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“Then what do we do?”

“You’re asking me? I’m just the driver here. It’s your play. You’re the multiple murderer, after all.”

“The smell,” I suddenly said. My mouth working overtime.

“What smell? I’m not even wearing perfume.”

“Not you. The smell in the basement.”

“Don't think you told me about that.”

“Maybe I forgot. When I escaped the second time. Without Cassie number two, I did so out a second basement. There was this incredibly powerful smell of mothballs.”

“Mothballs?”

“Yes. And no linens or cloth anywhere around. The place was completely empty. That smell has been bothering me ever since. The building once belonged to the government.”

“Ours?”

“So?”

“What?”

We stayed quiet for a couple of minutes.

“Naphthalene,” I said.

“What?”

“Okay. I’ll bite. So what?”

“They use it in pesticides and certain kinds of explosives.”

“Okay.”

“But you also said there wasn’t anything in the room but a furnace and that tube thing you escaped through.”

“Right. But it might mean that the room had been used to store pesticides, explosives, or both.”

“So what. The government uses these things. All the time. No secret about that.”

She was right, of course. But it still bothered me.

“We’ve got to get off this Interstate,” I said. Mouth working overtime.

“Here? Before we get to Canada?”

“Yes.”

“If I’m right, we're doing exactly what they want us to do.”

“What?”

“No time. Get off at the next exit and we’ll switch places.”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

A couple of minutes later she took the off ramp for the little town of Sciota, which, I gathered was some distance away because we drove into complete darkness.

She stopped the car alongside the road and got out. As did I. We switched places and I took over the driver seat just as two cars pulled up behind us. No more just following us. Time to pay the piper.

I floored the gas pedal, spitting rocks every which way and making as much dust as possible.

“Thought we weren’t trying to attract the cops.”

“Weren’t,” I said. “But I think our little troupe behind us has discovered I might have figured out their little plan. Or at least part of it. Now we’re going to take advantage of what this little baby can really do.”

And the car roared up to speed. Seventy. Eighty. Ninety. Not a problem.

“Jesus, Will. A little too fast maybe?”

I looked in the rearview mirror. They been caught off guard, but had got the picture quickly enough. The cars were no match for the vette, but they made pretty good time for what they were. Maybe souped up eights. Hard to tell.

We flew through the night toward the unsuspecting farms and villages in our path. I had to think quickly. No time for mistakes at this point. I had to lose them or we’d both faces consequences too deadly to consider.

The engine screamed. Not for mercy. This was, after all, a twentieth-century Corvette. The car of cars. Nothing like them in the world short of Le Mans. Or maybe, just maybe, Indianapolis. Thermometer still read cool. And the speedometer went up well over one hundred. Plenty of speed left. My only question was could the road hold her. The tires. The brakes. We weren’t on a raceway. We were in rural New York State.

Then, without warning, I slammed on the brakes. At least as hard as I could without going into a tumble.

“What are you doing,” Cassie screamed.

“I just got it,” I screamed back at her. “This is not going to work.”

I watched for a turn off and found one at the end of a long field on my right. I slowed and made the turn without going out of control. A trick I’d learned from my wild teenage years.

“Where are we going?”

“Not far. Just hang on.”

I could see her grab and tighten her seatbelt. I hadn’t even worn mine. I wanted to be out of the door as quickly as I could when the time came.

We drove maybe two hundred feet, all the while slowing down. Then I made a U-turn and headed back to the main road. Once there, I turn to the left and floored it. Directly toward our pursuers.

“What?” Cassie yelled.

“Hang on. Not sure what’s going to happen. If we hit something, don’t react. Let the car take the brunt of it. Then grab the door and jump out as fast as you can. These guys don’t have air bags. At least I don’t think they have. Hang on.”

In front of us, maybe a quarter mile down the road, I could see by their headlights that our groupies were slowing. Uncertain of what I had planned. They were either going to scatter off the road into the fields or stop in the road itself. Daring me to hit them. I was expecting the latter. Hoping for the former.

Our speed picked up. Forth. Fifty. Sixty. They stopped.

I hit seventy, and then eighty, and then held it there. It wouldn’t take long.

Somewhere in the next two seconds I hit the no turning back point. For them as well as for me. Cassie had buried her head in her lap. I couldn’t see the guys in their cars. Maybe they’d done the same. I wouldn’t have. They, after all were sitting still. They could run. But that I would have seen.

At the last split second I made a slight turn of the wheel. Not enough at that speed to flip the car but enough to slide by the car on my right, and passed them going the opposite way. Then I upped the ante. Ninety. And then one hundred. We were on our way back to the Interstate.

