by Wendy Devore
“That’s amazing!” Michelle beamed, plopping down on the sofa beside me and reading over my shoulder.
As I scanned the screen, my brow furrowed. “They’ve set up an appointment for me to meet the team at Stanford this afternoon.”
Michelle read the next line. “Due to the secure nature of our facility, you cannot be admitted prior to completion of a thorough background check and the submission of a signed nondisclosure agreement.”
I flicked again, scanning the text. “They want me to start immediately.”
“But what about the rest of this term?”
“I’ll talk to Dr. Daniels. Maybe one of the other grad students can cover for me.”
Michelle reached over to swipe the screen. “Holy shit! Look at that salary!”
My hand flew to my mouth. “That’s four times my annual stipend. For one semester of work? That’s insane.”
“Oh, Katie, this is amazing.”
“There’s one more line here—‘Successful completion of this internship will advance your application for the Breckinridge Fellowship. Please confirm your interest by replying to this message.’”
Michelle was actually bouncing as she urged me on. “Reply. Reply immediately.”
I thumbed a quick acceptance message and hit Send.
Michelle wrapped her arms around me. “This is it, Kate. Your big break. I couldn’t be happier for you.”
It seemed so perfect. So why did I suddenly feel so uneasy?
Dr. Daniels’s reaction to my news was less enthusiastic than I’d hoped.
He sat back from his desk and frowned. “It’s highly unusual for a corporation to propose an internship that starts immediately, especially when the term is already in progress.”
“Yes, I know, but it’s such an excellent opportunity…”
“I know you’ve been in remission for over a year, but do you think it’s wise to make such a drastic change?”
I clenched my hands and stared down at my feet. “About that…”
“Kate, have you relapsed?”
I nodded.
“I’m not so sure this is a good idea. The stress alone is almost certainly a trigger.”
I wanted to plead but tried my best to sound convincing instead. “Please, Dr. Daniels—they suggested that taking this internship will help me get the grant. I need to do this.”
Dr. Daniels pinched his lips and shook his head.
“Okay, Kate. If it’s really what you want, we can make it work.”
The rest of my day at the lab was singularly unproductive. The hours crept by at a snail’s pace as I waited for the meeting with Albaion. I found my mind wandering as I graded student homework, read through a few new research papers, and tried unsuccessfully to refactor some poorly structured code. At four thirty, I headed upstairs to the conference room, steeling myself for another interview-style grilling.
To my profound relief, only three people were waiting for me in the room, and none of them were old men in suits.
A trim, earnest woman wearing a smart black blazer rose from the conference table and extended her hand. Her graying shoulder-length hair framed dark, sincere eyes behind her thick-rimmed glasses. “You must be Kate. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Dr. Janine Mori, vice president of the research division at Albaion.”
I swallowed hard. Since when did big companies send their VPs to interview interns? Her grip was firm, but her palm was warm and soft. “It’s so nice to meet you, Dr. Mori,” I replied, trying to quell my nerves.
“Please,” she said, smiling. “Call me Janine.” The hit of anxiety I felt when she introduced herself ratcheted down a notch. She gestured to the two men who had also risen from the table. “These are the project’s head architects, Amir and Andrew.”
“’S’up, Kate?” Amir asked, with a nod that tossed his dark, wavy hair. His olive skin, day-old growth of beard, and Middle Eastern name did not at all jive with his southern California accent, or with the maroon T-shirt that was emblazoned with big, white letters spelling out “Code Monkey.” He was barely taller than I was, but one look at his build made it obvious that he knew his way around a set of weights.
Andrew seemed mildly surprised, but for only a moment. He ran a hand through his slightly unruly, tousled sandy blond hair. A slow smile crept across his face, but it never reached his eyes—eyes that were the most startling shade of blue. That smile transformed his pleasant but blandly handsome features into something decidedly more…mesmerizing.
