Chapter 67
Monday, 14 March 2022 – 8:35 a.m.
MST
Valerie arrived at the airport just minutes before she saw
Quinn’s plane land. She had not noticed Sireesha following, but felt the
overwhelming anxiety of knowing that Sireesha was near. Valerie walked quickly
to meet Quinn and Ramesh. When she saw Quinn, she felt a wave of relief. He
had been a beacon of strength in her life. She always felt safe when he was
near.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she said as he approached.
“Me too,” he replied. He hugged her. “I’m so sorry, Val.”
“Me too,” she said back, hugging him tightly. “Me too.”
Valerie held Quinn a little longer than usual, and he understood.
She had experienced something horrible, something that she should never have
experienced at work. As she released, she noticed Ramesh standing nearby.
“How are you Ramesh?” she asked as she reached for him.
He shook his head. He looked exhausted. His eyes were
bloodshot and his beard had grown out into rough gray stubble amplifying his
age. Valerie embraced him.
“The past few days have been rough,” she said as she held
him for a moment. “Sorry to have brought you into this.”
“Quinn brought me into this,” he replied.
Valerie glanced at Quinn. It was obvious that the two men
had been arguing. She considered intervening, but didn’t know where to start.
“The car is waiting,” she said.
They walked together across the tarmac to the terminal then passed
quickly through to the exit. There was little activity inside the terminal
which magnified the silence between them. As they stepped back into the bright
Arizona sun, Valerie and Quinn stopped short. Ramesh continued. He did not
recognize the threat.
“Good morning, Quinn,” Sireesha called out.
Quinn stood in complete stunned silence. For the past week
he had been planning to confront Sireesha at some point, but he had always
assumed it would be via video call, not face to face.
Ramesh stopped. He stared at Sireesha for a moment. He had
never expected to meet Sireesha either. He backed toward Valerie.
“It’s great to see you,” Sireesha smiled as she strode
confidently toward the three. Daniel followed, but his walk was more
deliberate. He did not smile.
“What are you doing here?” Quinn asked.
“Coming to collect the messenger,” she replied.
Quinn felt as though he had been struck in the chest. His
knees weakened and he stepped back. “How do you know...”
“About the messenger?” Sireesha reveled in being in the
stronger position. “Well, Daniel identified a back door in the program Brad
used to infect our systems. We assumed you’d have it, but we really have to
thank Valerie for keeping us informed about your progress.”
“No,” Valerie tried to shout. She wanted to shout, but she
couldn’t. She could barely draw a breath. “No ... you promised.”
Quinn spun around. He searched Valerie’s face for an
answer, a reason. “Val?” he pleaded.
Valerie was unable to bear the scrutiny. She dropped her
eyes as tears welled up. “I had no choice,” she whispered.
“Actually,” Sireesha said, “she always had a choice. She
just didn’t like the other options we gave her.”
“Val?” Quinn asked again. “Val, what...”
She turned away and sobbed.
“We don’t have time for this,” Sireesha broke in. “You can
sort this out once we’re gone, but right now I need the messenger.”
Quinn jumped into Sireesha’s path. “Once I’m sure that
Laura is safe.”
“That is out of the question,” Sireesha replied. “But if
you give me the messenger, I’ll let you live.”
“Ridiculous,” Quinn yelled. “You give me back Laura and
I’ll stop this network attack.”
“You don’t understand, Quinn. Laura is dead. There is
nothing that we can do about it. She was never on the bargaining table. So,
again, I’ll ask you to give me the device and I’ll let you have your life ...
what’s left of it.”
Ramesh stood in shock. He tried to force his brain to deal
with the situation, but he couldn’t make it happen. Valerie stood nearby,
sobbing. Quinn and Sireesha were yelling, but Ramesh felt disconnected, unable
to participate.
“Laura is still alive and she is therefore part of this
negotiation. I will not allow you to take her. You will not take her,” Quinn
shouted.
Sireesha laughed. “Quinn, you haven’t changed one bit. You
still think that everything is about you. You’ve been playing this like you’re
actually on the board, but I am hear to tell you that your pawn was taken long
ago. You just never realized it. From my perspective, you’re a pawn at the
side of the board acting like you are controlling the game. You’re not – and
you haven’t been in control for a very long time.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” Quinn interrupted.
