by M. C. Miller
“So what was the problem? Are you telling me they insisted he get a divorce?”
“No, they didn’t have to. I’d seen enough of what happens around secrets. Even at the low level I was at – things got twisted.”
“Sounds reasonable. You didn’t want that kind of life.”
“He did.” The pause was anguished. “He got to be on the inside of whatever they were doing. The way he acted, the offer would put him on the inside from the ground up, based at the core. For something like that, giving me up was a price he was willing to pay.”
“You thought he’d choose you. You bluffed and lost.”
“Yeah, and for a long time I sat around wondering – what does that make me? Hopelessly romantic or just clueless?”
“You never forgave him; that’s one thing. But you also never let it go.”
Tears welled up. “It doesn’t matter about me. I handled it. But some things are not worth the price. Some things aren’t forgiven. He chose a covert assignment over knowing Alyssa. He got a cushy classified title; what did she get? She’s different because of it. I’m certain of it. I’m reminded of that fact every day.”
Malcolm put down his fork. “Ever hear the word Senex – S-E-N-E-X?”
Janis poked at her food. After a wait, she offered a shake of the head.
“It’s Latin for old man.” Folding arms on the table before him, Malcolm hesitated before saying any more. He considered the dice he was rolling. If Janis knew anything more, this was no time to let up on her. Any second she could crack.
“Riya’s last whisper spoke of somebody called Senex. She said Senex was her contact – at GeLixCo.”
Janis’ reaction was transparent. Malcolm knew mention of GeLixCo would drop a bomb. GeLixCo was the foremost North American corporate rival of NovoSenectus. The adversarial relationship between them went way back.
Janis sat blown away with nothing to say.
“I checked with someone reliable, a source I’d had for a long time. They say Senex is a codename. It was assigned years ago – to Colin Insworth.”
Janis was stunned. The idea that Colin was somehow assisting Riya pass information from her lab to GeLixCo carried airs of disturbed unreality.
“Before she died, Riya told me she’d made a computer backup. With her last breath she gave me the password. She said she’d hid this backup at GeLixCo offices in Puerto Rico. She said Senex was her contact.” Malcolm reached across the table and grabbed Janis’ hand. “You see now why I have to trust you?”
The rush of it all crushed down on Janis. It was too much to fathom. Riya and Colin involved in corporate espionage – together? Riya had known about Janis’ past, the divorce, even knew that Colin had chosen a new title over his family. It was hard to imagine Riya ever being civil to Colin let alone trusting him with her life.
It didn’t make sense. If any of this was true, why would Riya contact Colin? How would she ever have managed it? If anything, Colin would have made first contact. His position was that deep, guarded, and insulated. There was no way Riya could have reached out to him and succeeded.
Not unless he wanted to be found.
But why? Whatever could be on the secret backup?
Janis searched Malcolm’s face for a sign. “What do you think they were up to?”
“How much is 300 years of life worth?”
Janis physically recoiled from the suggestion. “No – I don’t believe it. Riya selling GenLET secrets?”
“Only the two of you knew everything. If somebody wanted extended life, there were only two people to get it from. If they didn’t target you, it had to be her.”
“I worked with Riya every day. You loved her. You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“Get me a way to contact Colin and let’s ask him. Either that, or I need to find some way to read what’s on that computer backup in Puerto Rico.”
“I told you – I know nothing about Colin that’s current.”
Malcolm grabbed her other hand. “You want to know who has Alyssa…why they took her? Think about it. You are the only other person who knows all of GenLET’s secrets. That fact is no secret. My God, Riya praised you at the start of her lecture. Everyone knows who you are and what you know.”
“Nobody’s contacted me.”
“What do you call the unfortunate episode in the park?”
“I don’t believe Riya was like that. If you knew her as a lover, I’m surprised you’d even consider it.”
“All people have layers. Even those closest to you don’t show everything.”
“The police think the kidnapping is somehow connected to Riya’s murder. They believe NCO is behind both.”
“I’m suspicious of quick and easy answers – especially from authorities. Everything I’ve seen tells me the truth is never that one-dimensional.”
“It’s clear they want to put pressure on NovoSenectus. NCO doesn’t care about grabbing GenLET secrets for themselves – just the opposite. They want to shut the whole thing down.”
“So what do we know for sure? Nothing. Even more reason to find out what’s on the computer backup. Once we read it, I think we’ll find the motive. The motive will tell us who’s behind this. Murder or kidnapping, it doesn’t matter. To answer both, we have to figure out why Riya did what she did and what it means.”
“Why Puerto Rico? I didn’t even know GeLixCo had a presence there.”
“They have a research facility. Very few know about it.”
“Sounds remote. An awkward place to do that type of business.”
“Not so. Puerto Rico’s the perfect place. It’s a territory of the United States; it’s not a State – it doesn’t have State restrictions. If a Federal agency needed a free hand to do whatever they wanted without State interference or oversight, Puerto Rico would be the perfect place to set up shop.”
Janis pushed her plate away. “Colin would never leave government service to go work for GeLixCo.”
