“Please refer to the prisoner as Mr. Choi, so he’s not so intimidated. I think he will cooperate,” Lonnie said.
“Yes, ma’am.” The captain looked at Choi, held up the bundle, and said calmly, “So, Mr. Choi. What is in this vial?”
Lonnie translated the question and the answer came instantly in rapid-fire Korean. Nervous and fearing for his life, Choi spoke fast. Too fast. Lonnie asked him to slow down and repeat himself several times.
“It is a chemical compound called Tetrazyklon-E, according to our records,” Choi said. “At least, that is what my device was designed to detect. The chemical properties are relatively benign until it comes in contact with petroleum-based substances like plastic or nylon. On contact with such a material, the TZE converts into an acid that vaporizes the substance it touches.”
Wyatt translated the information back to Argis, who looked at the vial in curiosity. The small windowed door opened and Major Detrick came out of the back room. He pulled the rubber hood from his head. He was a tall, thin man, very nerdy looking with old-style black military issue horn-rimmed glasses resting on a large, beak-like nose. His face was long and narrow, with a pursed mouth and eyes that bore a constant look of surprise. His Adam’s apple jutted almost an inch from his pencil-thin neck.
Bell, unaccustomed to being around science types, looked at the gangly officer with wide-eyed curiosity. He seemed too skinny to qualify for military service.
Detrick approached without greeting and said, “Tetrazyklon-E? I am familiar with that compound. It was a form of Zyklon-B that the Nazis had developed, but it turned out to be useless in chemical warfare and in the concentration camps. In mass quantities, the worst it could do was create noxious fumes. It was only a minor irritant.”
“It doesn’t make sense to spend so much effort on something that weak,” Argis said. “Ask him why they would be so concerned something like this.”
Lonnie repeated the question to Choi.
He nodded excitedly and replied, “Yes, yes. I agree with you. It seemed like a waste of time to me, too. I know TZE is not a good weapon against people, so I asked my superiors why we were going to this trouble. They told me it was none of my business.”
Wyatt translated as Choi continued. “I had to know, so I tried to think of how it could be used. And my conclusion is that there is something else mixed with it, perhaps a bacteria or a virus that could use the TZE as a vehicle to help deliver it. TZE is known as a strong acid against plastics, doesn’t damage metals, and is not only heavier than air, but mixes with the molecules in water to change them into a favorable environment for itself to move undiluted.”
He continued, “I think the TZE is to be used to dissolve a barrier to allow something else to do the work of a weapon.”
“Let’s go in that direction,” replied Argis. “It will probably half an hour or so, but maybe less since we know what to look for.”
As the scientists discussed the vial, Marcus and Wasner followed Commander Stark into the building and down the hall into the head trooper’s office. Stark closed the door behind the two, then motioned them to sit. He sat down behind his desk, leaned forward, and spoke.
“First off, let me say this thing has gotten way out of hand very fast. This is not exactly the territory of troopers, or even FBI agents. We are more accustomed to facing drug dealers and thieves. I understand you two left a whole mess of bodies out in the snow, and that’s going to cause me a ton of headache.”
He changed position in his chair, sitting upright, and continued. “That having been said, I understand why you guys did it that way. I was an Army Ranger in the last part of Vietnam, spent the majority of 1973 in a Long Range Recon Patrol unit walking the swamps and jungles around the Mekong.”
Both men nodded slowly, unsure where the conversation was going.
“What I am trying to say is that these days, I am a cop. There are things I cannot do, and things I cannot let people get away with. I also understand how important it is to get these guys, and want to let you know, and understand that this is off the record—as long as no innocent civilians end up dead or injured, I will turn a blind eye to whatever happens to these turds. Just make sure it’s a clean kill. Is that clear?”
“I think,” Wasner answered, “we’re on the same game plan then. We were going to do so anyway, but it’s a lot easier knowing we won’t end up in prison after saving the country.”
“What about Tomer?” Marcus asked. “He gave us a pretty rough time, and I’m not sure he will keep his mouth shut.”
“Yeah, Wyatt called and told me you had a run-in with him. Don’t worry about him,” Stark said. “He’s a toothless lion with a big mouth. He was sent here because of his inability to keep his yap shut. DHS will keep him quiet—if he files anything, it won’t go anywhere.”
Wasner smiled. “Good, sounds like we’re all in agreement then. Let’s go release some testosterone on these guys. By the way, have they found the white suburban yet?”
“Not yet.”
In the trailer, Argis and Detrick entered the back room. They closed the door behind them and opened the blinds on the windows above the computer desk so the others could see what they