He was lanky and wiry and loomed over me by nearly a foot; but unlike most engineers I knew, he was impeccably dressed in skinny Tom Ford jeans and a crisp, pale blue button-down shirt with the little polo pony on its breast. Ralph Lauren, I thought, and suddenly felt an unexpected wave of vertigo. For a moment, I thought I recognized him from somewhere. Maybe Stanford? But then the sensation passed.
“Hello, Kathryn.” His deep voice was pleasant, but I couldn’t get a read on his expression at all, and the way he refused to look away was disconcerting. “I’m Andrew,” he said, extending his hand. A bulky bandage covered the back of it.
“It’s Kate,” I said apologetically. I noticed that he held the handshake a moment longer than was really necessary.
Janine placed a hand on my shoulder and shepherded me toward the table. “Please, sit.”
I chose a chair, and Janine sat beside me. Andrew seated himself directly opposite, continuing to scrutinize me. I fought the urge to squirm in my seat, uncomfortably reminded of the phrase “under a microscope.”
I turned toward Janine as she spoke, intentionally avoiding Andrew’s penetrating stare.
“You’ve indicated your acceptance of this internship, but there are a few details I’d like to go over with you before we proceed.”
I nodded and clasped my hands tightly in my lap. This had to go well. I couldn’t afford to lose this opportunity.
“Your application for the Breckinridge Fellowship is exceptionally strong, and I am certain that your participation in the internship program will boost your standing when it’s time to select a recipient.”
I beamed, releasing a breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding. Exactly what I wanted to hear. My hands relaxed, just a bit.
“As you may know, we work in a secure facility located just outside of town. The reason we are meeting with you here today is that outside visitors are prohibited, even prospective hires. Your background check has been expedited, and you’re cleared to participate. However, you and everyone in your household needs to sign a nondisclosure agreement before you can begin.”
My eyebrows knit together. The request seemed a bit extreme, but I was just a lowly grad student, so what did I know? Maybe that’s the way big tech companies worked these days. “I can do that. My sister is my only roommate.”
“Excellent. We’ll have those NDAs drawn up for you and Michelle and delivered first thing tomorrow morning.”
I stiffened. “How do you know Michelle?” How had she collected this much of my personal information in one day?
“From your background check.”
Of course they would know about my sister from the background check. Her name was also on our lease. I forced my shoulders to relax. Surely my frayed nerves were causing me to overreact.
“Because of the sensitive nature of our work, staff is expected to live on-site in corporate housing for the duration of the project.”
I cringed and clamped my eyes tightly as the blinding flash from last night’s nuclear detonation replayed in horrifying detail in my field of vision. With great effort, I relaxed my hands, softened my eyelids, and very intentionally drew two long breaths. Thankfully, the apparition receded. I returned my attention to Janine, hoping my momentary lapse hadn’t ruined any chance I had for securing this internship.
“I’m not sure I can do that…”
Janine looked at me curiously, as if weighing whether my fleeting hesitation was worth mentioning. I followed her swift glance to
Andrew, who cocked his head in a nearly imperceptible nod.
“It’s a firm requirement,” she explained with a hint of apology. “I can assure you that the accommodations are reasonably comfortable. And finally, our work is extremely time sensitive. We need you to begin your assignment first thing tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? I was starting to think that Dr. Daniels’s hesitation may have been well founded. This was moving way too fast. “But I can’t just…disappear,” I objected. “I’m a student and a teaching assistant. I have a job and classes to go to. The university…”
“The university is going to be quite happy to grant you a leave of absence to pursue an excellent opportunity for outside study,” Andrew insisted with noticeable impatience. “In fact, they are already quite pleased to have done so.”
I stared at him blankly, trying to digest this latest turn of events, quietly troubled that my life could be upended so quickly. How had they managed to push through university bureaucracy in less than a day? The proposition of working at the secretive facility definitely rang all kinds of warning bells.
It felt like I was shriveling under Andrew’s intense stare. I deliberately returned my attention to Janine. “And will I be working for you, Janine?”
