| "Conspiracy Theory" | ||
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May 25, 2008 0530 hours Duck, North Carolina Carter's house Carter froze as his brain finally processed what the morning news anchor was saying. He left the laptop, half packed on his bed and walked into the living room. He turned the volume up louder on the television and absently played with the blank disks in his hand. "...the Washington DC police had a busy night last night, Katie." A young blonde woman, presumably Katie appeared on the screen. "That's right Aaron, I'm here in the nation's capital where just a few hours ago local police found themselves on an apparent...goose chase." The image switched to one of the federal buildings Carter had visited many times when he needed to plead his case for more funds. There were police cruisers with their blue and red lights flashing, as well as police officers, detectives, and badgeless men milling about looking important. The voice over painted the picture: "It started last night at 2:45 AM with an alarm at this federal building. The police responded and began checking it out. Security inside the building provided no reason for why the alarms were tripped and a sweep of the building ensued. About 15 minutes later, across town, two more government buildings had their alarms tripped. Another group of police officers were called in and again they found the same thing. Ten minutes later, yet another alarm at an office building in the heart of DC." Katie was back in the picture now. "Aaron, the last alarm was an office building adjacent to the Army Engineering Research Labs, that if you remember were broken into nearly a month ago. Police and FBI are not prepared to release a statement until a more thorough investigation can be conducted. But I did speak with one of the FBI agents called in on the case and he told me that they believed the incidents of early this morning as well as the one a month ago are all somehow related. He also told me that nothing was taken from the buildings and in fact there were no signs whatsoever of forced entry. Besides investigating if an individual or a group of individuals are behind the strings of alarms, investigators are not ruling out faulty alarm systems, as every building is serviced by the same company. Reporting live in Washington DC, Katie Mack, Channel 5 News. Back to you, Aaron." Carter scowled his mind racing as to the purpose of these break ins. Instinctively, he knew they were somehow related to the break in of his own labs and the stealing of his files. The files. He turned and walked back into the bedroom to finish packing his laptop, he still had a long drive ahead of him. The shrill ring of the phone halted his actions as he wondered who the hell was calling him at this hour in the morning. "Hello?" he said making his voice sound shaky as if he had just woken up. "It's Lacey." "Lacey, it's Sunday morning...what do you want?" "I'm sorry for calling so early Dr. Carter...but I've got some interesting news." "What is it?" he asked slowly as a sinking feeling filled his stomach. "I was in the labs checking on the monkeys when I got a phone call from a Major Briggs." "Who's that?" "He's the senior officer up at the National Guard station in Pennsylvania." Carter froze his eyes widening. "What?" "Apparently, there was an incident of some sort at the barracks�a trailer was involved in a fire...the trailer with our equipment - our hardware - it was all destroyed." "What?" "He said they were still investigating it but they believed someone managed to sneak on to the property and set explosives. He thinks it might be some activist group or something because it was only the one trailer and it was closest to the perimeter." Carter had to sit down or he thought he might pass out. Fire? His trailer? His DATA? Destroyed??? "Dr. Carter?" "Yes�I'm here, I just can't believe out of all the trailers it was ours. Christ, it just got there yesterday." "I know," Lacey said sympathetically. "I can't believe it either. First the break in, then this? I'm just glad we copied all the data�at least THAT'S safe." "Yeah...are you gonna be at the labs?" "I'll be here for a couple hours, I have that shower to go to." "Right, okay, I'll be in once I get a shower and some coffee." "I�I'm a little nervous with all this�so I started double checking the systems anyway. I hope you don't mind." "No, of course not, that's great. Can't be too safe nowadays." "Right, ok, I'll see you in a bit." "Ok," he said and hung up the phone. What the hell was going on? Who was responsible for everything? The break in, the missing files, the fire? And were they related to the alarms in DC? He didn't know but he was determined to find out. Of course the only piece of evidence that anything might be related was the envelope. It had contained one of his devices, the only thing taken from his lab a month ago. Well, besides the files, he reminded myself. He had to find out if Lacey made any progress finding out where it had originated. That's where he would start, and right now, it was the only starting place he could find. He got up off his bed and was just about to make his way to the kitchen when his phone rang again. "Hello?" He expected it to be Lacey but it was not. "Dr. Carter," the smooth female voice said, "I'm sorry to disturb you so early in the morning." The Funder. He felt his heart rate began to speed up. "Madeline�no, it's fine, I was awake anyway." "Good. I have someone I want you to meet." "Meet?" He closed his eyes hoping his voice didn't sound as scared as he felt. "You said you needed to move the time line up and you needed some manpower. I have the perfect person for the job." "Oh," he stammered. "I was just on my way to the labs." "Well, you'll have to change your plans. I'm at the facility now. I suggest you get here." Carter paused. He sensed a threatening tone to her voice. One he had never heard before but one that he knew this woman possessed. "I'll be there in 30 minutes." "Good," she breathed out easily. "I'll see you in 30 minutes then." Outskirts of Duck, North Carolina 0630 hours Carter pulled up to the small facility that housed the Capricorn project. It was leased by Madeline when he first had to