“It makes sense,” Alexis said, “You said Reyes worked on the project before he died, and you found the file amongst his things. AmeriGEN have positioned it to be their next cash cow, so the tight security around it fits.”
Nathan massaged his forehead. “So, it has to do with ectogenesis, but what is Horde Protocol?”
“That, we don’t know.” Alexis said, “But, with regulatory approval maybe only days away, AmeriGEN is full speed ahead on ectogenesis. Could explain why they’d send someone after you for mentioning Horde Protocol to Torres. That kind of money at stake, people have done more for a lot less.”
“Assuming they sent anyone after him,” Elise said, “Right now it’s just speculation on his part.”
Nathan shot her a look. “Not speculation, princess.”
“Not fact yet either,” Alexis looked toward Elise and chastised, “don’t interrupt.” She stood and returned her attention to Nathan. He stared at the corner—at empty space. She paced a tight circle and recited her thoughts. “What do we know? Antonio Reyes is dead. If you’re right, the same person who attacked you, killed him. Reyes worked on ectogenesis before he died and knew about Horde Protocol. The two are tied together by what Elise found. AmeriGEN stands to make a fortune when it’s approved, but ectogenesis is a harmless procedure so why kill anyone over it? We’re missing something vital.”
“Such as?” Nathan asked, his focus returned to her.
Alexis ignored his question. Her thoughts raced. Her eyes flicked back and forth in their sockets. After a long moment, she whispered, “Why are they so sure?”
“So sure about what?” Elise asked before Nathan could.
Alexis sat again and said, “All the press coverage they’ve pumped out has touted their accomplishment. They trumpet how ectogenesis will change so many lives for the better. Protestors darken their doors, but no one at AmeriGEN will concede anything negative about the project.”
“And?” Nathan shrugged.
“And how do they know it works?” Alexis said, “They haven’t gotten approval yet—it should all be theoretical. At best they should believe they can do it, they shouldn’t know.”
“Unless they do,” Nathan whispered.
“Unless Horde Protocol is the designation for illegal testing of ectogenesis.” Alexis smiled. “I mean, they do have the facilities built. And why else would they build them before gaining approval?” Alexis nodded to both of them and said, “One of the biggest fears the protestors have is the potential for AmeriGEN to manipulate the DNA of a fetus.”
Nathan squeezed his fist. “The blur.”
Alexis said, “If he exists, he’s obviously had his DNA radically altered.”
Nathan insisted, “He exists and AmeriGEN holds his leash. You’re on to something here. What’s our next move?”
Alexis stammered, “You—you’re asking? You’re not telling?”
“I’m not the fool you take me for. You’ve gotten us this far.” His eyes glanced to the corner, then settled back on her.
“All right.” Alexis turned to Elise. “We can’t break their security, but maybe we can find a weak link on their staff. Run background checks on their employees. Look for indicators of potential stress—start with any debts or religious affiliation. Maybe we get lucky.”
Alexis shifted forward and said to Nathan, “The only chance we have of this blur being connected to AmeriGEN is if Horde Protocol goes back decades—maybe to the beginning. You and I will need to dig up what we can on the early days of the company. Leave no stone unturned and give priority to anything about Tiberius Holt.”
“Why Holt?” Nathan asked, “You think this goes all the way to the top?”
Alexis answered, “Holt founded the company. A long-term project of this magnitude would never get off the ground unless it had his blessing. If Horde Protocol is what we think, then he knows about it.” She paused. “Beyond that, Holt has always been an enigma. By all accounts, he had zero aptitude for science or business before AmeriGEN took the world by storm. The pundits have always questioned how such a neophyte succeeded time after time, but suppose he was the first?”
Blank stares faced her. Alexis said, “What if Horde Protocol is older than AmeriGEN? Maybe they didn’t develop a technique to manipulate DNA? Maybe they found it.”
Nathan said, “Or stole it.”
Alexis agreed, “Maybe that’s how a neophyte like Holt rose to genius-level intellect?”
