by Darin Gibby
Addy pursed her lips, but she obeyed the order. As soon as it was in hand, Quinn flipped to her first social media site. It showed a selfie of Addy on her bicycle.
“Not too smart.”
Addy shrugged. “Agreed. It’s a habit. I can’t live without my phone.”
“There’s more,” Quinn growled. He ripped off the case, yanked out the SIM card and bit it between his teeth. “There, at least they can’t track us anymore. They’ve probably been pinging your location for weeks. We can’t talk here. We’re not safe. I want to get you home.”
“My home is the other direction,” Addy said. “And you’d better fix my phone. That’s non-negotiable.”
“You’re coming to my house, at least until we can come up with another plan.”
“You’re sleeping on the couch, because I’m not.”
“No. I have an extra bedroom. My place overlooks the ocean. It’s easier for our security detail to see who gets close.”
Addy grunted and again folded her arms. “You can give me the full download there, but I want to know who did this to me. Who is following us?”
Quinn shook his head, picked up a shortwave radio and told his detail to hang tight.
“All right, here’s what I know. I already told you that the US Department of Energy has tried to stop my patents. The US has invested billions, if not trillions, of dollars to become energy independent, meaning that the US has found ways to get oil from everywhere but the Middle East. A good part of this money has come from private investors. They need to get a return on their investment, and what I’ve invented could put a real big damper on that. We’re pretty sure that’s who ran you off the road.”
Addy rolled her eyes. “That’s baloney and you know it. And I suppose they are also the ones who threatened me in Vietnam.”
Quinn stared straight out at the road but remained silent.
“Out with it,” Addy said, “or I’m finished. I might be finished anyway, but you still owe me an explanation.”
When Quinn didn’t respond, she grabbed his shoulder and began shaking him.
“Stop it!” he finally said. “I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Now!” she yelled.
Quinn refused to look her in the eye. “We’re not absolutely certain, mostly because these guys are really good at disguising themselves, but there could be Middle Eastern interests involved as well.”
She thought about the man with the tattoo, then about Perry. He’d told her that the Department of Homeland Security suspected a terrorist link to Hindy’s sabotage.
“Hindy,” she whispered.
“What about Hindy?” Quinn said.
“DHS thinks there is a terrorist cell in the US that doesn’t want to see America free of its dependence on Middle Eastern oil.”
Quinn nodded. “That’s possible, but we just don’t know.”
“But you do know it’s not just these so-called disgruntled investors.”
“I can’t rule out anything at this point. That’s the best I can give you right now.”
“So let me see if I understand this. We’ve got the most powerful nation in the world, and one of the most radical of terrorist groups, all wanting to make sure that your water car invention doesn’t see the light of day.”
“Perhaps a little oversimplification, but there are risks. I told you that.”
Addy let her head fall into her hands. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. You can’t protect me. Even the FBI is asking questions.”
Quinn jerked his head and his mouth fell open. Before he could respond, his radio beeped, and he put the vehicle into gear and merged back onto the highway. “I’m not going to ask you right now whether you want out. I know you probably do, but I want to get you to bed, let you get some rest and have a good meal. Then we can talk. I promise you’ll be safe with me.”
I promised myself I’d never trust anyone again. I did, and look where I am. But she was too sore and exhausted to argue.
18
WHEN ADDY AWOKE, she had no idea of the time. She flipped off her blanket and noticed she was still wearing her clothes from the previous day—a sweat suit provided for her at the hospital since her clothing had been cut off.
Addy gently turned the handle and peeked outside. She was greeted by a narrow hallway that led to a small living room with a majestic view of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. Quinn was standing by the window with his arms folded, evidently deep in thought. In his tight-fitting T-shirt, Addy could see his well-developed lats and his broad shoulders.
“I’m awake,” she said softly. Startled, Quinn spun around. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just woke up, and I’m starving. I think I’ll take you up on your offer for a nice meal.”
The house was so small that its entire front consisted of the living room and kitchen, but both had floor to ceiling windows and a sliding door leading to a wooden deck that afforded an unobstructed view of the green hills and the shimmering waters of Half Moon Bay.
Quinn smiled and flashed his large white teeth. “I wasn’t sure when you would wake up, so I put your supper in the refrigerator. It’s barbecue from down the street. I’ll warm it up in the microwave.”
“Nice view,” Addy said while Quinn lifted off the aluminum foil. He was right when he said that she would feel better after getting a good sleep.
“How are the injuries?”
She bent over at the waist and grimaced. “My hip has stiffened up, it hurts to breathe and my elbow still burns, but my headache is gone.”
Quinn looked up. “That’s great news. I was worried we’d have to take you back in if your concussion was too severe.”
Quinn’s genuine concern softened her.
“I owe you an apology,” Addy said when she had finished a bite of toasted sourdough bread.
“For?” Quinn said.
“Slapping you.”
Quinn rubbed his cheek. “I’ve felt worse.”
“I can try harder next time.”
