Wired - Douglas E. Richards [52]
As Desh walked slowly back to the car, completely oblivious to the drizzle hitting his face, he was hit by a stark realization. If he really believed his own logic, there was only one way he could be absolutely certain the longevity therapy would be unveiled for the benefit all the people of the world: if he did so himself. It was a troubling thought. He had no wish to take matters into his own hands, but unless he could find a flaw in his logic it was a prospect he could not ignore.
A few minutes later they were back on the road. Smith took a sip of orange juice and turned to his passenger. “All right,” he said. “We’re refueled and I’ll have you at Griffin’s in less than an hour. So what do you want?” he asked bluntly.
Desh slowly chewed and swallowed a large piece of banana, organizing his thoughts. “First of all,” he began. “I’m in charge. You and your men take orders from me.” He scanned Smith’s face with keen interest, watching for his reaction.
“Go on,” said Smith noncommittally, sliding back the center console to reveal two cup holders and shoving his plastic orange juice container into the one nearest him.
“Secondly, kill the listening and homing devices immediately. The only thing these devices and your surveillance will accomplish is guarantee Kira Miller never tries to contact me again.”
“They didn’t stop her the first time,” noted Smith.
Desh shook his head. “I know how she thinks,” he said firmly. “The reports all say she’s brilliant. And she is. But I know she’s also something far more dangerous: she’s savvy. And she doesn’t make mistakes. She knows you’ll try to use me to get to her and she’ll be more careful than ever.”
“We can track you in a way she can’t detect.”
“Really?” said Desh skeptically. “I wouldn’t count on that if I were you. You’re underestimating her. Trust me, she’d smell you if you were in the next galaxy. I don’t think she’ll come within a thousand miles of me now, knowing that I’m bait. But if she does and then catches your scent, she’ll bolt and we’ll never have another chance.” He stared at Smith with an unwavering intensity. “I want your guarantee on this.”
Smith paused in thought and then sighed resignedly. “Okay,” he said finally, clearly not happy about it.
“Good. I’ll continue my efforts to find her as I was tasked to do, since I don’t think she’ll come to me again. And Smith,” he added, “I will call you in when I find her as per the original plan.” He paused. “Just so you know, I also intend to continue working with Griffin. He’s very good at what he does and my gut tells me he’s a good man. It goes without saying that the no surveillance rule goes for Griffin and anyone else I’m working with as well,” he added pointedly.
“Can he do an effective job for you without having a glimmer of what’s really going on?”
“I think so, yes,” said Desh. He popped the last piece of his first banana in his mouth, swallowed, and then chased it with a long drink of water.
“So now let’s turn to point number three,” said Desh. “I have to have full authority to capture her myself. I have the tranquilizer gun I borrowed from your colleague, and I can add other non-lethal weaponry to my arsenal. If I’m wrong and she does come after me again, I won’t pass up the chance to take her down.”
Smith frowned and looked unconvinced.
“Trust