2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel

by Speiser, Zvi

  “Ever since then, I’ve been very interested in conserved DNA sequences. I believe that understanding their importance, and the mechanisms that conserve them beyond the constraints of evolution, can contribute significantly to the fight against disease. I’ve previously applied for several research grants to study this topic, unsuccessfully. This year I succeeded, despite many obstacles.”

  This would have been the time to tell Rick about Ronnie, the preserved humanoid they had discovered, whose DNA had revealed a long sequence completely identical to those found in all the human races examined, and of course, about the sequence radiation experiments, and the strange results obtained in them. He also wouldn’t mention the new proteins being produced right now from various segments of the sequence and its immediate vicinity. No, he wouldn’t mention any of that. He would confine himself solely to a general outline. The scientific details would only make sense to researchers in the field, anyway. His duty of confidentiality toward the university, the desire to take credit, along with his team, for future discoveries, as well as the thought that this information was not pertinent in any way to the murder investigation, all precluded him from mentioning the entire matter even in a casual way. But maybe, he thought apprehensively, these unusual studies were the intruder’s goal, rather than the longevity-enhancement study? No, he would not expose any further details. No reason to go looking for trouble. And thus he ignored the entire topic in his explanations to Rick.

  “As part of our research, we comprehensively compare human DNA to chimpanzee DNA, as well as comparing various human races. Our working hypothesis is that since the genetic difference between us is about 1 percent, the differences we discover will be expressed via slight changes in the genome. As expected, we’re discovering conserved DNA sequences unique to humans, and have been working on those. For years now, science has established the existence of proteins in cells whose sole role is to recreate code segments that have been damaged for whatever reason. They’re similar to bits used to enhance every piece of data in a computer’s memory, and whose entire function is to note any change in data. Sometimes, with a significant addition of bits, you can even repair data that’s been impaired. These proteins, which are actually called ‘DNA-repairing proteins,’ have rather limited capacities, which is not a bad thing. What do you think, Detective Heller—in light of the large quantities of unnecessary DNA in the genome, why didn’t evolution develop more potent repair proteins that would fix every error?”

  Rick stared at Tom, thinking, What engineer wouldn’t want software that detects every mistake or error in their designs, and then proceeds to fix it? It sounded like every designer’s idea of heaven. Only last month, it had been revealed that the new space shuttle on its way to Jupiter’s moon Europa would be able to reach its destination and land successfully, but due to a design error, would be unable to carry out its mission to drill a hole in in the ice cover enveloping the moon. Two billion dollars had gone down the drain.

  “Evolution was unsuccessful,” Rick said. “Even evolution has limited capacities. If it were omnipotent, there wouldn’t be so many diseases, and our life would be much better.”

  “Maybe,” Tom replied. “Let’s think about it together. If the repair mechanisms were even slightly more efficient, they’d fix some of the mutations and the replication errors, and life on Earth would look entirely different. Perhaps life would have remained on the unicellular level and would never have evolved into the diverse life that exists today.”

  “I’m starting to understand some of the challenges medicine has to deal with,” Rick muttered. “On the one hand, you’re telling me that evolution, and consequently the diverse life around us, depends on the occurrence of errors and mutations, meaning they’re essential. On the other hand, you have repair mechanisms, which can’t be too efficient, either. All in all, it sounds like life really is a miracle.”

  “That’s very true. Life is an array of balances between numerous and often contradictory factors. If there were no repair mechanisms, apparently life would be quite paltry. But if the repair mechanisms are too efficient, again, no complex life evolves. The repair mechanisms, like most evolutionary solutions, aren’t perfect but rather just good enough—bordering on barely sufficient, but just squeaking by—and the complex life forms around us are the proof. The large quantity of junk DNA is very strange, but helpful to us researchers. Our assumption is that understanding the unique process that conserves specific DNA sequences might help us find cures for diseases caused by distortions to the genetic information during replication, such as cancer, diseases related to aging, and many others.”

  “You must be referring to those scientists who claim that all varieties of cancer stem from a single factor, and once we find a cure for it, every variety of cancer can be eliminated,” Rick commented.

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but that direction has certainly been investigated extensively, and further research is required.”

  Rick nodded in comprehension, signaling Tom to continue. No more indirect questions, Tom thought. Had he passed the detective’s trustworthiness test? Without dedicating another thought to this topic, he resumed his lecture.

  “Much to my surprise, although this direction seemed interesting and undoubtedly unique, I encountered strong objections to my application for a research grant from Professor Paul Longstrom, the dean of the university, of all people. In light of the many years during which these diseases have been researched with no significant breakthroughs, I had expected a new research direction focusing on all diseases caused by genetic changes—possibly including aging itself—to be received with open arms. The dean came up with a variety of highly unconvincing reasons to reject the study. Some of them were so bad that they actually provided ammunition for the study’s supporters, but indeed, as you’ve already realized, the study was approved, and we’ve been working on it for about a year and a half.”