“I deserved it. You were right. I should have been up front with you from the start. Will you accept my apology?”
She reached out and took his hands. “Apology accepted. I’m not sure what came over me. Too many changes too fast. I quit my job, I finally heard from my stepmother, and then I was attacked—for the third time.”
Quinn pulled her closer. “Wait, you finally heard from your stepmother? What do you mean?”
“The same day I quit Wyckoff I got an email from her. She sent an apology for not telling me about my father’s death or his funeral.” Addy lowered her head.
Quinn quickly reached over and lifted her chin with his finger, searching deeply into her eyes.
“I’m sorry. You want to talk about it?”
“It’s a long story. My mother’s drug and alcohol addiction nearly drove him crazy. He messed up and had an affair, then left my mother. He said he was sorry for leaving me. That woman was my stepmother. He wanted to tell me all this before he died, you know, to ask for my forgiveness, but I never replied until it was too late. My stepmother was so upset that I didn’t come see him that she didn’t bother telling me about the funeral. It went downhill from there. Anyway, she now wants to make amends. I have two stepsiblings she wants to be part of my life.”
“What are their names?”
“Cassandra and Billy. Cassandra’s married with kids, but Billy’s still at home.”
“Where does she live?”
“In Sacramento. I thought about making a quick trip, but then all this happened.”
“Well, you definitely should see her. Everything else can wait. I’ll even take you. Let’s go see them.”
She squeezed his fingers. “Thanks for the offer, but let’s get the applications filed first. Then I’ll go spend a weekend with them while we wait for the Patent Office to examine the cases.”
Addy walked over to the counter and sat down on a leather-covered barstool, then turned to face Quinn. “When was the last
time you had a serious conversation with your father?” she said.
“The day I left for America. I handed him my fencing gear and said I wouldn’t be needing it. Now I regret that. It was just adding salt to his wounds. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make this car work and repair the relationship with my father.”
Quinn scooted a barstool next to her. “Your father was a good man. Even if he abandoned his family, he did adopt you and bring you to America. And in the end, he did apologize. My father wouldn’t even do that for me.”
She smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You should follow your own advice. You know you’re going to need to forgive your father, not just show him he was wrong—before it’s too late.”
Quinn shook his head. “It’s not that easy. You don’t understand Korean culture. I dishonored him, and if I fail, it will just make matters worse for my family. Korean fathers sacrifice everything for their children, but I chose not to accept his sacrifice. I must make things right by making WTG a success.”
“I’m trying my best,” Addy said.
Quinn put his arm around her. “I know you are.” He left to finish warming up her barbecue.
“What about your mother?” Quinn said.
“She’s still a mess. I don’t think she’ll ever recover. Sometimes I think I was just like you, desperately wanting to prove myself to her. But now I hope I’m past that.”
Quinn raised his eyebrows. “Whatever the case, when this is all over, you should get her some help. Never give up on a loved one.”
He checked the food in the microwave and returned to her side.
“Well,” she said, “I guess you and I are both a lot alike. But enough about that. Since I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight, we might as well get to work.”
“Then I take it that you’re back in the game?”
“You’re out of the doghouse. I’ll give you one more chance.”
Quinn leaned over and kissed the scrape on her cheek. “I knew you were the one for the job. You’ve got the fire in you that we’re going to need.”
Addy felt herself blushing. “Like I said, let’s get to work. If the DOE is determined to lambaste your applications, I’ve got to find a way to outmaneuver them.”
“Any ideas?”
“Lots, but I am going to need your help. First, I am going to need you to set up a dozen or so shell companies so we can file the applications under different legal entities. Make them all US companies, even better if they are incorporated in Nebraska.”
“Done. We already considered that. What else?”
“My next idea is bordering on the unethical, but the Patent Office isn’t playing fair, so I feel justified in bending the rules a bit. Every patent application must be filed in the name of the inventor. But if your name is plastered on the filing documents, they are going to get screened out, guaranteed.”
“Any ideas?”
“I suggest we file with variations on your name. Maybe misspell it or use a nickname. That way we can technically skirt the law. We can correct it right before the patent issues.”
“I’m fine with that as long as you can get me my patents.”
“There’s more. The Patent Office will also do subject matter searches. The intake official will do a key word search and immediately recognize that this technology could be problematic to the DOE. That makes things a little more difficult, but not impossible. I’m going to need to use words that disguise what you are really doing. Like, a fuel cell will now become a—” Addy tapped her chin, “an electricity generator, or something like that.”
“But if you change them will I still be protected? Can’t an energy company design around my patents?”
“Not if I do it correctly. Let me worry about that part. That’s why you hired me.”
“What about timing?”
“Normally three to five years to get a patent. Sorry about that.”
Quinn stood straight, sending his chair crashing to the floor. Addy laughed and shook her finger at him. “That’s payback. Relax. I have a way to expedite examination. The Patent Office has a program where you can legally bribe them to move your application to the front of the queue. I do it all the time.”
