Chapter 8
Cydney leaned back in the chair and in shock, slowly absorbed the results from the technical readouts that spilled out of the printer
in front of her. She expelled a hiss of air from between her teeth in a soft whistle.
�Fuck.� She whispered softly in disbelief. She picked up the readout and her eyes quickly scanned the figures again, willing them to
be wrong. �No such luck Cyd� what you see is what you get. Damn. Damn them all to hell.� She muttered running her fingers
through her fine hair. She looked suddenly very tired. This was not exactly what she had been expecting to find. Worse, than even
she had imagined in her wildest dreams, and her stomach clenched as an icy rage swept through her and pinned her immobile to
the spot. Radioactive waste was leeching from the soil into the water supply. Poisoning the earth with its foul insidious
destructiveness and quietly causing untold, maybe irreparable damage. No wonder the people that lived in this region were
beginning to sicken and ail. Pushing aside her revulsion for the creatures that were inflicting this upon countless innocent people
and the environment, she immediately became business like and focused because she had a job to do. She needed to see justice
done. She picked up her cell from Kevin�s desk and punched in the numbers that would put her in touch with Mac. While she
waited for the call to go through she pondered her next step. This was a development she had not allowed for or expected.
Radioactive waste would not have been her first guess at what was polluting the area. In fact it was the furthest thing from her
mind. She had come across all sorts of toxic waste dumping in her time with the agency, but not poisoning of this scale and
certainly not with the type of materials that the computer readouts had analysed from the samples collected. And in this case a
deadly waste that was being disposed of illegally and clandestinely. She heard John McDonald�s raspy voice on the end of the
phone.
�Cydney. What�s up kid?� Mac asked and Cydney pictured him competently doing two or three things at once as he always did
while sitting at his desk. She wondered if this news would shake even his renowned composure.She took a deep breath and didn�t
beat around the bush.
�I�ve got the results from the soil and water samples Mac�. It�s bad.�
�How bad Cyd?� he asked evenly, but she sensed she had all his attention now.
�It�s radioactive.� She dropped the bombshell and waited for the explosion.On the other end of the phone there was silence, and it
was deafening, but she hadn�t missed the quick intact of breath from Mac as he absorbed Cydney�s words.
She could picture him now deathly still, all movement halted as he digested the information.�Fuck.� He hissed between clenched
teeth.She grinned wryly despite the seriousness of the situation, Mac rarely swore. His composure must be shaken.
�My words exactly.� She admitted to her boss. Cydney was well known around the office for her inventive turn of phrase when
roused, a legacy from working with Dennis.
�Who would have access to radioactive materials, then need to dump the waste product in the wilds of Kentucky?� Mac mused
thoughtfully over the phone as he tapped his pencil on his desk.
�That�s up to me to find out now isn�t it.� She sighed as she leaned back in her chair eyeing the readouts with some distaste again.
�No wonder they wanted Nev dead and out of the way and that video tape back�. This has explosive written all over it.�
�Yes it certainly looks like it. Do you want some reinforcements Cyd?� Mac carefully asked and she heard the concern in his
voice. But he wouldn�t baby her. He respected her too much to try the kid glove treatment. He would let her risk her life, and that
of Kevin�s to get the job done and this case solved. And she realised that her boss was a unique man in his way of thinking, not
many men in his position would let a female agent loose on a case that she might pay the ultimate price for trying to solve. It was
the measure of the man that he chose to treat Cydney as an equal. Not that she knew he wouldn�t be troubled about her being in
danger. She was sure he had a nightmare for every agent lost in the line of duty. She knew John McDonald feared for her safety,
but he respected her skill and talent as an investigator regardless of her sex and by pushing aside his own protective instincts and
qualms he paid her the ultimate compliment by letting Cydney do what she did well, her job.
�No thanks Mac, well not yet anyway. I don�t want to be conspicuous. Kevin and I are doing ok here by ourselves at the moment.
