And he did just that. It took Kazimir decades, but the Morgenstern Group had bounced back, stronger than ever before. He diversified the various corporations alongside new, visionary ventures. Instead of just the family cornerstones of banking and finance, Morgenstern began strategic partnerships with smaller firms specializing in pharmaceuticals, energy, transportation, and telecommunications before swallowing up their allies with buyouts and other forms of acquisitions.
In time he had managed to create a new, diversified business empire, with substantial holdings in every sort of market, giving Morgenstern Group the ability to stay in profit regardless of the economic or political upheavals occurring around the world. Yet Kazimir wasn’t satisfied, and he pressed on for newer, riskier endeavors—this time in the growing fields of genetic engineering and space launch systems. To grasp and acquire new undertakings was the only way to stave off professional deterioration.
His office had massive windows that cast tall, slanted columns of sunlight down towards his ornate mahogany desk. Kazimir’s wife had once remarked when visiting him that entering his office seemed like walking down the hallway of some strange temple. The lacquered brown walls created alcoves of shadow in between the almost solid shafts of radiance, and he hung his most prized paintings there. Invaluable antiques from all across the globe were displayed like museum pieces, and only a chosen few were ever allowed in to see them.
Kazimir’s secretary had opened the door for him before standing dutifully to the side as he strode in. “Would you like me to bring you some refreshments, Mr. Morgenstern?”
He ran his hand through his long silvery hair while heading to his desk. “Give me an apple celery cucumber smoothie. With a little ginger root and kale.”
“Right away, Mr. Morgenstern.”
“And transfer the call the moment it comes in. It’s the only one I’ll take for now.”
“Yes, sir,” she said before closing the door behind her.
He walked over to his high-backed Italian leather chair and sat down with a tired sigh. What the hell has my brother done this time?
The phone rang less than a minute later, just as he closed his eyes, hoping to stop the pounding inside his head.
Picking up the receiver, he checked the caller ID to make sure of who it was. “Talk to me.”
Taylor Erskine’s baritone voice was on the other end. “We’ve got a problem in Lemuria, Mr. Morgenstern.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Proteus, sir. We’ve lost contact with the team.”
“What? You can’t reach any of them?”
“No, sir. I’m sorry. We thought it was the cyclone that temporarily knocked out the communications, so we waited for forty-eight hours as per the protocols. And we are still unable to contact anyone within the grounds.”
“Nobody at all? Not even the research or security teams?”
“No, sir. Barrett is my man down there and this is the first time he’s ever failed to contact me personally.”
Kazimir let out a deep breath as he sat back. His secretary tried to enter carrying a tray with a tall glass of greenish liquid, but he waved her away. “I’m very disappointed, Erskine.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I thought the security team you trained would be enough to handle any sort of emergency. You guaranteed me that, didn’t you?”
Erskine hesitated before answering him. “I did, sir. Barrett is an ex-Royal Marine, and he should have been able to deal with it.”
“What’s the status of the resort?”
“Everything on that side of the island is alright, sir. The grand opening will be happening as planned… unless you order a delay.”
Kazimir shook his head. “Not a chance. My partner Mukesh will look bad and lose a lot of prestige if there are any delays whatsoever.”
“Yes, sir. I understand. I’m heading there right now and will be on the island in a few hours.”
“What about my brother?”
“I’m afraid he was there when contact was lost.”
Kazimir cursed. “Keep all the resort staff and any guests away from the other side of the island. We can’t have any bad publicity, not when the whole place is about to open, do you hear me?”
“I do, sir. I have already given instructions to the general manager and the resort security not to allow travel to the private areas,” Erskine said. “I’m sending in my own team and we’ll get to the bottom of this. I guarantee nobody from the outside will ever know.”
“Make sure my brother is safe. Your task is to find him at all cost.”
“What about the asset, sir? If it proves to be hostile?”
“Try to keep it alive, but if it’s too much trouble, then deal with it. If you have to kill it then I’ll be the one to handle my brother.”
“Yes, sir.”
He leaned forward. “I’ll be there in a few days, along with my friends for the resort’s grand opening. I expect the situation to be resolved quietly by then, do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir. Don’t worry, I’ll have things under control within a day or so.”
“You’d better, for your sake,” Kazimir said before he hung up the phone.
12
AFTER TAKING A BOTTLE of chilled water from the refrigerator in the VIP lounge, Nick Dirkse walked back over to a set of plush couches and sat down with an exhausted sigh.
The last twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind of activity. A limousine had actually picked them up from their house in Torrance before they proceeded to LAX, Los Angeles’s International Airport. The flight to Delhi took close to eighteen hours, and then they were quickly transferred to another plane, this time heading towards the South Indian state of Kerala. After a few more hours in the air, they soon found themselves in Cochin International Airport, waiting for the flight that would take them to Lemuria.
Turning to his left, he smiled faintly towards Cathy and Kim, who were both laid out on makeshift beds and had fallen fast asleep the moment they were ushered into the exclusive private lounge for travelers to the resort. The time difference had given them jet lag, and even Nick was struggling to stay awake.
A smiling female attendant wearing a traditional shawl with her uniform placed a tray containing two pots and assorted pastries on the low table in front of him. “Good morning, Mr. Dirkse, I wasn’t sure if you preferred coffee or tea, so here is both.”
Despite his exhaustion, Nick smiled. “Thanks. Do you happen to know where my son is? The moment I turned around he was gone.”
“I believe Scott walked out of the lounge and is exploring the rest of the airport. Do you want me to page him?”
Nick was impressed. “Oh, no need. Scotty has always been curious about everything. How did you know all our names by the way?”
She giggled while pointing towards the reception desk facing the lounge’s entrance. Her English was heavily accented, but very clear. “We logged your names the moment you came in through the airport transfer service. Since you are the only guests in the lounge, I think it’s only fair we get to know you all, yes?”
“Can’t argue with that, thanks again.”
“My pleasure,” she said while handing him a menu. “Our hot buffet section is available if you would like to partake in some of our regional specialties here in Kerala. It’s mostly vegetarian, but if you would like something more international that’s not on the menu, our chef would be more than happy to take any special requests.”