“My name is Doctor Cambri,” she said tightly. “And it is exactly like that, or I would have been awarded a place at NASA three years ago and next year’s children would be free of every last genetic defect the demon curse has afflicted us with. Look me in the eye and tell me I’m lying, Ulbrine.”
But he couldn’t, and they would never understand why she didn’t meekly let someone else get the credit for her work. By their reasoning, the world would be saved either way, and she was a petty, spoiled brat for not stepping aside to let another take the credit for it when so many of their people suffered. She should be proud to make that sacrifice, satisfied to be the modest assistant. Bullshit. Assistant, my ass.
Neither of them spoke. There was no feeling of vindication in Trisk, only a bitter betrayal that the society she once respected and tried to fit into would reject her over saving themselves.
“I just helped facilitate the deaths of a million people, Trisk,” Ulbrine said as he looked at his hands. “Some Inderlanders heeded the church bells and got out, but the old, the young, and the uninformed all died with Detroit’s vampire and human populations.” His eyes were haunted. “I willingly helped end their lives to preserve the secret of all the Inderland races. I admire you and your work, but have no doubt that I’ll do what needs to be done to protect our species.”
Her mouth went dry, and she tried to swallow, failing. Did he just threaten to kill me if I don’t go along with his plan to frame Daniel for the death of the world?
“If you want to be a part of your research, I’ll do everything in my power to see that it happens,” he said, and she stiffened, seeing the trap he had made for her, baiting it with her pride and desire. “But in return, we require that you publicly state and uphold that Kal had no part in the mishap. Furthermore, you’ll agree that it was a developer error that caused the accidental linkage between your tomato and the human-created virus.”
Stiff, she stared at him. Developer error? They were throwing Daniel under the bus.
“Be smart about this, Trisk,” Ulbrine said as she struggled with her outrage. “I can’t give you anything more than that. It is, after all, your tomato that’s killing humans.”
“You son of a bitch,” she whispered, and he grimaced, knowing he deserved it. If she said no, they’d privately blame her for everything. Even without a child, she’d never work in a lab again. She’d never work anywhere again. Her father would be ridiculed. Kal would get credit for her research, and she would be, as he predicted, shelving research materials for old elven men.
Furious, she stared at her hands, clasped in her lap. “Can I think about it?” she said, having no intention of remaining in this room after he left, no intention of staying in Chicago. She would run, go somewhere the council didn’t have sway, and then . . . then she would reveal the truth. DC. I’ve got to get to the capital. The dewar will help me even if the enclave won’t. That’s why we have two ruling bodies to begin with.
“Of course.” Ulbrine rose, taking his briefcase with him. “You’re a smart woman, Trisk. Don’t take too long to decide. People are dying.”
Her jaw trembled, and she didn’t trust herself to look up. People were dying? How dare he put that onus on her. But the threat was well taken. He wouldn’t broadcast the truth about the tomato carrying the virus until she agreed to put the blame on Daniel.
They both jumped at a soft knock on the door, and she forced her expression to a bland nothing when Pelhan poked his head in, three mugs carefully managed in his long fingers. “Tea and coffee,” he said, ignoring the tension in the room as he came in and handed the tea to her. “And for you, sir,” he added as he gave Ulbrine his mug.
“Thank you, Captain.” Ulbrine immediately set it down on the desk untasted. “I need to make a call. Is there a phone with a direct line out that I can use?”
I am not going to let them blame this on Daniel, Trisk thought.
Pelhan glanced at Trisk, who remained stoically placid. “Sure,” he said. “Trisk, will you be okay here for a moment? I’ve got a room for you across the street at the hotel, but I want you to have an escort over there.”
“Thank you, Captain, that would be wonderful,” she said, thinking it would be easier slipping out of a hotel than a police station.
Pelhan gestured for Ulbrine, and the two headed for the door. “I’m sorry, Trisk.” Ulbrine hesitated at the threshold as Pelhan waited in the hall. “Three years ago, this wasn’t what I envisioned happening.”
Her hands rested stiffly in her lap. “You’re not blameless in this . . . Sa’han.”
She hit the honorific mockingly hard and he frowned, one hand still on the door as he evaluated her mood. “I’ll wait for your answer,” he said, and she glared, silent.