Lady Justice and Good vs Evil

by Robert Thornhill

  “Splendid!” Watson gushed. “Now if Mr. Williams is as efficient as his wife, we’ll soon be in business.”

  After all the paperwork was signed and they were preparing to leave, Dr. Skinner pulled me aside. “Your wife has a very fine ass for a woman her age.”

  I just smiled. “You have no idea!”

  CHAPTER 3

  As soon as my new clients were gone, I plopped into my easy chair, totally bewildered, trying to decide what to do next.

  I thought about how the box had come into my possession and the events that transpired after it arrived.

  They said the device had been transported from California to Kansas City and I knew exactly how that occurred. Somehow, Oliver McDermont, the younger brother of my tenant, Bernice, got his hands on the mysterious box. Knowing that several others who had possessed the box had ended up dead, he headed to Kansas City hoping that mob boss, Carmine Marchetti, could help him disappear before he suffered the same fate.

  Unfortunately, Russian agents tracked him to the Three Trails Hotel before he could make contact with Marchetti. Realizing he had been discovered, McDermont gave the box to another tenant, Mr. Feeney, before he was accosted and murdered by the Russians.

  As fate would have it, I happen to be the not-so-proud owner of the Three Trails. Mr. Feeney, a long-time tenant, gave me the box he had hidden in his room.

  In the weeks that followed, I found, much to my dismay, that the box containing the device was being sought by the Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans, and our own Homeland Security.

  Once in possession of the box, I was contacted by a man who called himself Ishmael. He informed me, in no uncertain terms, that under no circumstances could I let the box fall into the hands of the men pursuing it.

  When I questioned him about the device, he would never tell me exactly what it was, but he did say that the contents of the box could either be a blessing or a curse to mankind, depending on who possessed it, and while the device itself was not evil, it was what could happen if it fell into the hands of evil men.

  Subsequently, Ishmael, along with a long list of others pursuing the box, were murdered. Agents from our own government even kidnapped Maggie, offering to trade my wife for the device.

  Thankfully, with help from my partner, Kevin, and my old partner on the force, Ox, we were able to rescue my wife, but I soon realized that the mayhem would continue as long as the box was still in play.

  I devised a plan to make the rest of the world believe the device no longer existed. In front of Mark Davenport, my half-brother, and an agent with Homeland Security, I pitched a box, exactly like the box containing the device, into the Missouri River.

  Remembering Ishmael’s words, that the device could either be a blessing or a curse to mankind, I couldn’t destroy something that might actually improve the human condition.

  I hid the mysterious box in my safe, hoping that someday, the person who could take the device and make it a blessing to mankind would appear.

  Now, Dr. Skinner had come into my life seeking the device. Should I give it to him? Are his intentions good or evil?

  I had to know more before I could make a decision.

  I needed to know more about the man who built the device, and I need to know more about what it could actually do. I figured if anyone had the answers it would be Nicholas Thatcher and Arnie Goldblume, my friends with the Watchers organization. They were both techno-nerds and had their sights on pretty much everything the government was trying to do.

  I gave them a call and headed to their headquarters on Rockhill Road.

  On the way to their office, I tried to figure out how to get the information I needed without spilling the beans about the box in my safe. Not another soul, not my wife, Maggie, my partner, Kevin, or my old friend Ox, knew that the box still existed. I wanted to keep it that way. The last thing I wanted was more government operatives on my doorstep willing to do anything to possess the device.

  As always, I was greeted warmly by my friends.

  “Walt! Good to see you. What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into now?”

  They knew me all too well.

  “I’ve been asked to take a case and I need more information before I agree to take it on. It involves technology that I’ve never heard of and I thought you might enlighten me.”

  That peaked their interest.

  “Sure, we’ll do our best,” Arnie replied. “What’s the scoop?”

  “Have you ever heard of a Detrick Von Braun?”

  “Absolutely!” Nick replied. “He’s one of the world’s brightest neuroscientists.”

  “Did you know he is dead?”

  I could see by the look on their faces that they did not.

  “No! How did he die?”

  “From what I’ve been told, he was murdered.”

  “How horrible! What a waste. The man was brilliant.”

  “I’ve also been told that the project he was working on might have contributed to his death. Have you ever heard of Neuron Encoding Synapse Disruptor?”

  The two exchanged a worried glance.

  “Yes,” Nick replied. “We’ve heard that such a device was being studied, but as far as we know, one has never been built.”

  “What exactly is it supposed to do?”

  “According to what we have heard, it would have the ability to erase one’s memory.”

  That confirmed what Dr. Skinner had told me.

  “How could that be possible?”

  “To understand how such a device would work,” Nick replied, “you have to know how memories are created. Memory is our ability to encode, store, retain and subsequently recall information and past experiences in the human brain. In more physiological or neurological terms, memory is, at its simplest, a set of encoded neural connections in the brain. It is the re-creation or reconstruction of past experiences by the synchronous firing of neurons that were involved in the original experience.