“Within my division, but not for me directly. Andrew is the lead on this project.”
I drew in a sharp breath and glanced at him in my peripheral vision. Sweat began to pool below my armpits. Janine seemed like she’d be an incredible mentor, but simply sitting in the same room with Andrew sapped every ounce of my confidence. I reminded myself that it was only for a semester. Even if I never managed to overcome my intimidation, the assignment would last only a few months. This was the closest I’d ever come to finding a cure for my disorder. For a chance at that incredible grant, I could grin and bear it—whatever it was.
I turned to Janine and forced a pleasant smile. “Sounds amazing. Thanks so much for the opportunity. I can’t wait to begin.”
A sharp knock on the door put an abrupt end to the meeting. Conference space in our building was in high demand, and we were kicked out of our room by a group of impatient associate professors.
Janine lingered in the hallway. “It’s nearly dinner. Kate, what would you say to a bite to eat?”
I eyed Andrew, but he was listening to voice mail on his phone.
I wasn’t sure how I’d manage to force down a meal if Andrew stared at me as I ate it, but it seemed rude to turn her down. “Uh, how about Max’s?”
“That sounds perfect. I have a soft spot for their pastrami on rye. Amir?”
“That joint is dope. I’m in.”
Andrew lowered the phone, his face grim. “I’m afraid I’m needed at the hospital.”
Janine reached over and placed a hand on his forearm. “Of course. We’ll catch up later.”
Andrew turned and fixed his piercing blue eyes in my direction. Like Alice after drinking her potion, I felt the unpleasant sensation of shrinking under his unyielding gaze.
“Tomorrow, then,” he said, frowning.
And then, to my tremendous relief, he was gone.
It was too early for the dinner crowd, and the restaurant was dead. The deep-black leatherette booths were mostly empty, and the pianist doodled an impromptu mash-up of show tunes. My sister and another waitress sang two-part harmony for an ancient gentleman wearing a paisley-patterned silk scarf and a natty fedora who was trying unsuccessfully to consume an enormous piece of chocolate cake.
The hostess seated us in Michelle’s section, and my sister waltzed over.
“Hi,” she said. “I’m Kate’s sister, Michelle.”
Janine rose and shook Michelle’s hand. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Michelle. I can’t tell you how eager I am to get to know your sister.”
Michelle leaned against the back of my chair. “Yeah, she’s pretty great.” She turned to Amir and gave him a little wave. “Hello…”
He stood and leaned across the table to offer her an awkward handshake. “Amir Tahami, at your service.”
Michelle’s grinned. “I’m the waiter here. I’m actually at your service. I like your shirt, by the way.”
Amir beamed as he took his seat. I wasn’t entirely sure, but I think he may have been blushing.
Michelle took our orders, and Janine related a story about her college days in the ’80s, when she was the only woman enrolled in the chemistry program and her organic chem professor’s final exam involved synthesizing the odor of flatulence. Halfway through the tale, Amir excused himself. When I peeked over Janine’s shoulder, I saw him huddled with Michelle in the corner by the kitchen. Whatever he said caused her to double over in a fit of giggles.
I shook my head, suppressed a smirk, and returned my attention to Janine. Too bad for my sister that her latest crush would soon be sequestered within a high-security facility in an undisclosed location.
Chapter 7
Andrew
September 21
Andrew’s silent vigil beside Lily’s prone body was stretching into its second hour. The rhythmic hiss and thump of the ventilator lulled him like some hypnotic chant as it forced air into her lungs. It kept her alive; but he knew the end game. Her heartbeat was regular, but the montage from her EEG trace showed no variation at all. Her body was here. But the spark that had been his friend and colleague? That was long gone.
When Janine entered the room, he didn’t bother to look up.
“Have you eaten?” Janine asked, presenting a cardboard carton. “I have half a pastrami on rye.”
Andrew shook his head. Pedestrian concerns such as eating meals hardly seemed important.
