was already in never-never land. “Thanks, Louisa. Wake me if anything changes.”
And without opening her eyes, Mike said, “Put in your earplugs, people. He snores.”
Nicholas gave a little smile. “Yeah? So do you.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Over the Atlantic
Nicholas woke to darkness. The plane’s interior lights had been turned down, and everyone was asleep, slumped in their chairs, except for Adam, who’d taken Nicholas’s turn after Louisa, staring at the multiple open screens on his laptop.
When Nicholas, rose, stretched, Adam looked up. “Good timing. You’re going to want to see this.”
“You got her?”
“Yes. They landed in Cuba. GPS has a ping at 20°44´03˝N 075°39´26˝W. There’s an airport there called Preston, on the southeastern coast.
“From what I can tell, this ain’t no hot spot like Havana, it’s a tiny, out-of-the-way place. They’ve been there for about an hour. I already alerted Clancy and Trident. They’re going to get permission to land there. They say about two more hours. The Kohaths had a decent head start, but we’re catching up. The longer they stay in one position, the more time we cut down.”
“I doubt the Cubans will be thrilled with a planeload of FBI descending upon them, even if travel has been normalized between our countries. Oh, bugger all. Zachery is going to love this call.”
“Well, before you do check in, there’s some bad news. The storm hasn’t changed course, but it’s intensifying, rapidly. The millibars dropped by twenty since the last flyover by the National Weather Service planes. The predictions are all over the map—literally. Every model has it going a different way now, apparently the jet stream is changing and the storm could get caught up in it. They have weather watches from Texas and Louisiana to the coast of Florida, and they’re discussing the storm even heading up north, all the way to New York. No one knows where it’s going. It’s ‘wobbling,’ as the meteorologists say. And it’s been named. Since it’s the first storm of the season, its name starts with an A. Want to guess?”
“Tell me.”
“Athena. Nice Greek name to go along with our crazy Kohath twins.”
“At least we know where it’s going—to D.C. But I’m wondering why it hasn’t already plowed into the coast. Why are they waiting?”
“Maybe the twins don’t know how to do it.”
“That would mean another Kohath. Near Cuba.”
Adam said, “Could be. Nicholas, I’ll sure feel better when we find a way to stop it. It’s on screen one, the tracker is screen two. If you’re up now—?”
“Yep, it’s my turn. Look at Louisa, she’s smiling, must be a really nice dream she’s having. Go on, Adam, get some sleep.”
“Yeah, like that’s going to happen, not when the pot’s coming to a boil. I couldn’t sleep now anyway. Only two hours until we land. The financials are almost ready, too. I’ve been running some variables that match up the stock shorting to specific completely unexpected storms in the last five years. And yes, I’m seeing a pattern. Not enough to fry them, but still, we’re on the way.”
“You can tell me everything after you get some rest. At least close down your brain for five, Adam.”
Adam saluted, went back to a seat, put in his earbuds. Nicholas wasn’t surprised when he was out in under a minute.
Nicholas watched Kitsune’s tracker. Could there be another Kohath near Cuba? Was this the connection between Italy and Cuba? He should call Zachery, but not yet, no, not just yet.
His cell phone dinged a message from Ben.
Sending you some fascinating reading. Kohaths believed they discovered Atlantis. Stay tuned, there’s more that might tie into where you’re going.
When his cell dinged an incoming email, Nicholas scrolled down the pages Ben emailed him, and read:
There appears to be an underwater city off the coast of Cuba, discovered in the fifties. Alexander Kohath, that’s Cassandra and Ajax’s great-grandfather, was big into the Atlantis legend, was one of the world’s preeminent Atlantis scholars. And naturally, because he was a Kohath, he believed the Ark could be there. According to his journal, they found this city off of Cuba on a dive and had been working on ways to get down to discover more—they actually cooked up a deal with the British government to use their military submarines for exploration. But then the Cuban Missile Crisis happened in 1962 and the whole area was shut down.
Was it Atlantis? Photos they claim to have taken show large pyramids and even a sphinx. Guess what? They had a satellite Genesis Group office there for a while, so at least Cuba as a destination for the family to use as a bolt-hole makes some sense.
And this is where the weather machine comes in. The Kohaths have be
en creating storms to make money for over a century. It’s as simple as that. I’m sure you know most of this already.
But here’s what I’ve been able to sort out from St. Germaine’s notes and David Maynes’s letters he gave her. Appleton Kohath and Tesla fell out because Kohath wanted to use the weather machine to get money to fund his digs, and he saw the machine—Tesla called it “the Coil”—as an easy way to do so. In 1913, they invested in several companies—insurance, construction—then hit the Great Lakes with a storm. Horrendous damage. And here’s how the scam worked—the companies Kohath had invested in were hired to repair and rebuild throughout the area, and became incredibly wealthy, thus paying out huge dividends to their investors. The Kohaths have been refining the weather machine ever since.
They make money on both ends, playing the market, owning reinsurance firms and huge construction conglomerates. Concrete, especially. When a hurricane knocks down half a city, someone has to rebuild, and there they are, ready to fill the void. They short stocks of companies in the areas there will be damage, make money on their losses. And that’s just the financial side of things, the science is ever freakier.
Tesla’s Coil was pretty elaborate in the beginning, and Kohath spent years testing all the different ways he could monetize the Coil. As the Coil was perfected, as the science behind it got better, the ways to make money were refined as well. You already know their broker, Landry Rodgers, is a Brit living and working in Singapore. He’s been on the Kohath payroll for the past twenty years, making them tons of cash, buying and selling and investing, taking advantage of the disasters they bring about. Unconscionable stuff.
Here’s the Kohath family tree for five generations. I thought it would make more sense to you if you can see the actual players.
Appleton Kohath
• b. 1881 d. 1953
• From Richmond, England
• Married 1908 Genevieve
Their son
• b. 1917 Alexander d. 1969
• Married 1939 Babette
Their son
• b. 1941 Jason