The Dystopian Gene

by S. E. Meyer

  “Here's two more, towards the bottom,” Charlie added.

  “These three names are not on our list at all,” Charlie said with a sigh.

  “Yes, but we don't have to know all the names, we just need to find the mother's names of the two people on the list that are still alive.” Anna's eyes widened. “There, the second up from the bottom. Mrs. Merriam White. We have no Whites on our list.”

  “We don't have any Johnsons on our death list either, but there's a Katie Johnson on Gentech's list,” Charlie pointed out.

  “Damn,” Anna said, drumming her fingers on the desk. “Wait, cross reference the obituaries of the deceased. They always note maiden names. See if a Merriam or Katie shows up,” Anna said, tapping at her tablet. Anna rubbed her chin while searching the obituaries. “I found it!” she said. “Here on Donald Cruz's obit. Preceded in death by his father Rick Cruz, and survived by his mother Katie Johnson Cruz. So that just leaves Merriam White and Victoria Olsen.” Anna smiled.

  “Except for the one name that's redacted.”

  “All we can do is work with what we have. Let's go Charlie, we may not have much time.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Mrs. White?” Anna asked with a raised eyebrow as a middle-aged woman with dark skin and white hair opened the door.

  “Yes,” the woman responded with an air of apprehension.

  “I'm Agent Wool and this is my partner Charlie. We're investigating a case and we were wondering, do you have a son or daughter around twenty years old?”

  The woman nodded. “Is my boy in trouble of some kind?”

  “Not in trouble with the law, no. We're worried about his safety. Can we come in?”

  Merriam eyed Charlie and Anna for a moment and then swung the door. “Sure, I'll put on some coffee.”

  The three sat at the kitchen table. “This is a treat,” Anna said as Merriam poured the coffee.

  “I try to afford a few niceties.”

  Anna looked her in the eye. “Can we get the name of your son? Where is he right now?”

  “Cream?” Merriam asked, ignoring the question.

  “Yes, please,” Anna replied.

  “None for me, thank you.” Charlie added.

  “Mrs. White, this is important. We think your son may be in danger. This has to do with the trial at Gentech.”

  Merriam raised her eyebrows. After setting the cream on the table she plopped back down in the chair at the table's end and let out a long breath. “Gentech. I haven't heard that name in a long time. Their goal was to cure Fleishman's. Make sure my boy would be healthy,” she explained shaking her head. “All of us ladies were just trying to do something good for our babies. Whole lotta bullshit, that's what I think. It didn’t make any difference.” Merriam looked at her feet and rubbed the carpet with her toes.

  “Do you remember the ladies from the trial?” Anna asked. “Do you remember their names? There's still one more person we're looking for and Gentech won't give me their name.”

  Merriam leaned back in her chair. “Oh, let me see now. There was Katie. Such a sweet lady. I remember a Cassandra.” Merriam made eye contact with Anna. “She was not such a sweet lady.” Merriam smiled.

  Anna tapped her foot while pressing her lips together. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but can you give us your son's name? We need to find him and get him into protective custody.”

  “Why?” Merriam asked.

  “Because everyone else from your trial has died,” Charlie replied.

  Merriam placed her hand over her mouth. “Oh my. The illness overtake them?”

  “We‘re not sure,” Anna replied. “That's what we're trying to find out. We believe there may be foul play. That's why we want to make sure your son is okay.”

  “You just missed him. He went a few blocks down to the clinic to get his treatment.”

  “Okay,” Anna looked at Charlie. “Let's get a unit over there,” she said pulling out her phone to dispatch police to pick up Merriam's son. “And his name?”

  “Oh, James. James White. Now you have me all worried. I hope he's fine.”

  “He will be Mrs. White. I just sent a car to pick him up.”

  Merriam shook her head. “He's a popular boy today.”

  “What do you mean?” Anna asked.

  “There was a nice man here early this morning. Said he wanted to meet James and shake his hand. Thank him for his service. My boy is a veteran.”

