The Fallen and the Elect

by Jerry J. K. Rogers

  Chapter 31

  Alder hadn't reported to Gary, who was irritated that he hadn’t heard anything from his junior director. For this meeting, Gary had postponed his trip out to the research lab to view firsthand the progress of all the final phases of his pet project. He was unhappy not to be on site during the implementation of key components after numerous years of research. The culmination of so many recent successes helped to anchor some positive introspection. Even with several key researchers and scientists killed at the recent alleged angelic visits, almost putting the overall projects at risk, the success didn’t counterbalance the intense emotions stirring due to the recent breach of security. Stepping out into the reception area, he saw that Sheila was just hanging up the phone; Gary’s face was constraining an angry flare-up.

  “Where the hell is Alder Dennison?” Gary barked but limited his volume to prevent other offices down the hall from hearing his outburst.

  “That was him on the phone,” Sheila answered. “He had to take his daughter to the emergency room this morning. I guess she had a fever and was throwing up blood.”

  Gary smirked, a look of disbelief flashing across his face. His immediate thought was that Alder had gotten word about the inquiries and was now finding ways to avoid him. After the thought dashed through his mind, Gary reconsidered and wondered whether Alder's daughter being sick was just an inopportune coincidence.

  “Find out what hospital and send him my regards and wishes for his daughter,” Gary commented.

  Sheila smiled. Although she held Alder in disdain, believing he had gotten lucky in getting his position as he wasn't of the same caliber as the other directors, she was sympathetic hearing about his daughter.

  “As a matter of fact, he mentioned he's heading over to Mercy Memorial. I'll order some flowers and say they're from the company,” Sheila said.

  Gary considered sending flowers to the ER, thought it kind of strange, and disregarded the gesture as he returned to his desk. He didn’t know that Sheila was overcompensating for her negative attitude and behavior toward Alder by feeling empathy for his daughter. Gary, activating the videoconferencing software on his desktop computer, clicked the name he was searching for on the contacts list, Dr. Anton Petroyev. An image of an older gentlemen, unkempt thinning gray hair, cracked skin, wrinkled plaid shirt, and crisp, clean, white lab smock, answered. Even though he appeared senior in age, he was only 51 years old.

  “Gary. What can I do for you?” the image asked.

  “Doc, looks like I may be able to make it over a little earlier than I thought. How's our little patient?” Gary responded.

  “Talked to the site this morning. He's doing quite well and I just got an email from Dr. Solandar concerning the other phase of Aurora. The second set of tests went well. Looks like we got a winner. We just need to finish up some more testing in a controlled environment and begin planning for a field test.”

  “Good, the investors will be extremely happy. That's why I want to come down and see what the test parameters are and the projected impact. I'm scheduled to head out to the site here in town later and hoping to fly down to Mexico by the end of the week. ”

  “Well, we're more than happy to have you go down. Hell, I may just go with you. Oh, and by the way, thanks again for the heads up on those three going down from the Church. Apart from the research staff, we made sure the entire team pretty much stayed on lockdown at the lab. Rumor has it, though, that they were able to talk to a former cleaning crew member from ten years ago,” the videoconference image stated.

  “Yeah, the Cardinal up here passed that on. We're getting it all sorted out,” Gary responded, intentionally not revealing the recent leak of information.

  “Oh, one other thing,” the doctor noted.

  “Yeah? What?”

  “Just thought I’d let you know that one of the researchers down in Mexico seems to be having an ethical change of heart.”

  “I thought your staff understood what was going on and that we wouldn’t have these types of problems,” Gary responded. Dr. Petroyev sensed Gary was troubled by what he had told him, not realizing Gary was beginning to fume hearing about an additional possible personnel issue.

  “They did, but from what I was told from the site lead in Aguascalientes, hearing about that angel stuff happening up there, and those rumors about what happened years ago, I guess it was getting to him.”

  “What do you mean, ‘I guess’?” Gary inquired, the doctor noticing the ire in his voice.

  “Some former close colleagues who initially worked with him on the project moved up here to the States to help stabilize our half of the work, and they were killed at Thomson and Thomson. The biggest hit was when he found out that his mentor, who’d recruited him to work on the genetic engineering and virology project, died at Crestview.”

  “Should we look at having him transferred or replaced?” Gary asked with serious resolve, “especially with the stressors you mentioned?”

  “Don’t think that’ll be a problem quite yet. Moving him won’t be necessary. Plus he’s one of the key developers on this project.”

  “So if he wasn’t part of your team down in Mexico anymore?”

  “It could be catastrophic to our success depending on our testing, but we’d get by.”

  “Then look, I expect you to handle the situation Doc. We can’t risk the leak of any more information.”

  “What information was leaked? Did some news already get out?” The image asked excitedly.

