That Which Survives

by Ciana Stone

  Think about the flame, she told herself as she flicked open the top. Only about the flame. It’s like a cloud, big and beautiful and it will keep us safe.

  Her thumb pressed on the wheel of the lighter and a small flame appeared. Think about the flame. Big like a cloud. Keep us safe. A moment later a sound like thunder made her lose concentration. She turned and looked out of the rear window.

  Where their house had once stood was now an enormous ball of flame. Like a massive cloud it billowed upward, spreading out in all directions as it sucked in the air around it.

  “Oh my god,” she breathed. “What have I done?”

  The lighter fell from her hands and suddenly she was in Konnor’s den, sitting in front of the fire with the carved stone lying on the floor in front of her. Konnor was watching her curiously.

  “Oh, my god,” she repeated in shock. “What have I done?”

  He reached over to take her hands. “What just happened?”

  “Oh, god!” Her voice was a shocked whisper. “Konnor, I killed him! I killed my father!”

  He pulled her into his arms and held her until her trembling stopped, and then he pushed her to arm’s length. “Can you tell me what you saw?”

  She nodded and told him everything as fast as she could, before any of it could fade from her mind. When she finished he looked from her to the stone and then back to her. “And this is something you never remembered until now?”

  At her nod, he picked up the stone and placed it on top of the box on the hearth. “And you’re sure this was an actual memory and not a hallucination?”

  “No. How can I be? I thought I remembered everything that ever happened up until I was grabbed in the airport. Now…now, I don’t know. Is there more I don’t remember and somehow holding the stone triggered that memory, or is it my mind playing tricks on me and…Konnor, what if it’s real? What if I really did kill him?”

  “Hold on,” he said, his voice calm and soothing. “First of all, maybe it was just a product of your imagination. Dr. Kinski went over this for hours with you and even under the hypnosis and drugs you didn’t remember anything about this, so maybe it’s not real.”

  “Maybe,” she murmured. “But…” Her eyes grew round as something occurred to her. “But he didn’t!”

  “Didn’t?” Konnor was confused.

  “He didn’t go over this! We started with my mother and me leaving the house to go to the airport. Don’t you see? He didn’t regress me back to the house. God, Konnor, if what I saw was a real memory that means I’m the one responsible for my father’s death.”

  “First of all, I don’t think you are,” he said. “You loved your father and wouldn’t have done anything to harm him. Secondly, unless the lighter was some kind of detonation device, then there’s no way lighting it could have caused the explosion. And finally, even if it was a detonator, your father knew it. He’s the one who gave it to you and told you what to do with it. So, if we consider that it was a detonator and he did know, then he wanted you to trigger the explosion.”

  “He wanted to die?” she asked incredulously. “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. He loved his life. He would never have killed himself.”

  “Unless he thought it was the only way to protect you,” he suggested. “Or…”

  “Or what?” she cried when he trailed off. ‘’What?”

  “Or he set it up to make it look like he died.”

  “That’s absurd!”

  “Is it? Think about it for a second. In the report I read, it stated that your father’s remains were never found.”

  “Probably because there wasn’t much left to find. Have you ever seen the effects of the size of bomb such as what would have been used to do that much damage?”

  “Yes, I have. And it’d be my guess that your father knew that as well. Just consider it for a minute. What if someone was threatening your father, maybe even threatening to harm his family? Isn’t it just possible that he could have faked his own death in order to protect you and your mother?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Because you’re forgetting one important point. My mother was killed. And I was…I don’t know what I was, but I sure wasn’t safe with my parents. So, if that was his plan then it was a crummy one because I never saw him or my mother again after that.”

  Konnor fell silent and for a few minutes neither of them spoke. It was Konnor who broke the silence. “What if it wasn’t?”

  “Wasn’t what?”

  “The last time you saw them?”

  Senna blew out her breath in exasperation. “In case your file on me isn’t up to date, I haven’t seen either of my parents in almost fifteen years.”

  “Or maybe you have and you just don’t remember.”

  She groaned and put her hands to her temples. “I don’t think I want to hear this.”

  He waited until her hands fell before continuing. “What if we look at this from an entirely objective point of view? You’re a scientist, you should be able to step back from the situation and view it analytically.”

  He was right and she knew it. She was trained to look at things from all angles, to gather information and data before jumping to conclusions. Maybe that was how she should treat this, get as much data as she could before she made any decisions or judgments.

  “You’re absolutely right,” she agreed. “Go on.”

  He smiled as he stood and pulled her to her feet. “I think better on a full stomach. Let’s go see what we can scrounge up while we talk.”

  Senna couldn’t think of food at the moment. As Konnor tugged her toward the kitchen, she turned her head to look at the stone on the hearth. Suddenly she was filled with certainty that it was the key to unlocking the mysteries of her life. How, she didn’t know, but she intended to find out because now she couldn’t trust what she remembered to be true, and if she couldn’t trust herself then she was truly lost.

