The Gender Experiment: (A Thriller)

by L. J. Sellers

  He watched the rearview mirror obsessively for the first five minutes on the road but didn’t see a car following. After almost rear-ending a truck, he settled on occasional checks behind him. But he couldn’t let down his guard. Until when? Until his article hit the national media. When everyone knew about the gender experiment, there would be no point in killing him to keep it quiet. Unless, they simply wanted revenge. Even if the FBI caught the man who’d taken Taylor, the military had thousands of trained killers. He might never be safe. Jake’s throat dried up, and he gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles hurt. What the hell had he gotten into?

  St. Paul’s Medical Center sat on the edge of a massive city park. Jake glanced up at the third floor and thought the patients must have a nice view. Not that women in labor cared much about that. He entered the parking garage, stopped at the ticketed gate, then circled his way up to the third level. As he shut off the car, his reporter routine kicked in, and he reached in his backpack for a notepad. But he couldn’t find it. Had he left it at the hotel? No worries. He would record the conversation on his phone. He checked his face and hair in the mirror. Shit! He hadn’t shaved in days, and his T-shirt was wrinkled. He looked like a homeless man. Jake’s gut contracted. He was homeless. But not for long. He pulled on his sweatshirt to cover the ugly T-shirt and climbed out of the car. Straightening his shoulders, he walked toward the building. As long as he looked confident and friendly, people would trust him. Or so his dad used to say. But the world today was different. People were more suspicious, especially here in Colorado where they’d had four mass shootings.

  An engine rumbled in the dark concrete space, and he spun around. A middle-aged woman with several kids in a minivan. No one had followed him.

  Once inside, the pinkish hospital walls and narrow, windowless corridors unnerved him. This probably wouldn’t go well. At the main desk, he approached a woman in scrubs. Her short hair was cobalt blue. Interesting choice. “I’m Jake Wilson. I called about meeting with Dr. Novak.”

  She gave him a once over. “Uuhh, right. He’s still in the delivery room, but when he’s out, I’ll let him know you’re here.” She pointed down the hall. “There’s a family lounge you can wait in.”

  Jake thanked her and strode toward the waiting room. Maybe there would be some free food, like a tray of donuts, or at least coffee.

  The little space had a couch, three padded chairs, and a table with a coffee urn. Thank god. He filled a disposal cup, sat down, and turned on Taylor’s laptop. But before he delved back into the patient data, he would try Seth again. His third call since last night.

  After five rings, a pleasant female voice answered. “This is a nurse at St. Paul’s. The person you’re trying to reach is a patient here. I hope you’re a friend or family member.”

  Seth was in this hospital! “Uh, I’m a friend. What’s wrong with Seth?”

  “I can’t give you any information without his permission, but you should come see him. Oh.” She sounded surprised. “He’s waking up. I have to go.” The connection went dead.

  What the hell? Had Seth been shot by the assassin but somehow survived? Did the killer know his victim was here? Jake shut off the laptop and jumped to his feet. He had to find Seth, but this was the wrong floor. Jake rushed to the nurses’ desk. “Can you tell me what room Seth Wozac is in? He’s a friend, and I just heard he was here. I might as well visit him while I wait.”

  “How do you spell that?”

  Jake rattled it off. “If I give you my phone number, will you call me when Dr. Novak is available?”

  “Sure.” She didn’t sound sincere. “Your friend is in room two-seventeen. That’s intensive care. They may not let you in.” The nurse handed him a small sticky note. “Write your name and number for me, and I’ll give it to Dr. Novak.”

  Jake made himself write neatly, then rushed down the hall to the elevator. Seth was in critical condition, and the nurse had answered his phone. That was bad news. She must think Seth might die. The reality of it hit him hard, and Jake slowed down. Warning Seth now seemed almost pointless and cruel. But he had to see him anyway. Seth might be able to describe his attacker. He might even know something about the experiment he’d been part of.

  Jake took the elevator down one floor, followed the signs to the ICU, and pressed the buzzer. A young male voice asked who he wanted to see, then let him in. They obviously weren’t worried about Seth’s safety. After Jake entered the ward, the young man in lavender scrubs reported, “Seth is recovering nicely, but we’re concerned about his mental health. Will you help him understand that he needs to talk to our staff psychiatrist?”

