by S. R. Booth
Billy looked to Sarah for her opinion and she met his look with a nod. As he said before, they needed help. “Would it be okay if I go first? I know some critical information that Billy hasn’t even heard about yet.”
“Of course,” Mr. Radcliffe assented with a slight nod as he fixed his attention fully upon her.
She started with what she’d learned from Ritchie and answered Mr. Radcliffe’s questions the best she could. “Ritchie would be able to better answer you. I only know what he told me. I don’t even have the list of the companies that were tampered with.” Mr. Radcliffe withdrew his notepad and jotted a few things down.
Sarah continued with the gardening meeting and how Ritchie recognized the FBI agent who did the shooting, and how the same man knew who she was. Silent tears streamed down her face as she thought about all the people who were shot and of Linda losing her husband.
Billy put an arm around her and pulled her close to his side before adding his story. Starting with the notes and codes they’d found which had drawn them into this, Billy shared the most pertinent information before ending with breaking into his uncle’s apartment and learning someone had tried to kill him.
“Another odd thing I had forgotten was I told one of the EMTs what Uncle Bill said about someone giving him a shot to make it look like a heart attack. The guy just pulled something out of his bag and gave him another shot. The strange part is he didn’t even question me about it, just appeared to believe it, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t tell anyone at the hospital about it.”
“He must have been one of ours,” Mr. Radcliffe replied. “We have people working in many different fields, especially around the homes of the Tops. They are like our guardian angels. They keep their ears open for anything that could affect us and do what they can to protect us.”
“No offense, but what exactly makes the ‘Tops’ so important? I get that you’re like the CEOs of a huge company, but you’re treated with much more...I guess the word is reverence.”
“The answer is not a simple one. You will learn more every day once you take your place as a Top. We have taken a vow to protect and improve humanity. Many people are in agreement with what we are doing, surprisingly many others are not and think the old ways are best. We believe in bettering people, not exterminating them, and we often step on toes, so to speak, when we thwart plans to kill off those deemed undesirable.”
He abruptly straightened. “Speaking of which, I need to make a phone call regarding Sarah’s information about the formula changes her brother made. Hopefully someone within those companies will catch the errors before they hit production. However, if the changes were similar to the originals, they could easily be overlooked.” He rose from the table pulling a cell phone from his jacket pocket.
“Do you have the papers you signed with you, Billy?” He eyed the red folder on the table. “Would you like me to hold onto them? To keep them safe?” Billy remembered his uncle telling him to keep the papers with him at all times and shook his head. “Very well. Excuse me for a moment,” he said before walking outside.
Billy pushed aside their food and pulled Sarah even closer. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of this alone. I’m sorry you had to go through it at all just because of me.”
Sarah leaned into him and drew comfort from his embrace. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t choose for any of this to happen.”
“You weren’t given any warning before you fell in love with me as to who I am and what that would mean to our future.”
Sarah gave a half-hearted laugh. “You weren’t exactly given any warning either! I wonder why no one ever told you about your connection to Scinegue until now?”
“I’m not sure my parents know what Scinegue is, even though I’ve been working there almost a year. My grandparents though, I don’t know why they never even hinted that I was part of an experiment. Maybe the company didn’t allow them to say anything. Uncle Bill wasn’t planing on telling me anything about Scinegue until he was ready to retire. For some reason my name was brought to his attention when that trash spilled. It sounds like he’s been lonely over the years...”
He shook his head. “I’m kind of glad I didn’t know. I think as a kid I would’ve felt like some kind of freak, Frankenstein’s monster or something.”
Sarah’s heart wrenched and she smiled at him sympathetically.
“Being older, I can see what Scinegue did was really no different than an arranged marriage, like the Browns said. Even if their goal was to produce nearly-perfect children, I don’t think they did anything too strange. No radioactive shots that I know of,” he joked. “Just good food and a good education.”
