Unleashed

by Patrick McLaughlin

  Chapter 30

  “Where’s Jarrard?” and before the security guard could respond, Thomas Craig stormed through Photon’s main entrance with three-heavily armed, swat-type guys by his side. “Stop, you can’t come in here,” the guard objected feebly after he saw the look on Craig’s face.

  Craig glanced straight at the guard, gave him one look and the guard left the room speechless. Craig recognized Jarrard at one of the lab tables and came to stand in front of him.

  “Mr. Jarrard I am Major Craig, Defense Intelligence. We spoke yesterday on the phone. Where can we go and talk?”

  Jarrard was terrified of the military and anyone with a gun. His parents, as liberals, detested firearms and instilled a fear of weapons in their little boy. Jarrard jerked up from his chair, and walked behind a server rack near his desk.

  “Yes, I know you called, but why are you here? I told you where Dr. Evans was yesterday and even gave you her number. She’s the boss here, I just work for her,” he stammered. Then he looked behind Craig and added, “And can you have those men put their guns away, or can they go outside? Why do you need guns to speak to me anyway?” as his mind continued to race through worst-case scenarios.

  “Don’t worry, these are my guards. Show us into a room; do you have a skiff here? What I need to share with you is classified.” Craig motioned to his men to stand down and holster their firearms.

  Jarrard relaxed a bit and came out from behind the rack. “We can use our break room. It’s not fully secure, but there are no electronics or surveillance cameras in it.”

  Craig’s two men waved surveillance detection wands over the walls and counters; one opened the fridge passing a wand over the leftover salads and cottage cheese. Craig spoke to them, “Looks good; no windows either, this will have to do.”

  The guard took station in front of the door he closed behind him.

  “Jarrard, you do not have a clearance level for what I am about to tell you, but we don’t have time to remedy that, you need to be read in now. We can safely assume we can rely on your discretion, or perhaps I can phrase it another way. We are certain we can rely on your confidence in this matter. My men are not simply assigned to me because of my good looks!”

  “Yes, sir, you can count on me. I’ve been here for seven years with a perfect record. I was even the facilities security officer for a two of those years,” Jarrard assured.

  “Whatever. Just keep in mind, you open your mouth and the next seven will be in prison with LA gangbangers,” Craig threatened. He didn’t trust Jarrard as far as he could shoot him and knew, if the bribe was good enough, or the pain intense enough, everyone talked.

  “What I am about to tell you, if certain groups become aware you carry this knowledge, it will get you killed,” and Craig proceeded to give Jarrard a ten-thousand-foot overview on the pending attack and the suicide of El Sharrad, minus the gory details.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Jarrard asked. “I don’t even lead this project, and I’m not sure I want any part of this.”

  “Of course you don’t, but we are not asking, we’re telling. You have access to all the research and files along with the technical skill to re-create the work Dr. Evans and you are involved in. We are aware of the discovery she and her friends have made — the same breakthrough you overheard in the lab a week ago, but could not discern exactly what they had done. If what they have been discussing is true, we need to see if you can organize her findings and with any luck, duplicate the process, which involves the potential to bring someone back from the dead.” Jarrard was paying attention.

  “We reached out to Dr. Evans to participate, but she is reluctant, basing her objections on scientific and religious reasoning. Ultimately, if she does not assist, we must bring back the terrorist El Sharrad without her. He is the only one who can tell us how the attack will unfold. If we are unsuccessful at preventing the bombing, a national tragedy beyond proportion will occur. Do you have what it takes, and are you capable of helping us?”

  Jarrard puffed up a bit, “Yes, of course I can. Actually my studies have taken me far beyond Dr. Evans’ research. However, not sure what is meant by back from the dead. Are you telling me, Dr. Evans, with her photographer beau, may have found a way to replicate a human using the quantum level images from the Sentient? I’m sure you’ve used the Sentient for your own purposes, but do you understand its true hidden potential? What do you know about quantum physics and the unique relationship of matter and energy?”

  Craig himself got a little excited with the topic. “Your assumptions are wrong. I’ve had years of spiritual training and my enlightened masters have taught matter and energy are all one. Only our minds fool us to believe everything around us exists, that ours is but a virtual existence. They tell us all our desires and wants are imaginary and nothing is real or solid. It is our unified willingness to accept our universe which makes it so. We are talking about the same phenomena aren’t we? This is where science and religion become one; I knew it had to be so.”

  “That’s right on the mark, Mr. Craig. Those spiritual priests and distant faiths understood long before we did, but the scientific community’s pride would not allow them to accept such things. The Sentient camera Sally designed may be a means to see past our fraudulent reality. Can’t begin to understand what the surf photographer is doing with one. You make it sound like he may be central to the breakthrough?”

  Craig injected, “Pérez, the surf photographer, and a reclusive scientist named Ben Campbell. I think they are three parts of one discovery; although, we cannot see how.

  So you’re confirmed on board, correct?”

  “Ben Campbell? You have to be joking. That old washout got thrown out of Photon a few years ago. Nut case if you want my opinion. Photon couldn’t get him to focus on any meaningful research.”

  “So you’re confirmed on board, correct?”

  “Yes, I’ll help you as best I can. Dr. Evans and Photon Corporation have passed up countless chances to follow ideas I’ve brought to them. Give me your specific objectives, limitless resources which I’m sure you have access to, and our target date. I am one you can depend on.”

  “Good,” Craig said skeptically. “First thing I need to know is where Ben Campbell lives.” His e-mail and voice transmission traffic bounced through so many countries, Craig’s web guys always ended up tracking the calls to Sudan, or Omaha, Nebraska. “We understand he is in Hawaii, but, which island and what rainforest? Let’s move!”

  Craig knew Jarrard’s efforts would take them only so far, but right now it was a start. If Jarrard’s only contribution was to assist in finding Campbell and Pérez, so be it. We can silence him later to be sure he doesn’t talk.