Lawrence was growing bored of waiting. It had been close to a week since the chamber had been declared operational and the video equipment had become operational. Both the decoy gas and the new toxin had been stockpiled and were ready to deploy on Lawrence's command. Everything was in place, and Lawrence's impatience was mounting.
"I assure you, Herr Alamain, that we just need to confirm a few final matters," Dr. Schreiner was saying.
Lawrence looked across the table in the cramped room he was using for his personal space. It was nothing like his villa in Alamainia, where he could look out at the wide expanse of ocean. This room reminded him of his prison cell and he wanted to be gone soon. Lawrence decided it was time to terminate this conversation.
"Dr. Schreiner. . . . Do you recall my giving you a deadline?"
The doctor swallowed, then nodded.
"If I recall, that deadline was the first of December, was it not?"
Schreiner nodded.
"And what is today's date?"
"The seventh of December," Schreiner said.
Lawrence smiled. "That is correct. At this point, we know the toxin is lethal and it can be distributed as intended. I do not believe further tests are in order." Not if I'm to have the bidding next week as planned. "Therefore, I believe your services on this project are no longer required."
Schreiner's eyes widened in fear, causing Lawrence to laugh. The doctor must have been thinking about how Lawrence handled others that he no longer required.
"Oh please, Dr. Schreiner. I still may need your services so you need not fear for your safety." Lawrence turned to Ivan, who was standing in the doorway. "Ivan, please see that Dr. Schreiner and his assistants are taken to one of our secure facilities." Looking back at Schreiner, Lawrence explained, "We can't have the ISA or other authorities finding you near Salem. They may seek to use your talents to undermine our efforts."
Ivan stepped forward and put a hand on Schreiner's shoulder. The doctor nodded, a bit nervously, Lawrence noted, and then followed Ivan out of the room.
Lawrence leaned back in his chair and thought. With the scientists gone, this facility was down to a skeleton crew. He had Ivan, the two audio-visual technicians who took 12-hour shifts monitoring the cameras placed around the refinery site, and two retainers from Alamainia who would prove useful when it came time to deploy the toxin. Other than that, Lawrence had a small security team whose services he had obtained from Rafi Torres. They seemed like typical American barbarians, but they served their function. They patrolled the site occasionally and watched for trespassers and law enforcement. But Torres' men had no idea what was taking place just under their feet. They simply took their instructions through the camera technician, who they had been told was monitoring the site from a remote location.
Ivan returned a few minutes later. "Gregor and Hans are removing Dr. Schreiner and his assistant." He paused. "You do want them to leave safely, sir?"
"I do," Lawrence said. "Send them to Alamainia to my villa. Once the demonstration is complete here, we may need them to furnish specific details to our buyers. And perhaps we can find other uses for them. Alamain Industries could always use top scientists."
As Ivan left to escort the scientists from the compound, Lawrence thought through the latest information he had received. Jack and Jennifer Devereaux were both in Salem, but they were not working together. He had to make sure he found a way to get them together at the appointed time.
Then there was Shane Donovan. He had been seen briefly in town, at Alice Horton's restaurant, but mostly seemed to be holed up at his house. Seizing the man from the house posed a dilemma. Lawrence wanted Donovan, but such a brazen act would risk discovery.
It needs to be something more subtle. Perhaps, I can entice him with some noble cause. Let him think he has a chance to be a hero. That seemed to be Donovan's main aim in life. But what could that be? Lawrence needed to think quickly. Time was of the essence.
Ivan returned and rapped lightly on the door. Lawrence looked up to see a slight expression of concern on the other man's face.
"What is it, Ivan?"
"The video technician has identified two men who just entered the property," he said.
Lawrence shrugged. "Why should that be of any concern?"
"I believe they may have seen me with Dr. Schreiner." Ivan swallowed. Obviously, he knew Lawrence would be displeased by that report. He explained further. "I just put the doctor and his assistants into a boat to take them from here. I did not anticipate-"
"No, of course, you didn't." Lawrence stood up abruptly and stormed out of the room to the control room where the technician had locked a camera on the two men.
"Looks like a pair of bums," the technician said.
Lawrence frowned. That was hard to believe. He walked toward the monitor and looked at it. The two men were at a bit of a distance and wore long coats and hats.
"Is that all these cameras can do?" Lawrence snapped. "For all I'm paying you, can't you provide a closer image?"
The technician nodded quickly. He punched a few buttons, did something with the computer, and the picture zoomed into the men.
Now that Lawrence could get a closer look, he understood the technician's thinking. The coats the men wore looked ragged and had patches all over them. One of the men stumbled a little, suggesting he was not entirely sober.
Maybe they are just a couple of vagrants, Lawrence said to himself.
You don't believe that for a minute, came another small voice.
No, he didn't. It was far too much of a coincidence that the two men had somehow made their way through the fence around the abandoned refinery just as Ivan was exposed.
"Go closer," Lawrence ordered.
The technician punched a few more buttons. "The image may be fuzzy, sir. This is very heavily magnified. I could try to get a different camera-"
"No," Lawrence said, cutting the man off. The blurry image had materialized on screen and, despite being less than clear, it still revealed the men's faces.
Lawrence began to laugh. A moment ago, he had been racking his brain to find a way to draw Shane Donovan out of the safety of his home. Now the man was right on the screen in black-and-white.
Turning to Ivan, Lawrence said, "Mobilize our security unit. Make sure they capture Donovan alive and then you must bring him to me."
Ivan gave a curt nod. "Yes, sir." Then he glanced at the screen. "And the other man?"
Lawrence looked again at the screen, this time focusing on the image of the former Roman Brady. What was the name he was using now? John Black.
He's nothing.
"Bring Donovan to me," Lawrence said. "Meanwhile, direct our Torres family friends to eliminate Mr. Black."