Allegro 15

Rated PG

Characters belong to Lloyd, Moore, DC and others.

Evey and the baby were sleeping. Overhead traffic had increased as the sun rose higher, but so far none of the seven cars had slowed as they approached the bridge. Dominic wished he knew what time it was. He caught himself looking at the back of his wrist. He sighed. I must have lost the phone in the wreck. If it was in the cottage I would have heard sirens from InterPol. Maybe. He leaned forward to see the two cars far below. He glanced at Evey and the baby. The two of them lay on his Mac, eyes closed, breathing regularly, reminding him how very very tired he was. He carefully got to his knees, gauging the distance to the river, how long it would take him to climb down, then back up. He licked his lips. We need water. There is some in my car. And the first aid kit has a bottle of eye wash and gauze. We can wash the baby off. The emergency kit in the boot has a space blanket. He went over the inventory in his mind, then stood. As soon as his shoe met the concrete Evey's eyes flew open. "Don't you dare leave me!" She hissed.

He was so startled he staggered against the wall. "Eve. Shit."

"I knew it. You are thinking of going down to the car." She whispered, so as not to wake the baby, but her eyes shouted at him.

"Well, I…"

"You promised."

"We can't stay here. I have to do something. Soon. I know my limits, Eve, and I can't stay awake longer than 36 hours without some decrease in functionality," he said dryly. We either need to find a protected place where I can sleep, or we need to get out of here."

Her narrowed eyes softened and her fierce glare faded to resignation. "You're right, of course," she said. "It's not like I want to be here. I'm being irrational. I'm sorry."

I am dealing with some serious abandonment issues here. Dominic crouched down low to look her in the eye, and said gently, "Don't worry, Eve. I won't leave you, but I have get us out of here. I have to go down. It light now and I might be able to find one of the mobiles from the wreck. You are going to have to let me go. I will never be out of your sight. Can you see the cars from where you are?"

"Yes." She pursed her lips, contrite.

"Well, then. Let me go. I think I lost my mobile in the wreck. If I had lost it in the scuffle the police would have been here by now…" My mobile is most likely dead if it fell in the water or was crushed. I need to look for one in the other car.

"The scuffle? Oh god. That's right. You killed six men. Jesus, Dominic."

Seven, actually. "I'll leave my pistol with you. Will that make you feel better?"

She thought about that, screwed up her face. "No. But you probably should. It's not like I can run away if someone should come."

He pulled the .38 from the holster under his arm and showed her the safety. "Do you know how to use one of these?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Uhm." He turned the pistol over, "you move this," he demonstrated, "then pull this back," he pantomimed, "Then aim and fire. It is simple at close range. There are three shots left." She held her free hand out for it. He gave it to her. "I'll be back in less than an hour. I wish I still had my watch."

"I don't. I never want to look at a clock again."

Dominic smiled unconvincingly, Evey gave him the same smile. "How is the baby doing?" he asked, leaning over trying to see the tiny form in the crook of her arm.

"Edmond."

"What?"

"You called him 'the baby'. His name is Edmond."

"Edmond." He indicated the bundle and she lifted the shirt tails that covered Edmond's tiny body. Dominic looked into that little nest between her arm and her breasts, his professional opinion restricted to determining if the baby was breathing or not. The little face was still scrunched up, like he was frowning, and his long black hair was matted to his scalp with waxy white goo. He was breathing; his miniature lips puckered on an invisible nipple as he slept. Dominic met Evey's eyes, "Is he supposed to look like that?"

Evey laughed. "Yes. If 'like that' you mean 'gorgeous'."

Dominic smiled at her, "He's gorgeous, Evey."

Dominic set his feet off the corner of the ledge and let himself down from the concrete to the sloping ground. He made it to the cars rather quickly, sliding in the muddy soil and using the rocks to keep him upright. He glanced up at the ledge periodically to reassure her. He lost sight of her face in the shadows under the bridge when he was halfway down, but he knew she could still see him. He waved up at the ledge when he reached the bottom.

