In The Defendant's Chair

by Lynn Moon

  After what seemed like forever, dinner was finally over and they were dismissed for the evening. But not before they were reminded of the meeting the following afternoon at one o’clock. To Lee it seemed she could not get out of that room fast enough. Every step she took someone was in her way.

  Once she was in the privacy of her room, Lee pulled out her computer and sent an email back to the States. She had to notify her friend to the weirdness she suddenly found herself in. For some strange reason unbeknownst to her, she needed to make sure someone else knew where she was and what she was doing—just in case tomorrow never came.

  Chapter 35

  IT WAS ALMOST June and the warm breeze was a welcomed relief from the cold mountain air. Carrie walked through The Agency’s newly awakened gardens enjoying the beautiful spring flowers and trees. She often thought of Maddie when she was here and wondered what went through her mind before or after an assignment. The small oak planks creaked under her feet as she stood watching the butterflies. It was so peaceful and serene that Carrie’s mind was finally able to rest and wander aimlessly. A small patch of grass between the trees was Carrie’s favorite place. She unrolled her blanket and settled down to read her book. As a warm breeze carried the aroma of the flora toward her, she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “Good morning,” a man’s voice said penetrating her thoughts.

  Carrie glanced up and was relieved to see Lewis’s warm smile. She smiled back.

  “May I join you?”

  Carrie waved her right arm as a gesture for him to sit.

  “So, how was your last assignment? As usual you were able to make it a success. Finding and befriending the mother and son was an excellent ending.”

  Carrie continued to smile.

  “Well, I’ve got another assignment, if you’re up to it?”

  “Like what?” Carrie asked with her interest perked. She knew she had the next thirty days off. It was an agency rule, to be asked to go on another one so soon meant it was important.

  “You worked with Skyler these past couple of weeks. How would you like to work with her sister, Tyler?” Lewis leaned toward Carrie and whispered softly, “… and Maddie?”

  “Yes sir,” she said emphatically. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”

  “Let me tell you a little about the assignment before you get too eager to agree,” Lewis added.

  “Okay, talk.”

  “It seems Tyler is concerned her company is up to something. I’d like you to fly to Washington state and do a little snooping around a hospital that’s just a few miles away. Many of the samples Tyler examines come from there. I cannot say whether it will be dangerous or not. But if you’re interested, I’ll set up a briefing.”

  “Cool.” Carrie was definitely interested. Maddie was one of their famous ex-agents, who consulted for The Agency from time to time. Although Maddie was technically labeled as dead, Carrie always wanted to work with her. Carrie worked with Maddie’s son while employed by the FBI, but never had the opportunity to work directly with the famous dead Maddie Edwards.

  “I’ve also assigned Lacey to the case, but I’m sending Skyler to DC on another assignment.” Lewis’s smile seemed to fade as he mentioned Skyler. “I don’t like having relatives working together if I can help it. Causes the brain not to think properly in heated situations, if you know what I mean.”

  “Oh I know about heated situations. Been there, done that and got the T-shirt in my dresser at home,” Carrie sighed.

  “I have several of those too I believe.”

  They continued to enjoy the warm spring day together and talk about the past, present and future. But Carrie’s mind was now more on Maddie than Lewis.

  Chapter 36

  “I’VE GOT THE scoop on your work,” Nate beamed at Tyler and Caiden.

  “Oh?” Caiden asked with a mouth full of noodles. The Chinese restaurant was the closest place to eat for lunch and they only had an hour.

  Tyler looked around the restaurant with a worried face. “Is it safe to talk here?”

  “Don’t see why not,” Maddie added. “People in these restaurants talk all the time.”

  “Very funny, Aunt Mad,” Tyler smirked.

  “Well,” Nate started. “I’m sorry to report your company seems to be completely on the up and up. Barker Institute is a firm that’s been around for about seventy-five years. They’re heavy into bio-research, especially DNA coding and de-coding. They’re under contract with the US Government for genetic testing as well as owning several large commercial contracts with private firms.”