“Who said he did? Bio-defense projects are carved up and farmed out by grant to universities and private labs all the time – over 1300 of them in the US alone. Fragments of bigger secrets are hidden in plain sight. Only the Department of Energy, the Army, Navy, or the National Institute of Health know how to put the pieces together. GeLixCo probably worked on a piece of something. Colin provided oversight for the government.”
“That’s a big leap. Even if true, it wouldn’t explain why Riya got involved.”
“Is there anyone else you know, someone with a line into GeLixCo or Colin?”
Janis shook her head. “No one. I’ll check, but I don’t expect to find anything.”
Malcolm eased back. His chest deflated.
Janis looked up from her drink. “What are you going to do?”
“I have no choice. I have to find out what’s on that computer backup.”
“If you read it, will you tell me?”
Malcolm hesitated. “You want your daughter back. Is that all you want?”
“I want Alyssa – and whatever else is good for her and me. I still work for NovoSenectus – just like you.”
Malcolm paid the check. “It might be easier not knowing certain things.”
“Easier, but not smarter. I want to know.”
“No matter where it goes?” Janis nodded as Malcolm stood. “I know someone who might be able to help. It’s the only way but it’s risky.”
“In what way?” asked Janis.
Dropping a tip on the table, Malcolm leaned in closer. “Sometimes mercenaries make money – coming and going.” The look on Janis’ face prompted an explanation. “He’ll charge me for access. But if he’s real hungry, he’ll tell Mass what I’ve done – and charge him too.”
“You’re willing to go that route?”
“Is Riya dead?” Seething with rage, Malcolm turn to go but twisted back, his face draining blank and cold. “To get justice for her, do I have a choice?”
Chapter 4
Early evening
Mt. Pleasant, Maryland
Faye Gardner pivoted from her open refrigerator with chilled bottles of Pinot Grigio and sparkling water in hand. Tall, blonde and lean, she sashayed to holiday music from another room. “Do the honors?”
Comfy on a stool, friend Sophia worked the cork free and refilled Faye’s glass then topped off her own Pellegrino. As the refrigerator door swung shut, an embedded TV came back into view. The old movie they were half-watching neared its end. After a sip, the credits rolled and the two of them returned to preparing dessert tapas at the kitchen island.
These were the first moments alone for the two of them since Faye’s dinner party began. As good friends, they relished the chance to share a bit of fun. And yet, they were close enough to recognize a moment of quiet awkwardness between them.
The discomfort passed quickly but left behind was a regretful realization. They were far more accustomed to workaday encounters in the lab with each other at Fort Detrick – under far more serious conditions.
“I think you’re thoroughly enjoying being out of your comfort zone.”
Sophia was amused at herself for being so matter-of-fact.
Faye feigned astonishment. “I know. Why haven’t we done this before?”
“You didn’t have this house to show off.”
“You think it’s too much, don’t you. I mean, for one person.” Faye set to work piping chocolate ganache.
“I don’t know. If anything, it sends a message.”
“What? Overachiever? Conspicuous consumption? Be kind.”
“More like hopeless workaholic.” Sophia laughed. “No – it says something else, perhaps something even more sinister.”
“Oooh! Mysterious. I’m listening.”
Sophia’s pause belied second thoughts. “Maybe lavishing yourself with all this room is a way of saying you desperately want to fill it up.”
Faye turned coy. “Nonsense. It gives me an excuse to go find furnishings. You know what a slut I am for antiques.”
“Funny choice of words.”
“Besides, it’s a good investment.”
“Like Jacob?”
“Here we go…” Faye cast a weary eye. They’d been down this path before.
“I just want to see you happy. How many years has it been?”
Faye looked up. Outside, beyond the window, three men laughed and struggled in the cold to hang Christmas lights. Faye singled out one man in particular.
“What does it matter? He and I are like bread and butter.”
Sophia giggled her sipped drink. “Oh my God yes, creamy-dreamy – but where are all the little croutons?”
“You’re bad!” laughed Faye. She couldn’t help but glance at the pleasantly obvious poof of Sophia tummy, now four months along..
“Yes, of course! And I thought you had similar aspirations.”
“I have time.”
“Oh really. What clock are you watching?”
“It’s easier for Dave and you. You two work a building apart. Nobody travels.”
“You think that’s an accident? Making something easy doesn’t just happen.”
“Do tell…”
“Well, for one thing, unlike somebody I know, I never started dating the first traveling salesman I met on a far-flung vacation.”
“He’s not a traveling salesman.”
“Whatever he does, he travels.”
“I thought you were a romantic?”
“I am!”
“Well, wasn’t it you who said love picks the time and place?”
“Sure. But a true romantic wants to do more than date.”
Faye licked a dot of chocolate from her finger. “He asked me.”
“Really!” gasped Sophia.
“I just haven’t said yes.”
“When did this happen?”
Sporting a sly grin, Faye reached for her wine. “Two years ago.”
Sophia groaned away her heavy disappointment.
Caroline returned from the bathroom. Caroline and Jack were new neighbors from across the street. Caroline strutted into the kitchen ready to be put to work.
“What can I do to help?”