  “What did this man look like?” Anna asked.

  “Tall, dark hair and a goatee. He dressed well, I remember that. He said he saw the veteran flag I have hanging in the front window.”

  “Did he have his arm in a sling?” Anna questioned.

  “Yes he did,” Merriam replied. “And I remember his ring. Ugly gaudy thing with a skull and crossbones on it.”

  What the hell was Richard doing here?

  Anna took in a deep breath. “Okay, let's get back to our earlier conversation, do you remember any of the other mother's names from the trial?”

  “That was a long time ago.” Merriam replied shaking her head before taking a sip of coffee.

  “Is there a Mr. White?” Charlie asked.

  Merriam lowered her head before making eye contact with Anna. “He died a few years back. They said he died of natural causes, but I think that‘s some bullshit too.” Merriam looked away.

  That‘s twice now. She's lying.

  “I feel that there's something you're not telling me Mrs. White,” Anna said, trying to reconnect with Merriam's wandering gaze.

  Anna raised an eyebrow in thought. “Do you have a picture of Mr. White?”

  “Yes, up there on the wall in the dining room. Our twentieth wedding anniversary picture.”

  Anna stood up to get a look at the picture in the other room and froze. She let out a slow breath before re-entering the living room. “Mrs. White, did you know anyone by the name of Margaret? Margaret Morton?”

  Merriam buried her eyebrows into the bridge of her nose. She shook her head. “No, I don't recall anyone by that name,” she replied before returning her gaze to her feet. “I don't believe there's much more I can help you with Miss. I need to get a hold of my boy and make sure he's okay. Can you leave now?”

  ◆◆◆

  “Charlie, do you still have the photograph my mom gave me?” Anna asked as soon as they were back in the car.

  “I have a scanned copy on my tablet, why?” Charlie lifted his tablet from the back seat and displayed the picture.

  “Front row, last one on the right. That's Mr. White,” Anna said, pointing at the tablet.

  “And he's dead like everyone else in this picture.”

  “Not everyone. Damarion is still alive and we thought Atticus was dead too. “ Anna's eyes widened. “Shit, Charlie, look. Top left. That's Frank Anderson.”

  “That makes no sense at all,” Charlie replied. “When I checked, everyone in this picture was dead with the exception of Damarion.”

  Anna let out a breath. “Looks like they're coming back from the dead.”

  Charlie lifted his eyebrows. “What does it all mean Anna?”

  Anna shook her head. “I don't know yet. But there's an obvious connection between the people in my mom's picture, people my mom said I could trust, and the ones on our list. We should get going Charlie. We found James White. We need to go see the last one on the list, Victoria Olsen, and hope we're not too late.” Anna pulled out her tablet and sent the last known address of Victoria to the car's GPS. Anna wrinkled her brow. “Looks like Lady Of Fatima Healing Center is what we have on file. That's a Psychiatric Hospital.

  ◆◆◆

  “May we see her?” Anna asked the Ward Clerk at the nursing station after identifying themselves and explaining their investigation. The clerk returned Anna's gaze from behind walnut eyes. She adjusted her uniform, nodding. “Yes, she's allowed visitors, although she gets none. You may find that she's...” The clerk trailed off, glancing back down at her desk. “She's not well, so
please be aware of her condition while questioning, okay?”

  The clerk led them down a hallway to room 203. She knocked on the door before calling out Victoria's name. There was no response. “Give me a minute,” the clerk asked and entered the room. She returned a few seconds later, inviting Anna and Charlie inside.

  The room was stagnant, darkened by the drawn shades. The only light was coming from a small table lamp next to a chair where Victoria sat. Anna noticed her blank staring gaze. She took the chair opposite Victoria. “Mrs. Olson,” Anna whispered.

  The woman turned her head. “That's a nice name,” Victoria replied. “Nice to meet you,” she added before her eyes again turned hollow.

  “No, that's your name, Mrs. Olson,” Anna said, touching Victoria's knee. “Victoria?”

  “Yes?” the woman said, making eye contact with Anna.

