By early afternoon, the new laptop was ready, and Rudy went through the Top Secret encrypted files they’d loaded onto it. These included a comprehensive personality and background profile of Parker Swain and ten of his closest followers; a file on the eight young women who had disappeared from K-J over the last six years; an extensive array of area topographical maps, displayable as flat images or in three-dimension, including GPS coordinates. Finally, there were several pages of blueprints obtained from the contractor who had built the ziggurat, which Cam noted at once showed nothing past the door at the base of the east-wall stairwell.
Rudy listened to his suspicions with keen interest and said he’ d have someone look into the possibility of some sort of deeper complex beneath the zig. But it wasn’t something he wanted Cam to waste his time on. “We can get geographical soundings done, compare the lay of the land now to what it was before construction, and do the earth displacement calculations. We don’t have a chance of getting into Swain’s Inner Circle.
“We can’t enlist Lacey McHenry to our cause, either. It’s all up to you. In fact, courting her should be second only to your priority of getting into Swain’s private club. As for your concerns about putting her at risk . . .” He sighed. “You know full well she was at risk the day she arrived. Swain drew her to the Institute for a purpose, just like he’s drawn you. And it has nothing to do with her researching abilities. She’s just like Andrea Stopping and the other girls: strong, pretty, healthy, and intelligent. If we get her on our side, she might be able to lead us to the others. Or else let us know what’s become of them.”
To that end, Rudy had provided a disk with the same articles and reports on the lost girls as Cam had on his new laptop. He slipped it between stacks of gel readouts and research abstracts and put it all into a manila envelope for Cam to either hand her directly or slip unobtrusively onto her desk.
Finally, all had been covered: the equipment provided, exigencies discussed, goals outlined, lines of communication set up, code words, drop and pickup locations memorized. It was time to go back. They would leave Cam on a forest-service road near the state park, and he’ d hike several miles across country to the meeting site, which he’ d find by GPS coordinates on his watch. There he’ d wait for his double to show up at dusk. Someone else would see to exchanging the equipment in the Jeep.
He left the station wearing the hood again, never having had a look at anything outside. Rudy led him by the elbow into the back of the cargo van, and once the doors were shut and the van in motion, they spoke no more.
Cam’s respite was over. Only God knew what he’ d find at the end of this path he’ d chosen. One that seemed more and more like a rendezvous with a past he’d never in a million years have thought he’ d have the guts to revisit.
Chapter Twenty-One
That same Sunday afternoon, while Cam was being dropped off on the forest-service road, Lacey McHenry sat in the Institute’s first-floor laundry facility, waiting for her clothes to cycle through two of the ten washing machines and trying to come up with a project to propose to Director Swain. Around her, other machines were sloshing away, as well, while various residents’ clothes tumbled in all fifteen dryers. The warm, slightly humid air was heavy with the fragrance of soap and fabric softener, and except for the clothing and machines, she had the place to herself. Wrapped in a well of rhythmic mechanical noise, she had little excuse not to concentrate.
Yet she’d been working since breakfast to come up with something and still couldn’t seem to make herself attend to the task. Right now, in fact, her laptop screen showed a page from the Kendall-Jakes Web site on which she’ d just finished reading a description of its newly patented accelerated tissue repair process, which was indeed a form of transitory gene therapy. The modified gene was placed into a specialized virus, which was then allowed to replicate in solution before being injected along a wound’s open edges to accelerate the repair function and growth of skin cells. In the case of a wound like hers, the injury would be taped shut and full healing completed within three hours. Hence the need for her stay in the clinic and the sedatives. K-J’s process had already gone through clinical trials to the third stage and had been awaiting FDA approval for the last six months. Everything Swain had said in last night’s presentation had checked out.
All of which at best only peripherally concerned her goal of conceiving a whiz-bang research topic she hoped would wow Director Swain. The problem was that her preparatory reading of research abstracts had left her painfully aware of how far out of her league Kendall-Jakes really was. Not only did she lack her doctorate—with no real hope of ever getting it—but she’d discovered just how much she didn’t know about what was going on in the field of Applied Genetics. And even K-J itself: Estelle Lederman’s summary last night was the most detailed and substantial recounting she’ d heard, and not until Lacey had taken time to seriously peruse the Web site today had she seen what an awe-inspiring organization it was.
Where last night’s presentation had inspired her, this afternoon’s exposure to the hard facts had filled her with self-doubt. Now all the potential project ideas she’ d dreamed over the years of developing had turned dull and elementary, the sorts of ideas a third grader might come up with for a science fair. Frustrated and discouraged, her mind hopped from subject to subject like a flea. One minute she was reading through an abstract on cloning frozen mice, and the next she was at some archaeological site looking at the mammoth monoliths Swain had mentioned in his talk last night. She’ d start sorting through the complexities of a project on the reduction of roundworm telomeres, only to find herself reading about K-J’s Accelerated Tissue Regeneration, or ATR, process.
Grimacing, she clicked back into Word and reread her encapsulation of Swain’s vision—a statement she’ d taken from the presentation and modified for her own use, determined to get herself back on track. She thought of the butterfly, and asked herself which of her potential avenues of investigation would most echo the concepts of “We’re going to change the world” and “make everything new.”