“Is it expensive?”
“A few thousand dollars. Pocket change considering how much you’re already spending.”
Quinn picked up his chair and sat down again. “Okay, but we’re always watching expenses.”
Addy rolled her eyes. Companies always did this—spend millions on worthless stuff, then penny-pinch on the legal budget. That explained their dreary offices.
“Save a few dollars for interviews. We’ll need to personally visit the examiner in D.C., unless we get lucky and one or two of our cases get assigned to the satellite Patent Office in San Jose.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“And we should do a demo. Show and tell always works wonders, and in this case it is going to be critical. The examiner is going to think this is a perpetual energy idea. We need to dispel that idea before it takes root. It would be even better if we could use it in Hindy, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
Quinn sighed. “That could be a problem.”
Addy glared. “Come again?”
Quinn raised both hands. “Wait right there. I know what you’re thinking. I do have the catalyst, just not any that I can spare right now. Here’s what I can do. I can build a model fuel cell to demonstrate how we will use the catalyst.”
“But no catalyst.”
“I’m afraid I just don’t have enough produced yet. It’s not that easy.”
“It better be that easy, or your little venture is useless. That’s going to need to change real quick.”
“Once we get the full production lines up and running we can make tons of it, but that will take time.”
“How much time?”
Quinn hesitated. “A year or more for decent yields. But don’t fret. You’ve seen the patent applications. The science is sound.”
Addy nodded. “Level with me. How much of this catalyst have you produced—since the very beginning?”
“A decent amount. It’s just the scientists need every bit right now.”
“You’ll need to figure it out,” Addy said. “The examiner is going to want to see it work. Otherwise, you’re not getting a patent. Trust me.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“One more thing. I need my phone back.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, tugging it out of his pocket. “Got you a new SIM card, but lay off the social networking for a bit. And keep it off until you absolutely need it.”
19
QUINN DISAPPEARED FROM the US as suddenly as he’d arrived. Once Addy had filed the applications with the Patent Office, he jetted back to Korea, offering little explanation other than Jeyhu and Yun were having issues with the production line. Boredom once again set in, and so did the bickering. Janice wanted something to do, and insisted she have a personal chauffeur like Addy. To keep the peace, Addy had her driver pick up Janice on the way, never mentioning to Janice that she was commuting all the way from Half Moon Bay.
While they played the waiting game with the Patent Office, Addy figured now would be a good time to meet her father’s family. She emailed Lynda, asking if she could come by next weekend for a visit. Lynda agreed immediately. Addy was apprehensive, but ecstatic at the same time. She’d never had a family, and she wasn’t sure how she would fit in. Would they accept her? Would they be a permanent part of her life, or just a passing fancy?
Addy had barely started making plans for her weekend in Sacramento when Janice burst into her office with news from the Patent Office. The first of the twenty-seven cases had been preliminarily reviewed. Addy’s jaw dropped when she saw the Patent Office correspondence. The office had slapped a secrecy order on the case, despite her attempts to hide the technology and the real name of the inventor. That meant this application wouldn’t be examined unt
il the order was removed—which might never happen. The day before she was to leave for Sacramento another case received the same letter. Addy tried to hide it, worried that Quinn would question her legal strategy, but Sung-soo, who monitored every flowing electron, scooped up the notification and told Quinn. Still, Quinn kept radio silence.
She’d borrowed one of Quinn’s suitcases and began tossing in her weekend necessities, an extra pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, followed by a few pairs of socks. Part of her wanted to stay glued to her office chair, hoping that she’d get some favorable news from the Patent Office. But she also recognized that a break from WTG would be welcome.
With little to do besides report bad news, it would be good to distance herself, especially from Janice whose frustrations were ready to boil over. Addy’s suitcase was half full when she received a text message from Lynda. Her stomach sank. The family had unexpectedly come down with the flu. Lynda apologized but said they were in no condition for a visit. She asked if they could reschedule for the next weekend. Addy was disappointed, but she understood. But if one of Quinn’s cases finally reached an examiner, it could make a visit more difficult.
On the other hand, Addy realized that Lynda’s suggested date was Super Bowl weekend, and the game was being played in Santa Clara. Addy wasn’t much of a football fan and decided it would be nice to be away from all the traffic and hype. She texted back to Lynda that the new date would be fine.
Addy returned to the office, hoping to find favorable news from the Patent Office. She didn’t. No correspondence from the Patent Office at all. Addy sauntered into Janice’s office to kill time. They passed the rest of the day talking about life at Wyckoff and gossiping about old friends. The next week was more of the same. Nothing from the Patent Office. Janice finally insisted they go to their usual lunch stop so she could have it out, away from Sung-soo’s electronic bugs. Addy agreed a good talk was what they needed.
The driver opened her door and as Addy stood to exit her ribs knocked the inside door handle. She winced at the jarring pain but didn’t let it show. Janice didn’t need to know about her injuries. The bruise on her forehead was hard enough to explain away.