Sarah laughed with him because she knew he wanted her to. “Wow! If only they would have used radioactive shots. Maybe I would be married to the Hulk right now.”
“Yeah, funny,” Billy said drily then chuckled. “I wonder how long Mr. Radcliffe will be. I’d like to get back to the hospital soon. Uncle Bill looks so helpless in that big bed, it makes me want to protect him.”
“I need to use the restroom. Maybe if you go outside Mr. Radcliffe will finish up his call?”
“I’ll meet you out front in a minute.”
Sarah walked outside and found Billy in a panic. “He’s gone! Sarah, I’ve circled the building and even ran over to the convenience store next door. He isn’t anywhere.” He shoved a hand through his hair, and Sarah could feel the blood draining from her face.
“We have to get to the hospital. Now!” Billy shouted as he rushed toward the street to signal a cab. Sarah hurried after him. “You have to call Ritchie. Oh, what have we done? Mr. Radcliffe knows Ritchie recognized the guy who shot those people and that he knows which companies were tampered with. If he isn’t on our side, Ritchie’s in major danger!”
Sarah started dialing even before she got into the cab. “Ritchie! Are you all right? Where are you? Wait! Don’t tell me. Let me just tell you to get somewhere safe where no one would ever look for you.”
“Tell him to turn off his cell phone so it can’t be tracked,” Billy added.
Sarah noticed the odd look the cab driver shot them in the rearview mirror at Billy’s words but ignored him.
“Did you hear that? Turn off your cell phone so no one can track you from it. Don’t trust anybody right now, okay? Oh! How will I get in touch with you if your phone is off?” Sarah looked toward Billy who just shrugged. “Call me when you’re somewhere safe, you just won’t be able to leave your phone on for long, okay? Ritchie, be safe. I love you, little brother.”
Sarah hung up and gave Billy a desperate look. She hoped Ritchie would find a safe place to go and wondered what they would find when they got to the hospital.
“What are you doing here?” Billy burst into the hospital room and pulled Mr. Radcliffe away from his uncle’s bed. “What are you doing to him?”
The two men who had been left to guard Uncle Bill approached Billy. Mr. Radcliffe waved them off. “I’m sure there won’t be any trouble here. Will there, Billy?”
Billy eyed the two men warily and glanced at his uncle. He seemed unharmed.
“Why did you sneak back here without us?” Billy asked the older man with ice coating his words.
Mr. Radcliffe smoothed the sleeve of his suit where Billy had grabbed him. “I needed to speak with William alone.” He glanced at Billy’s uncle. “There are things afoot that you do not understand and that you are not in a position to know.”
“I think Sarah and I are in a position to know everything there is to know! Your company has turned our lives upside down!” Billy thrust a finger at him. “We didn’t go looking for this. We were dragged into it. But in it we are, and I think we deserve every bit of information you can give us.”
Sarah moved to stand beside Billy, taking his hand in hers as she faced Mr. Radcliffe. “Whose side are you on?” she asked quietly, her eyes searching his. “Did we make a mistake giving you the information we did? Does that Nick guy work for you?�
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“Quiet!” Mr. Radcliffe whipped his ever-ready notepad from his pocket. I am on your side, but it is possible that at least one of the Tops have turned against us for things to have gone this far so quickly, he scribbled. I needed information from William before I could start lining facts up. We will go somewhere to talk privately soon.
Billy and Sarah read what he wrote and handed the pad back. Billy looked at Sarah, and she shrugged dejectedly, seeming to say, ‘What choice do we have but to trust him?’
Mr. Radcliffe read the acceptance in their body language. “I have a few private errands to run. Then I would like you to join me for dinner. Will you do that?”
“Yes,” Billy’s voice was tired, resigned, “we’ll join you.”
“Very well. I need John,” he indicated one of the guards, “to escort me. I believe it is prudent to have Michael stay, though. He can wait outside the door.”
Billy consented, and Mr. Radcliffe bent low and whispered something to Uncle Bill before leaving with the two guards in tow.