  Chapter Eight

  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

  Ryan and Paige were both seated in the captain’s office when an officer showed Senna in. Ryan stood as did the captain, but Paige remained seated.

  “Dr. Laserian, thank you for coming,” the captain said. “I’m Captain John Prichard. I understand you know Detectives Dalton and Landers?”

  “Yes.” Senna extended her hand to him. “A pleasure, Captain Prichard.”

  “Please, have a seat.”

  Senna took the chair in front of the captain’s desk. She was very nervous about being there. When Ryan called and said they had some questions to ask her she had immediately asked that Konnor accompany her. Her request was denied.

  She wondered if she should have called an attorney. She had no idea what kind of questions she was going to be asked, but it seemed serious to have the questioning take place at the police department and in the presence of the captain.

  “Dr. Laserian,” Captain Prichard glanced briefly at a file on his desk, “new information has arisen in the Weston murder investigation. After reviewing the case I asked Detective Dalton to have you come in. Hopefully, this will not take long.”

  Senna saw no need to respond and so waited silently for him to continue. She was aware of Ryan and Paige, but didn’t look at them.

  “It is my understanding that on the evening of Dr. Weston’s murder, you had plans to meet him at his hotel for dinner.”

  “Yes.”

  “According to your statement you arrived at the hotel and upon exiting your car spoke with a man by the name of Pete Lester, as you walked to the hotel lobby.”

  “Yes.”

  “And that Mr. Lester told you he was registered at the hotel and was in Charlotte on business.”

  “Yes.”

  “You also state that upon entering the hotel you went to the reception desk and asked for Dr. Weston’s room, and the clerk responded that Dr. Weston was in room 302.”

  “Yes.”

  “You took the elevator to the third floor without encountering an
yone else and when you knocked on the door of room 302, you discovered it was open. You entered the room, discovered it empty, thought about using the phone to call the front desk, but changed your mind and left.”

  “Yes.”

  “You took the elevator to the lobby, again, encountering no one, left the building and returned to your car.”

  “Yes.”

  “At which point you were attacked and abducted.”

  “Yes.”

  “According to my information, the suspect’s vehicle was located and the suspects were brought in.” He read from another folder. “You positively identified one Mike Harper as the man who assaulted you.”

  “Yes.”

  Captain Prichard pinned her with a hard look. “And yet you refused to press charges. I find that odd, Doctor. A man assaults and attempts to rape you, then pushes you from a moving vehicle and you don’t want to see him punished. Why is that?”

  “It was my understanding that I didn’t have to justify my reasons for not pressing charges,” she evaded answering. It was Konnor’s suggestion that she not press charges. According to him, Slater didn’t want any more attention than necessary on her. Konnor had assured her that Mike Harper would be dealt with in a more private manner.

  “Very well, let’s go back to the homicide of Nolan Weston.” Prichard looked at the file again. “Dr. Laserian, evidence was found linking you to the scene of Weston’s murder. The evidence was matched against samples taken from the clothing you were wearing when you were admitted to the hospital after your abduction. A positive match was made.”

  “And this means what?” she asked.

  “It means there is evidence linking you to the scene.”

  “Well, I already told you I was there.”

  “Yes, you did. Let me ask you, Dr. Laserian. Are you sure the events that you described in your statement are accurate?”

  “To be best of my knowledge, yes.”

  “All right. Now,” he referred to his notes, “you worked with Dr. Weston at Fermilab, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was your work classified?”

  “No.”

  “Did you work on anything outside of Fermilab with Dr. Weston?”

  “No.”

  “Nothing?”

  “No.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “When Dr. Weston contacted you to say he would be in town, did he say why he wanted to see you?”

  “He said he was going to be in town for only one night and wanted my help on something he was working on.”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “I wish I could but he wouldn’t tell me what it was. He would only say that he would explain when he saw me.”

  “And you have no idea what it could have been?”

  “No.”

  “Were you aware that Dr. Weston had resigned his position at Fermilab?”

  “Not until the police told me.”

  “Prior to receiving the call from Dr. Weston saying that he wanted to see you, had you spoken with him in the recent past?”

  “No, it had been some time.”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  She thought about it. “I spoke with him sometime last summer. In June, I think.”

  “And you’ve had no contact with him since that time?”

  “No.”

  Captain Prichard flipped through several pages in the file. “What can you tell me about the Laserian data?”

  Senna was shocked into silence. She had never heard of anything called the Laserian data.

  “Shall I repeat the question, Doctor?”

  “No, I understood the question. I’ve never heard of the Laserian data.”

  “You are a physicist, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And surely, as such, you’ve been involved in a number of research projects.”

  “Yes.”

  “And none of your work was ever labeled the Laserian data?”

  “No.”

  “Would it be possible to obtain copies of your projects?”

  “I have no idea. You would have to ask the people at Fermilab. Most of the things I worked on were for them.”

  “But not all?”

  “All of what I did professionally. The only other thing would be my doctoral dissertation.”