The other car was half in the river; its rear end making eddies in the water while the front end rested precariously upon a boulder. Dominic took off his suit jacket and used it on the door to keep the glass out of his abdomen as crawled halfway in the driver's side window. He exhaled with a happy whoosh. Everything that had been in this car was strewn about the ground outside. Everything except the mobile. It was wedged firmly into the space between the two seats, invisible in the darkness last night. Dominic closed his eyes in a silent prayer of thanks as he reached for the small black phone. He unplugged it and flipped it up. Fully charged. He smiled. Quickly he punched Finch into the keypad and put the phone to his ear.

It rang only once. A strange voice answered, "Hello?"

Dominic frowned. "I am trying to reach Chief Inspector Finch," he said.

"Stone! Detective Stone! Thank God! Where are you?"

"Who is this?" Dominic sat down on a boulder.

"This is Terence Perry. It's Perry."

"Perry? Where is Finch?" He narrowed his eyes, wary now.

"He is here."

"I want to talk to him."

"He can't talk to you, Stone, he's unconscious. He…"

"What? What?" Dominic pressed the little phone harder to his ear, even though he knew squeezing the plastic would not change Perry's words.

"It's the virus, Stone. His condition is serious. He was injected with a particularly nasty form of it. I have him in a medically induced coma to reduce the swelling in his…"

"Injected? Swelling? Fucking hell, Perry. Did you…" Dominic swayed, his field of vision narrowed to a small circle of light around his left foot. He stared at the toe of his shoe trying to collect himself. The Inspector...

"No. No, we had nothing to do with it. He came to me three days ago, collapsed in our lobby, he knew not to go to hospital. We have him here in the lab."

"Why isn't he in hospital?"

"Well, after what happened to Mr. Dascombe…"

"Oh God. What happened to Dascombe?" Dominic felt those hours of missing sleep. He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on Perry's words. What is going on at home?

"I'm sorry. Let me fill you in, Detective. Mr. Dascombe was shot and killed by Special Forces in Jordon Tower last week. He had broadcast a segment on the virus and implicated Sutler's government in its creation." Perry paused mercifully for Dominic to absorb that information before he continued, "The country was immediately put on alert. Wilson placed a lockdown on all businesses and government offices and a curfew until further notice. But before the day was out General Akroyd and his men stormed Wilson's office building. Wilson shot himself."

"Who's in charge? Akroyd? Was that a coup?"

"No. No coup. Akroyd said on the telly that there would be no more Military Rule in Britain. He gave a very emotional speech. He quoted Churchill and Shakespeare's St. Crispian. He reminded everyone about the Magna Carta and the history of cooperative government. Right now local MPs are administering their districts. After his speech a crowd formed outside of Buckingham Palace demanding that the Queen show herself. She did and they cheered her. Akroyd had her make a statement on the emergency channel and there is no more rioting, but the situation is tense. The people demand daily updates on the search for a cure. The Queen ordered that government stashes of food and water and beer be distributed free of charge. That can only keep the peace until it runs out. We have to find a cure, or at least report real progress before that happens. We hope to have something to report in the next three weeks."

Dominic glanced up at the ledge. "Yes. Sooner than that, Perry. I intercepted the package you sent to Mrs. Abernathy."

Now it was London's turn to be silent. Dominic gave Perry the same courtesy and waited for him to recover. Perry's voice returned, his tone completely different now, subdued and worried. "Did you read the documents?"

"No. But I know what is in the package."

"Then you know we need her baby's placenta for the stem cells."

"I know," Dominic said carefully. "Tell me, Perry. How long will the cells remain viable under room temperature conditions?"

"Oh no, oh no!" Perry's voice became frantic, "Tell me it's not true! Detective Stone, has she delivered? Is she not in a hospital? Oh God…" His voice faded away and Dominic imagined the phone being lowered away from Perry's face. He could still hear heavy breathing on the other end.

"Answer me, Perry." Dominic said.

"48 hours, Detective, but that is on ice. Please tell me she is in hospital." The last sentence ended with a sob.

