by Eliza Master
Renata sauntered by. “You’re back! How was the trip? And how’s our baby yohimbe doing?” Erik asked.
She wanted to wrap herself around him. Erik looked like a Greek god. He was muscular and tan. Had he been on vacation somewhere? It didn’t matter that he was an older guy; he rated high on Renata’s scale.
“Everything went great,” she answered. Erik’s attention was like sunlight on her skin. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but instead continued with, “And how have you been, Erik?” Saying his name out loud made Renata tingle. Could she be in love with him? This was the first time she had felt so strongly about him – or any man. Maybe she was only feeling relief because the most difficult part of the yohimbe project was done. Of course, the fact that she wasn’t dying of AIDs was a big deal, too. Erik took a step closer to her. Was that cologne, or did he just naturally smell amazing?
“Free for lunch?” Erik asked. Oh boy, was she! And it was only a few hours away; how lovely. He moved even closer, like he was going to kiss her right there in the office hallway, but he turned away at the last second with his hand on the doorknob. Renata marched a little farther to her office and started work.
She had a million calls and hundreds of emails to return just to get caught up. Renata felt overwhelmed, but she reminded herself this was why she had an assistant. She buzzed Katrina.
“Could you come in for a minute?”
The girl plodded in after about ten minutes. Renata was irritated that she had taken so long. What had she been doing? “I need you to go through my voicemail and emails, organize them by priority, and get them back to me. Can you do that?” Renata demanded.
“Sure can,” Katrina replied. She smiled wide, revealing a set of clear braces with blue rubber bands. Were those new? Renata didn’t ask; it didn’t matter. Hopefully she would be able to do as Renata asked.
It was almost lunchtime. Renata was glad she had worn her new lingerie, the charcoal lace bra and thong set. The possibility of seeing Erik today had been her inspiration. She admired her satin blouse tucked into a skimpy pencil skirt. The ‘sexy exec’ look would certainly please the man. Today was a good hair day, too.
In front of his door, Renata tapped tentatively, but there was no response. Knocking louder, she called, “Erik?”
“Umm, hi.” It was Katrina again. Renata looked down at the girl. “Erik gave me the keys for you, and umm, I can return the keys for you.”
Renata had no idea what that meant. “Erik gave you his office keys to give to me?” How strange.
“Yes, ma’am, he did.” Katrina offered the keys to Renata.
“Okay, thank you, Katrina,” Renata replied formally, a little confused. She waited for Katrina to leave before letting herself into the office. Erik was definitely out. The smell of new carpet and fine leather furniture surrounded her like a happy dream. Red roses, at least a dozen, stood proudly on Erik’s desk. Next to them was a small turquoise box and card with her name on it.
“Aw…” She was touched, and she allowed herself to blush. Having grown up in a hurry, Renata had missed much of the teenage courting rituals she had seen in the movies. She gushed. Erik was so sweet to have bought her a gift. Come on, get a grip, Renata, she scolded herself. But instead she reached for the Tiffany box and tugged off the ribbon. Inside was a key on a fine gold chain. The key was embossed with diamonds that cast tiny rainbows onto her fingers. It was a beautiful pendant. Renata gasped as she placed it around her neck. The ornament was light and fit snugly in her cleavage. “Wow!” she said out loud.
Renata tore open the envelope and read the card.
I wanted to give this to you in person, but I couldn’t wait! I’ll be back Friday.
Erik
Next to his signature was a penned heart. What a perfect way to receive a gift! Renata felt like a little girl. She held the delicate key pressed between her palms like a simple prayer. After all his efforts to keep the affair secret, was Erik ready to start a relationship? Was he seducing her with gifts? And why hadn’t he said he was leaving town earlier?
Renata’s phone rang, and she saw it was Adam. At that moment, he felt like a dark cloud hanging over her. She let it go to voicemail and tried to stay focused on Erik. She would listen to the message later. But the call from Adam had already brought her back to earth. Did she really want to be in a relationship with Erik? Or anyone? She threw the Tiffany box and card into her handbag and left the roses on his desk. Carrying the bouquet around the office would be like a Happy Birthday balloon announcing their affair.
