Chapter Thirty-nine


Stan Knight stuck his head in the study door. "Chopper's coming back, Garrett."

Garrett Blackman looked up from his laptop and nodded. "I'll be there in a minute."

"What are you doing?"

"Just taking care of some business." He snapped the lid of the laptop closed and rose. "Come on. Let's find out how Mrs. Bannon is."

The two men were waiting in the entryway when the door opened and Race and Barbara came inside. Both of them looked utterly exhausted, but Barbara was the first to speak.

"How is he?" she asked, glancing up the main staircase.

"Dr. Quest is fine," Garrett assured her. "He hasn't stirred. We checked on him twice and both times he appeared to be sleeping peacefully."

Barbara rubbed her eyes wearily. "Let's hope sleep is all it is."

"I know you're both about done in," Garrett said quietly, "but we've got some news that you're going to want to hear. I'll apologize in advance, but we went routing through the kitchen. There's fresh coffee on, and sandwiches if you want something."

Race nodded. "We can talk in the kitchen without worrying too much about disturbing Benton. And I could use some of that coffee."

The four moved into the kitchen and Race, Barbara, and Stan sat down while Garrett poured coffee. Setting a tray of sandwiches in the middle of the counter, Garrett poured himself a cup and joined them.

There was a brief silence and then Stan asked, "How is your wife, Mr. Bannon?"

"Resting," he replied after a moment. "She regained consciousness in the chopper and was able to talk with the doctor when we got there. But they aren't going to let her come home."

"They'll play it day-to-day," Barbara added, "but it's just a matter of time now before they will have to take the baby. The stress was finally just more than her system could stand. Her blood pressure has spiked and her protein count has risen to dangerous levels. They'll try to bring it down, but . . ." She trailed off and shook her head, while Race scrubbed at his face with his hand and then ran it through his hair distractedly.

"How far along is she?" Stan asked quietly.

"Six and a half months," Race replied heavily. He leaned forward and propped his elbows on the bar and then rested his head in his hands. None of them could be certain, but they thought he added, "Too early."

Barbara rested a consoling hand on his shoulder and after a moment, Garrett cleared his throat and said, "Well, I have some news. I'm not certain if it's good or bad, but it's something, at least. Jessica called."

Race's head snapped up sharply. "What?! What did she say?"

"Where are they?" Barbara demanded. "Did you tell them that we need them back here now?

Garrett held up a placating hand. "Yes, I told her. I explained the entire situation . . . including the fact that Mrs. Bannon is having problems."

"Where was she?" Race demanded again.

"She didn't say, but I was able to back-trace the call to a private residence in Mumbai. I doubt she is there now, however. She and Kefira were there together, with at least two other people . . ." He shook his head at their look. "No, not Jon and Hadji. Both of them are in Bangalore. Jessica says she is fairly certain both are still alive and I got the impression that she had an idea of where to find them. When she called, they were getting ready to go in after them. I made certain she knew that it was vital that Jon and his brother return here as swiftly as possible . . . that Dr. Quest's life depends on it. She understood the urgency."

"You said she was there with two others," Race said. "Did she say who they were?"

"There may actually have been more than two, but one was a woman she called 'Jade'."

Race inhaled sharply and sat back in his chair. "Jade," he repeated softly, his eyes slightly glazed as he stared vacantly over their heads. After a moment, he breathed softly, "Good Lord, Ponchita, I hope you know what you're doing. To trust Jade . . ." Then his gaze sharpened. "IRIS, access bank records. Has there been any activity in any of the reserve bank funds in the last two weeks?"

"AFFIRMATIVE," IRIS replied after a moment. "THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF LARGE CASH AND ELECTRONIC WITHDRAWALS FROM FUND 2314 OVER THE LAST WEEK."

"Fund 2314. So you're paying her," Race commented in the same soft tone, obviously thinking out loud. He nodded to himself. "That's right, Ponchita. You can buy her loyalty. Just don't rely on her too far."

"Race?" Barbara questioned, laying a hand on his arm. His gaze focused on his surroundings again and he turned back to Garrett.

"Who was the other one?"

Garrett shook his head regretfully. "I don't know. She didn't name the person. She simply said she was sending them to you with someone you trusted."

"Sending me 'them'? What do you mean?"