  “Well, let me know what you need from us, and keep me posted on your progress,” Gary replied and then disconnected the videoconferencing software, upset he’d inadvertently made a comment about the leak. The doctor’s image disappeared from the 26” OLED monitor.

  Gary now mentally prepared himself to question the final two personnel on his staff regarding the breech of information. Alder would wait. But it occurred to Gary that he still hadn’t talked to Sheila. She knew something serious had transpired but he hadn't fully explained the exact details. Nor had he considered, until just this moment, talking to Sheila to see if she had any ideas or heard of anyone who may have been acting suspiciously at the executive level in the company. On the contrary, he trusted her unreservedly, especially as by proxy she shared full access to his email accounts and many of the same electronic and hard copy files. He did limit access to the most sensitive projects, but if she found a way to procure the information, this could make her one of the most likely suspects to have contacted the unsanctioned outside recipients. Nevertheless, Gary couldn't draw any direct correlations between her and the Church's investigation team.

  Heading out to the reception area, he saw Sheila typing on her computer keyboard, working on what appeared to be the interoffice memos he requested that she complete.

  “Sheila?” Gary asked, interrupting her typing, “With what’s going on around here, we’ve had to be more careful with the security of the information for some of our projects.”

  “Yeah, I kinda noticed,” she responded. “Especially with the lockdown of all the files and accounts. What's going on? How can I help?”

  Gary sensed the sincerity of her question. “Someone may have revealed some sensitive information about one of our R & D projects to unauthorized recipients. I don't want to tell you which project, but it's pretty serious. I almost think it could be one of the directors.”

  Sheila visualized the list of junior executives and managers under Gary; the R & D production VP, marketing VP, marketing manager, accounting director, and the CFO position, which was still vacant. Gary was still handling many of the key duties he could legally become involved with, having the CFO of the manufacturing division accomplish the remainder. Running through who occupied each of the positions, the one who came to mind was Alder, the accounting director. Contemplating her ideas and getting ready to answer, both she and Gary were interrupted by ringing on personal phone line. The caller ID displayed a
direct outward-dial number from the offices of the Archdiocese. After minimal communication over the years to prevent any type of connection between the R & D division of Everest and the Church, beyond the work of and provisions for the sponsored free clinics handled by operations division, Gary thought it strange for the Cardinal to be calling so close to their last discussion identifying the release of information. He decided he wanted to take the call. He returned to his desk and answered.

  “Hello Gary,” the voice on the other end responded. “This is Cardinal Millhouse.”

  “Your Eminence, what can I do for you?”

  “I just received word that Bishop Grielle was taken to the emergency room at Mercy Memorial Hospital due to a possible heart attack. We're not sure how serious it is yet, it’s just that I wanted to let you know that I'm going to see how he's doing, considering what we discussed with him the other day.”

  Gary had to orient himself to recall Bishop Grielle, and then the discussion in the Cardinal's office.

  “I'm sorry to hear that your Eminence, but I'm not sure what I can do?”

  “He was visiting Father Hernandez and Sister Justine at the time of the heart attack. He may have been trying to gather more information as well as attempting to find out where they both may have found out about our pet project.”

  “OK, that is a bit interesting ... wait a minute ... did you say Mercy Memorial?” Gary asked excitedly.

  “Yes. Why?” the Cardinal asked in return intrigued by Gary’s curiosity.

  “One of my directors is taking a day off. His daughter was just taken there. She wasn't feeling too well.”

  “How does that involve what we're discussing?” the Cardinal reacted. Gary detected a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

  “The director is Alder Dennison, the one who missed attending the Thomson funeral home incident and friend of the only survivor, Stephen Williams.”

  The Cardinal remained quiet.

  “Your Eminence?” Gary asked, making sure the Cardinal was still on the line.

  “I'm still here. I'm just trying to figure out if this could be a strange coincidence,” the Cardinal responded.

  “At this point, I'm beginning to doubt that.”

  “I'm going to head down to the hospital just in case I have to administer last rites.”

  “Love your confidence that he's going to get better,” Gary quipped.

  “Prefer to be ready. We never fully know God’s entire plan. I'll keep you informed.” With that final comment, Cardinal Millhouse hung up the phone.

  Gary didn’t appreciate the abrupt end to the conversation and was a little perturbed. Yet the information from the Cardinal strengthened his theory that Alder appeared to be the leak of information. He would postpone talking to anyone else until he could rule out his prime suspect. Sheila now came in, looking puzzled.

  “What is it Sheila?” Gary asked.

  “I was talking to one of my friends down in accounting and they got word that Stephen Williams fell in the bathroom while taking a shower and was taken to the hospital.”

  “And your point is?”

  “I just thought it odd that he was taken to Mercy Memorial, the same one where Alder took his sick daughter.”