But I�ll have to start asking a few more discreetly placed questions and snoop around some more. There has to be a lead turn up
somewhere. If you put out the feelers for info about whom would have the means, the motive and the wealth to pull of this type of
operation from your end. I�ll see what we can dig up from this end. And you never know we might piece this jigsaw puzzle
together piece by piece and then meet in the middle.� She replied as her mind turned over with possibilities.� Mac, this has got to
be someone pretty powerful, someone for whom money is no option, maybe a large corporation that�s doing some illegal
experiments� maybe something covert, �..�
Out of the corner of her eye she spied Kevin entering the study, his lips framing a question for her. He looked momentarily
disconcerted as he realised she was talking on the phone and he made a discreet move to back out of the room leaving her
undisturbed but she motioned with her hand for him to stay. Moving silently across the room he dragged out a chair opposite the
desk, straddling it backwards while resting his chin on his arms as he listened to the conversation. His green eyes were intrigued
and his handsome features curious but he waited patiently for her to finish talking to Mac.
�It might be a good idea to call in some favours from your friend at the Bureau Mac. See if he has any info for his poor relations.
Remind him there is life outside of Quantico.� She wisecracked wryly about the inter- branch rivalry that was always there under
the surface. Sometimes operations had required a degree of cooperation between the two services and it had not always been
friendly rivalry, but Mac�s friend Bruce Urwin was a sympathetic admirer of the Agency�s work and he considered the E.P.A a
vital watchdog and enforcer of environmental laws. Besides Cydney and Dennis had helped him out of a tricky situation when the
F.B.I and the E.P.A had crossed paths over a case a few years previously and since then he had always been helpful and
respectful, making sure credit went where it was warranted. It was an attitude that had done him no favours with his more
competitive superiors.
�Yeah well I guess speaking with Bruce is an option I can explore.� John McDonald pondered. �How about I put out some feelers
and get back to you Cyd?�
�Ok, you know where to find me. We�ll do some more snooping about, maybe go take a look at the mine and explore around
some� It could be a long shot but you never know we might pick up some evidence at the scene.�
�Well Cydney stay in touch. And be careful out there.� John McDonald stressed.
�Will do boss�.� Cydney started to reassure him.
"I mean it Cyd� I don�t want you or Mr Richardson being brought out of the wilds in a body bag.� She heard the underlying
concern in his voice.
�We won�t Mac� besides I�m rather attached to breathing, I�d hate to have to stop.�
John McDonald smothered back a choked laugh. �You�ll do Agent Wade�.now don�t let me stop you from getting back to work.�
She rolled her eyes and chuckled. �Yeah right, sleep as always is an option�.I do so love this job� now about that raise Mac�.�
�Bye Cydney.� She heard a laugh echo through her phone before Mac ended the connection. With a pained expression on her
features but smiling grey eyes she moaned playfully out aloud. �One day they will pay me what I deserve.�
Kevin with his chin still resting on his arms grinned across at her. �One day I�m sure you�re get all you deserve�now tell me
what�s happened.�
The smile faded from her eyes and Cydney�s expressive face became deadly serious as she drew a deep breath and in a hushed
tone quickly she informed Kevin about the test results. His shocked ashen face and the icy anger that flared immediately in those
candid green eyes mirrored Cydney�s own reaction against those guilty of this environmental vandalism and it made them both all
the more determined to succeed in their quest to find those guilty.
***************
Justin De Vere drove his gold Mercedes Benz into the large sweeping driveway that curved gracefully in front of his family�s
ostentatious mansion. The imposing edifice was once built and owned by Julius Windemere, a pioneering transport magnate with
aspirations to reach the heights of American high society by marrying into the British aristocracy. The house was a tribute to one
man�s folly, as the style of architecture was a mish mash of styles cobbled together to give the mansion a look from child�s story
book, a tribute to Windemere�s young aristocratic bride�s ancestral castle home. One almost expected a fairytale princess to
emerge from the expansive double entrance doors and elegantly make her way down the wide paving stone stairway to her
awaiting carriage below.
Here at Windemere House, Julius� wish came true as he stormed the walls of high society to become one of the leading pillars of
it, helped in part by his charming beautiful bride who blossomed in her adoptive homeland. But fate was to be cruel to this
glittering, glamorous couple and their life together cut short when they perished on the ill fated maiden voyage of the Titanic after
a visit to his wife�s homeland. Distraught by the tragic turn of events, Julius� younger sister could not bare to take up residence in
the mansion, preferring to sell the magnificent Windemere estate to the wealthy De Vere family.