Garrett looked at Race levelly. "Kefira's younger brother and sister . . . all that is left of her family."

It took a moment for that to register, but when it did, Barbara's face went white and Race's hands doubled over into fists. "Rajeev . . . and Anila?" Race questioned hoarsely.

"Jessica offered no details," Garrett replied and quickly summarized what Jessie had told him of Anila and Rajeev's death. "She didn't name the man accompanying the children . . . I assume because you will know him on sight."

"Do you have any idea who it might be, Race?" Barbara asked him.

Race waved vaguely in frustration. "God only knows. I've made it a point to keep all of the kids well away from the agency, so it's unlikely Jess would have known how to plug into the net from Mumbai. She does have a few contacts here in the States that she could turn to in an emergency, but I can't imagine she would have called one of them and then trusted a stranger . . . even if one of them sent someone to her . . . with the lives of Kefira's brother and sister. The same goes for all of the people we know throughout the globe. Unless she called Admiral Bennett . . . "

"I don't think it would be him," Garrett replied. "She mentioned someone named Bennett to me and the way she said it made it sound like she hadn't talked with him."

"Tell me everything she said," Race commanded. Quickly, Garrett began outlining their conversation. When he told them what Jessie had said about Hadji and Kefira's marriage, Race exclaimed sharply, "They're WHAT?" With an incoherent sound of distress, he shoved himself away from the bar and stumbled across the room to stand at the sink, staring out the window blindly. Garrett and Stan exchanged concerned looks as Barbara rose and went over to him.

"Race?" she questioned softly, laying a hand on his arm.

"Why, Barbara?' he asked raggedly. "Jonny and Jessie . . . I - I can understand why they've shut us out. Benton's actions . . . and my apparent support of them . . . I guess we deserve . . . But Hadji. Why has he shut us out?" He turned to her suddenly and his expression was distraught. "Those boys are like my own, Barbara. I raised them . . . more than I did my own daughter in a lot of ways . . . and then suddenly not to be able to share the most important events in their lives . . And not even to know why . . ."

"You listen to me, Race Bannon," Barbara replied sharply. "There is no way Hadji would willingly exclude you from something so important to him. Something happened . . . something that made him feel he couldn't wait . . . for anything."

"I believe she's right, Mr. Bannon," Garrett added. "From the times and dates that Kefira provided, they were married after they were attacked on the street in New York. Immediately after . . . as in the same night."

"You know they wouldn't have excluded you without good reason," Barbara insisted.

"I don't know anything anymore," he replied in a choked voice, starting to turn away once more.

"Don't do that," she said sharply and swung him around to face her again. "I know you're tired and worried sick. You've been spread way too thin. But that is no excuse to start second-guessing yourself . . . or them. You taught them to go with their instincts and to do what needs to be done, and it's served them well so far. You have to trust that they're still doing that, and give them the benefit of the doubt until you can talk with them yourself and find out what's going on." Grabbing his arm firmly, she drew him back to toward the others again. "Now come here and sit down. We need to hear the rest of what Mr. Blackman has to say, and then you need to get some sleep."

Race allowed her to draw him back to his chair once more, but he shook his head at her comment about bed. "No, I have to go back to Portland. Estella . . ."

"Estella is fine for now. She made me promise to see that you got some rest before you returned and that's just what you're going to do. I don't want to hear any arguments. Now, Mr. Blackman, finish what you were saying."

Swiftly, Garrett finished describing his conversation with Jessica, finishing with, "She said to tell you that she is very sorry for everything that's happened recently and that she would do her best to make you proud of her."

After he finished, Race was silent for a long moment. When he finally looked up, Barbara thought she had never seen him look so helpless.

"What do I do, Barbara? Where do my loyalties lie? With Benton . . . the man I committed myself to protect over ten years ago? To my wife? I failed her once before when times got bad, and I lost her. Do I turn my back on her and run the risk of that happening again? And what about my daughter? Or Jonny and Hadji? I - I don't know what to do any more." He finally turned and laid his head down on the bar in exhaustion.