  “My name is Montana Wool. I want to ask you a few questions about Gentech. Do you remember Gentech?”

  Victoria’s eyes grew wide. “Yes,” she said, nodding.

  “Do you remember anyone from your trial there?” Anna asked.

  Victoria shook her head.

  “Do you have any children?”

  “I have a daughter,” Victoria replied.

  “What is her name?”

  “Montana,” Victoria replied, turning her head to one side.

  “No, that's my name. What is your daughter's name?”

  “I have a daughter?” Victoria asked.

  “We're not getting anywhere,” Charlie noted.

  Anna continued the questioning. “Yes, you said you have a daughter. What is her name?”

  “Montana,” Victoria repeated.

  Anna shook her head and let out a breath. “No, that's my name, Mrs. Olson.”

  “No, that's where she's from,” Victoria stared at the drapes to Anna's left.

  “Where who is from? Your daughter?”

  “No, the nice lady I met at Gentech,” Victoria replied.

  Anna dropped her eyebrows, leaning in closer to Victoria. “Was her name Margaret?”

  A black cat trotted into the room and jumped up onto Victoria's lap, burying its head in the woman's hands. “Isabelle,” she said.

  Anna's frustration got the best of her. She let out another deep breath. “Who is Isabelle?” Anna asked, raising her voice.

  A nurse entered the room with a small cup in one hand and a glass of water in another. “It's time for your medication Mrs. Olson,” she said, setting the cups down on the tray next to Victoria's chair. The nurse turned to Anna. “I think she's had enough visiting for one day. Mrs. Olson isn't well.”

  Anna ignored the nurse and placed her hand on Victoria's arm. The woman jumped. Anna retracted. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. What was the woman's name from Gentech?” Anna asked again.

  Victoria stroked the cat, purring beneath her palm. “Isabelle,” Victoria repeated.

  “I'm sorry, but you have to leave,” the nurse persisted.

  Anna stood up, but continued to question Victoria. “Isabelle is the name of the lady you met at Gentech?”

  “Isabelle is what she calls the cat,” the nurse replied. “Now really, you need to leave,” she said placing her hand on Anna's arm, ushering her towards the door.

  Anna looked over her shoulder. “What is your daughter's name?” Anna stopped and made eye contact with the nurse. “This is important. Her daughter is in danger, I have to know her name.”

  The nurse shook her head. “She doesn't even know her own name. There's nothing she can help you with.”

  Victoria Olson pushed herself up from her chair. Wobbling on shaking knees, she took a step towards Anna, pupils focused. “Wait,” she said, in a moment of rare lucidity. “I met a woman at Gentech. She was a good friend. She told me she grew up in Montana. I do have a daughter.”

  “What is her name?” Anna asked.

  Victoria's eyes went blank as she collapsed on the floor.

  Anna's hands shook as she helped the nurse lift Victoria to her bed. “Charlie, I need you to make sure someone picked up James. Make sure he is safe.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I need to pay another visit to Gina Thorp.”

  ◆◆◆

  “You can't go in there!” the receptionist called out as Anna jogged passed the large oak desk and on to Gina Thorp's office door. She slammed her shoulder into the door as she turned the handle forcing the door to fly open.

  Anna curled her lip at the sight of Richard seated in front of Gina. They both jumped, startled by the door rebounding off its rubber door stop. “What the hell are you doing here?” Anna snarled in Richard's direction.

  Richard rose from his seat. “I could ask you the same question,” Richard replied.

  “How's the bullet wound?” Anna asked.

  Richard adjusted his sling. “Painful. I had no idea how much a gunshot wound hurts. How's yours?” Richard smiled.

  Asshole.

  “I heard yours was barely a graze, didn't even need stitches.”

  “I can still say I took a bullet for you,” Richard replied, puffing his chest.

  Anna shook her head. “You need to get out Richard, I have to speak with Gina.”

  Gina nodded towards Richard. “It's okay Richard. Please leave us.”