Christian De Vere was a man of vision, carving out his fortune from mining and in industry circles he was legendary for his luck
with investments, and his reputation as a ruthless negotiator was well known throughout the country. He was at his death, an
extremely wealthy man and it seemed both his son and grandson had inherited the legendary De Vere luck as they increased the
family holdings and wealth over the ensuing decades.
But lately, all was not as it seemed. There had been a few rumblings around Wall Street about the state Justin De Vere�s financial
empire. Whispers persisted in stock market circles were that De Vere was flying close to the wind. Ignoring these with typical De
Vere bullishness, Justin De Vere just brushed them aside and shrugged them off as jealous murmuring from his competitors. He
continued on doing business as normal and his behaviour in dealing with the innuendo silenced all but the most stubborn of his
detractors. But not all entirely, for he was not without his enemies and there were a few good decent men who waited for the
hammer to fall on this ruthless businessmen and his rumoured unscrupulous tactics.
On seeing the De Vere estate for the first time, you were left in no doubt that here resided wealth and power. The house oozed
opulence and luxury. Every comfort was at one�s fingertips. Justin de Vere desired greatness and power in his life, and it was
here at this estate that he would put his plan for his future into fruition. But past glories gave way to modern times. No longer did
finely worked and comfortably sprung carriages teamed with well bred horseflesh await the glamour of high society, today the
mechanical beast reigned.
Parked off to the side on the expansive driveway were numerous expensive vehicles that with their value added together could
buy a small third world country. Justin De Vere was running late after another meeting with Leon Berry and Paul Anthony but he
knew his wife would act as a capable hostess in his absence for the stellar collection of dinner guests, of whom he was wooing
support for his political campaign.
Like with everything else so far in his life Justin De Vere had calculated and come up trumps with his marriage to socialite Adele
Leyton-Mills. In this woman he had found a person with a drive and burning ambition that matched his own. They formed their
partnership with eyes wide open, each under no illusions about this marriage. They had never been in love with each other but
together they formed a formidable duo. It was an unspoken agreement that each could find amusement outside the marriage bed if
they so felt inclined as long as they were both discreet. But over the years they had developed an easy affection and fondness for
one another as their desire to make their mark on the world they existed in increased with the years. The De Vere�s had grand
political aspirations. They both wanted with a passion that burned deep within them to be the highest family in the country. Justin
and Adele de Vere had their eyes on the presidency and the White House, and both would not be content untill their dream was
fulfilled. It was to be their destiny.
The house was awash with hundreds of sparkling lights, as Mason the De Vere�s imposing English butler admitted his employer to
the glistening marble tiled foyer.
�Madam is expecting you sir. Dinner will be served as soon you have refreshed yourself. I�ve taken the liberty of pressing and
laying out your tuxedo ready for you. I thought your white dinner jacket suitable for tonight�s dinner Sir. � Mason said in his clipped
but highly proper British accent as he collected De Vere�s briefcase in readiness to place it in his employer�s study.
�Thank you Mason. Please be kind enough to inform my wife I shall not be long. I take it she will be on the terrace with our
guests?� De Vere asked already loosing his tie as he prepared to make his way up the magnificent flight of stairs that dominated
the entrance hall.
�Yes sir, she is serving cocktails to your dinner guests.�
�Very good Mason.� De Vere said dismissively as he turned and made his way up the stairs to his room.
He appeared later, showered, refreshed and dressed in a neatly pressed tuxedo looking every inch the dynamic man of wealth.
Image was everything to these people, his guests and he was prepared to give them a show. He needed the support and backing
of several political high flyers here tonight if he was to succeed with his ambitions. He made his way through the open glass doors
onto the terrace. Muted conversation washed over him but he could pick out his wife�s well modulated cultured tones with ease.
Such was her poise that no situation fazed her, she could be relied upon to hold the fort in his absence. She was exquisitely and
tastefully dressed, as was her norm. The house of Dior Justin thought at a glance, her favourite couturiere. Her jewellery
understated but anyone with an eye for precious stones could have informed you Adele De Vere wore a small fortune in diamonds
on her person.
His wife looked up as he entered and he made his way over the where she stood in discussion with a couple of Republican
senators. She raised her cheek for his salute and greeted him with a smile.
�Justin darling�you really might have made an effort to be on time.� She scolded playfully.�
De Vere smiled. �You look charming as always my love.� He turned and offered his hand and his apologies to the senators.
