Chapter 13
Even before her mother finished her sentence, Holly was shaking her head. “This is a case that threatens national security. You can’t turn yourselves over to the bad guys. They’ll use your knowledge to build weapons they can use against our country.” She reached for her mother’s hands. “Promise me you won’t do it. Promise.”
Her mother stared into her eyes, her frown deepening. “I’m sorry our work got Paul killed and put you and our country in danger. Had I known this would be the result, we would’ve stuck to lobbying the state to protect the bayou.”
“We can’t change the past,” Simon said.
“No, we can’t,” Evangeline said. “Otherwise, we would never have teamed with BioEnergen.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed. “Something our data guru learned in researching your disappearance is that though the BioEnergen facility was shut down, it’s still drawing electricity.”
Bastian and Evangeline Gautier directed their attention to Simon.
“It’s supposed to be completely shut down,” Bastian said. “Abandoned,”
“We sent a recon team out to observe and report back.” Simon dug in his pocket where he’d deposited his rabbit’s foot and cell phone after their shower earlier. He pulled out his cell phone, hoping the earlier dunking in the water hadn’t affected its functionality. Sadly, the screen was gray—no digital clock or temperature displayed in bright colors. No amount of turning it on achieved that result. He turned to Holly.
She shook her head. “Mine was just as waterlogged. I left it at the houseboat.”
Simon glanced at Joe. “I don’t suppose you can get a call out?”
The former Marine’s lips pulled upward in a smile. “I might live off-grid, but I have access to satellites, which gives me internet and cell phone service.” He held up one of the newer smartphone models. “Who do you want to call?”
“Since you have internet, we might want to do a video call.”
“Can do.” Joe spun toward the lab side of the dining room. “Follow me.”
They all rose from the table and entered the lab.
On the far side of the room, an array of monitors was mounted on the wall, with a keyboard on the desk below.
Joe hurried across and touched a key. The monitors blinked to life, displaying various angles outside the bunker, lit only by starlight.
He hit another key that brought up another screen with a place to enter a phone number. “Who do you want to call?”
“I’d like to do a three-way with Remy Montagne and our computer guy, Swede. We can start with Remy.”
Joe stepped back. “You know the numbers; you enter them.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Gautier and Madam Gautier, you might want to step away from the camera.” Simon waved them away from the monitors and the camera mounted above. “Like you said, the fewer people who know you’re alive, the better. You, too, Joe.”
Joe moved to the side with the Gautiers.
Thankfully, Simon remembered Remy’s number, keyed it in and initiated the video call.
Remy answered immediately from what appeared to be the conference room inside the boat factory. “Simon, I’m glad you called. We’ve been trying to get in touch with you for the past hour. Shelby told us what happened at the Crawdad Hole and the attempt to kidnap Holly. Then you disappeared. Shelby even drove by the boathouse and said no one was home.”
Simon held up his dead cell phone. “My cell phone went with me into the water and no longer works.”
“Where are you?” Remy asked.
“I’d rather not say at this moment. I’ll fill you in when we’re face-to-face.”
His brow creasing, Remy nodded. “Okay.”
“I was hoping your recon team has news on the BioEnergen facility.”
“That’s why I was trying to contact you,” Remy said. “Hold one and let me bring Swede online.” Moments later, the screen divided into two displays, one with Remy, the other with Swede.