“Did you see that?” I asked Cassie.

“Ubjob wasit?” she said, her face still buried in her hands on her lap.

“They stayed in their cars. Suicidal bastards. They hoped I’d hit them. Take one for Allah. How many virgins promised for a proper death?”

“What the hall are you talking about?” she said as she raised her head.

“Masters. He didn’t tell the truth. At least all of the time. He told it when it suited him and lied when it didn’t. Empty lies because I couldn’t possible separate fact from fiction.”

“I don’t get what that has to do with the guys back there.”

“Just rust me. I’ll tell you when I get the chance. Right now I want you to look back there and see if you see them following us again. I don’t think they’ll be able to. At least for a while. By that time we’ll be long gone. And they’ll never catch us.”

“Don’t see anything.”

“Good.”

It took us about six minutes to hit the Interstate again. I slowed to a reasonable speed and took the onramp up into traffic. Going south.”

“No. Now we’re finally going the right way. Keep looking out the back window. See if you see anything like them back there. I don’t think they’ll know what to do now. Probably think we’re still headed for Canada.”

“And we’re not. Obviously.”

“No.”

“New York City. And hope that we’re not too late.”

45.
As we drove Cassie demanded an explanation. I wasn't sure I had it all right yet, and told her that. But she wanted to know anyway.

“I think that Masters brought me under duress to his building in Queens for exactly the reason he said. To create a virus to slow computers down and then to make a killing selling the antivirus. But then he lied about ensuring it wouldn’t get into government computers. To avoid a war or some other catastrophe. To the contrary, the US government was his target. Everything else was collateral damage. Since his truth was so compelling to me, I couldn’t imagine it was a lie. He used that truth to sell his lie.”

“Not quite sure I follow.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not sure I’m saying it exactly right. Just follow me in general terms. He wanted to come out of this smelling like a rose. No one would be able to convict the man who’d saved the world’s computers of causing the problem in the first place.”

“How did you get all this from what happened back there?”

“Easy. Anybody with an ounce of sense would have moved their cars off road when they saw me coming at them like a kamikaze pilot. But there were ready to die for the cause. And they knew they would. I’d be killed and they’d be killed.”

“How could they know that?”

“Their cars were filled with explosives. The explosives they hoped to blow us to death with somewhere in the outback of Canada. They didn’t expect us to do what we did. Therefore, they’d have to take their medicine. Die for the cause. And who’d do that?”

“Okay, but what do you think’s going on?”

“I think that Masters purposely targeted Washington for my virus, hoping to slow down what has to be at full strength at all times. Our defense systems. Simple ones like the protection of the White House. And complex ones, like our country. In the mean time he’d developed local explosives in the basement of the Masters building to use for the job. Don’t know whether other things were planned in conjunction or not. Maybe it was just him and his men. Maybe a few governments were involved as well. An all out attack possibly. All synchronized. He caught me in the mess by mixing lies and truths in such a way that I couldn’t tell the difference.”

“And you smelled the remnants of the bombs in the basement?”

“Yes. Reminded me of my mother using mothballs to stop the moths from eating her dresses. That was one of the keys.”

“But what now?”

“See any suspicious cars behind us?”

She looked. Took her time.

“No. Nothing. Maybe we lost them.”

“Probably. But given their intent, we can’t be too careful. They need me dead. And you too, probably. I’m a risk. If not to figure out their plans and try to stop them, then to reveal him to whatever government that’s left and ruin his plans for the good life.”

“So, we’re going back to stop him?”

“If we can.”

“If your theory is correct, wouldn’t it be better to go to DC?”

“And do what? Remember, I’m a serial killer on the loose. Who’s going to believe me? Besides I have no idea of the timing in place. Whatever he has planned might occur while we’re trying to get there. Or weeks from now and all we’d be doing is wasting our time.”

“True. So you’re going to return to the building that you’ve escaped from three times previously?”

“Yes.” And I let that resonate in the small cabin of the vette.

I kept the car under seventy to avoid speed traps. No sense in getting stopped and the cop learning that I had no license to drive. And then learn all the rest.

“Why did it take you so long to figure this out?” she asked as we passed the off ramps for Pittsburgh again. Going the other way.

“Don’t know. Maybe I believed him. Maybe I believed the sycophants that follow his every word as gospel.”

“Who?”

“The group of hypnotized idiots that believe he’s doing all this for the good of the world.”

“Maybe just because I wanted to believe him, too. Who knows? Maybe I’m just stupid. Whatever. If he’s still there, and I surely hope he is, I’ve got to stop him from carrying out his plan.”