Back in her own office, Renata summoned Katrina once again. Handing her Erik’s keys, she asked, “Where’s Erik?”
“Chicago, I think. He said it was too important to wait, and that I should wait until lunch to give you the keys.”
“Ah, okay, thanks.” She would text him later, or maybe call to thank him.
She scrolled to Adam’s voicemail: Oh hey, this is Adam. I was wondering, could you meet me tomorrow at 6 o’clock? It’s a place called Sally’s. Then he gave the address and ended with, We need to talk in person. Dress down, okay? Really.
That was cryptic and weird. Dress down? Why? Maybe he was going to tell her about his condition. But why would she need to be dressed down for that? Since she’d tested negative, she wasn’t too concerned and didn’t want to have a long talk about it or anything. She still called him back, however, and left a message that she would show up.
Renata pulled up to Sally’s, a dinky diner in Palo Alto. Next door was a public school with a fenced playground. What a strange restaurant choice. Clearly Adam wasn’t taking her on a date. She looked into the cloudy restaurant window, and picked out Adam at a table studying the menu. She strode to the diner door and entered.
“Hey, Adam.” Renata sat down and looked around. All the tables were made of Formica, and the checkered floor tiles were worn out. Sally’s smelled like French fries and bleach. Was this food just amazing or something? Why was she here? Her gaze rested on Adam’s face. Was this the big moment when he would tell her about the HIV? A dart pricked her heart as Adam looked at her.
“So?” Renata asked.
“I need to talk to you about Fitzer and the yohimbe and stuff,” Adam started.
“Here’s a menu for you, darling,” said a middle-aged waitress. Renata wondered if she were Sally. “What will you have?” she asked Adam, while waiting for Renata’s order.
“A cheeseburger with fries, please.”
“I’ll have the eggs Benedict.” Renata loved having breakfast for dinner. The waitress walked off.
“I heard that they’re doing some bad stuff outside of your Guatemalan project,” Adam continued. He spoke in a loud whisper, like he was worried someone would overhear them. “They’re stealing DNA and making a drug out of it.”
Now Renata was worried about Adam. Were the HIV drugs making him paranoid? Or maybe he was always this way. But even if it were true, it had nothing to do with her.
“Yeah, so?” Was she being rude? It had been a long drive and she wasn’t up for being this crazy guy’s therapist. Anyhow, Fitzer wasn’t her concern; she had her Agri-Gen project, and that was what mattered. Taking a deep breath, Renata reminded herself of the romantic night in Guatemala. She tried to humor Adam by saying, “Isn’t that what all pharmaceutical companies do?”
“Well, I read online that they’re trying to make a female-specific Viagra, and they’re using human DNA.”
Good for them, thought Renata. If Adam wanted to attack Fitzer, that was fine, but they were her paying customer.
Adam paused, giving Renata a deep look. Renata was nonplussed. So what? Adam had called her all the way here to tell her this, and still no apology about exposing her? Not okay!
“And the thing is, they’re using these sample proteins called REN.” He shot her a striking look.
“Yeah, and?!” Renata had no idea what Adam was getting at, and her annoyance level was rising. She wasn’t a reporter and didn’t care ab
out Fitzer’s other projects. He was a sweet guy, but still! The food came to the table, and it steamed along with Renata’s frustration.
“Don’t you think it’s a little weird they’re calling their protein REN?”
“No. What does it matter?”
“It’s just that the project is paired with yours, and your name begins with R E N. I think they got the proteins from your body.”
Now Adam was pushing it. “How did you find all this out?” Maybe changing the subject slightly would help. Then Renata could eat her meal and go home.
“Online, and from a reliable source. They said your name in a pharmaceutical chat group in Germany. I stumbled on it when I was researching your project. You see, I’m fluent in German, my grandparents were from there, so—” Adam paused awkwardly. He could tell that Renata wasn’t buying his theory. “Um, yeah. What do you think?”