move down to North Carolina and it provided a quiet, secure, protected sanctuary off the beaten path and away from prying eyes. The structure was not that large, a main lab, two small ones, a handful of offices, and two secured rooms for storage. One of the storage rooms he utilized as a kitchen area though the windowless space and locked doors gave him the creeps. He squinted in the morning sun as he parked near the large tan rent a car. He also noticed a large black van parked next to that. Madeline was waiting for him. He got out walking over to her and kissing both of her cheeks. A gesture not common in the States, but he felt that was how Madeline preferred being greeted. She smiled warmly at him and he couldn't help but suppress a shiver from the gesture. "In light of the time table change I decided to bring in some additional security." She gestured vaguely to the black van just as four large individuals dressed in all black and carrying weapons got out. "No need to ask them any questions, they know nothing about the nature of the project and anything they do learn I can assure you will remain strictly confidential." Carter said nothing though he was clearly not comfortable with the notion. "I'm not sure this is really necessary." "I am." She said firmly. "I have invested a lot of time and money into this project to fill both your needs and mine. I don't intend to compromise my investment in any manner and I am willing to do whatever is necessary to protect it." Whatever was necessary? He almost dared not to read between the lines of that comment. He also began to feel that little twinge in the pit of his stomach that told him he might have made a mistake. That he should have never agreed to the initial meeting with her when she first contacted him almost a year ago. But she had been so smooth, so pleasant with her proposal. She had almost unlimited funds. And she had power, power within the government to get his project (the real one) pushed through. But most of all, the coupe de grace, she had the resources to help him, the resources to help him find the one thing that he wanted most of all...his dear Maggie back. She could help him, HAD been helping in fact, trying to locate his missing wife. And all she asked for in exchange was a piece of the technology he had been working on. It had all seemed so safe, the ends seemed to justify the means, he could get his Maggie back. And after all, wasn't that the only thing that really mattered? He took a deep breath and nodded, "you're absolutely right, the extra security is a welcomed measure." She smiled, "I also need someone here to watch over Brian." He furrowed his brow, "Brian?" She nodded, "the government has boarding schools for gifted and talented young children. Prodigy children, ones that can't function productively in the regular school environment. These schools take these children in and offer them a curriculum that challenges their brilliant minds. Brian is one of them. His specialty is physics and math. I'm sure he will be an invaluable component to completing the project." "A prodigy child?" Carter was dumbfounded. "I've heard of these schools...but I didn't know the kids were out on loan." "It's not unusual for various parts of the government and military to enlist the children's help on certain tasks. It provides a good assessment of the child's progress and capability to be groomed into a certain position. Brian is a brilliant physicist." "But how..." "Our agreement was not to ask too many questions. You'll have Brian for as long as you need though I don't expect it will be more than a week, two at the most." A week? Did she think he could complete the project in a week? Without the data? He stretched his arms and looked to her. It was time to tell. "We have another problem." Madeline simply arched an eyebrow and waited. "It's about the break in to my facility last month." "Go on," she said evenly. "I thought only the one device was taken...but last night I was going through some of the files and I found four missing." "What does that mean?" "The four files were for Capricorn. I need those files." "Then go through the hardware." "I can't." "Why not?" "The hardware was shipped up north to Pennsylvania yesterday. It was to be moved to Detroit tomorrow but I was informed this morning that it was destroyed." Madeline tilted her head the slightest bit. "The charge officer said it was the only one destroyed, that someone got on to the grounds and set explosives, destroying it. He thought it might be an activist group or something but after hearing the news this morning of all the alarms in DC�I can't help but think it all might be related." He wasn't quite sure how she would react because he certainly knew how he felt about it�and it wasn't a very good feeling. But she just looked at him for the longest time. Finally, she smiled, a small even smile that didn't quite reach her dark eyes. "I'll look into it. For now though, you have a lot of work to do." She opened the back door to the rent a car she had been leaning on and coaxed a young boy out who was obviously sleeping. "Brian, I'd like you to meet Dr. Carter. You're going to be working with him for the next week." Brian rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned. He then threw a nod at Carter and mumbled sleepily, "hey doc." Carter smiled, "hi there Brian." Carter had always loved children and hoped that one day himself and Maggie would have a few. "I'll be in touch with you. My people have brought a few things to make Brian comfortable here." With that she got into her car. Carter and Brian moved towards the facility letting Madeline pull out and drive off. He looked down to Brian who stood looking around and finally fixed his sight on the four individuals in black. "Who are they?" "Security, nothing to be worried about." Brian just shrugged and Carter couldn't help but wonder if anything phased this kid who was now doing his best childhood years in some stuffy government boarding school. "So, what are we gonna be doing?" Brian asked squinting in the sunlight. Carter smiled gesturing for Brian to follow. "Oh, something I think you'll get a kick out of." Return |
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