Cassie went quiet.

I glanced up. The stars had disappeared, replaced by incoming clouds. A very early morning rain on the way, no doubt. And onward we sped. Toward what, exactly I wasn’t sure.

“I wonder if they have guards to keep us out as well as in,” she said.

“No idea. Interesting thought though.”

“We going to sneak through, or just walk up to the door and take our chances.”

“Sneak. Or at least try to. After all, the place is bugged and I doubt we’ll make it very far without him knowing about it.”

So we parked at the curb across the street from the forest that Cassie number two and I’d hidden in those many years ago. Or so it seemed. Plenty of open spaces given the early hour.

Once in the woods, we kept close to the ground, hoping to remain at least less visible than we would be otherwise. When we arrived at the other side of the forest, the one bordering the lawn that separated nature from building, I stopped us and surveyed the possibilities. No one in sight. The light on the top of the building kept its rhythmic beating going as if timing our moves.

“What now, genius boy?”

Genius boy?

“There’s no way to hide ourselves from here on. But we can take the side that presents the least possibility that someone may be watching out a window. And that would be the east side.”

And so we followed the terminus of the trees around ninety or so degrees and then walked as quickly as we could without drawing attention and hugged the brick wall at that side of the building.

No alarms. No sign anyone saw us. Yet.

“Now let’s work our way around to the back door. Slowly.”

Cassie was on that side, so she went first. Stealth. She actually had the moves down well. No sound. No extraneous movement.

And, as we had the meadow, we made our destination with no untoward attempts to stop us. Had no one really noticed? Or were they waiting for us just inside the door?

“Let me lead the way,” I whispered, and moved around her to take position closest to the door.

“What now?”

“I guess we simply try the door. If it’s locked I’ll think about what’s next. If it’s not, then we’ll know it’s a trap.”

“No good news then?”

“No.”

“What now?”

I gave it some thought. We had to go in. No question about it. I had my skills after all. We might be able to take down a few of his men. If they didn’t have guns, that is. Even then I might be able to get close enough to do some damage. Depended on how many.

“Non challant,” I said. Walk in as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if we are just coming to work a little early. Something like that.

And so we did. I went first with her close behind.

No one there. Quiet as an aneoic chamber. One of those things with egg crates on the walls, floor and ceiling to dampen the sound. Hear your brain working. Listen to your heartbeat.

I looked at Cassie. She at me.

“Now we go up to thirteen. As simple as that.”

“Okay.”

We walked down the hallway. Like the others in the building, light coming from every square inch of the surfaces. Found the elevators. Pushed the button for thirteen. And up we went.

“Too quiet,” she said.

“Shh,” I put my index finger to my mouth.

“Why,” she said. “I’m sure they can hear everything we say. No matter how softly we say it.”

She was right, of course.

And the floors clicked by.

“What do you think’s going on?” I asked her.

“You’re asking me? I haven’t a clue. This was your idea.”

She was right, of course. But I didn’t have a clue either. This was the last thing I expected.

“Where to?” she asked.

“Let’s start with the lab. We know that’s bugged. I need to see him. If we go there he’ll know for sure.”

“So now we’re no longer sneaking in. We want him to know we’re here?”

“Guess so.”

“Guess,” she said incredulously.

But she followed me nonetheless. I took the right turns and within half a minute we stood at the door to the lab. The now hapless supercomputer. Where I’d created the virus. And the antivirus.

“Now what?” she asked.

“Let’s see what’s inside.”

And I opened the door.

I had no idea what to expect. No idea whatsoever. Nothing would have surprised me. I was wrong.

“What,” I said, “no beat of the drums and a trumpet fanfare? No multi-candle cake to celebrate our return? I expected much more from you than a small gathering CM.”

He looked down at the floor for a second. “Not enough time for that. Though we did expect you’d arrive a lot sooner than this. What took you so long? Why the abbreviated drive up north? A lot of wasted time and effort.”

“Hadn’t figured it out yet.”

“Sure took you long enough.”

“I’m slow about such things. They just don’t occur to me.”

“Too much of a prude, eh. Well, no matter. We’re all here now. That’s what matters. And the extra time you allotted us was perfect.”

“You had this all planned from the beginning?”

“Don’t give me too much credit, professor. Lots of it had to be improvised. But the basic plan remained consistent. You’re here now just as I predicted. And that’s all that really matters.”

He smiled then. Not malevolently so much as beaming with confidence.

“What now?” I asked him.

“Now, I give you a choice.”

“Between?”

“Dying now, or living a bit longer.”

