The Conspiracy II Read online

  “So you can sue me.”

  Faith put a hand up. “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. No point falling out over something that may never happen.”

  “Rob, take it from me, you don’t want to cross us.” Bishop leaned back in his chair.

  “I am about to hand you control over something that’s potentially worth billions of dollars, Dr. Bishop,” said Rob, his voice raised. “I’ll need access to the data and will consider it a breach of contract if you don’t provide it.”

  Bishop just smiled in reply.

  “And I need to find out who lured me to Paris.”

  “We’re looking into it,” said Faith.

  “We are not your enemy, Rob,” said Bishop. “There are a lot of lives at stake. Millions of lives. If this virus isn’t controlled, we won’t be talking about a hundred thousand deaths in the United States, we’ll be talking about millions.”

  “I know,” said Rob.

  “The whole world is watching us,” said Faith. “We should lead the world out of this.”

  “When I was there, the Chinese were bragging about how wonderfully they’re doing controlling it,” said Rob.

  “We believe in personal freedoms,” said Bishop. “They don’t. I’d rather live free than have the state tell me what side of the bed to sleep on. They’re also lying about what’s really going on there.” He leaned forward. “We’re going to squeeze them, Rob. They’ve been playing us for fools. It’s time they were taught a lesson. We’re going to prove this vaccine works and some others too and show them democracy produces the goods.”

  Faith looked around. “You said there were manufacturing engineers who wanted to meet Rob,” she said.

  Bishop looked at his phone. “They’ll be coming here in the next few minutes.”

  “What’s the meeting for?” said Rob.

  “You’re going to spend the afternoon reviewing the vaccine manufacturing line they’ve set up,” said Bishop.

  “Thanks for letting me know in advance,” said Rob.

  “I just have,” said Bishop.

  A knock sounded from the door.

  23

  Virginia, June 1st, 2020

  Wang looked at the online map. They were heading down the I-64 after passing Richmond. Norfolk was an hour away.

  The traffic was busy, but there were no snarl ups. They would be in Ocean View within the hour. The naval station wasn’t far. The work he had to do should not take long. The contact would arrive alone.

  “Do we eat?” asked the driver.

  Wang turned off his phone.

  “No, we don’t want cameras at rest stops picking up our mug shots when we go to the restrooms. You brought a bottle to piss in?”

  “Yes,” said the driver.

  “We don’t want anyone breathing down our necks.”

  “We’re coming up to the Ocean View off-ramp. This is the turn, sir?” said the driver.

  “Yes, head straight to the ocean, then turn right and park when you get to the Burger King.”

  “But don’t go in, yes, I got it.”

  “I’ll be gone about an hour. Stare at the ocean, my friend. It’s relaxing. It’s meditating. That’s what they all do here in the United States now, right? You can do that too, yes?”

  “Most certainly.”

  They pulled up a few minutes later. Wang slid the side door of the vehicle open. He crossed to the other side of the street and looked back. With its darkened side windows, few people would even see that there was someone waiting inside.

  The house he was looking for was half a mile away on Hillside Drive; a newly painted, light-blue, shingle-fronted house with a white porch. It was the only one like that on the whole road, so he’d been told.

  He walked on, found the house, walked up to it purposefully, as if he knew where he was going, and opened the front door, which was unlocked.

  “Hello,” he called out.

  There was no answer.

  The house was furnished in a minimalist style. He sat at the table in the kitchen and waited. He looked at his phone, checking it was still off. Then he looked at his watch. The contact would be here in ten minutes.

  He had on two sets of disposable gloves. He took a pre-paid Mastercard out of the slim box it had been sitting in, in his pocket. He held it up to the light by the edges. It was impossible to see the thin coating that had been applied. He put the card down on the table and sat on the far side.

  A few minutes later, the contact arrived. He was in civilian clothes. Like Wang, he had probably parked a good distance away. This was supposed to be a thank-you meeting; the pay-off meeting. He wouldn’t want anything to be traced to him.

  And it wouldn’t.

  The man had only one giveaway that he was part Chinese. His hair was pure black. Whether he’d carried out the work for nationalistic reasons or for money was still unclear.

  Wang greeted him enthusiastically.

  “Comrade, it a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, in Mandarin.

  The man looked worried.

  “The payment card for you is on the table. Twenty thousand dollars has been loaded on it and it’s untraceable. You can use it almost anywhere.”

  The man picked it up, held it with both hands, turned it over.

  “I can do more, if you want,” he said.

  “We’ll call you. We think you’ve done enough for now,” said Wang.

  The man looked around, then licked a finger to get rid of something sticky. He put the card down. “Is this a set-up?” he asked.

  “You’re welcome to look around the house. There are no cameras, no FBI cybersecurity agents about to jump out, and no microphones.” Wang opened his jacket, pulled his shirt up to show his lightly haired chest. “You did a great job. We are saying thank you, as we promised. That’s all.” Wang bowed a little, in a show of respect.

  The man stood, looked into the next room.

  “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” he said. “But I’m going to have to check.” He headed for the door to the pantry, then went upstairs. Wang could hear him clomping around the empty house.

