The audit team reassembled back in the original conference room. This time, there was a buzzing of discontent. The team leader turned to Cole as he entered.

“Dr. Cole, I must tell you, I have deep reservations about the direction this program has taken. Your achievements are remarkable and indisputable, but the moral and ethical questions raised by this project have not been properly evaluated, in my opinion.”

“Ms. Sheehan, we’ve taken every precaution to ensure that our research falls well within the ethical guidelines and federal restrictions for genetic engineering programs. We specifically chose non-human platforms for augmentation, and I sympathize with your concerns, but the very fact you are uneasy is a testament to our success. I don’t think that should be a basis for criticism, but, rather, for praise.”

Sheehan put her hands on her hips and scowled at the floor, then looked up at Cole.

“I admit I may be showing some naiveté here, but bear with me. I’m not sure the people authorizing this program thought it all the way through, either. If the moral qualms about subjecting humans to this sort of manipulation is based on a concern for their dignity, then what happens when you elevate another species to some level approximating human capabilities? I realize that was the goal of the project from the beginning, but it’s not clear to me that connection was ever made.”

“But..but they’re animals…”

“Animals don’t read Shakespeare! Absent some very tangible operational results, this risks being an expensive and morally dubious vanity project. I don’t care if you’ve got a letter from the Pope himself to cover your ass, this whole thing stinks.”

The young woman from the tour spoke up.

“I will also need more information about the religion. I’ve reviewed the briefing materials, and there’s nothing in there that elaborates on what you and the others have mentioned about their interests and how they impact operational performance. This is important information, regardless of what the intelligence testing shows.”

An aide entered the room and whispered in Cole’s ear. He issued some murmured instructions, and the aide departed. He turned to the auditors.

“We’ll continue this discussion tomorrow, after the live-fire demonstration. You’ll see the subjects up against the most advanced autonomous combat systems, using real ordinance. I believe the capabilities you’ll see demonstrated on the challenge course will address your concerns. We’ll also get you additional information about their religious interests, all harmless distractions.”

Chapter 43

The security team dropped Michelle off at her car back at the fence with apologies that they weren’t able to bypass the security features to bring the vehicle closer to the main gate. She forced a smile and thanked them, then settled herself in, going through the motions of arranging her belongings until they drove off. The instant their vehicles departed, she pulled out her tablet and authenticated with Tink.

“I need a double dark connection and full access to my sources.”

“One moment. The facility security systems are probing. Setting up shells. Spoofing. Okay, you are clear to proceed.”

She began a furious dive into her research, frantic to understand the possible connection between the lab and the school, Adam’s welfare immediate in her mind. Meeting Dr. Isaac just now and making the connection all the way back to Kingston Mines a few years ago set her mind whirling.

Thinking back, it all started there. The encounter, the kiss, then sometime after, the talk of the school, the testing, the offers to come to Idaho. Or did Adam’s evaluation start before the kiss? She tried to remember.

Her fingers flew across her tablet, muttering passwords and security codes to Tink as she blew through one database after another, looking for all information on Dr. Trey Isaac. At first, she couldn’t find any pictures, which seemed odd, but then she found him, standing in a group photo of several researchers at a National Academy of Sciences conference. Molecular geneticist, training, education. Not many papers, but seems to travel in pretty elite circles. Last few years, no obvious trail. Last academic assignment she can find is back in New York at Mount Sinai, working under Dr. Eric Schadt.

Studying the few photos she could find, she was sure it was him at the school. What is the connection between this Trey Isaac and the McJames Institute? Something awful is going on that lab, that is certain, despite her positive impression of Dr. Abrams. What does it have to do with the school?

She stared out the window, thinking hard, then decided.

“McJames school, as fast as possible. Authorization to exceed local laws when possible.”

***

Bruno Abrams cradled the picture of his three children, eyes moist. He traced the face of his middle daughter, frozen in time as a middle schooler, braces, brown hair and brown eyes, his wife’s, and her lively, intelligent expression. The sudden confrontation with an apparition of her older self in the reporter overwhelmed him. She had almost the same smile, and the eyes, that sparkle of curiosity and defiance. In an instant, the wound was open and fresh, that same raw pain, cold and aching to his core, tightening his chest and catching his breath. The well of grief, undrained, only buried, surfaced anew.

He heaved a deep sigh, wiped his eyes, and turned to his keyboard. He tapped commands, activating long dormant hidden contingencies, finally committing to the endgame.

***

Cole brought Kevin Jorgenson, the Director of Security, up on his screen.

“Keep an eye on the journalist. She cannot be permitted to interfere. Find out what you can and maintain contact.”

Jorgenson nodded. “Anything else?”

“Not yet.”

Jorgenson broke the connection. He already received instructions to handle the journalist from one of his other employers. Certain interests did not want this situation exposed at any cost. He smiled to himself. Another opportunity for financial gain. He marveled at how easy it was to monetize the spaces between the agendas of all the actors and agencies entangled in this project. All he had to do was keep feeding each one what they thought they wanted, collect his money, and take care of the loose ends, quietly and cleanly. That was the part he enjoyed most. Hell, he’d do those for free.

Maybe there’d be another.

Chapter 44