Billy and Sarah walked over to the bed. “Are you feeling any better?” Billy asked softly.
Uncle Bill nodded. “Much.” His voice was quiet but held more strength than before.
Sarah leaned close to Uncle Bill and Billy leaned down with her. “Do you really think we can trust Mr. Radcliffe?”
Uncle Bill looked at Sarah, closely studying her face, then smiled faintly. “He can be trusted,” he breathed. “Some others may have turned, it appears.” He inhaled deeply. “Oliver,” he paused, trying to get enough air to continue.
“It’s all right, Uncle Bill. You just relax. You can tell us everything when you’re feeling better.”
Eyes closed, Uncle Bill just nodded, frustrated at his weakened state. He had lived a good life and had always been very healthy as a result. His current circumstances were hard to accept.
Sarah led Billy back to the alcove by the window. The sun was shining now, and it looked as if it would be a beautiful day. She leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes. She just needed a minute of rest.
Chapter 23
“Sarah.” She felt a gentle nudge. “Wake up. We need to leave now.”
Sarah opened her eyes and looked around with a yawn, dreams of gardens and mansions still filling her mind. She sat up abruptly, the peaceful dreams stripped and replaced by harsh reality. She rubbed at her eyes. “Did I fall asleep?”
Billy smiled and helped her stand.
“Where’s Uncle Bill?” she asked noticing the empty bed.
Taking her by the arm Billy escorted her to the door and filled her in. “Mr. Radcliffe arranged to have him moved back to a company apartment. Your bag’s already there. We’re going there now.”
“What time is it? How long has he been gone?” Sarah asked, still dazed and drowsy.
“You needed some sleep. I told Mr. Radcliffe we would meet him for dinner.”
“Dinner?” Sarah questioned, more fully awake. “We just ate breakfast!” She looked at Billy when he laughed.
“Did I sleep all day?”
“Pretty much. Like I said, you really needed some rest. I took a nap myself,” he confessed, propelling her past the well-dressed doctors and nurses, through the plush living room setting of the lobby and into the elevator.
“Ritchie called while you were asleep.” He debated what he could safely say. “He’s fine and said he’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“Did he sound like he was really fine?” Sarah grabbed his arm and asked anxiously.
Billy gave her a reassuring look as the elevator slowed to a stop at the ground floor. “He sounded good. Really.”
He looked around as they stepped out of the hospital. “A car should be waiting for us.” The street was busy, and there were cars parked everywhere. “I’m not sure how we’ll find it though.”
Before he finished speaking, a man sprang out of a black sedan parked right in front of them. “Mr. and Mrs. Roth. This way please.” He opened the back door for them, then worked his way into the busy traffic.
“Mr. Radcliffe asked me to take you directly to his apartment. Will that be all right?” He glanced in the rearview mirror at his passengers.
“Yes, that will be fine. Thank you.”
The driver escorted them into an apartment building and up to the top floor. Mr. Radcliffe opened the door himself and gave them a welcoming smile. “Thank you for bringing them up, Max.”
The man tipped his head, “My pleasure, sir,” and returned to the elevator.
“Please come in, and make yourselves comfortable.”
“Is this your home?” Sarah asked, looking around the comfortable living area. She would be surprised if it was. Though nicely furnished, it seemed much too simple for a man like Oliver Radcliffe.
“No,” he confirmed Sarah’s hunch, “this is one of Scinegue’s apartments for use when one of us is in the area.” He led them down a short hall to a large bedroom. “William has been made comfortable, I believe. He seems to be regaining his strength by the minute.”
They peeked into the room to see Uncle Bill resting peacefully. A nurse sitting by his side smiled at them before returning her attention to the book she was reading.
“I took the liberty of ordering for us all. If you are ready, we can eat now.”
Billy and Sarah followed him to the dining room. A buffet against the far wall was lined with covered dishes. A maid began removing the covers at Mr. Radcliffe’s signal and tempting aromas filled the air.