  “Scientists have long known that recording a memory requires adjusting the connections between neurons. Each memory tweaks some tiny subset of the neurons in the brain, changing the way they communicate. The human brain has 100 billion neurons in all. Neurons send messages to one another across narrow gaps called synapses. A synapse is like a bustling port, complete with machinery for sending and receiving cargo, neurotransmitters, specialized chemicals that convey signals between neurons.”

  “Okay,” I replied, trying to assimilate Nick’s explanation. “So how does this NESD gizmo affect all that?”

  “It does just as the name implies,” Arnie replied. “It disrupts the neurotransmitters that convey the signals between the neurons. No signals, no memory.”

  “Do you believe such a device really exists? Something that could totally erase a person’s memory?”

  “It’s certainly possible,” Nick replied. “As far back as the 1960’s, researchers found that a memory could be weakened if they gave an animal an electric shock or a drug that interferes with a particular neurotransmitter just after they prompted the animal to recall the memory. A man by the name of Karim Nader performed dozens of studies with rats, worms, chicks, honeybees and college students which suggested that even long-standing memories can be disrupted when recalled. That was years ago. There have been tremendous advances in neuroscience since then. Detrick Von Braun might have been successful in creating such a device.”

  “If such a device actually existed, how might it be used?”

  Nick and Arnie shared another concerned look.

  “It could be used in so many areas, medical, political, psychological,” Arnie replied. “The possibilities are limitless.”

  “And I suppose how it was used could either be a blessing or a curse to mankind depending on who was using it.”

  Nick grimaced. “I’m afraid so. What does your new case have to do with all of this?”

  I still didn’t want to tell my friends that I had that exact device locked in my safe at home.


  “I’ve been contacted by two men who are interested in Von Braun’s work. They want to hire me to find out as much as I can about Dr. Von Braun’s demise,” I lied. “I was hoping you might have heard of them, Dr. Buford Skinner and Jacob Watson.”

  They both shook their heads.

  “Any chance you could poke around and see if they’re legit. I don’t want to get mixed up with unsavory characters.”

  “Sure,” Arnie replied. “We’ll shake the bushes and see what flies out.”

  I thanked my friends and headed home.

  With the information I had just gleaned, there was no way I would be giving the device to Skinner and Watson until I knew more about their intentions.

  CHAPTER 4

  Now that I knew what the NESD device was supposed to do, I figured the next step was to quiz Dr. Skinner about what he planned to do with the device once he had it in his possession.

  I gave Jacob Watson a call.

  “Mr. Watson, Walt Williams here. I have some leads on the NESD and I have some questions before I proceed any further. Any chance you and Dr. Skinner could come by my office?”

  “Certainly! We’ve been waiting for your call. All our plans are on hold until we find the device.”

  Thirty minutes later they were seated in my office.

  I thought long and hard about how to question them. In the end, I decided a mixture of facts along with a few little white lies would get the answers I needed.

  They were both quite excited. “Watson tells me you have some information for us,” Skinner said, anxiously.

  “Actually,” I replied, “my research has spawned more questions than answers. I began my investigation by reaching out to some contacts I have in the Federal Government. I wanted to know as much as I could about the NESD device before I dug further. I wonder if the name, Ishmael, rings any bells?”

  “Of course it does,” he replied. “He was a colleague of Dr. Von Braun. Another tragedy. Another great mind wasted.”

  “In my investigation, I discovered that Ishmael had some thoughts about the NESD. He said that it could be either a blessing or a curse to mankind depending on who possessed it. If I am successful in locating the device, I think it would be prudent of me to know how you plan to use it. I’m hoping it would be a blessing and not a curse.”

  Skinner gave me an approving look. “Maybe I was wrong about you. You seem to grasp the potential the device has for both good or evil. I applaud your caution. Let me begin by telling you how memory works.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” I interrupted. “I understand how the device would disrupt the neurotransmitters that convey the signals between the neurons in our brain. No signals, no memory. What I want to know is how you plan to use it. What do you hope to achieve?”

  Skinner beamed. “Now I’m really impressed! You have certainly done your homework. I am more than delighted to share our glorious plans for the future.

  “Memory is our ability to encode, store, retain and subsequently recall information and past experiences in the human brain. It can be thought of in general terms as the use of past experience to affect or influence current behavior. It is the ability to remember past experiences, and recall to mind previously learned facts, experiences, impressions, skills and habits. It is the store of things learned and retained from our activity or experience. Memory makes us who we are. If we couldn’t recall the who, what, where, and when of our everyday lives, we would struggle to learn new information, form lasting relationships, or even function in most daily situations.

  “For most of us, our memories are positive. We remember what we have learned and use that information to make good decisions and form new relationships.

  “Unfortunately, for many others, memories are harsh and hurtful and lead to bad decisions and bitter relationships.

