Chapter 540
"I wish to assure the public that the situation in Salem is perfectly under control," Tarrington began. "Yesterday, this city was the subject of a plot that had been detected and was stopped through the hard work and extraordinary efforts of the ISA and its dedicated agents and associates."
Kayla bit back on yelling out that those people included Shane and Steve. Almost as if he knew what she was thinking, Steve squeezed her shoulder. She looked up at him and he gave a quick shake of his head.
Let this play out, he was silently telling her.
Kayla's heart was beginning to beat fast. She looked over at her sister, whose eyes blazed with fury. Next to her, Shane watched impassively, his stoic expression a sharp contrast to Kim's. But if her time with Shane had taught Kayla anything, it was that the expressionless mask was just that -- a mask that covered his true feelings. Underneath, Shane was probably feeling as hurt and angry as the rest of them. Or probably more, she chided herself. He was the one who had been betrayed by people he had spent a lifetime trusting and was going to lose two years of his life because of it.
Her attention shifted back to the press conference. At the lectern, Tarrington was explaining how the ISA had "discerned Lawrence Alamain's plot months ago" and had "initiated a protocol." He motioned to Carly. "Dr. Manning was contacted and has been working with ISA scientists to prepare for a possible attack. It was her realization of what was taking place at the Salem Spectator that allowed for our forces to mobilize and all victims of the attack to be treated without a single fatality, and she also helped us recognize that the Spectator attack was intended to serve to distract local law enforcement while the second attack took place at the school. Thankfully, once alerted by Dr. Manning, our ISA agents and the Salem Police Department were able to stop that attack while other agents located the source of the toxin and killed the mastermind behind the plan."
"I'm not an agent," Steve muttered bitterly.
Kayla shushed him as Tarrington continued. "This truly was a team effort and I cannot praise the Salem Police Department enough for its quick action. The people of this city, state, and nation should be proud of the men and women who serve here, and in particular, the true hero of the hour, Roman Brady."
To her right, Kim turned suddenly. She looked utterly disgusted and started walking away. Shane followed.
"Damn," Steve muttered.
Kayla watched them as they stopped a short distance away. She could not hear what they were saying, but could see Shane was trying to calm Kim.
Meanwhile, back at the lectern, Tarrington asked if anyone had questions and the room erupted as reporters jockeyed to get called. Predictably, Tarrington called first on Rachel Knight.
Kayla's heart seemed to stop beating.
"Chief Tarrington," Rachel said. "Let me congratulate you and the ISA. This is quite a major triumph. As those of us who have been reporting on the ISA know well, this shows just how significant your operations can be." Her effusive praise generated some applause from the media, and Rachel paused.
Kayla felt her heart sink. After everything, Rachel was going to be the same lapdog for the ISA that she had been throughout the past few months.
That bitch."Thank you, Ms. Knight," Tarrington said, sounding very pleased. "As someone so familiar with ISA operations, your recognition is noted."
"Yes. . . . And of course, your network of agents have been tracking Lawrence Alamain's operations for while?"
Tarrington nodded. "Yes, he has been on our radar for an extended period."
"So, beg my pardon. . . . not to sound at all confused, but I don't think you explained how the ISA learned Salem Elementary was the target."
Kayla had to let the question replay in her head.
Was that it?It must have been, because she heard Steve whisper, "Yes!"
Tarrington seemed to take the question in stride. "It's not confusing at all," he replied. "Our agents received intelligence that it was the target of the true attack."
"Yes. . . ." Rachel paused and pursed her lips. "But if the ISA knew that Salem Elementary was the target all along, why would it depend on Dr. Manning's sleuthing skills? Obviously, the 'intelligence' you describe came during or after the attack at the Spectator. So my question is who was your source?"
Tarrington seemed to be hesitate. He looked a little uncomfortable with the question. "The ISA cannot reveal all of its sources, Ms. Knight."
"Isn't it true that the Spectator attack was intended by Lawrence Alamain to be non-lethal?"
This time, Tarrington blanched visibly. "I don't understand your question."
"Well . . . let me elaborate," Rachel said. "
My sources tell me that the gas released at the Spectator was a decoy designed to exhaust the supply of antidote the ISA had stockpiled, and that the most critical piece of information the ISA learned was that Lawrence Alamain intended to attack the school. Since Commander Brady and Dr. Manning were both at the Spectator, that means the ISA had to learn that Salem Elementary was the true target from another source."
From behind her, Kayla heard a gasp. She turned her head quickly and saw that Kim and Shane were no longer talking to one another. They were looking towards the press conference. Both seemed dumbfounded by Rachel's questions.
"You'd better come back here," Steve said in a low voice. He sounded like he was trying to stop himself from laughing. "It's only going to get hotter over there."
Kayla turned back and looked toward the lectern. Steve's description was apt. Tarrington's face had flushed and she thought he was sweating.
"Doesn't have much of a poker face, does he, Sweetness?" Steve whispered.
When Tarrington did not respond, Rachel's asked more pointedly, "Is the ISA refusing to explain how it knew which school was the target?"
Tarrington hesitated and seemed to struggle for an answer. "Um, no, of course not . . . . Well, obviously, in a terrorist scenario, we must be cognizant of vulnerable targets. A school is a logical target."
"But the ISA and Salem P.D. did not mobilize to Salem High or to any other schools, did it?" Rachel pointed out.
Tarrington hemmed and hawed. "I will have to check the reports."
"No you don't," Rachel replied. "I can assure you that they went directly to Salem Elementary, which indicates that the police and ISA knew in advance where the attack was to take place. Isn't that the point of all of the work of all of those 'dedicated' ISA agents? I believe that was your term."
"Ms. Knight, I hope you're not insinuating anything," Tarrington said.
Rachel gave him an innocent look. "I'm not insinuating a thing. I'm just asking a simple question. How did the Salem P.D. know the attack would be at Salem Elementary? How did it come by that knowledge?"
Tarrington seemed to freeze, unable to think of a response. He then mumbled evasively, "I think that is a question for the local authorities. . . ." He glanced at Roman. "Perhaps Commander Brady can explain how he discerned that Salem Elementary was the target."
Shane and Kim must have returned to the cubicle, because Kayla heard Shane's voice right beside her. Shane whispered, "What have you done?"
"We're saving your ass, Donovan," Steve shot back in a low voice. "Though you're going to have to give those photos back."
Shane did not get a chance to respond, because Roman had replaced Tarrington at the podium. He was grinning.
"Let me start by thanking Ms. Knight for her questions," he said. "I can't really take credit--"
"Roman!" Jack Devereaux interrupted the statement.
Kayla could feel Steve shaking. "Now it's gonna get good."
Roman looked at Jack and nodded.
"I have something very important to say," Jack said. "The Spectator has critical evidence that the ISA is covering up a major part of what happened yesterday."