Sireesha shook her head. “No. You’ve just been so
self-absorbed that you never noticed the big picture. You really have no idea,
do you?”
“The game is over,” Quinn demanded.
“Not for me,” Sireesha stabbed. “But for Laura, the game is
over.”
Quinn incensed at the mention of his wife’s name in such a
way. “Leave her out of this.”
“I can’t. She is the problem. That’s what I have been
telling you. Quinn, this really is not about you. I cannot let Laura become a
Senator.”
Quinn felt the world collapse around him. He stared at
Sireesha for what felt like an eternity. “What?”
“I have a plan, Quinn. I know we never understood each
other. It’s because I always had a plan and you never did. There’s so much
more to this whole big world than just the accumulation of wealth. You never
saw that, though. Laura was going to be a problem in my plan. I can’t have
that, Quinn.”
Sireesha stepped in closer to Quinn and whispered,
“President Laura Sorensen would have been in the way. She would have changed everything
about the relationship between China and the United States. She would have
destroyed the old Asia by aligning so closely with China as to make it just
another capitalistic partner of the west. My plan is about Asia and the
post-American era. It’s time for a new political and economic center. What
better place than the place where most of humanity lives?”
“Let her live,” Quinn exasperated.
“I can’t.” Sireesha stepped back.
“Yes you can. We can find another solution.”
Sireesha glanced toward Valerie. Ramesh had moved toward her,
but still appeared dazed.
“You know,” Sireesha began. She raised her voice to ensure
that Valerie heard. “Originally I was going to kill you too.”
Valerie spun around. “No.”
Sireesha continued, “But someone pleaded with me. She said
that you wouldn’t be a threat to me if you lost your Laura. She promised she
would ensure that you didn’t become a threat. I’m starting to reconsider.
Perhaps if we get a little more serious ... there are still the children.”
“Stop,” Valerie shouted. “You promised!” She rushed at
Sireesha. She had feared the worst when leaving the office, so she had prepared.
She pulled a small pistol from her bag and shoved it at Sireesha.
“You’re going to shoot me? Right here? In this parking
lot?” Sireesha asked. She hardened her face and continued, “Put that away
before someone sees you.”
“Val,” Quinn called. “Please...” He stepped forward. The
confusion of the situation overwhelmed him, but he was compelled to intervene.
Valerie paused. In the brief second that she doubted her
action, Daniel rushed forward with a single fist and knocked Valerie to the
ground. Ramesh jumped backward in shock.
“Stop,” Quinn called. “Stop.” He resigned.
Ramesh stepped over to Valerie and helped her to get up.
“Your word that you’ll leave us alone?” Quinn asked.
Sireesha nodded, but doubted Quinn. “You are no longer a
threat.” Sireesha believed it. She had seen his future. He would crumble at
the loss of his wife.
Quinn reached into his pocket and pulled out the watch. He
started to pass it to Sireesha. “I want Laura.”
“It can’t be changed. Certainly you know by now that the
genetic agent is irreversible. Didn’t your own autopsy show that? And I can’t
let her live,” Sireesha said again.
Quinn felt hate and rage boil up inside his frame. He
wanted nothing more than to destroy this woman before him, but they were at an
impasse. He had to diffuse the situation and regroup. If there could be any
chance of restoring a normal life, the current confrontation had to end. Quinn
looked back at Valerie and Ramesh.
“And you’ll stay out of their lives, too?” he asked.
“They are no threat to me.”
Quinn sighed. He handed the watch to Sireesha. “Now
leave. I never want to see you again.”
Sireesha flashed an evil grin. “You’ll see me. I’ll be
everywhere.”
Quinn led Ramesh and Valerie toward the car to find driver
hunched over in the seat. Quinn looked back at Sireesha.
“He’ll live,” she called back.
Quinn pushed the driver into the passenger seat and took the
wheel. Ramesh and Valerie climbed into the back of the car.
“Follow them,” Sireesha barked at Daniel. “He wouldn’t give
up that easily. He still thinks he has something.”
Sireesha climbed into her car and studied the watch as
Daniel jumped on his bike.
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