Page 6 of Gates of Tartarus

“I think it is. He needs a little challenge to wake him up.”

“And the thing with Cole?”

Now Smith’s face truly darkens. “Seef and I spoke with Babylon. They want us to bring her in. We need her help, and they’re hoping to tease that formula out of her.”

“How much leeway do we have?”

“All of it.”

Walker’s brows draw together thoughtfully. “NDA?”

Smith nods in return. “She signed it. It’s just…”

“Protocol,” Walker responds with understanding.

“Protocol,” Maddox agrees with a sigh,

Things move fairly quickly after that. Deo and Jonah arrive laden with coffee and, bless their hearts, pastries, and Maddox fills us in on the phone call with his British counterpart. Babylon wants us to talk to Elizabeth again, so Maddox had arranged a meeting for this morning. While we’re waiting, I go through my new training regime with Hideo and Jonah, pulling emotions gently, then pushing them back, like waves on the shore. I can’t do it too much or for too long, as both men get nauseous after a bit, but I’m working on fine-tuning what I’m able to do, rather than just running through people like a bull in a china shop.

By the time Cole arrives with Fallon, I’m worn out, and Deo and Jonah are looking fairly pale under the skin.

She greets the men coolly, then turns to me and smiles more warmly: “Hello, Kailani. My people tell me you were by the offices last week? I hope everything was to your liking. Should you need anything, make sure you message Fallon. We want it to be as comfortable for you as possible.”

All four men turn to me with equal surprise. Cole’s back is to them, so she doesn’t see it, but Fallon, curled up in the corner, notes it and scribbles something on her tablet.

“Relax,” I murmur, seeing their hackles rise. “Elizabeth invited me for a tour of the entire facility. They’re expanding their children’s research wing. Nothing pertaining to our case.”

My response does nothing to alleviate their collectively furrowed brows. They look like a group of very posh cavemen.

Cole glances back at them, noting their demeanors, and continues, a teasing note now in her voice. “And I hope you noticed our new coffee bar?”

I smile back at her. “How could I have missed it?”

Shaking her head slightly, she laughs her tight, controlled laugh. “Oh Kailani. And we haven’t even started the full court press yet, as they say. I have other things demanding my attention at the moment, but I’m confident that, when I’m able, you’ll come work with me without a backward glance. Now, what is all this about? I have a flight in…” she checks her watch, then raises an eyebrow at Fallon. “Three hours?” she says questioningly.

Fallon nods in response. “Three hours,” she confirms. “You have meetings in London all next week. The clinical trials there are heading to the second phase, and you’re due to speak at the women’s shelter.”

Cole nods sharply, then sits next to me and looks at Maddox expectantly. “Please be brief, Agent Smith. I’m under considerable time constraints, but want to assist if I’m able, of course. My assistant said it was of an urgent nature.”

Maddox sits, folding his hands in front of him, while Walker sorts through a file beside him.

“Ms. Cole,” Maddox begins, then sighs. “I had a speech prepared,” he says almost ruefully, “but with time constraints I’m going to have to cut it down.” She makes an appreciative noise as he continues. “I’m going to remind you that you have signed an NDA and that everything we discuss is covered under that. Penalty for violating this type of agreement is up to ten years in prison.”

Elizabeth raises a single, unimpressed brow. “I’m aware, Agent Smith.” Her tone sounds like she’s placating a toddler, which makes me grin. The woman is badass, no doubt. Not much rattles her.

Maddox shakes his head but continues. “We have a sister unit in England, housed in London. They are working on the Kronos issue with us and have a clairvoyant, specifically a woman with telesthesia, who has been able to make some remarkable headway into the organization.”

For the first time, Elizabeth’s cool exterior ripples with surprise, and something else, something like physical longing, almost desire. She leans forward, indifferent mask replaced by intense interest. “Please continue.”

“Apparently she took part in some medical trial at St Cosmas?”

A gleeful, almost fierce look flashes across Elizabeth’s face, and she breathes out, “St Cosmas?” She flicks a quick look towards Fallon, who sits suddenly at attention. Smiling proudly, Elizabeth turns back to Maddox. “I assume you know St Cosmas was one of a series offirst-phase drug trials run by the medical division of Gaia? Our objective is to develop a more effective version of ketamine, broadly to be used on children who are unable to be given general anesthesia due to allergic reactions, or for use in emergency field and trauma medication. But the most remarkable part of it, and our ultimate goal, is for it to be used as an antidepressant in truly severe cases. There have been some truly astounding results from the initial trials for applications including PTSD and bipolar disorder. All indications are that it will be completely safe for children – and we’vealmostgot it – the side effects from the testing groups are negligible compared to ketamine, and we’ve seen very,verypromising reactions. I’m quite proud of our St Cosmas run. The data from that particular series has been spectacular.”

Straightening up, she looks both happy and proud. “Do youknowwhat development of this drug could mean for teenage suicide rates? For battlefield injuries? There is a miniscule half-life on this – and it is, to the best of our knowledge at this point, non-addictive.”

Maddox grimaces slightly. “Well, their agent, Maela Driscoll, has had some… interesting… side effects, for lack of a better word.”

Cole’s eyes narrow. “Theiragent? I’m sorry, Agent Smith. You’re confusing me at this point. Am I to understand my charitable organization’s clinical tests were, for lack of a better word,infiltratedfor government purposes?” She looks white with rage. “You do understand that this trial is being run by the non-profit sector of Gaia and that all results will be made public, with only development costs covered? I refuse to let something this monumental be monetized by any government entity. Andwhatside effects?” She turns briskly, with an edge of anger, towards Fallon, who is already scrolling through her tablet frantically.