  “Could you provide us with a copy of that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Excellent.” He looked over at Ryan. “Detective Dalton, do you or Detective Landers have anything to add at this time?”

  “I do,” Paige said as she stood. She walked over to the desk, pulling a folder paper from her jacket. She unfolded it and handed it to Senna. “Do you recognize this?”

  As Senna looked at the markings on the page, a chill ran down her spine and her stomach churned. “Why?” She tried to cover her discomfort with a question of her own.

  Paige looked at the captain and after a moment he nodded. “This is a copy of something found at the scene of the Weston murder,” Paige told Senna. “A similar note was found at the Van Dorn murder scene. When we contacted the head of the archaeology department at the university we were directed to contact you.”

  Senna looked at the paper again. “May I?” She held out her hand.

  Paige gave it to her and she studied it for a minute. “It appears to be Sumerian.”

  “Can you tell us what the symbols mean?”

  Senna shook her head and gave the page back to Paige. “No, I’m sorry.”

  “You can’t or you won’t?” Paige asked.

  “I can’t. I’m not an expert in ancient languages, Detective Landers, which is what you need. If you like I will recommend someone.”

  “Please do,” Prichard responded to her offer.

  “Begin with Dr. Harlan Pierce-Warner. I don’t have his number on hand but you can reach him through the University of Pennsylvania.”

  “Paige jotted down the name. “Is Dr. Pierce-Warner a friend of yours?”

  “Yes.”

  “A close friend?”

  “Yes.”

  “How close?”

  Senna didn’t see how her relationship with Harlan was relevant, but she didn’t want them to think she was trying to hide anything. “Harlan was a close friend of my parents.” She looked at the captain as she continued, “Just before my sixteenth birthday, my father was killed in an explosion that destroyed the house we were living in while in Iraq. My mother and I tried to get to the airport in Al Basrah to leave the country, but she was shot and killed. My last memory was of her lying on the floor and someone pulling me away. My next memory is a little over two years later when I found myself on Harlan’s doorstep. He took me in and called my aunt, Minora Laserian, to come for me. After that, he became something of a surrogate father to me.”

  Prichard studied her face for a long moment. “I understand that both of your parents were archaeologists.”

  “Yes.”

  “Dr. Laserian, did either of your parents know Nolan Weston?”

  “I believe he may have met my mother, but they were not friends.”

  He nodded and looked at Paige. “Anything else, Detective?”

  “No, sir, not at this time.”

  “Very well.” He stood and walked around his desk. “Dr. Laserian, I’d like to thank you for coming in, and would ask that you not discuss what was said here with anyone.”

  “Certainly.” She stood and took his extended hand. “Am I free to leave?”

  “Yes. Have a pleasant day.”

  “And you.” She nodded and turned. She didn’t bother to look at Ryan or Paige. Once she was outside the office, she walked a little faster, eager to get out of the building.

  Konnor was in the parking lot, leaning against her car.

  “What are you doing here?” She was surprised to see him.

  “Waiting on you. How’d it go?”

  “I don’t know.” She looked around. “Where�
�s your car?”

  “I got a ride.”

  “Oh.” She unlocked the car and started to get in but he stopped her and took the keys.

  “What did they want?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure, but can be talk about it in the car?”

  He tapped his earlobe and she gaped at him. “You think someone bugged it while I was in the police department?”

  “Possibly.”

  “Well, can’t you find out?”

  “Maybe it’s better if I don’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Trust me.”

  “Fine!” Her exasperation had the word coming out harsher than she intended. “Can we please go?”

  Once they were on their way, she sat back and closed her eyes. There were now new questions to be considered. What was the Laserian data and what did it have to do with Nolan’s murder? How could there have been evidence of her being in his hotel room? And more importantly, who had written the messages on the pages Paige had shown her and what did they really mean? She had been able to translate the words, but the meaning behind them was unclear.

  Should the final gate be sacrificed for personal gain then all will be lost. Those were the words on the first note. She wondered what the final gate was and how a gate could be sacrificed. Unable to make sense of it she considered the second note.

  If the Keeper remains true, that which survives will be returned to the point from when it came, and all will be safe—for a time.

  She was completely perplexed at what that signified. At this point all she knew was that someone was using ancient Sumerian cuneiform to leave messages that only a handful of people in the world could hope to decipher, and since she was the only one in this area of the country, the notes must have been meant for her. Why, was a question she could not begin to fathom.

  There were far too many questions and no answers. Unless, of course, she believed Slater and all of the answers were locked up inside her own mind. That thought made her shudder, for she had no doubt that Slater would go to any lengths to retrieve the answers. And that didn’t bode well for her future.

  * * * * *

  Inside the captain’s office, Ryan and Page were leaving when the captain called out to Ryan, “Detective Dalton, would you remain a moment?”

  Paige raised her eyebrows but made no comment. Ryan turned back toward the captain as she left the room. “Sir?”