�Edward, William, please forgive my tardiness. An unexpected matter of business arose that needed my immediate attention.�
�No matter Justin, Adele has kept us admirably entertained in your absence. She is the perfect hostess.� Senator Edward
Lawhead replied smoothly. Adele accepted the accolade as her due.
�She certainly is.� Senator William Stackpole added waving his empty glass. � And I think she makes the best martini this side of
the border.�
�It�s practice William.� Adele laughed as she let go of her husband�s arm. �But now I really must go and make arrangements for
dinner to be served, otherwise it will spoil if we wait much longer and that is an unforgivable sin when entertaining. Please excuse
me gentleman.� With a smile that included everyone she moved off gracefully.
The three men watched her leave and Edward Lawhead turned to De Vere. �That�s a mighty fine woman you have Justin. She
will be an enormous asset to you in the future.� He hinted pointedly and Justin De Vere was pleased with his wife, he smiled
tightly as his eyes followed his wife�s progress before he turned his attention to the men beside him. �I have no doubts that Adele
is capable of great things. But now if we allow her dinner to spoil she will have my hide. Shall we go be seated?�
Mason appeared to announce to the guests that dinner would be served.
�Yes Justin, lead the way.� William Stackpole spoke softly. �After dinner we have plenty of time to discuss your plans and how we
may assist you in them.� A satisfied look settled on his hawk like features. Justin de Vere was contented with how his plans were
being played out.
**********************************
Kevin made desultory conversation as they drove along. He threw a sideways glance at Cydney as she murmured a noncommittal
reply. She seemed deep in thought and her face pensive as she stared out of the truck�s window, so he turned his attention to the
road ahead and contented himself with the thought that she would talk when ready. Already that morning they had revisited some
of the people previously interviewed and he assumed that she running their conversations through her mind and marshalling them
into some sort of cohesive order. Left to ponder his own thoughts as the familiar countryside passed by in a blur Kevin wondered
if they had hit a brick wall in their investigations.
�You know Kev, there has to be something I�ve missed. Some clue, something small, maybe something that doesn�t seem relevant
at the moment.� She sighed suddenly with no small amount of frustration in her voice. Kevin glanced across at her again. It looked
like Cydney was thinking along the same lines as he was.
�Maybe it�s time to step back from the case, you know take some time out.� Kev mused thoughtfully in his soft voice.
�Maybe country boy�.maybe.� she murmured unconsciously using her nickname for him as she chewed her lip while fidgeting in
her seat trying to get comfortable. �Some down time sounds good though.�
He tossed her a smile and she found herself responding. As always she marvelled at the effect of his smile on her as it lit up his
face and shining eyes as they twinkled across in amusement at her.
�You city folk might find the down time around here a bit dull though�.� He drawled accentuating his southern accent more than
normal.
Cydney barked out a laugh and grinned at him. �I doubt that very much, you�re full of it you know.�
Laughing he turned his attention back to the road and whistled softly as he drove. She thought she vaguely recognised the tune,
then it came to her. It was a song from the new cd he had played for her the other night. The night when they had been so
companionable together and she had felt so very close to Kevin.
Cydney studied his profile as he drove. Watched at the way his deceptively sleepy eyes followed the road ahead. Watched the
concentration on his face as he drove at speed but with a great deal of skill. She liked what she saw but she pushed those thoughts
away to the back of her mind. Now was not a good time to begin analyse these feelings that Kevin was beginning to stir within
her. She wasn�t ready to think about that. There was work to be done. She again chewed at her lip in thought and she sighed, she
knew she was frustrated due to the lack of leads in the case at the moment. She closed her eyes, leant back against the headrest
and willed her brain to work.
Kevin thought she sounded tired and that wasn�t like her at all, she was normally so full of energy. Taking his eyes off the road for
a few seconds Kevin again glanced across at her. He wanted to reach out and offer comfort, to ease her load, maybe to hold her
close. That sudden unbidden thought brought him up short. Where did that come from he wondered astounded? Her grey eyes
were shielded by long lashes as she closed her eyes wearily leaning back against the seat�s headrest, but he saw something on the
road ahead out of the corner of his eye that distracted his attention from her.