“Please, help yourselves.” Mr. Radcliffe indicated plates on the buffet. Sarah filled her plate with a wide variety of food, realizing how hungry she was. “I was not sure what you like, so I had several different things prepared. I thought after the breakfast we had, we would all appreciate a good meal.”
“It all looks wonderful.” Sarah eyed the array of platters then sat at the table where Mr. Radcliffe held a chair for her. “Thank you.”
Mr. Radcliffe smiled his pleasure.
Billy and Sarah had both missed lunch and did appreciate the tasty meal. Mr. Radcliffe was reaching for his glass of water when the doorbell rang and his hand froze in mid-air. He tilted his head to the side trying to hear what was being said at the door. “Not many know I am here,” he explained noticing Billy and Sarah’s curious looks.
The maid hurried into the room and whispered something to Mr. Radcliffe. He bolted to his feet, excused himself, and headed towards the door.
Billy and Sarah shared a silent look and strained to make out any of the conversation coming from the front. Mr. Radcliffe returned as suddenly as he departed and rested a hand on the back of his chair for support. He stared unseeingly at the center of the table and Billy and Sarah watched him openly. When he finally looked up they saw the color was washed from his face and his eyes were vague.
“One of our employees and his family were in a fatal accident,” he explained briefly then returned his focus to the center of the table.
The silence grew and Sarah finally said, “I’m very sorry to hear that.”
Mr. Radcliffe’s eyes shot to her face, her words pulling him from his shock. “Yes, as am I.” A physical shake of his head had him fully alert and deciding what action needed to be taken. “Please, finish without me. I need to make some phone calls.” He started to walk from the room.
Sarah shot a look at Billy then pushed back her chair to stand. “Mr. Radcliffe,” she called, stopping him in his tracks. “I know this is a bad time. My brother is alone and in trouble. They—whoever they are—know who he is and what he knows. I’m not sure if they saw him at the Brown’s...Wow. Was it just last night?” Sarah shook her head in amazement at how much had happened in such a short time. “Anyway, if they know he can identify that Nick guy, I’m guessing he is in serious danger. Is there any way you can help him?”
Mr. Radcliffe turned, and his expression was grave. “I am quite sure he is in great danger. I have some connections I can trust who are looki
ng into his situation as we speak. Let me make some arrangements and see if we can get him somewhere safe. Can you arrange for me to speak with him?”
Sarah glanced at Billy before nodding, “He said he would check in. I’ll let you know when he does.”
Mr. Radcliffe tilted his head and smiled grimly. “Thank you,” he replied, then walked into a room that appeared to be an office. He turned back and looked from Billy to Sarah with a grave expression and some final words. “It is very possible you will see or hear of me doing some things that you might find...suspicious. I think the best advice I can give you is to pray for guidance. Perhaps God will reveal my true nature to you so you will know you can trust me.” He closed the office door behind him, leaving Billy and Sarah staring after him speechless.
“Isn’t it kind of suspicious that he tells us he’s going to do something that won’t look good?” Sarah sat back down and whispered.
“Yes and no,” Billy answered slowly. “Evil people will quite often lie to make themselves sound great. He made himself sound bad by admitting he might do something that will cast him in a bad light. And why would he tell us to pray? I know,” Billy continued when he could tell Sarah was getting ready to argue, “it could go either way. But we’re alive and haven’t been sent to be ‘reprogrammed’, or whatever. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to just get rid of us if he was the one with the evil plans and we had the potential to disrupt them?”
Sarah pushed her hair from her face as she considered that. “He did seem very surprised and worried by the things we told him earlier. I wonder what happened with the accident? That really upset him.”
“It did. Do you think a Top was involved?”
“I don’t know.” Sarah shook her head slowly.
“I’m going to see if Uncle Bill is awake. Maybe I can get some more information from him.” He stood and looked down at her. “Do you want to come with me?”