But thinking of the presentation made her think about Swain, his incredible presence on the stage, his mesmerizing voice and words, the excitement they’d generated in her, the desire she’ d felt to be worthy of him . . . to join him in his quest. . . . For a moment she reveled in the revival of her feelings of optimism and hope. Then, one thought led to another until somehow she ended up reading through an online version of the book of Genesis in search of the passage about the giants he had mentioned. She found it in chapter six and was surprised that it really did seem to say that some sort of greater beings had come to Earth and gotten together with human women.
“Is that the Bible you’re reading?!” Jade spoke from right behind her, and she jumped in surprise. In the rumble and whine of the machines around her, Lacey had not heard her roommate’s approach.
“Just checking something Director Swain said last night in the presentation. . . .” Lacey said, her face flaming. “Your game over?” Jade had gone to the recreation center after lunch to play volleyball.
“Yeah. You shoulda come. We coulda used you.” She went to one of the stopped dryers, pulled open the door, and felt through the clothes. With a grimace, she shut the door again and pushed the button for more time. “I’m surprised to hear Parker Swain was quoting the Bible.”
“I thought you went to one of those presentations.”
“I did. Ten months ago. I don’t remember anything about the Bible.”
“He just mentioned it briefly when he was speculating about the different myths about gods coming down to human women and making giants—that maybe they weren’t gods but enlightened men.”
“Oh yeah . . . That’s in the Bible, you say?”
“Sort of.” Lacey read the passage: “ ‘And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them
wives of all which they chose.
“ ‘And the Lord said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
“ ‘There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown . . .’ ”
“Giants? It says that?” Jade dropped into the chair at Lacey’s side and read the passage herself. “Huh,” she said after a moment. “That’s even weirder than I thought.”
She leaned away from the laptop and forward to pull a green lollipop out of the back pocket of her jeans. “It blows me away to think there are actually people out there who believe that stuff,” she said, peeling off the clear cellophane wrapper.
Lacey knew she should say something like, “I believe that stuff,” but she didn’t. For one thing, she had no desire to be the recipient of Jade’s scorn just when they were getting to be friends; for another, she wasn’t even sure she did believe it anymore.
“Some people even take it literally,” Jade went on, thankfully oblivious to Lacey’s discomfort. “You’d think after all the advances we’ve made in understanding our world and how we fit into it, it’d be a dead book.” She lounged back in the chair, legs stretched out before her, holding the sucker up to inspect it. “Or at the very least only ignorant, redneck yokel types would be the ones who clung to it. Then you meet someone like Cameron Reinhardt and you have to scratch your head.”
She licked the sucker’s bright green face, then looked at Lacey. “Did you know he’s a creationist? Doesn’t even mess with that Intelligent Design hooey. Just says flat-out that God did it all. It boggles the mind, I know. Viascola’s going to confront him next unity meeting. Ask him outright before all of us how he reconciles his position with the facts of evolution.” She licked the lollipop again. “Assuming he ever comes back. Have you heard the latest on Manny?” She stuck the sucker into her mouth.
“I don’t know. What’s the latest?” Lacey surreptitiously closed her Word files. She’ d said nothing to Jade about her work on a subject for a possible research project, as much because she suspected it would make the other girl jealous as because she feared nothing would ever come of it anyway, and she’ d just make herself look stupid.
“He’s gone missing,” Jade said around the sucker. “He doesn’t have leave this weekend, but he didn’t show up today for breakfast or lunch and no one’s seen him since the presentation last night.”
“Well, he was just demoted to rat-man, so he’s probably sulking in his room.”
“If so, he’s not answering his door. There’s also a rumor he and Dr.Reinhardt had a huge fight in the AnFac last night. And that Reinhardt checked out this morning at 5:00 a.m. with duffle bag and laptop.”
“So big deal,” Lacey said, mildly annoyed. “Reinhardt did have leave.” She closed her browser and powered off the laptop. “I know, because he asked me yesterday if I’d like to go into Tucson with him.”
“Get out!” Jade pulled the sucker from her mouth and stared at Lacey. “After what happened the other night? I think he really is interested in you. Why didn’t you go?”
Lacey frowned at her. “I told you: he’s not for me.” She had already explained to Jade that her so-called tryst with Cameron Reinhardt in the Madrona Lounge had been nothing of the sort. She’ d only “gotten disturbed” going back to the AnFac that night, and he’ d helped her regain her composure. Which was the truth. As far as it went. “Besides, I didn’t have leave.”
“Well, it’s probably good you didn’t, because some people think he murdered Manny and stuffed his body in the Vault.”
“What?! Who’s saying that? Aaron and his gossipy friend Ted?”
“It’s Tom, and why act so surprised? Manny’s disappeared, Reinhardt’s gone—”
“You need a body to accuse someone of murder, for one. And I don’t think it’s even possible to just stuff it into one of the Vault canisters. Especially not single-handedly. And what would his motive be? He’ d already demoted the guy. Why kill him?”