Adam reached for her hand, but Renata picked up her fork instead. She took a bite of the eggs. The hollandaise was creamy and rich. Renata didn’t know what to think. Adam’s story was crazy, but she knew how intelligent he was. She swallowed a big bite of the eggs Benedict.
Adam ignored his cheeseburger and continued, “The thing is that the lab where they’re researching is right there.” Adam pointed over Renata’s shoulder across the street, and she turned. There was a brick building with green rectangles of perfect lawn in front. She craned her neck to see the modest sign above the door.
Renata turned back to Adam. “What’s the Lindahl Gage Center?” She had assumed the neighborhood was residential. She subtly adjusted the condiment holder so that it would be in the true center of their small table. Could Adam’s idea be real? “Why do you think that they’re using my proteins, and what are they doing with them in there?” Renata gave him her full attention. “And why would they have heard of me in Germany?”
Pressing his lips together, Adam reached for Renata’s hand again. This time she let him take it. “Take a look at this.” He faced his phone toward her. He had bookmarked a picture from the German website.
Renata saw a petri dish. “So?” she asked.
Adam zoomed in on the picture and showed her the tiny handwriting on the lid. It said, “Renata Alvarez.”
“Oh, my God! No way! But how? And why me?”
“How? They took your protein somehow. They stole it from you, from your DNA, unless you gave them permission?”
“No way! I don’t know anything about that!” Renata was upset. Her hand quivered, and Adam held it harder.
“I don’t know how or why, but I do know where. It’s there.” Adam pointed to the Lindahl building again.
“There?”
“According to the chat board, it is. A German guy who just got fired took the photo. He’s all upset about losing his job, so he was trying to sell his research to a competitor. He didn’t know your name or anything.”
“What should I do?” Renata was shaking, but now with anger.
Adam pulled Renata closer and whispered, “I have a plan.”
23
Teachers
There was a school next to Sally’s called Jackson High. What would a science teacher wear? Renata wondered. She thought back to Ms. Howell and her matronly figure. Her teacher hadn’t been stylish, but she was smart. Tenth grade was where Renata had discovered her aptitude for science. That class had always seemed too short. Ms. Howell had helped Renata understand that she was smart, too – and here she was, the head of a major agricultural project.
Now that she had calmed down after Adam’s initial revelation, Renata wasn’t sure how seriously to be taking this. Perhaps Adam’s creativity had embellished the dangers of the conspiracy he had uncovered – if he had even uncovered one. Perhaps there was some innocent explanation; although she couldn’t think what that might be. In any case, she was determined to go along for the ride. If there really was any merit to Adam’s outlandish theory, she wanted to know; and if there wasn’t, it would put her mind at ease. Meanwhile, Renata still hadn’t brought up the HIV thing, and she wasn’t sure if she should.
Renata half wished she could wear a sexy schoolgirl outfit, instead of having to dress as a teacher. She pulled a Halloween costume out of the closet: a skimpy pleated skirt, knee socks, and a tight sweater. If only she could be a schoolgirl that had grown into a teacher—but no. She tried on the glasses that came with the costume. Her eyes looked larger, and they made her look academic. The glasses could work, Renata thought. She put on the same jeans she had worn to Sally’s and a white blouse. In the mirror, she looked hot. The blouse accentuated her bust, and the glasses were sexy. Too sexy for a science teacher. She swapped the blouse for an oversized T-shirt and strapped on her old fanny pack. Perfect. Now she looked older and frumpy.
With her messenger bag slung over her shoulder, Renata carefully placed the dart gun in a zipper pocket. She dropped her entire purse into the laptop section and thought about throwing in her Pitbull. But bringing the gun loaded, jumbled with all her other junk, was unwise. Instead, she strapped on the lady holster from Kenny and wore her piece just above her belt. Between the fanny pack and the holster, Renata looked like she had gained ten pounds.
I’m outside, Renata texted Adam from her car.
“Let’s get some coffee,” Adam said as he slid into the passenger’s seat. Renata pulled into the drive-thru to order. She put on her latest playlist – Pharrell, ZZWard, and Coldplay – while sipping her iced coffee.