  They thought Seth was crazy. Because he’d talked about the experiment? “What happened to him?” They walked down a wide corridor with glass walls defining the patient rooms. When they entered Seth’s area, he was sitting up on the edge of his bed. He stared at Jake with wild eyes. Seth didn’t know him and didn’t look happy to see him. Jake turned to the guy in scrubs. “Will you give us some privacy?”

  “All right.” The nurse stepped out and closed the sliding glass door.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Even seated and wearing a hospital gown, Seth was a big man. About the same height as Jake, but broader with thick arms and legs. He had short facial hair and a wide jaw and didn’t look androgynous like Zion and Taylor.

  “I’m Jake Wilson. Sorry to barge in here, but I have to talk to you about Carson Obstetrics and the circumstances of your birth.”

  Curiosity flickered in Seth’s gray eyes, but anger took over. “Whatever the hell happened, I fixed it. So fuck that. I’m getting out of here.” Seth stood on wobbly legs. “If you want to help me, find my pants!”

  He didn’t look ready to leave the hospital, but maybe it was the safest thing for him. “They’re probably in a plastic bag somewhere.” Jake strode across the room and started opening cabinets. “What happened? Did someone assault you?” Jake looked over his shoulder as he talked.

  Seth laughed, a harsh sound. “I assaulted myself and yanked out a little extra something I had in my gut.”

  What the hell was he talking about? “You did some kind of self-surgery?”

  “None of your fucking business. Hand me my clothes.”

  Jake found the bag and passed it to the patient. “I came here to warn you. I think someone might try to kill you.”

  Seth’s brow wrinkled. “No shit? I almost beat them to it.” Another mocking laugh, then he turned serious. “What does this have to do with my birth?” He pulled on his pants under the hospital gown.

  “I think the military conducted an experiment with pregnant women in 1995.” Jake paused. Seth didn’t look gender-fluid and might resent being lumped in with people who were. “Many of the babies born to those women have gender issues.”

  Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You mean like having a uterus inside your male body?”

  Poor dude. “Yes, stuff like that.”

  “Are you fucking for real? They did this to me on purpose?” His cheeks puffed and turned bright red.

  “I think they were testing a drug, and it had unexpected consequences.”

  “Those motherfuckers!” Seth slammed a hand down on the tray by his bed.

  “I’m sorry, but I think you’re on a list to be terminated as well.”

  “Are you fucking serious? It’s not enough to ruin my life? Now they want to end it too? Why?”

  Taylor had suspected it was because of his fascination with fire, but Jake wouldn’t share that yet. “I don’t know, but I’m working on it.”

  Seth suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and flopped back on the bed. The flush in his cheeks faded and he blinked rapidly. “I need some pain meds.”

  “Should I get your nurse?”

  “Not yet. Tell me more about this experiment.”

  “I’m still investigating, but the women who had intersex babies were given a drug called ImmuNatal. They were all patients at Carson Obstetrics, which is connected to the military ho
spital inside the Fort Carson base.”

  “My father was stationed at Fort Carson when I was born.” Seth rolled his eyes. “He’s a military asshole.”

  “I have a list of the intersex babies born in 1996.” Jake had to tell him. “Four names are marked, including yours. The other three people are dead.”

  Seth stared, opened-mouthed. “First, I’m not intersex, so don’t ever say that again. But if I am on the list, I’m not going down easy. Now that I finally know what was wrong with me and got it the hell out of my body, I’m ready to really live.”

  What a strange, brave man. “How are you feeling? I’m not sure the hospital is a safe place for you.” Jake was thinking of Dr. Novak. If he was involved in the experiment and reported Jake’s presence—

  “I’m good. And I was leaving anyway.” Seth pulled shoes and socks out of the plastic bag. “No shirt, huh?”

  The ER docs had probably cut if off him. Jake was curious about Seth’s self-surgery and how he ended up in the hospital, but that conversation could wait. He had a sudden sense of urgency. “Here, take my sweatshirt. It might be small, but it’s better than nothing.” Jake pulled it off. “Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

  “I’d like to go home.”

  “It may not be safe there.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m off the grid. I don’t even get mail there.”

  Was he paranoid? “Ok. But be careful. Do you still need the pain meds?”