  “We know about some of the contracts,” Caiden added taking a sip of his tea. “Anything else?”

  “They’ve never been in any trouble from what I’ve found. They pay their taxes, follow all the laws, nothing’s in The Agency’s computers to say anything is out of the ordinary.”

  “But that DNA,” Tyler whispered to Caiden. “There’s definitely something weird and unnatural with it.”

  “Could it have been contaminated somehow?” Maddie asked.

  “No, it was definitely spliced,” Caiden answered.

  “What if it was spliced after it was drawn from the person?” Maddie added.

  Tyler stopped eating and rested her head on her hands. She was perturbed and bothered because something wasn’t right.

  “No,” Tyler said with a frown, “that sample was taken from a living person. No way could it have been tampered with or contaminated by accident. That sample was definitely from a living human and it definitely had fish DNA integrated within its strands.”

  “And,” Caiden added, “it wasn’t even DNA, it was RNA.”

  “What’s RNA?” Maddie asked.

  “Go for it,” Caiden answered looking over at Tyler.

  Tyler took in a deep breath. “Let me try to simplify this. Humans are made up of DNA, double strands that feed off the RNA’s single strand.” Tyler pulled a pen from her purse and drew a rudimentary strand of DNA for her aunt and uncle. “You see, we have proteins in our DNA and in order for it to bind properly it must first feed through the RNA.”

  Caiden could tell she wasn’t getting through to them so added, “Early life on Earth began with RNA and used the DNA to bind the proteins. There’s considerable evidence to prove there was a period of time on Earth where all life grew from RNA. You’ve heard of genotyping right?”

  Maddie nodded her head.

  “Life on this world now only exists with DNA strands, the double helix,” Tyler added. “But a long time ago, scientists believe earlier life forms were a single naked strand, a collection of RNA. Life forms such as peptides, membranes, mineral surfaces and the like. It’s at the heart of the field of molecular biology and chemistry.”

  Maddie and Nate continued to stare at Tyler like she was speaking a foreign language.

  “Let me try,” Caiden broke in. “AIDS.”

  “What, the illness?” Nate asked.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard how the virus binds with our DNA?”

  They nodded together.

  “Well, viruses use the RNA to bind with the DNA. You’ve heard of retroviruses? Polio? The flu? Same thing.”

  “Right,” Tyler added. “In order to have a protein bind to the DNA it needs a messenger. DNA uses RNA to talk to the proteins or in the case of AIDS, a virus. That’s how we were able to find a cure.”

  “But the DNA you’re studying is not DNA but RNA,” Maddie challenged, “and the RNA used the DNA to talk to, or incorporate the protein, which is the exact opposite of life here on Earth?”

  “Exactly,” Tyler praised. “RNA evolved into DNA—not the other way around.”

  Tyler showed Maddie her picture of the DNA and RNA strands. “You see, RNA is like a strand of DNA but it’s missing one of its sides.”

  “Like a ladder missing one of the legs?” Maddie asked.

  “Exactly,” Tyler said.

  “And so?” Maddie replied.

  Tyler sighed and
added, “So…”

  Caiden interjected, “RNA is a similar molecule to DNA. There are only two chemical differences. One strand of DNA and one strand of RNA can bind to form a double helix. This made the storage of information in RNA possible in a very similar way to the storage of information in DNA. I’m not going into the names, but DNA uses proteins and RNA uses enzymes. An RNA life form is very unstable. Whereas, a DNA life form is quite stable. Thus you have sustained life on Earth. An RNA life form cannot reproduce… unstable.”

  “You mean an RNA life form could not have children?”

  “Exactly,” Caiden answered.

  “DNA and RNA are the instructions for life,” Tyler added. “They decide whether you have brown eyes or blue. They decide whether you have two legs or four.”

  “Or can fly or breathe underwater?” Nate asked.

  Tyler and Caiden nodded.

