Free Firestorm by Iris Johansen Page A

due. After he skipped out, the lab was blown up along with all the data collected from the other team members. The orders from the White House were that the project never see the light of day.”
    “It was that dangerous?”
    “About as dangerous as a mutated form of smallpox set loose in a city. Only quicker. It could destroy a city the size of Atlanta in two hours. The burn would be so intense that it would be impossible to put it out.”
    “Jesus.”
    He nodded. “Andreas didn't want to set that kind of firepower loose in the world. It has enough weapons of mass destruction already.”
    “He should have thought of that before he allowed it to be funded.”
    “He can't monitor every project. It was the pet project of a group of senators who thought more is always better. They buried the funding in other bills. When Andreas learned about the project, he closed it down. But Trask already had his disks and was out of there. He was enraged, a little crazy, and bent on revenge.”
    “He's been trying to sell information to a foreign country?”
    “There have been leaks from sources overseas to that effect. We have info that he's been dealing with Ki Yong, one of the North Korean government's power figures. But he's not focusing his main attention in that direction at the moment.” He paused. “So far he's been targeting fellow coworkers in the project and people in government he feels have victimized him.”
    “What?”
    “Six project scientists have been murdered in the past year. All burned to death.”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “The supposition is that he thought they might be capable of duplicating Firestorm and he wanted it for himself.”
    “And the government targets?”
    “Revenge. Three senators and one member of the House of Representatives brought Firestorm to the attention of Andreas and convinced him it should be scrapped.” His lips tightened grimly. “So far two senators and one representative have been murdered.”
    “Burned to death?”
    He nodded. “And he's not been careful about isolating them when he does it. Cameron Devers was with his wife when his car went up in flames. Representative Edwards was on his way to a ball game with his little boy. Both were killed.”
    “It doesn't surprise me. He didn't care about Jason or Laura.” She shivered. “He didn't care about that little baby.”
    “That's right. It's just as well you get the picture straight. I told you he was a monster.”
    She nodded. “You have no idea. Ugly . . . So ugly . . .” With an effort she pulled herself away from that memory. “But I don't understand how he could remain free to do that kind of damage with everyone looking for him. He'd have to have a way of stalking or setting up those kills.”
    He nodded. “I agree. Unless he had help.”
    “What kind of help?”
    “That's one of the things we have to find out. It could be a weak link.”
    “Why me? He wasn't even sure that I was going to help you. And, even if he thought I was, did he know why you wanted me in particular?”
    He shook his head. “The number-one reason is that I wanted to hire you. The second reason is that he must have found out who you are and your success at your profession. That would be a threat enough for him. You put out the fires, and that makes you the enemy.”
    “Yes, that would make sense. The fire is his child. . . .”
    “He really thinks that way?”
    She nodded. “I can see now why he might. How long has he been working with spontaneous combustion?”
    “Fifteen years.”
    She shook her head. “It goes back further than that. Maybe . . . twenty-five years?”
    “He's only around forty.”
    “It's been a long time.” She finished her coffee and stood up. “So where do we go from here?”
    “Washington. He hasn't finished his death list there. Our chance of snagging him is much better.”
    “I may not be able to help you, you know. I've never known how this thing works. I can't control or instigate