  Even if he left now, spooked by something, the residue on his fingers, which had made him lick at least one, should be enough for the purpose. Inducing a heart attack was the easiest way to get rid of someone without alerting the authorities. And for someone who’d triggered warnings that he was about to double cross them, it was an ideal way to go.

  Wang smiled as the man came back into the room and picked up the card. He had a hand on his chest already.

  “Until the next time,” said Wang. He looked at his watch and headed for the front door. “Thank you deeply from the motherland,” he said, as he opened the door. “You go first.”

  The man put his hand out to shake Wang’s. Wang extended his elbow instead. The man tapped it and headed out into the street, one hand still at his chest, just over his heart.

  He’d put the Mastercard into his wallet before he left. Wang went back inside and to the front window and watched as the man headed down the street. He’d make it to his car, possibly half-way home, before there’d be an accident. He’d collapse at the wheel. Hopefully, not too many other people would die, but one thing was sure, the man he’d met would be dead within an hour or at the most, two.

  He exited the house, setting the lock to close after him. He would be on his way back to Washington in a few minutes. He headed in the opposite direction to the man he’d just met.

  24

  Washington DC, June 2nd, 2020

  “We can’t get out of it now,” said Rob. “We need to be seen to be doing the right thing.”

  “Giving them exclusive manufacturing rights is way beyond our normal terms,” said Sean.

  “It’s only for this exact variant of the vaccine. I expect there will be mutations and we’ll be creating new vaccines each year, if not every few months, once the first success is under our belts. We can expand the manufacturing then.”

  “I
’ll agree, on that basis,” said Sean.

  Rob was in his room at the apartment complex. It was four in the morning, nine a.m. in London.

  “Did Peter say anything about the invitation I received to go to Paris?” asked Rob.

  “Nothing to me.”

  “There’s something strange about that,” said Rob.

  “Are you sure you’re not just being paranoid?” asked Sean.

  “I’m sure.”

  “Were you in Wuhan in October last year?”

  “No, mid-November,” said Rob. “Why do you ask?”

  “I saw a report that they closed that Wuhan Institute in mid-October and had road-blocks all around it.”

  “I missed that. They never said anything about it when I was there, which is what they’re like in China. They hate to lose face. The facility in Wuhan is leaky, Sean. There’s been a number of reports, some even reached the press. They won’t open up their records for international inspection either. No chance.”

  “They’re trying to blame the US.”

  Rob hesitated. He wasn’t sure if this was the right time to say it, but he knew from Sean’s interest in what was going on, and the history they had together, that he should tell him. And he needed to tell someone. He was still wondering himself if he’d done the right thing and it was starting to get to him.

  “I’m also cooperating with a Chinese government official.”

  “What the hell?” said Sean, his voice exploding in Rob’s ear.

  “I’m a liaison person, that’s all.”

  “What? You know they’re trying to use you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Be very careful, very, very careful.”

  Rob’s stomach had tightened. “They want to know what’s happening with our vaccine.”

  Sean laughed. “Them and everyone else. I had a call from the Prime Minister’s office asking the same thing.” He laughed again, louder. “I’m expecting one from the Queen any minute.”

  “Peter’s probably looking for a Knighthood.”

  “Yeah, could be.” There was a pause. “I trust you, Rob. You know that. Just get the job done.”

  “Thanks. I’ll get back to you.” Rob closed the line.

  He trusted Sean. They’d been involved in a previous difficult situation about a vaccine. A big player had tried to buy them out to stop a vaccine from being released. Rob knew from that incident that Sean was more concerned about doing the right thing than piling up cash. It was why he stayed in the institute, despite getting offers from other labs.

  Jackie had been proud of him then, and of the institute, when she’d heard about what had happened. “You are truly amazing,” she’d said when he’d told her. He remembered it clearly. The smile on her face before she kissed him.

  Millions of lives had been saved because of the institute’s commitment to making low-cost vaccines made available to the poorest for free, those who need them most.

  He didn’t like to talk about it all, as there were a lot of cynics who’d assume he had an ulterior motive for everything he did.

  Oh God, how he missed Jackie. It really felt as if parts of him—his arm, his heart, and half his brain—had died with her.

  She’d helped him focus on his work, to enjoy the small things in life, to disregard setbacks.

  It would be so good to be able to call her now.

  It was getting bright outside. He decided to go for a walk in the nearby park. He dressed, put on his shoes. As he was about to open the door of his room, he heard voices in the corridor. His hand stopped above the door handle.

  It was Jackie! What?

  She was alive.

  She was laughing with someone.

  A hand reached in and grabbed his heart. The room became smaller, the walls closing in. A shout began in his chest.

  He threw open the door.

  Two women had passed by. One of them glanced back at him. Neither of them looked like Jackie.

  The shout died in his throat. His gut tightened fast as an overwhelming feeling of foolishness rose up inside him.

  He went out, closed the door behind him with a shaking hand, and headed for the park.