Janine set her leftovers aside and took a seat on the opposite side of Lily’s gurney.
“What do you think about Kate Rathman?” she asked, force of habit driving her to review the bank of medical monitors that surrounded the patient.
Andrew finally raised his eyes and frowned. “She’s very green.”
“How likely is it that she’ll be suitable?”
He shrugged and rubbed his chin absently. “Based solely on the fact that she has nightmares while in an unconventional REM pattern, I’d say encouraging. Combined with similar conclusions drawn by the Kathryn in the far-slice, I’d say the odds are beyond very good.” He paused and focused his intense gaze on Janine. “Based on the fact that an alternate Kathryn spontaneously materialized in the lab this morning right out of thin air, I’d say she’s almost certainly capable.”
Janine laughed, but quickly suppressed her mirth given the seriousness of Lily’s condition. “You should have informed me that an alternate Kate paid us a visit.”
Andrew’s expression softened into a weak smile. “I’ve encountered her dozens of times in other slices over the last week, but until she manifested here, it was impossible to be certain.”
“That is a very good indication. So you’re confident she’ll perform well?”
Andrew lowered his gaze. “She’s very green. And there’s no telling how the variances in this Kathryn’s brain structure will affect the outcome.”
“Are you saying we shouldn’t use her? Andric won’t tolerate delays forever, and we’re completely lacking other options.”
Andrew pushed back his chair and paced the length of the small room.
“She’s nothing like the Kathryn Rathman that I was expecting. She’s inexperienced—immature. Almost ridiculously naive. I always knew that Lily had my back. We could go anywhere, anytime, and she was always equipped to handle the situation.”
Janine rose and joined him, resting her hand on his shoulder in a maternal gesture. “I think you need to give Kate time. She’s overcome a great deal of adversity, and that shows the girl’s got some spunk. Besides—” Janine grasped both of Andrew’s shoulders and looked him square in the face. “We’ve already lost so much. If there’s even a small chance this could work, we can’t give up now.”
Andrew cast a mournful glance toward Lily. No. Ending the program now would m
ean her sacrifice was meaningless. The experiment must be allowed to continue, and Kathryn Rathman was the key.
Chapter 8
Kate
September 22
I was nervously slurping down my second cup of coffee when my sister shuffled into the kitchen. I pushed an empty mug in her direction. “Good morning, sunshine. What happened to you last night? I didn’t hear you come in.”
“To me?” she replied with a yawn. “Nothing happened to me. I finished my shift, then hung out with your new boss’s little buddy, Amir. You know, the short dude? Writes code? Oh, I know his whole life story now. His dad was a theoretical mathematician in the ‘old country’ but turned a single dry cleaner in Encino into a Los Angeles hotel and restaurant empire. Junior is a boy genius who wanted to be a stand-up comedian, but instead he ended up with a PhD in math from Berkeley. So he’s a total nerd, but he sounds like a surfer from SoCal. He’s freakin’ hilarious—even for a geek. And he has really dreamy eyes.” Michelle winked at me. “After I got off work, we went to this dive bar and sat around playing poker for hours. Look—I won eighty bucks!”
She flashed me a grin and pulled four crumpled twenties from her pocket, slapping them triumphantly on the table.
“Is there any guy you won’t flirt with?” I chided, but I couldn’t help but return her grin.
She poured herself a cup of coffee and joined me at the table. “So about that new boss—what’s he like?”
I pursed my lips. “He’s kind of a jerk. He won’t call me Kate, and he treats me like I’m some kind of airhead newbie. He’s got this stare—every time he looks at me, my scalp goes all prickly and I want to crawl under a desk and cry. So, yeah—I’m not really getting that ‘welcome to the team’ vibe.”
“At least Janine seemed nice, and Amir’s cool. I was surprised when he told me you agreed to move to the facility, though. Do you really think you’re ready for that?”
I shuddered. “No, I don’t think I’m ready. I’m terrified. What if I keep having nightmares? But it’s nonnegotiable.”
