Tsunami

Chapter 3: Under the Sea

Chesapeake Correctional Facility. Friday, June 30, 2006.

"She's lying," Henry said firmly.

"That's also Tricia's assessment," Peter said. "But it will be difficult to prove. Langton's a pro."

He and Henry had driven to the Chesapeake Correctional Facility in Maryland to interview Klaus. They were now cooling their heels on an uncomfortable metal bench as they waited for the prisoner to be brought into the interrogation room. During the drive to Maryland, Tricia phoned in a report, updating them about the results of her questioning.

"Langton is going before a judge this afternoon," Peter said. "We'll make our best case against bail, but the judge will likely deny the request. The evidence we have to present is simply too skimpy to combat Langton's upstanding profile."

Henry frowned. "It could be weeks before her computer files are decrypted."

"Hey, don't sell Travis short. He's honed his expertise on the previous languages used in the malware. Langton may have even used one of the languages he's familiar with." Peter paused when a prison guard approached them.

"Mansfeld's ready for you," the guard said, nodding toward the grey steel door across the hallway. "You have twenty minutes."

Peter was determined to make the minutes count. The last time they'd had much contact with Klaus was when they'd rescued Neal from the castle in Hungary. Klaus had saved Neal's life back then. They were gambling on him feeling the same way now, but it was a long shot to think he'd know something relevant to the case.

Klaus was clad in an orange jumpsuit. His hair was a little longer than the last time Peter saw him and he'd lost most of his tan, but his manner was calm and relaxed as he rose from the chair. "Visitors are a rare treat for me." He extended his hand and Peter shook it as did Henry. His gray eyes swept over their faces. "I'm fairly confident this isn't a social call." Klaus's English carried a British accent along with a slight German inflection to some of the words.

"Neal needs your help," Peter said bluntly. "We suspect Rolf of having ordered Penfold to plant an additional trigger. Now Neal is missing and we fear his mental state has been compromised."

Klaus's face registered shocked surprise, but how genuine was it? At this point, Peter was desperate enough to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he was glad Henry was along. Peter would take the lead in the interrogation. Henry's primary responsibility was to assess Klaus's reactions.

"Please take a seat and tell me what you know about the circumstances." Klaus manifested the assurance of a power broker in his private office, but along with that was what Peter believed—hoped—was a genuine look of concern.

Klaus listened intently while Peter described the psychosis exhibited by Victor Liu. "We fear something similar was done to Neal with octopuses substituted for spiders," Peter concluded. "In Hungary, you'd told us you worried Penfold would try to manipulate Neal."

"It didn't do any good," Klaus said bitterly. "Penfold got off with a slap on the wrist."

"Did you hear he escaped?"

His eyes widened. "No, I wasn't informed. And you think he performed a second procedure on Neal?"

"We do," Henry confirmed. "Would he have had any opportunity in Hungary?"

"I don't think so," Klaus said slowly, his gaze directed inward. "I'd secured Anya's agreement for a postponement."

"How about when Neal first arrived?" Peter demanded. "Were you with him on the plane to Hungary? Did you monitor his room at night?"