  “You see Uncle Nate, it’s been theorized if you split a gene you can add in the rungs you want in order to force an individual to be either white or black, tall or short, fat or thin…”

  “Let me get this straight,” Maddie said turning the information around in her head. “The DNA, or RNA you found, was a combination of human and fish?”

  “Exactly,” Caiden replied sitting back as though they just taught Maddie how to spell her name or something like that. “But had both strands intact.”

  Nate squinted then asked, “Can you tell which features are which?”

  “What do you mean?” Caiden asked.

  “Well, um… according to the DNA or RNA, what fish features or human features would the person have—depending on the rungs.”

  “I see what you’re getting at,” Tyler said feeling nervous.

  By now their lunch was getting cold. Maddie pushed her broccoli and fried rice around on her plate before taking another sip of soda. The others follow suit. The idea or conclusion Nate brought up was frightening and threw everyone into their own terrifying world.

  “Now that is an interesting concept,” Maddie added. “Can you go back and see where the fish DNA was spliced and determine what changes, if any, would or could occur in that human?”

  “I suppose,” Tyler replied.

  “Yeah, I guess it’s doable,” Caiden added. “But what would it prove?”

  “Don’t know,” Maddie answered, pushing her plate to one side. “But it would be interesting. I mean, would this person have gills? A fin or two?”

  With that last question, Tyler glanced over at Caiden and frowned. Her fear was evident, and so was his. If what Maddie and Nate proposed had any validity, even less than half a percent, then they could all soon be the walking dead.

  “Wasn’t there a law passed about ten or fifteen years ago that made the fusion of human and non-human gene splicing illegal?” Nate asked.

  “Yes there was,” Tyler answered, “and for good reason.”

  Chapter 37

  GABE WALKED AROUND the small room and sighed. It had been days since he or his mother had any visitors. This was not the situation he’d envisioned for them when he agreed to go with Carrie and her friends. Pacing the floor, his patience was wearing thinner and thinner. Unknown to the boy, Doctor Lewis and Greghardt watched on a monitor from another room. Sweat fell from Greghardt’s temple.

  “I don’t like this,” Lewis said.

  Greghardt wiped his forehead and replied, “And your point is?”

  “My point?” Lewis snapped. “Why is it everything has to have a point with you?”

  “We have our instructions,” Greghardt answered. “Watch and study.”

  “Instructions from who?” Lewis asked not taking his eyes from the monitor.

  “I told you that’s classified.”

  “Classified my ass,” Lewis replied shutting off the monitor. “I’ve had just about enough of this.”

  As Lewis headed for the door, Greghardt asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Whatever you want it to,” Lewis snapped.

  “You’re not in complete charge here yah know.” Greghardt pulled out his cigar from his jacket pocket.

  “I’m the head of The Agency. If there are others above me, then damn it, introduce me to them. I don’t need fucking cowards hiding in the wings.”

  The elevator doors shut and Greghardt stood alone in the hallway. He smiled and chuckled to himself. “Damn, he was the right pick.”

  Chapter 38

  EARLY WATCHED AS the others entered the room. She had no idea who any of these people were. There were men of different ages, height and weight, each escorting a frightened young woman at his side. Each looked as if she’d been dragged through the roughest time of her young life. Drake held Early’s hands as they waited.

  “Hang in there, baby,” Drake whispered. “They’re in the same boat we are.”

  As each man took a seat by their women, a guard stood protectively behind them. It didn’t seem they feared the women would escape, but more as if someone would suddenly spring in and hurt them.

  Early’s hands shook as she rubbed them against her legs. Visions of her children ran through her mind and her heart ached to be with them again. Although she was told they were dead and shown terrible pictures to prove it, Early knew they were still alive—somewhere.

  “Good afternoon,” Drake said once everyone was seated. “I know my client wasn’t told why she’s here, and I’m not sure if all of you have been told either.”

  Some of the women shook their heads, others nodded.

  “I see,” Drake answered. “Well then, let’s get started.”