The three others allowed him a moment in silent sympathy. Finally, Barbara rested her hand on his back and said gently, "There's no choice to make . . . no question of divided loyalties, Race, because you aren't alone. When you need to be with Estella, I'll be here to care for Benton and vice versa. As for Jessie and the others, they aren't kids anymore . . . they're adults. And they aren't alone . . . they have each other. There is no stronger bond in the whole world than the love and loyalty those four share. It will get them through. You asked earlier why they didn't tell you what was going on. This is why. They knew the way you'd feel and they didn't want to subject you to it."

"And I understand that we're strangers to you, Mr. Bannon," Garrett added. "But I can't emphasize strongly enough how much Jon and Jessica have come to mean to us. They matter to a great many people in Boston . . . from their 76-year-old landlady, Mrs. Taylor, and the rest of the tenants in their building to Jessica's advisor, Benjamin Sikes, to the kids they have befriended as part of the company's Children's Outreach Program to Jon's friends and co-workers. I have a responsibility to those people to see that Jon and Jessica . . . and Hadji and Kefira . . . return safely. I have resources, too, and I've already begun taking steps designed to do exactly what Jessica asked . . . to apply pressure to Bangalore that will keep Mr. Birla distracted."

Race raised his head and looked at the other man.

"What kind of pressure?" he demanded.

Garrett smiled. "The kind that even Benton Quest can't exert the way I can."

"I don't . . ."

"THERE IS AN INCOMING CALL FOR GARRETT BLACKMAN FROM AN AMBASSADOR TILAK IN NEW YORK. DO YOU WISH TO TAKE THIS CALL?"

"Yes, IRIS, by all means. I've been waiting for it," Garrett said. "Put it on speaker, please."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. AMBASSADOR TILAK, I HAVE MR. BLACKMAN FOR YOU."

"Mr. Blackman? I am told by my staff that you are trying to contact me." The unfamiliar voice was not particularly cordial. "Surely this could have waited until a more seemly hour."

"No, Ambassador, it could not," Garrett replied flatly. "I have attempted to talk with both your Prime Minister and his assistant concerning this matter, and neither of them are prepared to listen, even though for them the hour is perfectly seemly. They tell me that if I wish to discuss matters of foreign policy, then I must go through official channels. I believe they hope that by the time regular working hours commence here and I am able to get through 'regular channels' at the embassy, they can make themselves unavailable and the matter can be delayed further. That is unacceptable to me. Hence, you are dragged out of bed at 3:00 a.m."

"Well, since I am up, you can tell me what you wish, but I certainly will not promise any sort of action before I get into the office. And I am booked solid with meetings until well after lunch, so I doubt I will be able to do much for you before then."

"I see." Garrett's tone had turned glacial. "If that's the case, then our business is very simple. Blackman Telecommunications is currently preparing to ship approximately $4.3 million dollars worth of equipment to the Indian government. As I understand it, this equipment is earmarked to upgrade all governmental telecommunications and computer systems countrywide, all the way down to the district level. The shipment is the first of three scheduled this year as part of an overall agreement that includes the replacement of both hardware and software. Are you familiar with this arrangement?"

"Certainly. I was part of the Indian negotiating team that worked out the agreement."

"And do you recall that part of the agreement was that your country's total payment of $13 million is only 25% of the entire cost, the balance being subsidized by the Blackman Foundation?"

"Yes, I do," Tilak replied, sounding wide awake and very wary now. "We were extremely grateful for your generosity. Your Foundation's strong commitment to support third world nations is greatly appreciated."

"Not appreciated enough, evidently," Garrett replied coldly. "I said you have made our business simple, Ambassador, and you have. I am officially notifying you that funding support for this project through the Foundation has been rescinded. I have also contacted the shipping department at Blackman Telecommunications and notified them that an issue has arisen concerning funding and advised them not to ship anything until a loan for the full amount of the project, underwritten by a reputable international bank, has been received."

"But . . . but you cannot do that!" Tilak sputtered.

"Oh, but I can, Ambassador. I'm sure that you're aware that the only reason you received the funding support in the first place was that India qualified under the third world country clause of the Foundation guidelines. And I can assure you that it was an extreme stretch to justify your country's inclusion in this category. I am certainly within my rights to have this re-evaluated before the equipment begins to ship."

"But why?" Tilak said desperately, while Race and Barbara stared at Garrett in astonishment. "Why would you pull our funding support? You know how desperately we need that equipment! And you are losing your own company a fortune."