�What the �. �Kevin exclaimed as he slowed his truck down. �That looks like Earle�s truck up ahead.�
Cydney sat up suddenly alert, all tiredness banished from her eyes. �Earle? As in my pig farmer Earle?�
� Yep the one and only. Oh it�s ok.. looks like he�s just changing a flat tyre. I�ll stop and give him a hand Cyd. I won�t be long.�
Kevin pulled off the road behind Earle�s dilapidated beat up truck. He jumped down from the cabin with the easy loose limbed
grace she was beginning to associate with him. With a lighthearted laugh he exchanged a few words with Earle who gladly
offered up the wheel brace to the younger man. As Kevin changed the tyre he chatted away in his usual friendly manner to the
older man. She watched in some amusement, hoping that Kevin wouldn�t think with his own peculiar sense of humour, that a trip
to visit Earle�s pig farm was just the down time she needed. She noticed Kevin�s face grow serious. Earle was obviously excited
by what he was telling Kevin. His hands never stopped moving as he used them to emphasise his point. Kevin threw a speaking
look in her direction. She caught the slight tensioning of his body, his sudden stillness before he continued on changing the tyre.
Her investigators instinct tingled so she decided to go see what was going on.
Kevin stood up and pushed back his wide brimmed black hat from his face at her approach. He leant casually back against Earle�s
truck but his eyes were excited despite his calm demeanour.
Earle took off his old matted straw hat exposing his balding head. �Why Miss Cydney, this is a pleasure.�
Cydney offered her hand and nodded her fair head towards the tyre. �Hello Earle, please call me Cyd. That was a bit
inconvenient.�
�Well Miss Cydney, I was telling your young man that it is actually. I�m on my way right now to the hospital.�
Cydney briefly glimpsed across at Kevin before turning back to Earle. �Oh I hope it�s nothing too serious, can we help?�
�Why thank you Miss Cyd, but no. Not now your young man has helped me. My two nephews got themselves into a bit of strife
last night. They got into a fight at a bar over in the next town. The young rascals.. see without their father alive they�ve tended to
run a bit wild�I do what I can of course.�
Cydney leaned back against the truck next to Kevin. He shot her an excited glance and she knew there was more to Earle�s
story. �I hope they�re not too badly hurt Earle?� She jumped slightly as Kevin slung an arm about her shoulders but not before she
caught the look of amusement in his eyes. Showing her that he too could play the role assigned him. She relaxed with a grin and
snuggled into his body and they looked every inch a couple.
�Well Miss Cyd, I was telling your young man here, that these out of towners have been making a bit of a nuisance of themselves
at this here Bluegrass Derby Bar. City folk stirring up trouble amongst the local boys. That type of thing don�t go down too well
around here. My nephews thought to put a stop to it, and they got hurt. But there�ll be more trouble before too long. You mark my
words.�
�Out of towner�s you say Earle.� Cydney spoke thoughtfully as she gazed at her boots. Looking up at Kevin she knew he was
thinking exactly what she was. This might just be the break they needed. She looking across at the farmer she continued. �Some
people have no respect Earle. I hope your nephews aren�t too badly hurt.�
He cracked a toothless grin. �Well� the young whippersnappers, they have a few broken bones and bruises. But they won�t have
learned their lesson boys will be boys. But if the word gets out about these folk, they�ll be lads around here that will try it on with
them. Yes boys will be boys. Now I remember this here young lad and his brothers all those years ago��
Kevin unwrapped his arm from Cydney�s shoulders but he took hold of her hand instead and pulled her towards his truck. �Ummm
Earle� we�ll not keep you waiting any more. I�m sure you�re running late. You know how strict those nurses are about visiting
hours.� Cydney grinned across at Kevin highly amused by this sudden need to get going.
�Rightio lad� now don�t you young �uns be shy now. Feel free to call by the farm.�
�We will do, I promise.� Kevin opened Cydney�s door and she climbed in. Kevin was seconds behind her and had his truck started
before she could blink an eye. With a wave at Earle he drove off. Kevin adjusted his hat and peeked sideways at her.
She was grinning widely at him. �Well country boy� what was that all about?�
�Never you mind city chick�.� He told her making her laugh again.
�Well I�ll get to the bottom of this country boy�but first I think I�m going to pay a visit to this Bluegrass Derby bar. That flat tyre
of Earle�s just might have given us our lucky break.�
Chapter 9
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