The halls were still dark when Gabe and Marina slipped out of the room. Not wanting to chance the full brightness of her light, Marina kept it cupped in her hand while Gabe managed the gun.
She was more than willing to give it up to him; and was also relieved that he seemed much steadier on his feet after the rest and nourishment.
It might have been the darkness, or the fact that Roman and Varden wouldn’t expect them to return to the place of their imprisonment, but Marina was able to lead them back to Victor’s room without incident.
“Only complete idiots would be coming back this way,” Gabe muttered into her ear, echoing her thoughts, as they stood before Victor’s door.
Marina held her breath for a moment before pushing the button on her wristband. There was always the chance that Victor might sound the alarm when they entered.
Or that he would no longer be there.
And that, she found to her shock, was indeed the case.
The suite of rooms was empty.
“Now what?” Gabe asked.
“I want to go back into the private Segment. Maybe Lev’s there; maybe we can find out from him what’s going on. He wasn’t with the others.”
“You’re going to force an old man?” Gabe looked at her in the dim light of her flash, his bruised face threatening in the shadows.
“Maybe he’s being forced, and he’ll be glad to help us.” Marina didn’t really believe it; but the way she saw it, there was no other choice.
“How are we going to get into the Segment, Marina?” Gabe whispered as they hurried back out into the hall.
“I still have the tongue tab from Dad. In my pocket. I’m hoping it will read the code even though it’s long dried.”
“And full of lint.” Gabe’s sarcasm was back, but he stayed with her on their walk down the hall. “Where the hell is everyone? You’d think they’d be scouring the place for us.”
Marina could hear the effort in his voice; knew he was in pain. But she also recognized that he was built to keep going, regardless of personal discomfort. And that saying anything wasn’t going to make a difference. “I’m betting they’re searching all of the exits — however many there are. They didn’t expect us to be back in here, in the middle of everything. We’re probably safer here than anywhere else.” Then she remembered. “I have your sat phone. Do you think—”
“My sat phone? Give me the damn thing!” Gabe’s voice shot through the darkness like a whip. “These things work everywhere!”
“I couldn’t get it to work when I went and got the gun.” She fished in her pocket as they hurried along. “Guess I have a lot to learn in the spook business, eh?”
“Well, you haven’t gotten either of us killed yet, and you’re a hot kisser…so I’m not complaining.”
And they were at the door of the Segment. Marina dug in her pocket and pulled out the tongue tab. “Cross your fingers.”
She had to shine the light on the slot in order to see to be able to feed the tab through it.
Then she held her breath.
And the door whirred, slowly opening.
Marina and Gabe hurried through the door, unsure how long it would remain open, then paused to look around.
Unlike the rest of the compound, this hall was still illuminated. The pleasing yellow glow of lights studded the ceiling along the corridor, still the same rounded, white walls Marina had noticed throughout. However, the floor was covered with a thick, padded carpet that looked like luxurious sheepskin.
It helped to muffle their footsteps as they hurried along.
“This look familiar?” It did to Marina. This was where Lev had brought her to show her the library.
Gabe grunted in reply as they paused at a T-intersection. “This way; they brought me this way. So let’s go that way.”
She agreed, and followed him.
They’d gone only a few yards down the hall when Marina recognized exactly where she was. They turned a corner and suddenly a tall, metal door loomed in front of them. And at that moment, they heard rapidly approaching voices.
“In here!” she hissed, and yanked Gabe after her.
The door opened when she pulled the hidden lever next to it; no DNA needed here, thank goodness, because she was already in the private section.
“Good grief. What the hell is this?” Gabe would have gaped if she hadn’t pushed him down onto the floor while she frantically jammed the button to close the door. She pulled on the heavy metal closure, trying to help it move faster. “Hide!” she whispered to Gabe as the door clicked shut. She had a bad feeling.
She was right. She’d recognized Lev’s voice; and she’d sensed he’d want to check the safety of his library, knowing that the prisoners had escaped.
Marina and Gabe scuttled along the floor, behind the cabinets and tables, into a far corner of the room as the door opened again.
She recognized the voices right away. They were speaking English.
“They won’t get far, Sama Lev. There are only three ways out, of course, and we have them all monitored.” Varden. Marina mouthed his name silently for Gabe’s benefit. The sound of his voice, smooth and cool, slid over Marina’s taut nerves like the bow on a violin; much too soothing and calm.
“Yes. They won’t harm her, will they?” Lev. Sounding more than a bit concerned for his granddaughter. Marina felt Gabe turn to look at her in the dim light, but she did not move. She wanted to hear more.
“I do not believe Roman would do such a thing; however, that is not to say that there might be a skirmish of some sort and she could be injured. She was carrying a firearm.”
“Where in Gaia’s world did she get one of those? Roman has banned all forms of firearm here.”
Marina imagined Varden’s shrug, and had to keep herself from sliding to one side and try to watch them. She must be content with listening to the conversation, all the while knowing she was only inches away from priceless history. She wasn’t sure which called to her more: the hidden secrets of this incredible treasure, or the need to stop Roman from carrying out his plan.
As if her thoughts had telegraphed themselves to the men in the room, Lev spoke. “How long until Roman’s next phase is executed?”
“Two hours. Two hours and thirteen minutes,” Varden replied after a short pause. “The detonators are in place. Fridkov is there, and has the controllers and is to set the timers at 11:30 am Detroit time. Then it will be inevitable.”
Two hours and thirteen minutes.
Marina looked at Gabe, but he was already moving.
“Freeze.” His voice cut through the room. “Raise your hands slowly. Both of you.”
Marina didn’t move for a moment. Then she pulled to her feet and faced the others.
Varden stood, managing to hold his surrender stance in such a manner that bellowed disinterest and unconcern, despite the fact that his position was one of vulnerability. Marina could feel the weight of his sharp stare spearing her from across the room, and she returned it with one of her own.
Lev’s arms trembled with the effort of holding them upright; and when Marina transferred her attention to him, she saw worry and apprehension lining his face. It wasn’t for their plans; it was for the contents of this room. She caught his eye and gave him a spare, meaningful look that she hoped conveyed ….something. Her understanding, her empathy.
But Gabe was either unaware of the undercurrent, or didn’t care. He’d started toward the two men, keeping the gun focused on them as he moved. “Thank you for your cooperation. It’s not my intent to hurt anyone; but there will be consequences if you don’t continue to cooperate. You may start by taking us to a room which will allow us to communicate with the colleague that you mentioned was in Detroit.”
He brandished the gun, and Varden, with one cool look at Marina, turned slowly, hands raised but cocked arrogantly to the sides of his body, and started toward the door. With a jerk of his head, Gabe indicated that Lev was to follow.