"My company can withstand the financial loss, I assure you. And I did not say that Blackman Telecommunications will not sell you the equipment . . . only that my charitable foundation will not bend its rules and provide funding to a country that seeks advantage under the country-in-crisis clause and yet turns its back on one of its neighbors, who is truly in crisis."

"What is it that you want?" All of them could hear the strain in the man's voice now.

"I want your country to take a strong public stand against the group that is presently attempting a military coup in Bangalore. I want you to put pressure on the head of this coup, a man by the name of Arun Birla, to disband his troops of Janissaries . . . a group of mercenary soldiers that I would point out to you has already been outlawed in both Bangalore and your own country . . . and for Birla to submit himself to the Sultan for trial."

"But if what you say is true, Mr. Blackman, that is a civil war. We are not in a position to become involved in their disputes!"

"Oh, but you are, Mister Ambassador. And if you want that funding, you are obligated to do so. If you will recall, part of the qualification criteria is a clause that requires that the nation receiving the funding can document their humanitarian stand on human rights issues, particularly with their neighbors. This clause is specifically designed to ensure that countries with terrorist agendas or that have military takeover plans do not take advantage of the granting capabilities to further their own goals. Refugees are already pouring over your borders with stories of the atrocities being committed there. And what's more, prominent citizens of Bangalore . . . trading partners of significance to your country . . . are being murdered by Janissary troops. Surely you're not going to tell me that your government knows nothing of this? I know of it and I'm on the other side of the globe. You can hardly ignore it, particularly in light of the volatile nature of your entire northern border."

"I do not even know if what you are saying is true," Tilak argued. "Mr. Birla is a highly regarded citizen of Bangalore from a very old and respected family, and was a Bangalorian ambassador to our own government for years. He is also the chairman of Sultan Singh's advisory council. To accuse him of attempting a coup is a very serious charge. Perhaps he is only trying to keep order in the country while the Sultan is away."

"'Keep order'? You call wholesale slaughter of the rural populace, 'keeping order'? And why slaughter leading citizens? I do not call this keeping order, Mr. Ambassador!"

"How can you be so certain . . ."

"BECAUSE HE ORDERED THE MURDER OF THE SULTAN'S WIFE'S FAMILY!" Garrett snarled, his hold on his temper slipping. The resulting silence was pregnant.

"Murder? The Sultan's wife's family?" Tilak said hesitantly. "That cannot be. He is not married. In fact, I was asked by the Regent herself to escort Ms. Subramanian back to Bangalore. There must be some mistake . . ."

"I assure you, Ambassador Tilak, there is no mistake." Garrett's voice was like a lash, fueled by his obvious anger. "They were married the same day you came and attempted to take her away." The sarcasm was clear as he added, "Do you honestly believe that Sultan Singh would have allowed you to make his future wife into the political pawn that Mr. Birla wished her to be? Perhaps you are not that politically savvy, but Sultan Singh certainly is. Unfortunately, Mr. Birla chose to exact a very high price from the Sultan and his new wife for that decision, and now Rajeev Subramanian and his family are dead because of it."

"You are certain of this?" Tilak demanded.

"Yes. Within the last two hours, I have spoken to Sultana Singh and have this word from her personally. So do not expect me to have much understanding for a country that is prepared to turn a blind eye to this situation." Blackman took a deep breath, struggling to rein in his temper. After a moment, he continued in a quieter voice, "Therefore, Ambassador Tilak, I wish for you to communicate this to your Prime Minister . . . through the proper channels, of course . . . BTI Foundation will not stretch its rules for a country that will not speak out against such atrocities. If your country can come up with the money for the full $52 million to fund the project, Blackman Telecommunications will sell you the equipment. But I have one final word of warning. The personnel cost to support this project was in addition to the equipment cost and that was being donated by Blackman Telecommunications. However, under these circumstances, I will not put my people at risk. If you do choose to continue with the project, you will have to find someone else with the expertise to install the equipment and to do your training. Have I made myself clear, Mr. Ambassador?"

"Yes," the Indian ambassador replied, sounding seriously shaken.

"Excellent. Then I wish you a pleasant good morning, Ambassador. IRIS, if you would, please?"