“Sounds like a lot of maybe’s to me,” Elise said.
Alexis sighed. “Now we just need the facts to prove them.”
A knock on the front door interrupted them. They looked at each other until another thump startled Alexis enough to jump. She noticed Nathan’s gaze drift to the empty corner before he rose to answer the door. A final bang shook the door in its frame and told Alexis good news would not be found waiting on the other side.
Nathan swung the door open to greet two police officers. They wore serious frowns.
The smaller of the two spoke first. “Hey, Miller.”
Alexis couldn’t be sure, but she thought she heard regret in the greeting.
The larger officer unclipped cuffs from his belt and said, “Let’s not make this difficult, okay?” The man stood a head taller than Nathan and loomed large in the doorway.
“You’re joking, right?” Nathan asked, “I’m under arrest?” Alexis noticed his left hand balled into a fist. She held her breath.
The larger officer said, “You’ve been charged with murder. You know the drill. Turn around, hands behind your back.” Nathan turned his head to the side where he again seemed to stare at nothing.
Her heart raced. Alexis asked, “Who has he been charged with killing?”
The larger officer leered at her. She saw recognition in that look.
The smaller one said to Nathan, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
The larger officer laid a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and attempted to turn him. Nathan thrust his left hand out and landed a blow against the officer’s chest. He stumbled backward and the smaller officer went for his weapon.
“Nathan!” Alexis shouted, “Don’t.” He looked at her. “It won’t help you.”
Recovered, the larger officer manhandled Nathan against the wall. He twisted Nathan’s arms behind his back and slapped the cuffs on his wrists. Alexis watched him make certain the cuffs were tight and saw the sadistic grin accompany the act.
“Is this about his partner?” Alexis asked.
The officers looked at each other, but neither answered her question. Nathan smirked. “This is about a feeble man trying to look powerful.” The officers hauled Nathan away. As they led him out he said, “Keep working. I won’t be long.”
44
The fluorescent light above the table guttered and drew Nathan’s attention. Its intermittent buzz stoked his burgeoning headache. He tried to lift his left hand to his temple, to work on the pressure building there, but the shackle around his wrist prevented it. He stared at the lens in the corner.
“I don’t think those cuffs are necessary, do you?” Quinn asked.
Nathan glanced at him standing in the opposite corner. His smile added to Nathan’s worsening mood. Quinn clicked his tongue against his teeth and said, “I mean it just seems like overkill. Where are you going to go, right? We’re in the middle of a police station.”
Nathan turned his head away from him and bent over the steel table. He awkwardly reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Oh, I get it.” Quinn walked out of the corner and pointed at the lens above them. “You don’t want them to see you talking to yourself.” He tapped the side of his head and winked. “Smart. Last thing you need is more questions.”
Qu
inn paused, then pointed a finger to the ceiling. “Or maybe you should let them see you talking to no one. Never too early to start an insanity plea, am I right? Might help you avoid where you’re going.”
Nathan tugged at his restraints.
“What?” Quinn played innocent. “Too soon? Don’t tell me you’re still clinging to the fallacy of them having nothing on you?” Quinn moved beside him and shook his head. He tapped Nathan on the head and said, “You know better than that. They’ve arrested you—they have something.” Quinn’s smile grew. “But hey, it wasn’t me. I didn’t talk.”
Nathan batted his hand away. The wrist chain pulled the motion up short and dug the cuff into his skin. Nathan gritted his teeth and glowered at Quinn.
The door to the interrogation room opened, and Singh strolled in. He scraped a chair along the floor. The light flickered again, and Singh rapped his knuckles against the tube. It flashed, buzzed, and went dark. “Hmmm,” Singh mumbled. He sat in the gloom across from Nathan and said, “You’ve been made aware of your rights. We both know what it means if you lawyer up, but it is your right. Do you wish to have your attorney present?”
Nathan directed his wrath toward him. “I don’t need a fucking attorney. Your reach exceeds your grasp. A murder charge? Really? You have nothing to connect me to Quinn’s death. Nothing!”
