Immortal by Bill Clem

one common goal.
    And today, it would finally be realized!

Chapter 44
    Marty Branigan was just about out her door when her answering machine clicked on. She hesitated, then turned sharply when she heard the voice.
    "Marty, I got your message from last night. I can't talk right now. I'm on my way to Aurora. I'll be in touch. Sit tight."
    Marty bolted back inside and called VinceBrezina's cell phone. After five rings, his message service came on the line and told her to leave a message. Goddammit!
    Probably shacked up with his latest quest.

Chapter 45
    A strange sense of calm had descended on Josh Logan, despite the news Marty had delivered via his answering machine. His focus was on the task at hand and the only way to block out the hideous message. He was ill prepared to make entry onto Aurora's grounds, but he had purchased a taser and he wouldn't hesitate to use it. It might at least subdue any security and get him within close proximity to the building where he'd have more cover. He had one objective only. To gain entry inside and find out, once and for all, just what Aurora did with their so-called "cryo-preserved clients." He parked his car behind a stand of scrub pine, then went to his trunk and grabbed a green jacket. A little camouflage is better than none.
    Josh was turning toward the front of the building when a glimmer from the paved driveway at the front gate caught his eye. He squinted in the sunlight to get a better look. A moment later, the sound of approaching car engines was followed by a procession of limousines that paused briefly at the gate then came roaring through ten strong. Josh ducked out of sight behind a huge cactus and followed the cars with his eyes. They disappeared from sight somewhere behind Aurora's bastion of steel and block. What was going on?
    When silence once again ensued, Josh made his way over to the security gate. With a sudden sense of urgency, he called to the security guard seated in the small cubicle of glass next to it.
    "Any chance I could use your phone? My car seems to have stalled."
    "Sorry, our phone is only for on-premises use."
    "Well, do you have a cell I could maybe use?"
    Josh took a step forward and was now a few feet from the man who, Josh now saw, carried a very substantial sidearm.
    The guy frowned. "Sorry. I can't let you up here at the gate. There's a service station a couple miles down the road, I'm sure they can ... hey ... aahh ... eey ..."
    Josh held the taser on the man until he dropped to the floor of the guard shack. He watched the guy sprawl out, unable to move and quickly removed the taser's barbs. Ducking under the gate bar, Josh sprinted toward the building. He glanced back toward the entrance and the guard building. Nothing. No activity. No sign of the guard. His approach brought him in line with the back of the building.
    He walked down a broad concrete ramp, large enough for a truck to drive down. At the bottom stood a pair of heavy steel doors and, next to those, a large electrical transformer. Josh noted a half-dozen security cameras mounted in different locations flanking the ramp. The cameras turned in Josh's direction as he skulked toward the doors. At the bottom of the ramp, Josh ducked behind the transformer and waited.

Chapter 46
    Arthur Hench stood transfixed by what he saw. After threatening the director of Aurora with a police investigation, he'd been invited to see first hand the inner workings of the organization. He felt particularly special after the director told Hench his new plans for their affiliation with Ford and that any reservations he had with Aurora had now vanished. After a couple of early-morning cocktails, Hench convinced himself that he had panicked when he'd returned from the medical conference and found his patient transferred to Aurora without his notice. He was further pacified when they produced a signed authorization from Lawrence Bowman himself, faxed to them from Bowman's own medical conference.
    Now, Hench