Dominic answered, "The placenta is about two hours old now, Perry. I will get it to you if I can."

"Hold on, Detective." There was a long silence at the other end. Dominic looked up at the ledge and waved again. He saw a hand wave back. Perry returned to the phone. "I am sending a jet from the Paris embassy to the Marseilles airport. She is still in Marseilles? And the baby? Born alive?"

Dominic frowned. "It's the placenta I promised, Perry. Not Mrs. Abernathy or her child."

"She can come back. She will be safe here."

"I don't think so, Perry. You can send the plane for the placenta, but that is the only part of Mrs. Abernathy you will see."

"That is good enough if I can get it within twenty-four hours. Put it on ice right away, Detective."

"Can't do that, but I will get it to the airport as fast as I can. Tell me about Finch."

"He needs those stem cells. We can inject them into his bone marrow and see if they will begin producing antibodies to this virus. Without them I give him six weeks. We won't be able to overcome the organ damage after that. We can culture more stems cells for the other victims if enough viable ones are found."

"I'll do my best."

"Give me your number."

"I don't have one. I will call you on that mobile. Good-bye." Dominic pressed "end", then immediately dialed the Paris Embassy. "Tandy please." He waited.

Tandy's voice cam out of the mobile's speaker. "Tandy."

"Tandy, this is Stone. Perry says he is sending a jet to Marseilles. Is that true?"

"Stone! Where have you been? I've been ringing you for hours! It the Chief Inspector, he's…"

"I know. I've been briefed. Tell me about the plane."

"Yes. He made arrangements with the ambassador, I was just now informed. There will be a plane at the Marseilles airport in an hour."

"I need a car."

"Where are you?"

"North of Marseilles, about an hour on Motorway 363. Marker 23. Send Johnson with a car. No one else. I mean it. That's an order."

"Of course, Detective."

"Tell Johnson I need water, blankets and an ice chest. Have him fill it with ice."

"Yes, sir." He'll be there in an hour."

Dominic ended the call and put the phone in his trouser pocket. His jacket was now too full of glass to put back on. He slid his way down to his car which lay upside down on the bank. The boot was jammed shut, no way to get to the first aid or the emergency kits without a crowbar. He scanned the ground looking for any useful flotsam or jetsam from the wrecks, looking for his bottled water. Nothing. He turned his eyes upward toward the road and the bridge. Now I have to make that climb. He heard a faint cry. The baby. The sound gave him strength. He grabbed a bush and pulled himself up, then another bush, then a stone. He made his way up the ravine.

When he got to the ledge the baby was awake and nursing, and Evey had a pained look on her face. She handed him back his pistol. "Dom, this hurts worse than the labor."

"No…" he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"God, he has my nipple in a hot tong. Reminds me of pictures in V's books about the Inquisition." She managed a wry smile.

Dominic gave her a sideways look as he lifted the edge of his Mac to expose the placenta which lay next to her foot. "Surely you exaggerate," he said as he examined it. It was round and thick and bloody, like a piece of raw meat. It had a thin pale membrane attached to it and at least half a meter of blue umbilicus coiled on top. It looked like it weighed at least a stone. How to carry this thing? He rolled it in the edge of the Mac, then turned to Evey. "Get ready to climb out of here, Eve, we are about to be rescued."

Johnson was gracious enough to remain silent as he held the car's door open for Evey and the baby to climb into the back seat. He met Dominic's warning eyes before the Detective followed her into the car. The door closed and Johnson climbed in and pulled into the road and over the bridge. "Where to, Sir?"

"To your office."

"Yes, sir."

Dominic was aware that Johnson was glancing at them in the rearview mirror as he packed the placenta in the ice chest. He tucked the blankets around Evey and the baby and handed her a bottle of water. "Keep quiet, Eve," he warned under his breath. She nodded to him, gesturing toward Johnson with her eyes. He nodded in return, shrugging a blanket over his shoulders. Stay awake.

