Not knowing if this conversation was to be strictly one-on-one, James suggested that Nathan stay out of sight and just listen in.
James clicked to connect.
“Good morning, Mr. Clark,” A friendly face greeted him. His voice was slightly accented◦– Eastern European, James guessed. “I’m Dr. Lovinescu, the physicist at Groom Lake that Trish LaForgue mentioned to you yesterday.”
“Good morning, Dr. Lovinescu,” James responded. “LaForgue was somewhat evasive in our discussion, and I’m still at a bit of a loss as to why we cannot assist from our offices in Manhattan.”
“That’s currently classified,” Dr. Lovinescu said.
James was getting a little weary of hearing this.
Lovinescu continued curtly. “The purpose of this call is introductory. We’ll be working closely together as soon as you arrive. Please have your team pack enough personal belongings for two weeks. The day after tomorrow at midday, you will be collected from SkyTech and taken to New York’s JFK airport where a C-130 military transport will be waiting. You will be flown directly to Homey Airport where I’ll meet you.”
“Obviously, we’ll be required to bring more than just personal effects,” James said. “What else will we need?”
“I’m not at liberty to give you all the details,” Dr. Lovinescu said. “But…”
“Dr. Lovinescu,” James said, irritably. “Is all this clandestine bullshit really necessary? I feel like I’m racing towards the finish line without knowing in which direction to run.”
Lovinescu dropped his eyes momentarily. “James,” he said, looking up. “Is it okay if I call you James?”
“Yes, of course.”
“James, you may find this difficult to believe, but I share exactly the same frustrations as you do. I agree. It is bullshit. I’m nothing but a physicist, but in my current post, subjected to all the rules and regulations the Office of Security have imposed. If I don’t play by their rules, I could well end up in prison.”
James could tell by the look in his eyes that Dr. Lovinescu was sincere.
“Tell me,” Lovinescu said. “Has the parcel been unwrapped?”
James knew that he was referring to the transmission and was asking if SkyTech had deciphered it. “Yes, is has.”
“Is it intuitive?”
“Not yet,” James said.
“Okay. Don’t do anything further until you get here,” Lovinescu said. “Bring it with you on a removable device or laptop,” he instructed. “And don’t let it out of your sight. Also, bring whatever equipment is needed to find what LaForgue is looking for.”
James thought it funny they had to speak in riddles, but he understood the doctor’s position. “Should we agree on a secret handshake now, or wait until we meet?” James asked, tongue in cheek.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lovinescu suddenly erupted in hearty laughter. “I think that you and I are going to work together very well. And please call me Uri.”
James smiled. “I think so too, Uri,” he said, earnestly.
“Do you know yet who will make up your team?” Lovinescu asked.
“Four of us,” James answered. “I will take care of the communications aspects and bring two analysts, Nathan McIntosh and Emily Hurst. I’ll also bring a member of my security team along.”
“I look forward to seeing you in two days,” Dr. Lovinescu said, and signed off.
When the connection terminated, James looked at Nathan. “I had reservations to begin with, but I think we’re going to get along quite well with the good doctor.”
Nathan McIntosh and Emily Hurst? The Controller would have to get some more information on those two. He’d also need to find out who the member of their security team would be.
“Good to get my shoes off,” Nathan said, flopping down in the corner of the couch and putting his feet up on the coffee table.
“And good to be home,” Emily said, sitting down next to him. “Lovinescu? From where do you think that name originates?”
“Poland, Albania, Croatia, maybe,” Nathan said looking at her. “Don’t really know. He had a trace of an accent, but I couldn’t place it.” On their drive home, he recounted what he remembered from Lovinescu’s conversation with James.
“In a way, I feel sorry for guys like him,” Emily said. “If he’s a physicist, he’s probably at the top of his league, being appointed into such a highly secure government facility.”
“Yeah,” Nathan agreed. “People like that want to share their knowledge, not hide it because of our government’s ridiculous obsession with national security. I actually look forward to working with him. He seems to be a nice guy. I think you’ll like him too.”
“Any thoughts on dinner?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”
“That would be wonderful,” she said. “Thanks.”
Although Emily was a good cook, when it came to concocting new dishes, Nathan was an expert. It sometimes irked her that he never followed a recipe. His creations, always tasty, never seemed to fail.
“Before I start, I just need to take something,” Nathan said. “Sinus irritations.” He deplored taking medication, but on occasion, his allergies got the better of him.
“Stay,” Emily said, getting up and going down the hall to the bathroom medicine cabinet. She returned with a couple of antihistamine tablets and half a glass of water.
“Thanks,” he said, appreciatively.
“And remember,” she advised. “You can’t operate heavy machinery after you take those. The label clearly says so. That means no masturbating in the shower later.”
Nathan laughed so hard, he almost choked swallowing the tablets. “Thanks for the compliment,” he said, coughing.
“I’m light and delicate,” she said. “You can operate me instead.”
“Yes, I would definitely prefer that,” he said, still chuckling at her witticism. As for being delicate; definitely not, he thought. She had a sexual strength that never ceased to amaze him. They had learned from each other that there was no shame in taking what you wanted. No permissions were required, or approvals expected. Emily let go of her inhibitions completely, as did he. Nathan couldn’t get enough of watching her straddled on top of him and disappearing into a world of private ecstasy.
Not that their bedroom romping’s were relentlessly crazy, much to Nathan’s occasional disappointment, but they’d learned that there was a significant difference between having sex and making love. The passion was always intense and often went through to the early hours of the next morning.
Chapter Fifteen
Greed, wealth and power; all formidable motivators. César Kubacki couldn’t understand how his carefully concealed operation had drawn attention. Not even the sophisticated government satellite and ground-based observation systems could detect its existence.
Yet, someone had. He first heard the whipping blades of an approaching helicopter, then what sounded like a rocket launcher firing. Within seconds, there was a deafening explosion outside.
The mercenaries were heavily armed and dressed in standard military camouflage. Their first order before searching out Kubacki was to obliterate his truck with an air-to-ground missile.
Kubacki had prepared diligently for the possibility of unwanted military-style guests, but never expected this day would ever come. Taking only a few seconds to destroy the original digital schematic after transmitting it, he sprinted from the ensuing gunfire as fast as his legs could carry him. A single bullet ripped through his left shoulder before he managed to secure the steel barricade separating the lab and workshop from his escape route.
He hoped that his unconventional transmission would be intercepted by the right people; those that provided the additional funding. He assumed it would be, having been given a clear directive of exactly what to do, should this unlikely event ever occur. But what of the likelihood there’d be someone with enough common sense to unravel the encryption; an initiative of his own. He, at least, needed some level of personal insurance.