  “The other factor that enters in, is the nature versus nurture debate. While it is true that a few of us are born with defective wiring, most behavior, both good and bad, is learned. The learned bad behavior is stored as a memory. When a situation arises that calls for some type of action or response, that response is dictated by what we have learned previously. Erase the bad memories, erase the previously learned bad behavior, and replace it with something positive. The slate is wiped clean, so to speak. A new life can be built with positive stimuli.”

  I was dumbfounded. “Wipe the slate clean! You said yourself, memory makes us who we are. Who in their right mind would want their whole life to be obliterated?”

  Skinner gave me a sympathetic look. “A person like yourself could never understand. You have pleasant memories. You are happy with who you are. Others are not so fortunate. I know of penniless alcoholics who have lost everything, their homes, their fortunes, their job, their family and friends. They would give anything to rid themselves of the disease that has ravaged their lives.”

  “So you’re saying that the NESD could cure alcoholism?”

  “I’m not fond of the word cure. First, you must understand the definition of a conditioned response. The most classic example is the story of Pavlov’s dogs. His dogs would naturally salivate at feeding time. Pavlov rang a bell at the precise moment of each feeding. Once the memory of the bell with the food was ingrained in the dog’s memory, they would salivate every time they heard the bell even if no food was present. It was a learned, conditioned response.

  “Now, let’s apply that principle to alcoholism. For most alcoholics, the dependency on alcohol is a learned response. Something in their life caused stress or anxiety. Having never learned the proper way to deal with these issues, they found that alcohol, while not resolving the problem, was at least a way to avoid dealing with it. That became the memory. When subsequent problems arose, it was that memory that dictated how the person would deal with the problem. As long as that memory exists, it will affect the person’s behavior.

  “According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, evidence shows that roughly 90% of people with alcoholism relapse within 4 years after completing treatment, and roughly 88,000 people die each year due to alcohol related causes.

  “Approximately 80% of people convicted of crimes abuse either drugs or alcohol, and it is estimated that 95% of inmates released from prison return to drug or alcohol use.

  “These are learned responses that are stored in their memories. Erase the memories and start over.

  “The same thing is true with domestic abuse. Studies have shown that abusers have learned the behavior from observing their own parents who tried to solve their problems with violence. Stored memories leading to bad behavior. Erase the memories and start over.”

  “So what, exactly, are your plans?”

  “We plan to use the building your wife found for us as a treatment center, a place where troubled souls can come to begin their lives anew. We need the vault, of course, to store the device. As you know, such power must not fall into the wrong hands. Simultaneously, we will staff a sanitorium of sorts to reprogram the individuals who seek treatment.”

  “Reprogram! You tell me your treatment will wipe the slate clean, take away all the experiences that made the person who they were, then replace all that with ---- what?”

  “Pleasant memories, appropriate responses to stimuli, a value system.”

  “Yes, but whose values? Yours?”

  Skinner looked at me condescendingly. “I understand your skepticism. This project isn’t just some whim we’ve dreamed up. A skilled team of doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and sociologists have been putting together a program based on the accepted values of our American society. Similar teams are working on programs for other cultures. Once a subject completes our treatment regimen, they will be ready to re-enter society with socially accepted coping skills.”

  “But if their memories are wiped clean, they will have also lost any job skills they had acquired.”

  “Very good, Walt! You are asking all the right questions. By knowing before-hand the skills they possessed,
we can reprogram those skills after treatment. Understand, the brain itself isn’t wiped clean, just the synapses between the neurons. Not everyone is all bad. Once we identify positive traits, we can facilitate the encoding for reconnecting those synapses.

  “The same is true for interpersonal relationships. If a gangbanger has been hanging with the wrong crowd, we want those relationships to be gone forever, but if a subject has a loving spouse or child, we want to reestablish those connections.”

  “What about cost? The price for such a program must be astronomical.”

  “Of course it will be expensive, but consider this, according to the Vera Institute of Justice, incarceration costs an average of more than $31,000 per inmate, per year, nationwide. In some states, it's as much as $60,000. Taxpayers foot the bill for feeding, housing and securing people in state and federal penitentiaries. And remember, 95% of inmates released from prison return to drug or alcohol use, so soon after their release they’re back behind bars.

  “In October 2013, the incarceration rate of the United States of America was the highest in the world, at 716 per 100,000 of the national population. While the United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners. Corrections, which includes prisons, jails, probation, and parole, cost around $74 billion according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Can’t you see that that money would be better spent financing our program?”

  Skinner seemed to have an answer for everything.

  “I certainly see what you are trying to achieve, but creating a whole new person! It’s like you’re playing God!”

  I saw the look of disgust on Skinner’s face. “Now, Mr. Williams, you disappoint me. God, indeed! If you believe in an omnipotent being who created each of us, he certainly isn’t doing a very good job. There are over 95,000 rapes reported each year in the U.S. and over 17,000 murders. I think our program can do a much better job. I’m sorry if that offends your sense of morality. Any more questions?”