  “It sounds interesting. What kind of findings have you obtained?” Rick asked.

  “Well…” Tom cleared his throat.

  I’ve touched a sore spot, Rick thought. Tom no longer feels like a clever lecturer standing before an ignoramus; he feels a lot less comfortable talking about his results than giving general lectures. Apparently, he hasn’t obtained any significant findings yet.

  For a brief moment, Tom felt tempted to tell Rick about their discoveries. However, he came to his senses immediately and reverted to the official version they had adopted when presenting the study to anyone on the outside.

  “We’ve mapped the conserved DNA sequences that were discovered by other groups in the past. Since a significant part of the work was carried out years ago, we decided to re-examine the genome using recently developed new technology. And indeed, as of today, we have positively detected about four hundred conserved DNA sequences at a length of at least two hundred nucleotides that were previously undiscovered. These sequences were found in their entirety in all primates, meaning all apes.”

  “Even though I’m just a police detective, I know very well what a primate is,” Rick interrupted him.

  “I didn’t mean to patronize you. I just don’t know how fluent you are in these topics, and as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’m trying to be as clear and understandable as possible, although the technical terms we use in our everyday research aren’t familiar to anyone who doesn’t work in our specific field. To get back to it, we’re in the process of verifying several hundred more sequences about which we’re still not entirely certain. However, most of them have undergone multiple rounds of testing and verification, and look promising.”

  “Sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job,” Rick said, before clearing his throat. He looked and sounded extremely tired, but actually found the topic fascinating. In an exhausted tone, he said, “This is a very interesting subject, and I’m sure I’ll have lots of questions later. But it’s been a long night, I’m beat, and I still have a
long, busy workday awaiting me. Give me some time to take in everything I’ve learned from you tonight. I’m sure we’ll have some more long scientific conversations, hopefully at a more convenient time and under more pleasant circumstances.”

  “I’ll be happy to be done with this investigation,” Tom replied. “This is the longest interrogation I’ve ever been through, definitely when it comes to a crucial topic like murder. If the subject of genetic research interests you on a scientific level, and not just as a means of cracking the murder, we really can meet some other time to discuss it at leisure.”

  “That’s it for tonight,” Rick said. “You can pick up your personal assistant at the entrance. I suggest you go back to your fascinating studies and leave the rest of the investigation to us. And yes, don’t worry, we’ll update you on every important development, and we’ll probably have more questions. Good night, or more accurately, good morning, Dr. Lester. It’s already almost nine a.m. If you wish, you’re invited to freshen up in our showers. You’ll find towels and a shaving kit there.”

  “I enjoyed being questioned and, even more, presenting my research, as I’m sure you’ve already noticed. Anyway, you can call me Tom. Everyone else does.”

  Chapter 5

  Rick

  Chicago, Wednesday, July 16, 2036

  Rick, exhausted, looked at the pages of the investigation report detailing Tom and Steve’s questioning, which he had spread out all over his desk. Both subjects had sounded trustworthy and shocked, as expected from people uninvolved in criminal affairs following such a close encounter with crime. This was particularly true in regard to the murder of a coworker, a man stationed at the site where he was murdered solely in order to protect them from harm. For a moment, it seemed to him as if Oleg had been cannon fodder for the security apparatus. An outrageous thought, and perhaps a true one, as well.

  Tom and Steve had replied to all his questions immediately, revealing no hesitation or any fear of the encounter with him as the investigating officer, of the intimidating interrogation room, or of the long, exhausting nighttime questioning. Each of them had felt at some point that they were suspects; however, this did not undermine their self-confidence. Yes, there was no doubt in his heart that both had been speaking completely honestly.

  Rick didn’t understand a thing about science, not to mention genetics. His entire life revolved around his demanding job on the police force, and around the remainder of his family, which had broken up following his divorce, and now included only his son and daughter. Pure scientific research with no apparent commercial intent was entirely incomprehensible to him. Why would people invest their time and energy to explore hidden, unknown corners of the world? he thought. It was obvious to him that the break-in into Tom’s lab had not been a random act. The lab had been targeted for a very specific reason. At first look, the longevity-enhancement research seemed like a good reason for a break-in. The immense financial potential could justify quite a few crimes. However, the research was divided among many labs, and if he could take Tom’s word for it, which at this stage he had no reason not to do, even Tom himself didn’t know much about the direction in which the research was going.