“Maybe it was self-defense.”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “Why don’t people here just take the most rational explanation when things like this come up? Which is that Manny’s in a snit over the reversal of his fortunes.” But even as she said the words she thought of her own situation, where people had taken the easiest, most rational explanation—that she’ d had a panic attack and hallucinated an intruder, and been wrong. “Besides, I don’t believe Reinhardt could do something like that.”
“I don’t know. He was pretty weird in that unity meeting yesterday,” said Jade. “With the PTSD and all. And I’ve heard you can’t always tell with psychopaths. How many times on the news have you heard how they seem like fine, upstanding people—the parents, the wife, the friends, the neighbors, all say, ‘I can’t believe he did that!’ ”
Which had certainly been true enough in Lacey’s case when it had come to Erik Ellison. She’ d misjudged him completely.
“If there was a fight, surely security would have seen it,” Lacey pointed out. “And if Reinhardt had killed Manny, they’d have to know. In which case they’d have him in custody already, and it wouldn’t be rumors, it’d be official.”
Jade was looking at her oddly. “I can’t believe you’re defending him.”
“I’m not defending him,” Lacey protested, her face suddenly hot with embarrassment. “I’m defending truth and level-headedness.”
“Level-headedness?” Jade grinned at her. “For someone who claims no interest in this guy, you seem awfully unlevel about it all. In fact, I’d say you’re annoyed.”
“I’m not annoyed!” Lacey frowned at her, then shrugged. “Okay, maybe I am. But not because of him. I just hate all this rumor-mongering.”
Jade shook her head, still grinning. “Lighten up, girl! I’m just yanking your chain.”
A strident buzz interrupted the conversation and Jade glanced around. “Ah. There’s my dryer.” She grabbed one of the rolling baskets and wheeled it up to the dryer as the clothes within tumbled slowly to a stop. After that several others came in, everyone talking of Manny Espinosa and Cameron Reinhardt and what each person had heard or thought. Lacey slid her laptop into the messenger bag she’ d brought and got up to transfer her clothes from the washers to the dryer Jade had just emptied.
By dinnertime both Espinosa and Reinhardt were still missing, and the story of their alleged fight had achieved epic proportions. Some people were actually taking bets on whether Espinosa was dead or had simply left for good. Others murmured about Andrea Stopping and how Espinosa’s mysterious disappearance certainly wasn’t the first. Maybe he’ d gone out hiking, too, they’d suggested ominously.
That was the first time Lacey heard there’d been other girls besides Andrea who’d disappeared. At least two, and she couldn’t help thinking of her mysterious intruder. Wondering if perhaps he was behind all the disappearances. If Swain was executing yet another cover-up. After all, Manny had replaced her in the AnFac. What if Frogeater had come back and found him instead of Lacey and been angry?
The thought chilled her.
Swain cleared his throat into the microphone up on the front dais. “I have an announcement, if you please.” The room quieted at once, and he continued. “I am sorry to report that Dr. Manuel Espinosa, our recent postdoctoral hire, has apparently left the Institute without checking out or giving notice of his resignation. We’ve confirmed that he was quite angry over his demotion to support technician yesterday, and we believe he has left us for this reason. The fact that all of his belongings have been cleared from his quarters corroborates this conclusion.
“As for the rumors regarding a fight between him and Dr. Reinhardt last night, those are entirely unsubstantiated. We have no eyewitnesses of this supposed occurrence, and surveillance records show nothing. For those of you stimulated t
o flights of speculation by the fact that Reinhardt is also absent this evening, please recall that today was his regularly scheduled leave rotation and also that it is his custom to eat dinner in Tucson and return late in the evening.
“With absolutely no evidence of foul play, we must conclude that Dr. Espinosa has left of his own accord, and that we will receive notice of his resignation soon. If not, we’ll have to file a missing person report, which means the police will be out here—along with the press. Thus, in the interests of guarding the Institute’s reputation and integrity, as well as that of doctors Espinosa and Reinhardt, I would appreciate it if you would all curtail your conversations regarding this matter until you have something factual and verifiable to discuss.” He paused. “Thank you.”
“So much for your ridiculous Vault theory,” Jade muttered at Aaron.
“Hey, it could happen.”
“Those canisters are like twenty feet tall or something. How’s he supposed to get the body into one by himself?”
“And not trigger off-line or leakage alarms,” Lacey added.
“Maybe he had help.”
Groans and hisses of disgust greeted his suggestion.
As she turned from the conversation, Lacey’s eye caught on Director Swain heading in their direction. He stopped to chat with Dr. Yuen at the table next to them, and then suddenly there he was, taking the empty faculty member seat between Pecos and Tina. For a moment everyone at the table was so shocked, no one said a word.
Swain smiled and said, “Please, don’t let my position intimidate you. I’d rather you see me as your loving father than the distant director of the Institute. It’s important that we get to know each other. You, so you’ll know where I’m coming from and trust me; me, so I can know how best to serve you.
“Now, let’s go around the table and each of you tell me how you got here, why it was you chose genetics in particular as your field of study, and what your long-term goals are. Where do you see yourself five years from now?” He turned to Pecos, who sat directly to his left. “You may start, young man.”