“So, what’s the deal with you and HIV?” There. It was out, finally. Renata sighed.
“Oh, that,” Adam replied. “I guess I got exposed somehow, and I tested positive.” His face flushed. “But it’s not what you think. I mean, it is HIV, but it can stay just HIV. Indefinitely.” Adam laughed uncomfortably. “It’s not a death sentence or anything, and I’m super careful about not spreading it.” He turned to Renata and put his hand gently on her leg as she drove. “Really, I would never hurt you.”
Not that again, Renata thought, but he was sweet.
“Have you been tested?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m negative. Alexa told me about you, so I went in.”
Now Adam sighed. “Okay, great.” He stared at his sneakers on the car floor. “So, are you okay with me?”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, yeah, I am.” Renata cleared her throat. Adam’s honesty was brutal and disarming. “It’s freaky, that’s all,” she said. They drove in silence until they arrived at the school next to Sally’s. Renata parked around the corner from the lab, where her car wouldn’t be seen from the building.
“Oh, and here’s this. Let me do the honors.” Adam slipped a gold band onto Renata’s left ring finger and said, “I do.” He laughed. “I figure a married couple will be more realistic.”
Adam held the door for Renata and sauntered up to the reception desk. “We’re here to see Dr. Claussen. we’re from the school across the street.”
“Let me see, Dr. Claussen, just a moment,” the receptionist replied.
A bulky guy in a white lab coat came out to greet them. “I’m Mr. Weiss, and this is my wife, Martha.” Adam’s voice lilted — he was a good actor.
“Dr. Claussen, nice to meet you both.” The man shook Adam’s hand. “What can I help you with?
“I’m the science teacher from Jackson.” Adam waved in the direction of the school building. “We spoke earlier. Some of the kids have asked me about your lab. Would it be possible to bring them over sometime for a field trip?
“Of course. We love kids here,” Dr. Claussen chirped enthusiastically.
There was an awkward moment of silence. Then Adam said, “I want to make a flyer to get the kids interested. Would you have time for a quick tour?
“Sure, I’ve got some time right now, actually. Why don’t you two follow me?” He first brought them into a large room filled with machines. The machines were on, and the room was filled with mechanical chatter. It reminded Renata of being underwater.
“Our lab primarily focus
es on drug-discovery tools for basic sciences and pharma research. These machines automate cellular imagery and microscopy. These are our scanners, and further back we have storage freezers, containment areas, and clean rooms.” He gestured deeper where there was a series of closed doors.
“Can we tour those areas?” Adam asked, “I mean, with the kids?”
“I’m sorry, but those areas are highly quarantined, so only people wearing clean suits can go in.” Dr. Claussen frowned. “We could show them the electron microscopes.” He gestured to the back of a young man who was so engrossed in what he was doing that he hadn’t looked up as the visitors entered. Now that they were focused on him, he unwrapped himself from the machine and stood up from the desk.
“This is Brian,” Dr. Claussen said. “He can explain what he’s working on, and when the kids show up, we can let them have a peek in the lens.”
Brian spoke slowly to Adam and Renata. “Let’s see, I’m doing two things here, in two sizes. The first is an isolation of DNA, which is the small size project. The larger size project is bacterial. Bacteria are a lot larger than DNA, but of course you know that.” He made that sound like a question. “The long-term goal is to isolate a specific DNA code and reproduce it as a host. After that, we can grow engineered bacteria on it. Those bacteria will be reproduced and synthesized for medical use. Does that make sense?” Brian had avoided eye contact with them, but now he stole a look at the supposed teachers.
“Very nice. We can explain to the class before we visit.” Adam smiled at the scientists. “What’s the name of the project?” Adam had taken out a tablet and was typing notes in a very teacherly manner.
“This project is called R-E-N,” Dr. Claussen answered, spelling out the word.
“REN? What does that stand for? Is it your only project at the moment?” Adam pressed. Renata noticed he was talking quickly.
Dr. Claussen took them back toward the exit as Brian folded back into his microscope. “This facility handles one project at a time, and we see it through to completion if possible. The material is called REN, so that’s where the name is from.”