doubt even the government knows how they operate or get funding.”
“Faye and I may not be friends now but I know her. She wouldn’t be a part of this.”
“Look at it another way. Maybe some deep-cover research group discovered something about climate change, or the depletion of oil reserves, or an impending fresh water crisis, something big. If a secret branch of government was convinced that a catastrophe was about to hit the planet, who could stop them from deploying their solution?”
“The 3rd Protocol.”
“If you had to decide between everyone dying or a preemptive strike to thin the herd and save humanity, what would you choose?”
“You’re assuming they would only have those two options.”
“It would make sense to move the project offshore, outsourced to a like-minded mogul, someone who could cloak the real work behind something as controversial as life extension. It’s the magician’s art of misdirection.”
“You’re talking hypothetical nonsense.”
“As hypothetical as scientists being murdered and children being kidnapped? As hypothetical as Riya telling me her contact at GeLixCo was none other than another ex-employee of USAMRIID – your ex-husband Colin? You say he’s disappeared. How convenient, especially if he’s now working for a deep-cover branch of government.”
The references to Alyssa and Colin struck home. Janis decided to force the issue. “We can’t be sure. I won’t jump to conclusions based on a word on a random list – a list from somebody who got it from somebody else. We need more information and you have contacts. Whoever sent you this email must know more – or they can find out more. The stakes are high enough – you need to lean on them.”
Malcolm took back the laptop and closed it.
Janis sensed his reticence was strategic but wasn’t sure.
“Who’s behind the email? What’s going on? All I want is my daughter back! Did somebody put you up to this?”
As Janis broke down into tears, Malcolm grabbed her by the arm
“All right. I’ll tell you what I can. Do you remember, years ago, when a group calling itself Friends of the Ocean got their hands on plastic-eating microbes and dumped them in the ocean?”
“I think so…”
“The microbes were stolen from the U.S. Navy. The thief was never caught and Friends of the Ocean never gave up their source.”
“So what.”
Malcolm leaned closer. “A few years ago, I got a tip. It led me to some incriminating evidence – evidence that identified the man who stole those microbes.”
“But you said the thief was never caught.”
“That’s right. Since then, I’ve been leveraging what I know. As long as the thief sends me email with answers to my questions, I sit on the evidence.”
“You’re blackmailing him?”
“He’s in a very sensitive position, with access to all sorts of things. He doesn’t want to jeopardize what he has. In exchange, I’m willing to do business with him.”
“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me his name.”
“Makes no difference. It’s the same name he and I agreed upon years ago.”
“What is it?”
“Knockout Mouse.”
“Strange. Any reason for the genetic reference?”
“You’d have to ask him. He came up with the name but it fits him. Over the years, he’s impressed me as somewhat of a social mutation. Maybe he sees himself the same way – just an engineered little mouse. He’s the mutation that shows us how full functioning we are by comparison.”
“Sounds like you two have an odd relationship. Symbiotic yet parasitical.”
“In my experience, those two aren’t so far apart. The friend of my enemy’s enemy is still not my friend. And now that I’ve told you that, it’s your turn. You’re hiding something about Colin.”
“Why would I?”
“He’s the father of your child. You loved him once. You still may. It’s only natural.”
“We didn’t have that kind of divorce.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious why
“Faye and I may not be friends now but I know her. She wouldn’t be a part of this.”
“Look at it another way. Maybe some deep-cover research group discovered something about climate change, or the depletion of oil reserves, or an impending fresh water crisis, something big. If a secret branch of government was convinced that a catastrophe was about to hit the planet, who could stop them from deploying their solution?”
“The 3rd Protocol.”
“If you had to decide between everyone dying or a preemptive strike to thin the herd and save humanity, what would you choose?”
“You’re assuming they would only have those two options.”
“It would make sense to move the project offshore, outsourced to a like-minded mogul, someone who could cloak the real work behind something as controversial as life extension. It’s the magician’s art of misdirection.”
“You’re talking hypothetical nonsense.”
“As hypothetical as scientists being murdered and children being kidnapped? As hypothetical as Riya telling me her contact at GeLixCo was none other than another ex-employee of USAMRIID – your ex-husband Colin? You say he’s disappeared. How convenient, especially if he’s now working for a deep-cover branch of government.”
The references to Alyssa and Colin struck home. Janis decided to force the issue. “We can’t be sure. I won’t jump to conclusions based on a word on a random list – a list from somebody who got it from somebody else. We need more information and you have contacts. Whoever sent you this email must know more – or they can find out more. The stakes are high enough – you need to lean on them.”
Malcolm took back the laptop and closed it.
Janis sensed his reticence was strategic but wasn’t sure.
“Who’s behind the email? What’s going on? All I want is my daughter back! Did somebody put you up to this?”
As Janis broke down into tears, Malcolm grabbed her by the arm
“All right. I’ll tell you what I can. Do you remember, years ago, when a group calling itself Friends of the Ocean got their hands on plastic-eating microbes and dumped them in the ocean?”
“I think so…”
“The microbes were stolen from the U.S. Navy. The thief was never caught and Friends of the Ocean never gave up their source.”
“So what.”
Malcolm leaned closer. “A few years ago, I got a tip. It led me to some incriminating evidence – evidence that identified the man who stole those microbes.”
“But you said the thief was never caught.”
“That’s right. Since then, I’ve been leveraging what I know. As long as the thief sends me email with answers to my questions, I sit on the evidence.”
“You’re blackmailing him?”
“He’s in a very sensitive position, with access to all sorts of things. He doesn’t want to jeopardize what he has. In exchange, I’m willing to do business with him.”
“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me his name.”
“Makes no difference. It’s the same name he and I agreed upon years ago.”
“What is it?”
“Knockout Mouse.”
“Strange. Any reason for the genetic reference?”
“You’d have to ask him. He came up with the name but it fits him. Over the years, he’s impressed me as somewhat of a social mutation. Maybe he sees himself the same way – just an engineered little mouse. He’s the mutation that shows us how full functioning we are by comparison.”
“Sounds like you two have an odd relationship. Symbiotic yet parasitical.”
“In my experience, those two aren’t so far apart. The friend of my enemy’s enemy is still not my friend. And now that I’ve told you that, it’s your turn. You’re hiding something about Colin.”
“Why would I?”
“He’s the father of your child. You loved him once. You still may. It’s only natural.”
“We didn’t have that kind of divorce.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious why
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