"THE CALL HAS BEEN TERMINATED."

"Thank you."

The silence in the kitchen stretched on for a long moment. Finally, Stan said, "You better notify shipping."

"Already done. I've put everything on hold. I also notified Karen at the Foundation to pull the granting contracts." Garrett looked over at his friend and co-worker and smiled slightly. "It wasn't an idle threat, you know. I'll pull the entire project."

"Fifty-two million is a lot of money, Garrett. That was a significant contract."

Garrett shrugged. "Yes, it was. But money has never been the bottom line with me, Stan. You know that. That region of the world needs stability. Since I became aware that Jon's brother was the Sultan of Bangalore, I've gone back and looked at that country and it's interactions with its neighbors. Do you have any idea how much the level of hostility throughout the entire region has dropped since Vikram Singh was overthrown and Hadji became Sultan? Yes, India is the predominant influence in the region, but they have consistently either taken a hands-off approach to diplomatic relations with their neighbors or they've fought with them, primarily over religious or territorial issues. On the other hand, Hadji's social and economic reforms have led a quiet revolution. He's taken a proactive stance to the needs of both his people and his neighbors that have brought about stability and an easing of tensions. That area can't afford to have the return of a Vikram-type rule. The entire northern border will explode, exactly the way Bangalore has. And if I can bring a little pressure to bear on the Indian Prime Minister and Parliament to see that they realize the importance of the current Bangalorian government to their own interests, then I'm not going to hesitate to do so."

"All because Jonny went to work for you last May," Race said softly.

Garrett shook his head. "No. I won't lie and say it wasn't a factor, but it's not in the way that you think. I would have paid attention anyway. I always do when either my company or my foundation is in the midst of a transaction with a foreign government . . . particularly one of this magnitude. Having worked with Dr. Quest for so many years, you should understand how easily modern technology can be turned to destructive uses, and I always try to do everything in my power to ensure that doesn't occur. But the fact that Jon was working for me provided me with the rare opportunity to evaluate the moral fiber of the man who is ruling Bangalore in a way that is seldom possible. I may have only met Hadji Singh twice, but I have come to know Jon extremely well, and those two young men are cut from the same cloth. I will support Hadji's rule wholeheartedly. I wish we could have more men like him in positions of power in this world."

After a moment, Race nodded. "So do I," he agreed. He rubbed his eyes wearily. "God, I feel like the mud at the bottom of a catfish pond. I can't even seem to think any more. I should call Bennett . . . see what he can do . . ."

"It's 3:30 in the morning," Barbara said. "Admiral Bennett will be at home in bed, which is exactly where you should be. Calling him will wait for a more reasonable hour and in the meantime you can get some sleep."

Race grinned half-heartedly. "Seems that's about all you've been saying to us recently."

"Well, I wouldn't have to say it if you'd all be more sensible!" Barbara retorted, rising from her chair. "Now, come on. I want you to get some rest. I'm going up to check on Benton and when I'm done, I expect to find you asleep."

Race rose with an effort. "Yes, mother," he replied meekly. Turning to the two other men, he said, "I'm afraid I've been a poor host tonight . . ."

"You have the right," Stan said, cutting him off. "Don't worry about it."

Race turned back to the woman at his side. "Barbara, can I ask a favor? Will you show Mr. Blackman and Mr. Knight . . ."

"Garrett," Blackman corrected him smoothly.

"And Stan," Knight added.

Race nodded wearily, "Garrett and Stan . . . to guest rooms? I'd do it, but . . ."

"Go," she commanded. "I'll take care of it."

Race nodded and with a quiet "good night", he turned and disappeared through the kitchen doorway. The other three sat silently, listening as his dragging footsteps receded. After a moment, they paused hesitantly, and Barbara wondered what had made him stop. She was just about to get up to see what the problem was when they heard him begin to climb the stairs. It took her a moment to realize that rather than heading for the Bannon suite on the first floor, Race was going to the room that Estella had been using. She shook her head sadly and then turned and gestured for Stan and Garrett to follow her. "This way."

"Will he . . ." Stan began, but Barbara interrupted him smoothly.

"He'll be all right. He's just tired." Both Garrett and Stan could feel the defensive barriers go up. Silently, they just nodded and followed her out of the kitchen.