Cobalt (6 page)

CHAPTER 9

As the sun rose over the Russian rooftops and lit the room, Madeline slipped out from her partner’s embrace, being careful not to wake him. She dressed quietly and went to examine the elaborate computer system on the coffee table in the other room. The phone was yet to ring, so Madeline assumed that the Agency had made contact via electronic-mail. She was right. Madeline read the message from Lychart, in horror. She hoped Rick could get information from Keslov quickly. She turned to go back to the bed, and noticed Rick was watching her through the doorway. The smile on his face quickly disappeared as she relayed the message.

       ‘We have a problem, something not even I anticipated. Kellerin has broken his pattern. He and his men are now threatening to poison Washington DC's water supply with Cobalt Blue. Anyone who drinks or has contact with the water will be poisoned. Millions of innocent people will die needlessly.’

     ‘I'll call Keslov,’ he answered as he leapt from the bed and moved towards the phone, pulling his trousers on. He dialled the number and waited for Keslov's heavily accented voice to respond at the other end of the line. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, his voice crackled over the phone. Rick spoke for a little under a minute, hung up and turned to face Madeline.

     ‘Florence,’ she stated. ‘They've moved to Florence.’ He looked at her in disbelief.

     ‘How could you know that? Keslov only found them five minutes ago.’

    ‘I don't know. I just thought Florence is nice, and it has the world's greatest gelato shop,’ she joked. ‘Seriously though, I remembered the profiles I created on the group. It became clear that the group had certain locations it preferred to work from, and Florence is the most logical, at the moment.’ While Madeline gathered their small suitcases, and packed the communications equipment into the larger of the two, Rick rang the airport.

     ‘They've got two seats on the very next flight to Florence. They're economy though. You think you can handle three hours, forty-five minutes in economy?’ he said.

    ‘Of course. We don't have time to be choosy,’ she answered as she left the room.

Rick finalised the call and caught up to her in the lobby. She was standing with the bags at her feet, talking on the mobile phone. As Rick gathered the luggage and hailed a taxi, Madeline ended her call.

     ‘Marcus is going to call us within the next twenty-four hours, when he finds something.
If
he can find something,’ she told Rick as she climbed into the back seat beside him.                                                      

*          *          *         

Michlov Teslovich examined the facade of Club Fun before entering the building. The stone walls and elaborate glass doors reflected the ambiance Florence created, an age-old romantic city, and Kellerin’s nightclub was no different. A popular attraction for both locals and tourists Club Fun was the perfect cover for Kellerin’s Italian dealings. The club itself was extremely profitable, raking in over eight million dollars annually, dollars that funded Kellerin’s extra-curricular activities, dollars that paid Teslovich handsomely to perform small, random acts of terrorism, as part of Kellerin’s legacy. Michlov entered the building and headed straight to the private office. He had phoned in advance to notify the club’s manager of his impending arrival. Jean-Carlo had subsequently vacated the office and placed at Teslovich’s disposal all of the equipment. Teslovich sat behind the huge glass table and dialled the computer phone. One minute later Kellerin’s face emerged on the screen.

     ‘I see that Madeline and the Deputy Director are yet to meet up with you. This is good.’ Kellerin smiled at Teslovich, noting the smug look in his associates eyes as he received praise.  Kellerin had great faith in Teslovich’s ability to finish a job, and have no remorse for the few lives they took in the process. He did however, worry slightly at Teslovich’s unnecessary risks. His associate just didn’t seem to fathom the dangerous scenarios they participated in and the consequences that could result should they be captured.

     ‘I told you that a woman was no match for my intelligence.’ Teslovich almost spat the word woman at Kellerin. ‘Everything is going to plan…’

Kellerin cut him off. ‘Michlov, our plans have changed ever so slightly.’

     ‘What? This is unacceptable. I thought…’

     ‘You thought wrong. I am the decision-maker in this syndicate, and I have been presented with a far better proposal. One I believe will greatly benefit all participants.’   

     ‘What are we going to do now?’ Teslovich looked at Kellerin. The man commanded respect, Teslovich decided, respect and a lot of attention from the opposite sex. Teslovich envied the latter quality about him. He believed he was as respected and intelligent as the forty- five year old, but he lacked the handsome, distinguished appearance Kellerin prided himself on. While Kellerin was not highly muscular, his face was open and friendly. Teslovich, on the other hand was built like a brick wall, a very tall brick wall. His face was a little too square, and his nose was a repulsive flat shape due to being broken one too many times in bar brawls during his troubled youth. Kellerin possessed a quiet dignity about him. He relied more on his wit and ability to corner his opponent mentally, while Teslovich used his size and brute strength to persuade his opposition to his way of thinking.

     ‘I have been given the opportunity to enter the White House, and speak directly to the President. I have a loyal supporter on the inside. Someone who can guarantee us direct unhindered access to President Watson.’

            Teslovich stood, and began to pace the office. He turned to place his back to Kellerin. He didn’t want his associate to see his discomfort at this latest development.     