Singh chuckled under his breath. “Who said anything about Quinn?”
“Whoa,” Quinn said, “I did not see that coming.” He looked at Nathan and asked, “Just how many people have you murdered?”
Nathan shifted in his chair. His restraints clinked against the steel rung of the table. Keeping an edge to his voice, he asked, “Who am I charged with killing?”
Singh smiled. He ran two fingers over his moustache and lifted his brow quizzically. “You don’t know?” Singh sighed and shook his head. “It’s telling you thought of your partner. Don’t worry, Miller, we’ll get there.”
Singh paused a moment and then continued. “Before I joined the police service, I spent a good number of years serving with our military. I specialized in the interrogation of enemy combatants—prisoners of war. Did you know that about me?”
Nathan ground his teeth and waited.
Singh leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “You can imagine I saw it all over the years. Every tough SOB that sat across from me swore they’d never break—they’d never talk.” Singh smirked. “Every one of them talked. They were always so prepared for the torture, it threw them when they didn’t get tortured.”
Singh tilted his chin toward Nathan. “Outside of conspiracy theories and movies, torture doesn’t work, anyway. People will say anything to make it stop. Have you found that?”
Quinn gave Nathan a puzzled look. “Where’s he going with this?”
Nathan shrugged. “Haven’t had the opportunity to find out. There a point to this rambling?”
“Sure you haven’t,” Singh said, “Point being why they all broke, why you’ll break. It isn’t about pain, it’s about leverage. Once you can hurt a guy without laying a finger on them, they’ll tell you anything. You’re no different from a thousand other SOB’s, Miller. When we’re done here, you’ll sing like a canary.”
Nathan frowned. “You’re delusional. Why am I here?”
“Leo Spagnuolo,” Singh asked, “The name mean anything to you?”
“Should it?” Nathan asked.
Singh uncrossed his legs and leaned over the table. “Should it?” he repeated, “Wrong answer, Miller.”
“I don’t like how this is going,” Quinn said from over Singh’s shoulder. “Why is he so confident? What do you think he knows?” Nathan glanced up at Quinn, then returned his baleful stare to Singh.
“We received a suggestion to look into Identchip tracking records,” Singh said, “Specifically, to cross reference your data with Leo’s on the date of his death. Care to guess what we found?”
Quinn scoffed. “Oh, now you know he’s bluffing. Leo’s tracking was disabled before he arrived at the yard. Logue said so himself.”
“Who gave you this suggestion?” Nathan asked.
Singh answered, “Normally, I wouldn’t say, but in your case, you knowing is to my advantage,” he paused for effect and said, “Commissioner Logue suggested we take a look.”
“Uh-oh,” Quinn said, “somebody being hung out to dry?” Nathan looked at him. His smile infuriated Nathan. “I wouldn’t worry though, he can’t have anything. I disposed of the body.” Quinn touched a finger to his lip. “At least, Logue told me to dispose of the body.”
Nathan’s eyes widened. A bead of sweat trickled down his cheek. Singh said, “You’re looking a little pale, Miller.”
Nathan exhaled and straightened up in the chair. “Show me the evidence against me. I have a right to see it.”
Singh chuckled. “That you do, Miller,” he leaned back and said, “All in good time. I’m not required to share anything at this point. Just know I have enough to hold you. But between you and me…I don’t want you. You’re a foot soldier who’s been betrayed and left behind. You’re a symptom of the disease, and I want the cause.”
Singh crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you really prepared to be loyal to a man who’s clearly sold you out?” He bent his head to the side and asked, “What I said about leverage making sense to you yet?”
Nathan said nothing. He closed his eyes and struggled to contain his fury. Singh shoved his chair back. “I’m prepared to offer you immunity, Miller. In exchange for what you know about Logue, I’m more than aware the man is dirty. You give him up, and you walk.”