I looked around trying to gauge the state of affairs. Maybe fifteen people. All with the look of scientists. Pasty white faces. Bodies going toward fat. Could I take all fifteen? Probably. Take some time, but I didn’t see many of them putting up much of a fight. And I didn’t think Masters had a shot at it either. No guns. At least that I could see.

“Taking stock of the enemy, eh. Don’t bother. The backups are in your apartment and just outside the door. Lots of munitions. Try to move and they’ll be in here in a second and make sure you’ve taken the wrong option, professor. They’ve got orders to kill you at the first sign of trouble.”

I believed him.

“Cassie,” he then said. “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said. “It’s just like he says.”

Was I missing something here?

Cassie then went over and gave him a little kiss on his cheek.

“What,” I said. Out loud unfortunately.

“Surprised?” Masters said.

More than he could ever imagine. What had I done? Or not done? Or done several times?

“Cassie?” I said.

“Number two,” she said, with a fake innocence in her voice.

Possible? I asked myself. How had she pulled it off? The woman I’d escaped with was Cassie number one. No body could have faked it that well.

“When you sent your Cassie to steal a license place, we took her, shall we say, into custody, and she took your Cassie’s place. Simple as that.”

I must have let out a long breath of air at that moment. All I’d done was spill the beans to her in the car on the way north and back. All the rest was Cassie number one.

“Where is she?” I asked him.

“In your apartment. Just like when you arrived after your second escape.”

I looked in that direction expecting her to reveal herself. She didn’t.

“We’ll keep her there. With the bad guys and their guns. To make sure you do everything right this time.”

“But you can’t ever know that for sure. Not until you’ve released it.”

“Oh but we can. You see. David here has been studying your source code. He thinks he understands it well enough now to catch you at revealing that extra window that tells everyone who’s behind this thing.”

I looked. Found David Epoc. Smiling in a kind of shy way. Maybe he had. Guy was not a complete dummy. I’d certainly given him enough time to do it.

“So. Now I fix the code. Get you off the hook. And then you clean up the mess and blow up the White House or whatever you have in mind, and you get everything you want.”

“Something like that. A little more poetic than you make it sound. But that’s essentially what’s going down. Yes.”

“No second thoughts?”

“None whatsoever. The plan’s back to working now. No real changes except the time line. Your little espionage took a little wind out of our sails, but all in all it’s gone pretty much as expected. Slow Uncle Sam’s computers to the point of making them a tenth as fast as they’d otherwise be. Get their minds thinking of nothing else but security. International security. Then bomb the hell out of their central agencies and take over. That’s pretty much it.”

“And when does this grand event occur?”

“As soon after you fix the antivirus as possible. Say, within the next day or so.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Well, professor, we have our ways. Should have used them in the first place rather than run this thing along. But what’s done is done. You’ll fix it because we still have your Achilles Heel. Right in the next room. Remember that. And now we have our insurance police. David here. Try and escape, and poof. No more Cassie. I could live with that. If necessary. Rather not though. I’d a lot rather be considered a benign dictator than a lying despot. But I’ll take either one.”

I could imagine he would.

“What now?”

“Now you fix the antivirus, or create a new one. With David here at Cassie’s station keeping tabs on you.”

I believed he’d do everything he’d said he’d do. I looked around the room. Everyone else did too. What did he have on these people? They just going along for the promise of great riches and power? Didn't seem possible? After all, these were scientists. Logical people. Not likely to get into this mess in the first place, but even less likely to go along with it. But here they were.

“How do I know you have Cassie in there?” I asked, pointing in the direction of the apartment where I’d spent so many days. Or had it been weeks?

“You don’t, professor. But are you willing to take a chance on that?”

He knew I was not willing. He had me.

He stepped aside and swung his arm to the side inviting me to slide into my station and begin the final step on his master plan. I had no choice in the matter. I followed his pointing finger, sat at the console, and pulled up my last version of my antivirus. No sense working on the virus any longer. It had already done its job.

Most of them then left the room. Following their smiling leader. David remained, taking Cassie number two’s spot at that other station. His monitor mirroring mine I guessed so he could watch my every move. Making as sure as he could I didn’t create another variation of my original revealing antivirus. If he could, that is.

I looked into the screen. Something bothered me about it. No sign of the virus I’d installed? How could that be possible? Of course, it could just be hiding, waiting for the random instruction to place it on the screen. But even so, they somehow knew I wouldn’t be bothered. Why did they need me if they already had the antivirus? Maybe they’d used my antivirus. Didn’t care if the window proclaiming Masters as the brains behind the plan.