  25

  Washington DC, June 2nd, 2020

  Vladimir shifted in his seat. The All Services vehicle was equipped for long surveillance operations. No one who peered in could see into the back, even if they came right up to the windscreen and peered in. A camp bed stood in a corner. That allowed a two-person team to take breaks.

  Bottles and biscuit tins were used instead of a toilet. If it was an American stake-out unit they’d probably have a built-in chemical toilet, but this was not their country and they might have to abandon a vehicle if they were made. A half-assed surveillance set-up would look like local criminals. A vehicle with a chemical toilet and all the facilities of home could be a state operation.

  The Wilshire Creek Condos complex was an ocher six-story row of apartment blocks on Connecticut Avenue, shielded by a row of American beech and elm trees. The nearby Malvin C. Hazen Park also boasted scarlet oak, cedar, and poplar trees.

  The walking trail through the park ran down to the narrow Rock Creek river and then branched north and south along the creek.

  Vladimir spotted Rob coming out of the condos at seven-fifteen. It was early enough that most of the walking crowd still hadn’t arrived, but the serious joggers had. Rob headed west through the park toward the creek. Vladimir followed. Rob walked quickly and didn’t look around.

  The trail curved through trees and when it reached the creek, Rob turned around and headed back. He saw Vladimir when they were about fifty feet apart. He stopped and stared, his hands on his hips. Vladimir walked toward him, stopped six feet from him.

  “What the hell are you doing in Washington?” said Rob.

  “Keeping an eye on you, what else?” said Vladimir with a shrug. “We got on so well.”

  Rob shook his head. “What do you want?”

  “I’ll give it to you straight, as I know you like it that way,” said Vladimir. “We’d like you to put a monkey in your vaccine wrench.”

  Rob shook guffawed loudly. “Are you crazy? You mean slow things down?”

  “That would be good.”

  “Why?” Rob exploded. “Millions of people will die if we don’t get a vaccine approved soon.”

  “You are working with TOTALVACS now, yes?” said Vladimir. “Did you know they’re responsible for multiple botched vaccination programs?” he asked. “The whole anti-vax movement is based on their work.”

  “Really? That’s news to me.”

  “Maybe, but it’s all true. They were expelled from India for killing thousands with their vaccine tests.”

  “Maybe that was a long time ago. Testing standards have changed dramatically in the last few years.”

  A pair of joggers passed them by. They both looked studiously into the distance as they jogged.

  Rob looked around, as if wondering who might be watching them. “How did you know where to find me?”

  “We know more than you think.”

  “OK, great, and thanks for the warning about TOTALVACS. Now, I have to go,” said Rob. He stepped to the side and started to pass Vladimir.

  “What if I told you your wife isn’t dead?” said Vladimir, softly. He looked around, his eyes darting.

  Rob stopped, put a hand up, pointed directly into Vladimir’s face. “Don’t say that.” His hand was shaking. His body tense.

  Vladimir stepped back, looked at Rob’s hand. He pulled a smartphone from his pocket, tapped at the screen, and turned it to Rob. A video started.

  Rob’s face went pale. He blinked rapidly. Was this for real?

  26

  Washington DC, June 2nd, 2020

  Wang walked across the intersection at 23rd St. The traffic on the street was light. The Pan American Health Organization building occupied the entire triangular block ahead, sitting at the intersection with Virginia Avenue. The structure looked like a small Un
ited Nations building in New York with its row of flags and a circular building at the front—like a giant gray circular cushion with a ten-story office block looming behind.

  He approached the main entrance. Multiple security camera systems were watching everyone who came and went. The interior of the building was regularly swept for spying devices. The extra fifty million dollars China had pledged to the World Health Organization, the parent organization of the Pan American Organization, ensured there was enough money for deep security, despite the United States having pulled out its funds.

  He reached the glass main door and entered as a group from a South American country exited. He had a white N95 mask on. They had blue face masks on. This was one corner of Washington DC where proper health protocols were observed.

  The woman at the reception desk took his name and asked him to wait while she called his contact. But even before he stepped back from the desk, he heard his name being called.

  “Mr. Wang, it is good to see you,” said a lilting voice in Mandarin.

  He turned. Walking toward him was a memory. A stab of regret pushed up inside him. Seeing Ms. Gong Dao in all her glory always gave him that feeling.

  Gong was slim, tall, and wearing a black face mask. Her eyes smiled at him. The black suit she wore was an inch too tight, and the skirt an inch too short for someone of her status. Half the men in the Washington office were probably in love with her. Half the women probably hated her for that. The others probably wanted to be her.

  Gong’s bow was almost imperceptible. Wang’s replying bow less so.

  “Please, follow me,” said Gong.

  She led the way to an elevator, with most of the men in the reception area following her with their gaze.

  She pressed a button, turned to Wang as the elevator doors closed. She raised her hand, as if he might kiss it. As his hand came up to hers, she pulled hers away.

  “I forgot. We must not touch,” said Gong, in a wistful tone.

  Wang’s hand, as if it had been pulled up by a string, now broken, dropped away. He was glad he’d cajoled his way to Washington. The most precious jewel of the Chinese Communist Party worked here.