     ‘What about the Cobalt. It is such an effective way to get what we want.’ Teslovich turned back to face Kellerin, a sadistic smile distorting his mouth and the rest of his facial features. ‘Cobalt Blue is the most powerful poison on the market, far more effective than cyanide and it’s radioactive counterpart Cobalt 60. If one particle touches the skin, it is absorbed, and in less than two minutes the unfortunate victim is dead from a series of small internal explosions.’ Teslovich’s smile grew wider as he envisioned death from Cobalt poisoning. ‘The victims skin turns purple as the vessels explode. Their eyeballs turn red. Blood pumps from every orifice. All in all, a particularly painful way to die. Particularly effective to prove our point, Comrade. Don’t you agree? Why would you change plans when the one we had was fool-proof?’

    ‘The Cobalt can be still used should this approach prove to be futile, but you know my thoughts on unnecessary carnage. We are not monsters. I believe our goal can be achieved this way, without unnecessary bloodshed, unnecessary homicide.’

     ‘Then your mind is made up? What comes next?’ Teslovich asked, the smile leaving his face.

      ‘Lose your pursuers, and plan to meet me in Washington. I’ll contact you in thirty-six hours. We’ll know specifics by then. In the mean time you know what you have to do.’ Kellerin leant forward to end the communication but Teslovich’s movement stopped him.

Teslovich leaned up very close to the screen, almost as if to tell it a very intimate secret. ‘What do you want me to do about Madelyne and the Deputy Director?’ Teslovich exaggerated Madeline’s name to sound Russian. He rolled the name off his tongue, giving it a dirty quality. It aroused him.

     ‘Do what you have too to Glazer, but I want Madeline left alive. I like having an adversary equal to my intelligence. Besides when this is over I might try to seduce her. See if my charm can outwit her intelligence. Do not touch her Michlov.’

     ‘As you wish Comrade. I look forward to seeing this woman. Until our next communiqué, Kellerin,
dasvidania
.’ The computer screen went blank and Teslovich seated himself behind the table once more. I wonder what this Madeline looks like, he thought. She must be extraordinary if Kellerin wants her.

CHAPTER 10

Madeline and Rick walked side by side down the boarding ramp, from the plane. As they reached the terminal doors, Rick sped up, breaking away from his partner. He hurried after one of the other passengers from the flight, leaving Madeline looking after him. Rick caught the blonde by the shoulder. She turned in surprise and their lips met. She reeled back in horror, until she gained focus on her assailant. She smiled.

     ‘Rick, Darling, long time, no see.’ She wrapped her right hand about his arm.

     ‘Angela. I thought I recognised you on the plane. What are you doing with yourself these days?’ he flirted.

     ‘I'm on my way to Milan, and the spring fashion week. My divorce left me with quite a bit of cash, so I thought I'd be frivolous and buy some really expensive designer clothing. And yourself?’ Angela flicked her long, blonde hair away from her face, desperately trying to appear irresistible to her former lover. He looks great, she thought as she examined him. He hasn't changed a bit, and thanks to cosmetic surgery, neither have I. She smiled at him, flashing her perfectly capped white teeth.

     ‘I'm here on business. You know how it is...no rest for the wicked.’ he joked.

     ‘You travelling alone, Rickie?’ she questioned, releasing his arm, as she gazed critically at the woman who had just stepped up beside him.

     ‘Yes!’ Rick answered oblivious to Madeline's appearance.

     ‘Ah, then who's this?’ Angela asked peering once more in Madeline's direction, her eyes reading annoyance and contempt.

     ‘Who?’ Rick asked.

     ‘The delightful creature standing beside you.’ Angela retorted as she gestured noncommittally at Madeline. Rick's eyes followed the gesture, until they met Madeline's questioning gaze. He swallowed.

     ‘Oh, this is Madeline, Angela. Ah, my business partner.’ he said quickly, introducing them as a necessity. He could tell by Angela's expression that she was unimpressed at this latest development. He flicked his gaze at Madeline. She seemed fine, not a hint of resentment or displeasure read in her face, or her voice as she addressed the blonde in front of her.

     ‘It was lovely to meet you Angela, but unfortunately we can't stay. We have a schedule to keep. Come on,
Partner
.’ To a stranger it was a pleasant request, but Rick caught the ice that underlined the last word. He glanced at Angela.

     ‘She's right Ang, we have to go.’ Angela leaned forward and kissed Rick on the lips, slipping her card into his hand, as she did so.

     ‘Call me,’ she whispered, as she drew away. She turned to face Madeline, who stood expressionless.  ‘It was a pleasure to meet you, too, ah...’ She feigned distress as she tried to recall Madeline's name. ‘Anyway, Rick, enjoy Florence. Oh, ah you too, honey.’ With that Angela glided away, hips and hair swinging to the beat of her stride. Rick watched her leave, admiration shining in his brown eyes. Once she was gone, Madeline regained Rick’s attention by thrusting one of the suitcases into his chest.

     ‘We've got work to do. Come on.’ she stated as she moved away.

Rick, staying in step, smiled as he stated accusingly, ‘Why Madeline, I do believe there is a hint of jealousy erupting from that seemingly emotionless facade you've created.’

Madeline just walked quicker out of the airport, and towards the taxi ranks.

CHAPTER 11

By the time Madeline stopped the taxi outside the Duomo she seemed to have forgotten all about Angela, and Rick's obvious attraction to her. As they climbed out of the taxi, Madeline captured the view. The Duomo, Florence's biggest and most famous cathedral was spectacular. She smiled as she made her way across the cobbled street to stand on its steps.