Faye pointed with her piping bag. “Serving trays are right there. We can start loading them up.”
Sophia checked the window. “Oh, look! The lights are on. The guys should be in any minute.”
As if on queue, the mud room door opened with a whoosh and clamor of male voices. After a stomp and a shake and a shedding of heavier coats, the men rejoined the party with renewed appetites. Jacob, Jack, and Dave lost no time sampling the nearly done desserts while regaling the women with their macho misadventures in the name of holiday cheer.
Jacob hugged Faye from behind. She wiggled to his touch and kept filling the serving tray. With six people in the kitchen, it was easy to be distracted by multiple conversations. Before long, the playful banter reached a crescendo.
Faye looked up, reacting to a joke, but her eyes diverted to the TV on the refrigerator door. A news bulletin flashed across the screen, along with a face she recognized. Her own smile faded. She reached for the remote control to raise the volume. Others in the kitchen took note of her concern and quieted to see what had happened.
“…the kidnapping took place in a park not far from where Janis Insworth and her daughter Alyssa have lived for the past three years. Witnesses say two men forced the thirteen-year-old into a car and sped off while her mother braved traffic to chase them down the street…”
Jacob stood at Faye’s side. “What is it?”
Faye held a stoic pose. “I know them.”
Sophia looked to Faye and caught her eye. Sophia understood more than anyone else from conversations past.
Faye raised a hand to ask everyone to wait so she could listen.
“…coming so soon after the murder of Nobel Laureate Riya Basu, this latest crime draws attention once again to New Class Order, an organization well known for its violent opposition to life-extension research. Authorities are not saying if they have evidence to prove the killing and kidnapping were committed by this same radical group, but insiders point to the timing of events and the linkage among targets to infer such a scenario is likely. NovoSenectus has released a statement expressing outrage and concern. It is offering a substantial reward for information leading to Alyssa Insworth’s safe return…”
The levity once filling the kitchen was gone. In response, Faye felt she owed her guests an explanation. She lowered the TV’s volume.
“Janis and I went to college together. For a while we worked at USAMRIID on the same project. Then we went our separate ways.”
The others waited while Faye collected her thoughts and stuffed her feelings. It was obvious her recollections were about a best friend – who wasn’t anymore.
“I met Alyssa once, years ago. She was only seven. It was strange. Janis brought her to this conference in Geneva…some biotech thing. I forget.”
Sophia waited to see how much Faye was willing to tell. With Jacob standing at Faye’s side, Sophia assumed the part about Colin Insworth would not be told. Such a thing would be indelicate. The fact that Janis had captured the man Faye had once loved, had baby Alyssa with him, then let him go – that was not the kind of story likely to come out at this or any other dinner party. For Sophie, if nothing else, the rawness of Faye’s emotion only reinforced the deep-seated reasons why she kept love relationships at arm’s length.
Faye lifted a dessert tray and headed for the living room. “That’s a shame. I hope everything works out. I hope they find her.”
The dinner party regrouped around the fireplace but the mood was irretrievably altered. The dessert and wine were soothing, not celebratory. As conversations drifted, issues behind the news boiled to the surface. Differences of opinion were inevitable. Everyone managed to remain civil in spite of strong opinions. Knowing where to place blame, finding the source of evil behind current events, it all came down to the way one looked at things. It wa
s certain: nothing was going to be decided this evening, only contrary lines drawn.
“They really like going after NCO, don’t they?” noted Jack.
“Criminal tactics always detract from a valid message,” answered Dave.
“The real crime is letting everyone believe they’re going to get life extension.”
“That’s for sure. Someone really has the public snookered with that one.”
In round-robin fashion, guests added to the debate. The TV news report had touched a nerve with everyone, not just Faye. She kept quiet and suffered through the less-than-festive exchange.
“From what I hear, NovoSenectus wasn’t even looking for life extension. They stumbled on it while studying old age.”
“Whatever. I just don’t trust billionaires.”
“Even those who give away their billions?”
“What’s a billion here or there to Eugene Mass? You think he misses it?”
“Miss it or not, his MIOVAC Program gives out millions of doses of vaccine.”
“Yeah, I guess with his money he needs all the tax write-offs he can get.”
“By percentage of income, he probably gives more to charity than all of us combined.”
Caroline spoke up. “I read something the other day that said life extension was the tip of the iceberg. They’re planning all sorts of things with genetics. If you’re rich enough, your children will have it all – night vision from owls, better hearing from dogs, better muscles from cheetahs, who knows what else.”
Sophia grinned. “It’ll give a whole new meaning to being hung like a horse.”
Dave followed up while the laughter subsided. “The next thing to watch are synthetic genes. Real gonzo stuff. Sky’s the limit. Crazy shit like flame-retardant skin. Imagine being able to scoop up liquid nitrogen with your bare hand.”
Jacob eased back on the sofa. “I think the whole thing is overblown. Everything’s expensive when it’s first developed. Look at cell phones or flat-screen TVs. Not everyone could afford one when they first came out. That didn’t split up society and make a Rich Super Class like NCO is worried about. In time, everything gets around. It’s the economies of scale.”
