“I’ll do what I can,” Bradshaw said. “Representative Smith, whom you met the other evening, heads the subcommittee reviewing the proposed legislation. Unfortunately, she’s a tough nut to crack. But the bill is written in a muted manner. It’s only deep within the fine print that you’ll find the language that opens the door for unlimited use of your bioremediation products in U.S. waters. It’s what you asked for.”
“And what you’re getting paid for. Tell me more about this congresswoman.”
“Loren Smith—or Smith-Pitt, as she now goes by—is a long-term representative from Colorado. She chairs the House subcommittees on Environment and Water, Power, and Oceans, and she also sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She’s widely respected for her knowledge on legislative matters—and for her high ethics and nonpartisanship. She’s authored several high-profile pieces of legislation promoting veterans’ care and women’s rights. Unfortunately, she’s not known for succumbing to the usual congressional backroom dealmaking.”
“I see,” McKee said. “It would appear I may need to exert some additional influence. I will call her directly and invite her again to my conference in Scotland. Given the right sway, she could become an important ally.” She set the report on a coffee table. “Thank you for pressing the EPA for approval in the Detroit incident. There will be something for you in your Dubai bank account.”
Bradshaw finished his bourbon and bowed to McKee—as gracefully as an aged, overweight, tipsy senator could muster. “Thank you, Mrs. McKee. As always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”
“Rachel will show you out.”
The large woman he’d seen at the charity event entered the sitting room and nodded at him. The senator followed the broad-shouldered woman to the door.
A few seconds later, Audrey McKee entered from a back bedroom. She’d arrived from Detroit an hour earlier and was freshly showered and dressed in a blouse and slacks. “How can you stand to do business with that pig?” she asked.
“Because he will do anything for money. I prefer to hire people who will sell their soul for money, and let them do my bidding.”
“He’s still a pig.”
“As are all men. Some serve our purpose, as muscle or marionettes. With his help, we will soon be able to operate throughout the U.S.”
Audrey nodded. “We’ve already begun infiltrating the world’s leading cities. New York and Los Angeles would be optimal additions.”
McKee opened a second binder and examined a map inside. Major port cities across the globe were highlighted, with various codes assigned to each. She looked from the map to her daughter.
“What did we deploy to Mumbai?”
“The last stocks of our second blend, the EP-2 mix,” Audrey replied. “When it was shipped, we still had hopes of minimal side effects. But as we discovered in El Salvador, that is not the case.”
McKee nodded. “Well, we knew the first blend carried the original attributes, so we tested it where no one would know the difference. Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria. Dr. Perkins gave us hope for benign effects of the second blend when we began deploying it a few months ago. We now know he was wrong.”
“We’re lucky no undue suspicions have been raised. The fatalities in the other Third World countries where EP-2 was deployed haven’t received any attention.”
“The risk of exposure is still there,” McKee said, cutting her daughter a sharp glance. “And it is the western deployments that will be scrutinized.”
“True, but the risk profile has changed with the new release. Our initial deployments of the third blend, EP-3, have occurred without issue.”
“No adverse reports from Detroit?”
“None,” Audrey replied. “The product is proving indiscernible. We can accelerate dispersal without concern. Our only delay may be in increasing production, due to limited source matter.”
“An additional source sample may soon be at hand.”
McKee stood and gazed at the darkened skyline. “We are on the verge of a triumphant moment. In a matter of weeks, there won’t be a major metropolis beyond our reach. The global tipping point will soon follow.”
“All before anyone will have attempted to create an antidote. You’ll have done it, Mother. Changed the face of humanity forever.”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Within a generation, we will turn the planet’s population upside down.” McKee relished the thought a moment. The hardened veneer cracked, and she allowed herself a smile. “Now tell me, how did things go in Detroit?”
“We started by treating the oil spill, then deployed the EP-3 product as the tanker wreckage was cleared. It was salvaged quicker than expected, so we only had a day or so of active dispersant once the city began drawing its water from the river again. There was one slight problem. One of our underwater cameras caught a NUMA diver investigating the dispersal lines beneath our ship.”
“Did he see anything?”
“He had no opportunity to tell anyone. We took care of him before he could.”
“Did you eliminat
e him without suspicion?”