  “Very well,” Richard said, extending his hand. Gina shook it with a firm grip. “Thank you for your cooperation Miss Thorp.”

  Anna noticed the ugly, pewter colored ring on Richard‘s middle finger.

  Anna tipped her head to one side in thought.

  I don't remember him wearing a ring like that.

  Richard turned to leave. “I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon Anna,” he called over his shoulder.

  As soon as Richard closed the door, Anna whipped around to face Gina. “You lied,” she said through a wistful stare.

  “I never lied to you Anna,” Gina replied.

  “Lies by omission. Somehow my mother was involved in all of this and you kept it from me.”

  “I know nothing about that, Anna. There are things in play way over your head.” Gina pulled out a piece of notepaper and scribbled a few words that Anna couldn't see. She folded the note and stood. “There's nothing more I can do for you,” she said ushering her towards the door. Anna locked Gina's gaze, recognizing the fear in her eyes. “I gave you the list of names and I've told you everything I know,” Gina finished, palming the note and placing it in Anna's hand while shaking it. Anna glanced down at her hand and opened the note with her fingers while hiding it against her hip.

  She read 'meet me at the corner of Birch and 3rd 4:00pm'.

  Gina forced a smile. “Wish I could have been more help.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Looking at the time on the car's display, Anna drove to the location Gina wrote on the note. 3:30, I'll be a little early.

  Anna parked on 3rd St, halfway down the block from Birch and waited. After twenty minutes of tapping her fingers on the steering wheel her phone rang.

  “Wool” Anna said, answering the call.

  “Agent Wool. This is Brad at the coroner's office. We have determined the cause of death on your case. Poison.”

  “Poison?” Anna repeated. “How?”

  “We had to re-examine all the bodies to be sure, but we found it. Small potent micro dot in the middle of each victim's palm. The victims absorbed the poison through their skin. Wanted to call and let you know.”

  “Thanks Brad, I appreciate the update,” Anna replied, ending the call.

  Anna scanned the street, looking for Gina.

  Poison. Dermal introduction through the palm. I should update Charlie.

  Anna picked up her phone to call her partner, but noticed Gina Thorp crossing the street. Anna got out and jogged to the corner. “Miss Thorp,” she called out.

  Gina turned in her direction. “Anna. Thank you for meeting me. Let's take a walk. There's a park just down there,” she said pointing towards the next
block. “No microphones. Do you have your phone?” Gina asked as they made their way down the street.

  “Yes, but it's safe and untraceable, so they can't access the microphone.”

  “I wouldn't be so sure,” Gina replied with a raised eyebrow.

  “I would feel better if you left it here,” Gina gestured toward a wooden bench at the park's entrance. Anna nodded and set her phone down. Gina led her thirty feet away from the phone before she spoke. “Anna. I'm sorry I couldn't explain everything to you earlier. Cornelius's eyes and ears are everywhere.”

  “I understand,” Anna replied with a nod. “So why did you want to meet?”

  “The list I gave you. Richard requested the same list a few weeks ago.”

  “Richard?” Anna wrinkled her nose. “Why did you give him the names?”

  “Gentech's parent company is Pharmacorp. Pharmacorp's holding company is Blackwater Corporation. Have you heard of them?” Gina asked.

  Anna shook her head.

  “Doesn't surprise me. Blackwater owns several multi-billion dollar companies but hides behind institutional ownership. Blackwater is a subsidiary of Cromwell Industries. Cornelius himself is the Chairman. So when Richard came looking for information, I had to comply.”

  Richard.

  “And now most of the kids from the trial are dead. I just found out someone poisoned them.”

  “I can't help but feel responsible,” Gina said.

  “So what does all of this have to do with my mother? I know she was involved.”

  “Anna, your mother was...” Gina trailed off, placing a hand to her forehead. “Oh my,” she said tipping to one side.

  “Are you okay Miss Thorp?”

  “I don't feel well.” Gina made eye contact with Anna. “The trial was your mother's idea. She's the one who started Project Shield.”