  Several nurses entered carrying silver trays with various sterile instruments. The women’s faces changed from curious to concerned and Drake picked up on it.

  “We have a visitor for you,” Drake announced. “This is Dr. Skyler Brighten from the Oklahoma Medical Research Facility. She’ll be taking blood samples from each of you today.”

  Brighton smiled and nodded her head.

  “She’ll personally escort them to the laboratory for an analysis.”

  Brighton tried to stand tall and look as professional as possible. Although she graciously accepted this assignment, she felt ridiculous being an escort service for blood samples. This assignment had to be the most boring Lewis ever sent her on, but it could be the most important of her life.

  Chapter 39

  SCHUSTER DIDN’T KNOW if she liked being there nor did she know what was expected of her. She stood near the covered grave and gave a smirk to the other agents examining the ground and nearby trees. Technicians in white shirts took samples of everything they could reach.

  This is nuts. But before she could complain to herself again, her cell phone rang.

  “Excuse me,” she said as she left the group.

  “Tabatha?” A familiar voice echoed through her ear.

  “Lee? Where are you?” Tabatha asked. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  “Not real sure,” she answered. “Did you get my email? I never heard back from you.”

  “No. Never did. I’m on assignment this week,” Tabatha apologized. “What’s going on?”

  “I think I’m in trouble.”

  “Why?” Tabatha asked now worried.

  Her friend and lover, Lee, is a United States army general, a five-star, the only woman to ever make it that high. Lee made US history when she was a four-star by keeping her troops safe when all communication died during the war with the Eastern countries. Government and commercial satellites were destroyed as were towers and other communication equipment. All contact with headquarters ended for weeks. Lee’s tough interior and her will to survive kept her troops safe. No one died during this sixteen-week nightmare. Lee basically ran the war alone. It was during this time Lee made critical decisions and sent her troops to strategic locations. Other generals argued and fought for their ideas to be heard, but Lee stood her ground. The war was won because of Lee’s imagination and knowledge of combat. For her to be so frightened, Tabatha knew
something was terribly wrong.

  “Where are you?” Tabatha asked again.

  “I’m at a conference in a castle in Scotland. What’s really weird… I think I’m the only female. Write down what I’m going to tell you,” Lee demanded.

  As Tabatha wrote, Lee gave her every bit of information she could.

  “Okay, I’ve got yah babe,” Tabatha stated as she balanced her phone on her shoulder and scribbled.

  “If you don’t hear from me in a few days, come find me okay?”

  “You’ve got it, and I love you,” Tabatha promised as she clicked off her phone.

  She rejoined the other agents with the conversation echoing through her ears. Tabatha texted Lewis and explained everything her friend told her about her situation. She tried to show her concern for her dear friend. A friend since the age of five. Even though Lee was much older, Tabatha grew to love the girl who lived next door and played army every chance she got. Tabatha no less than begged Lewis to check on her and the strange conference she was attending.

  There was one special benefit working for The Agency Tabatha cherished. It was the direct communication with the Director and his willingness to help anyone who needed it.

  Chapter 40

  GREGHARDT AND LEWIS stared intensely at each other. Both with their own inner agendas. Both with their own fears and doubts.

  “We’ve worked together for a while now,” Lewis said.

  “Hmm,” Greghardt hummed.

  Lewis shook his head. “We’ve got to work this out Allen. Hitting our heads together isn’t getting us anywhere. And we need to figure this out.”

  “Figure what out?”

  “What’s going on out there,” Lewis sighed. “I’ve experienced the strangest situations since working here. But our latest cases are most concerning. First, we have bones from a dead person or animal or a combination of both. Then they mysteriously disappear. Wasn’t that convenient, which I’m sure was to cover up something. I have no doubts. Then there’s that crater in West Virginia, and I just sent two agents to Washington because of the odd DNA results. Not to mention the urgent text I just received from a field agent who’s concerned about a friend who just happens to be a high ranking army official who just happens to be listed as missing by the Army. That’s WHAT!”