It was Sunday. The streets of Marseilles were nearly deserted this late in the afternoon, the dinner hour. Johnson pulled up in front of the office building and turned around to face them over the seat. "We're here, Detective."

"Thank you, Johnson." Dominic opened his door and climbed out, then held Johnson's door open. "Please get out. I will be back to file my report tomorrow. Please understand the events of the last three days are coded yellow."

Johnson's brow furrowed, but he understood. "Yes, Sir."

Dominic climbed into the driver's seat and turned the car toward his flat. Ten minutes later he was parked on the curb before a two-room rental on the top floor of an old house. He helped Evey out and bundled her quickly up the outside staircase and through his front room into his bedroom. "You are safe here at least for a few hours. Right now the only danger I see is from Massey and he would not dare look for you here. I am leaving the pistol with you and…"

"You're leaving me? Again?" She sat down on the edge of his bed, her face incredulous, the baby clutched tightly against her breasts under the blanket.

He answered her as he reached for a fresh shirt out of his closet and yanked at his belt, kicking off his shoes. "I have to get the placenta to the airport, Eve. You need a shower and some food. Wash the baby in the sink, use tea towels for diapers. You can wear one of my shirts. I will bring you back some real diapers and some clothing. Do not use the phone." He dropped his trousers and tugged a fresh pair from a hanger, hopping on one foot as he pulled them on. "I will be gone three hours at the most. There is food in the fridge, Evey. I want you to eat something then get in bed with the baby and sleep." He slid the belt through the loops and his fingers started on the buttons.

"You're leaving?"

He stopped tucking in his shirt and went to her, kneeling on the floor by the bed. He put his hands on her knees. "Eve. I am coming back. I promise."

Her lower lip began to tremble and the baby started to cry. Dominic realized this would not be as simple as what he had planned out in his mind. Mood swings are normal. This is supposed to happen. He frowned, trying to remember. Something about hormone levels adjusting themselves. If I had known she was this close to her due date I would have been reading about childbirth, not old police reports. "I have to get the placenta to Perry. The Lab will use it to cure the sick people, Eve. Do you understand? Tell me you understand."

She nodded, but big tears welled up and spilled over her cheeks. Dominic squeezed her knee. "I can call my landlady up to help you. Do you want me to do that?"

Her voice was thick with tears. "No. I don't want any strangers around me."

That's understandable. "Then I have to leave you alone. Just while I go to the airport and then to the shops. I am coming back, Evey. I'm not leaving you for long. Lock the door, keep the pistol by the bed and try to keep the baby happy." He pointed to her breasts. "If you want privacy, you can't let the landlady hear a baby crying in a bachelor's flat." He turned one corner of his mouth up in crooked smile. "Right?"

She nodded, then wiped her eyes with one hand as she dropped the blanket and put the baby to her breast. He quieted immediately. Dominic got to his feet. "See? If you are too tired, just go to bed. You can wash up later." He grabbed a suit jacket out of the closet and put his arms through it. "I'll be right back." He slid his feet into fresh loafers and put his hand on the door. "I'm coming back," he said to her.

At the airport the jet was waiting. Good. This will be quick and painless and I can get back to Evey fairly quickly. He was worried she wouldn't eat if he weren't there to remind her. And this anxiety she is exhibiting…Dominic pulled the car through French security at the private airport, showing them his badge and passport again…she has probably been suffering since the fifth. Hell, V. You left her. You just left her alone…and pregnant. Didn't you think? What were you thinking? Why didn't you plan for this? He drove the car as close to the jet as he could. He stopped and pulled hard on the parking brake, thinking. He did plan for this. He gave her to me. He told me himself. Dominic ground his teeth together. This is almost over, and I won't leave her. He got out of the car and opened the back door to reach for the ice chest.

He heard a loud crack then a sharp pain exploded in the back of his head. Dominic felt himself falling to the pavement in slow motion; the tarmac seemed to rise up to meet his face. No! He grabbed at the car, slowing his descent with his arms and turned himself around, his back against the door panel. He slid down the side of the car as his knees betrayed him. Tandy. Then the world went dark.