“Now that’s irony,” Quinn said. He bent over the table and looked Nathan square in the eye. “Imagine you doing to Logue what you murdered me for doing to you. Small world, huh?”
Nathan ignored Quinn and eyed Singh. “My offer is time sensitive though.” Singh stood and looked down at Nathan. “Bail will be set tomorrow. Once it is, this offer expires.”
Nathan put his nose in the air. “You’ve got nothing. You’re fishing, plain and simple. It’s pathetic.”
Singh placed his palms on the table and leaned forward. “Roll the dice and take your chances. I do hope you’ll consider my offer while you’re rotting in a cell tonight, though. And while you’re at it, ask yourself how hard it would be for Logue to find a witness to testify against you. I’ve got nothing? I’ve got enough to send you away for a long time.”
Singh lowered his voice and said, “And you’ve got enough to put Logue away for a long time. Someone’s going to prison. I leave it up to you.”
45
Nathan slumped against the steel bars. His eyes itched from a lack of sleep. Prisoners crowded around him in the holding cell of the Franklin County Courthouse. He smelled their unwashed skin mingled with the reek of desperation. Turning away, he rested his forehead against the bars.
“Might want to get used to that view,” Quinn said in his ear. Nathan closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the bars. “Tick-tock, Miller. Time’s running out on Singh’s offer. You don’t really want to stay here with …” he waved at the other prisoners “… this rabble, do you? Come on, take the deal. Tell him what you know.”
Nathan opened his eyes a crack. Quinn flashed a wicked grin. “Trust me, it isn’t hard.”
Nathan slammed a fist against the bars and shouted, “Fuck you!” All eyes turned to him. A hush fell over the cage. Defiant, Nathan stared back at them.
One prisoner stepped forward with a scowl on his face. He towered over Nathan, his girth all the more massive in their confinement. A guard inched closer and reached for his baton. “Step back, Dante.”
Dante took another lumbering step forward. He bared his teeth at Nathan. “What’d you say, Hoss?”
Nathan met his angry stare. “Nothing.”
“Didn’t sound like nothing,” Dante said.
The guard rapped his baton against the bars. “Get back!”
“Do as he says,” Nathan warned, “You don’t want to get hurt.”
Dante stood his ground a moment longer, then snorted and turned away. From across the room a barrel-chested guard hollered, “Case number F104614, people versus John Doyle. Step forward, you’re on deck.” Nathan watched a slim man hobble to the front of the queue. His muscles relaxed, and he faced the bars again.
The guard on the other side addressed him, “Miller. Your lawyer is here.”
Nathan watched Eli approach the cage. Seeing Eli dressed in a suit and tie caused him to do a double take. Nathan motioned toward the guard with his chin and asked, “My lawyer?”
Eli smiled and bent his head closer to the bars. “I thought I’d have more luck getting in here as your lawyer than as your old partner.”
“Especially if he’s heard how you treat old partners,” Quinn quipped.
Nathan ignored Quinn. “I appreciate you coming,” he said to Eli.
Eli spread his hands apart. “You called, I answered.”
Nathan glanced around and waved Eli over to a corner where they wouldn’t be overheard. “I need you to post bail once it’s set.”
Eli gave him a confused look. “It won’t be that much. I’m sure you can afford it.”
“I’m sure it will be that much. But it’s not a question of what I can afford, it’s a question of what I can access,” Nathan lowered his voice, “Singh offered me immunity if I rolled on Logue.”
Eli cursed, “The little shit.”
“The offer expired when they brought me here. I know Singh though. He’ll have my accounts frozen to keep me inside and thinking about his deal. That’s why I need you to post the bail.” Eli looked around the cage, his brow furrowed in thought. Nathan tried again. “Once I’m out, Singh will have no recourse to keep my accounts frozen, and I can pay you back, plus a little extra for your effort.”
Eli nodded. “I’ll front you the bail money but, I’m curious, why didn’t you ask Logue for help?”
“I’m not sure I can trust him,” Nathan admitted.
“Since when?” Eli asked.
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