  His experience had taught him that quite frequently, the approach that initially seemed to make less sense actually turned out to be right. Were there aspects of Tom’s theoretical research that might be of interest to criminal elements? And perhaps criminal elements were not at the heart of the matter at all; perhaps the criminals had been sent by scientists. And perhaps there were additional aspects to the study that Tom hadn’t mentioned. Could he be concealing essential findings that were of interest to others? Throughout the investigation, had Tom behaved as if he was hiding information or lying? Usually, Rick’s extensive experience would have allowed him to answer this question immediately and very confidently; this time, he wasn’t sure. He was very tired, and might have ignored some important details.

  In addition, the burglar hadn’t been a petty criminal who, if caught red-handed during the burglary, could have skated by with a slap on the wrist by claiming he’d broken in to steal equipment or that he had been sent by a third party whose identity was unknown to him. Burglars intending to steal property didn’t usually carry guns, and definitely not ones with silencers, as evidenced by the corpse’s wound. Such a burglar wouldn’t risk committing a murder, a grievous crime.

  Another option that occurred to him was that the murder had been a result of panic. However, the fact that the guard’s body had been found near the main entrance to the building rather than inside the lab indicated that the intruder had been waiting for the security guard, apparently because he heard him approaching or opening the door to the building. He had waited behind the door, intending to kill him, most likely to avoid identification. This was evidenced by Oleg’s tidy uniform, which gave no indication of a physical struggle. The killer hadn’t even tried to escape. And assuming the small red stain on Tom’s desk was a bloodstain, it appeared the killer had returned to the desk after the murder, probably to complete the task that had motivated the break-in and the murder. The killer’s cold-blooded conduct in returning to the lab after the murder was an indication of an unusual, goal-oriented personality; this particular goal appeared to be of ultimate importance to him.

  Rick wondered whether lab results would indeed confirm that the red stain was the blood of the murdered security guard. The deeper he delved into the findings from the incident, the more strongly he felt that the characteristics of the break-in were not congruent with a crime motivated by property theft, or even industrial espionage, which was very common in the high-tech industry. His well-honed senses told him this was a highly unusual case, on which he should definitely focus in order to crack it as quickly as possible.

  Tiredness got the better of Rick, who was dozing in his chair when suddenly, he startled awake. Something was bothering him. The phrase “university lab break-in” sounded familiar to him. He had heard of a similar occurrence quite recently. His fatigue evaporated without a trace. A new burst of energy throbbed within his chest, like a man who had just received an adrenaline shot.

  He recalled that several weeks ago, he had read in the police log about a break-in at a lab at Northwestern University in Evanston. The complaint had been odd because nothing had been taken, and in fact, the police investigator handling the case had suspected the complaint might have been false, although there had been no logical reason for this.

  The new computer system did not let him down. Its cost, over $200 million, the uproar it had evoked, and the development that had lasted two years longer than expected had all proved worthwhile. Within seconds, he was scrolling down a list of four break-ins to university labs in the Chicago metro area that had been reported since the beginning of the year. In all of them, nothing had been taken, and the complaints had been archived due to lack of public interest. Expanding the search to the United States as a whole yielded eight more break-ins with similar characteristics. The incidents undoubtedly displayed an obvious pattern: clean break-ins into university labs, in which nothing was taken and no equipment was destroyed. Apparently, he had detected something much larger than a random break-in that had gone awry and ended in murder.

  The upcoming wave of new appointments at the Chicago Police Department beckoned to Rick. Perhaps this discovery and the ensuing investigation would finally mark him as a candidate for the promotion he so desired after more than five years as a police field investigator.

  Running another search on the police computer system, this time instructing it to find previously inputted listings of clean break-ins to labs of any kind, both public and private, in the United States within the preceding five years, yielded interesting results. No events of this kind had been registered during the years 2032 and 2033. The first event was noted on October 2, 2034. Six events were noted in 2035, and since the beginning of 2036, twelve more break-ins had been added to the list, not countin
g this last one. Therefore, the pattern of clean break-ins had begun with one incident at the end of 2034, six more throughout 2035, and now twelve break-ins in only the first seven months of the year.

  Another shared characteristic was prominent in the listing of incidents: all of the break-ins had taken place at biology labs in universities and research institutes dealing with genetic studies. Rick had no doubt that he had uncovered an unusual common denominator. Someone was very interested in what was currently going on in the field of biology, and was investing plenty of resources in monitoring recent developments, while undertaking significant risks to do so.

  For a moment, Rick considered approaching precinct commander Mike Robertson and presenting his findings to him. But this moment passed quickly. No, he wouldn’t let such a golden opportunity slip between his fingers. This case would be his ladder up the chain of command, his ticket out of fieldwork and into a command position with commensurate wages and benefits. He won’t run to his commander with the raw material like a rookie. He would investigate the case on his own, as part of the leeway granted to an officer of his rank, and only when he had gathered enough proof and put together a clear case would he present it. And then, maybe his long-standing dream—a promotion and freedom from Sisyphean fieldwork—would finally come true.