Chap31 The main Event cont.
Of all the things that Gabriel had lost, Snowflake was the one that he most regretted, never mind that Sarah would likely kill him, or that the cat had been the only real link which still remained to Jake, the fact of the matter was he missed the cat. Already he had done everything he could think of – the memory of filing a missing person's report for a cat with Dante looking on (and laughing) was still vivid in his mind.
At last, it was desperation that drove him to browsing pet store, while he thought it unlikely, pets being bought and resold wasn't exactly unheard of. After a few minutes the store attendant was finally freed up and able to talk to him. "Hi! I need help, a few weeks ago my girlfriend's cat died. She's been really depressed and her birthdays coming up so I thought I'd get her another one. Do you have a cat that looks like this?" Gabriel took out a picture of Snowflake that'd been taken a few weeks ago and handed it to the store attendant. After the man had looked at it for awhile he gave Gabe an eye over.
"You want an albino Russian Blue? Son, these cats are so rare that I've never even seen one – much less sold one." He handed the picture back to Gabriel and then added as an afterthought. "Cat like that'll cost you a pretty penny too."
"How much?"
"A normal female kitten is about $600, an albino can be double that." The figure caused Gabe to raise an eyebrow, if these cats were that rare and expensive then Jake had not only been resourceful – he'd had quite a bit of money to spare as well.
***
"Erik? What are you doing here?" Onica looked and sounded both incredulous and disbelieving, and under the circumstances that didn't surprise him. What did however, was the dangerous – and highly illegal – gun that she was pointing at him.
"Um… that'll take a bit of explaining – but I need help – and I tend to think more coherently when the gun isn't pointed at me." Raising an eyebrow Onica lowered the gun, unfortunately she didn't put it down. "This is going to sound crazy… but I'm with Interpol." Erik did not bother to mention that Interpol was a cover and that 'CIA agent' was his more accurate title.
***
"Imagine a bio-weapon that can't be traced, where the victim dies of completely natural – normal – causes. That lady and gentleman is exactly what I'm offering, it can't be used for mass destruction, but for an assassination, it's utter perfection." Dovidi's voice was cajoling, entrancing, his tone capturing his audience's attention almost more then his words. "I realized that you would require a demonstration, before we proceed however I realize that because it lacks the ability to become widespread that because of this some of you may have already lost interest. That being the case, feel free to leave now."
At his words five people, two men and three women arose. Mentally Sarah recorded their faces, when she got back to work, the information she obtained might just be useful. As the six left (their bodyguards having gone with them) A sudden chill ran down Sarah's spine she said 'when' with confidence, but the word she should have used was 'if'. For the first time, she feared Kenneth Irons, or more accurately the situation he had entrapped her into. She was getting panicky, she could feel it, and for a reason she couldn't define. Suddenly a warm surged through her, she sensed that it came from the Witchblade, it was as much trying to ground her as it was warning her. This was neither the time nor the place to loose her cool. As she centered herself, she felt Irons take her hand, and looking at him, she saw questions in his eyes, not giving him an inch she removed her hand as calmly and coolly as she could, suppressing a shudder as she did so.
From where he sat, Dovidi again ceased the attention of all. "Now then, allow me to call upon our test subject." He counted eleven people, which meant ten possible buyers. As he called signaled one of his men to call someone his met Irons, and a flash of grim satisfaction flew between. In that moment both Sarah and Luka knew that before the hour was out, someone would die.
***
Onica didn't know whether to laugh at Erik or believe him. If the tale he told was true, then Dovidi had been feeding her lies and deception. In her heart she began to feel sick and revolted. Not wanting to believe she did the only thing she could. "Give me proof." Erik watched her for a long moment before complying with her demand From somewhere within his clothing he retrieved a six by six screen no more then half a centimeter thick. As if by Magic it flicked on when he handed it to her. At a round table, twelve people sat, of those people she recognized four: Kenneth Irons, Sarah Pezzini, Luka Giamano, and Dovidi D'angitino.
As she watched a woman was dragged into the room, she was blindfolded and gagged, her wrists bound together as were her ankles. She was made to stand as a man came up behind her and injected something into the base of her neck. Immediately he removed the gag and blindfold, then untied her arms and legs. Stepping back, he gave her a moment to look around, fear clear in her eyes. Those at the table watched her intently as if studying something in a specimen jar. To her horror Onica recognized the woman as the senior file clerk that mocked herself and Dovidi nearly three days ago. Then suddenly the woman's eyes rolled and se began to spasm violently. "She's having a seizure." The words were whispered, but they carried the repugnance that unpleasant truths often bring. For nearly a minute more the spectacle continued, then at last the woman fell. A man from beyond the range of the camera appeared an put his fingers to her neck. After a few heartbeats, he looked to an unknown man at the table.
"She's dead sir." Handing the screen back to Erik, Onica was resolved. She had almost fallen for the same trick her mother had, Dovidi was no better then Kenneth Irons.
Her eyes filled with cold steel, and heart with resolve. "What do we do?"