  “Nah. I’ve got medication at home.”

  Whatever that meant. A drug addiction?

  Seth, fully dressed now, stood again. “Where are you parked? I don’t know how far I can walk.”

  “On the third floor of the garage. I’ll go get a wheelchair.” Jake stepped out of the room, remembering his quest to interview Dr. Novak. He would take Seth home and come back. He stopped a nurse walking by. “Can I get a wheelchair for my friend?”

  She looked startled. “For Seth? He’s not ready to go anywhere.”

  “He’s dressed and anxious to leave.” Jake gave her a charming smile. “I don’t think I can stop him, so I might as well keep him from hurting himself again.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’ll talk to him.” The nurse turned toward Seth’s room.

  He stood in the doorway, looking pained and angry. “Fuck the wheelchair. Let’s just go.”

  Jake didn’t know if he should offer an arm for the guy to lean on or not. Seth seemed a bit macho, even defensive. But discovering a uterus inside your body could do that to a guy. Jake wondered again about Taylor’s body. He really hoped she didn’t have a penis. It was stupid that it mattered to him, since they’d already decided they would just be friends. But still, he was attracted to her, so the idea of her having male body parts kind of freaked him out. He would just have to get over it.

  Jake stepped next to Seth and held out his arm. The injured man made a grunting noise, but after two steps, grabbed onto Jake’s elbow. They moved slowly toward the elevator. As they reached it, the nurse jogged up behind them with a wheelchair. “Please take it easy,” she implored.

  Seth flopped down into the chair and mumbled, “Just until I get some pain relief.”

  The nurse handed him a white pill. “I was on my way to bring you this.”

  Seth swallowed it dry, the elevator doors opened, and Jake rolled him in.

  In Taylor’s car, Jake turned to his wounded passenger. “Where do you live?”

  “I’ll direct you as we go. And you can’t ever tell anyone!”

  “No problem.” Jake started the car and backed out. “Can I ask why it matters?”

  “I don’t want my parents bugging me.”

  “They’re looking for you?”

  “My mother has searched for me.” Seth glanced around. “But she’s not the only one.”

  He was paranoid! “Who else is looking for you?”

  “I don’t know, but someone’s been watching me since I was thirteen.”

  “That seems unusual. How do you know?”

  “It’s mostly a feeling, but there’s little stuff too. Like seeing the same dude in completely different places, like at the school, then two years later near the skate park.” Seth laughed, with less bitterness. “I walked over to confront him, but the chickenshit drove away in a hurry.”

  Maybe Seth wasn’t paranoid. “I wonder if watching you is part of the experiment. Maybe they’re keeping tabs on the kids as they become adults. That might be why your name was marked. They think you’re a problem somehow.”

  “Yeah, everybody does.” Seth dropped his seat back and stretched out. “But stuff will calm down for me now. Discovering that thing in my body was pretty fucked up. Then I realized it explained my confusion and self-loathing, and it was a relief to know. I’m in hella pain, but my brain feels better.”

  “Good to hear.” Jake cleared his throat. “But why take it out yourself? Wouldn’t a doctor remove it?”

  “The bitch said it was harmless. When I pushed for the surgery, the consultant said I needed seventeen thousand cash up front. And that’s just the surgeon’s fee, not including the hospital.” The bitterness was back.

  “Well, I guess you got it done.”

  “Damn straight.” Seth sat up for a moment. “Head toward the old part of town. I live in the basement of a friend’s house.

  Jake made a left out of the parking garage. “I have to drop you off and come back to the hospital. There’s a doctor I need to talk to. In fact, he delivered you.”

  Seth snapped his head toward Jake. “The one who gave my mother the drug? I’ll fucking kill him.”

  Oh boy, this guy was a hothead. “The doctors at the clinic may not have known what was going on. They have been told the drug was beneficial. I hope to get more details soon.”

  “You have to tell me, man. I want to know.”

  “I will.” Jake made another left and glanced in the rearview mirror. Was that a black SUV? Yes, but the vehicle pulled off the street and he lost sight of it. He decided to tell Seth about Taylor and the others. “I know about all of this because I found one of the dead subjects. Zion was on the hit list too. So was Taylor. She works in the morgue and figured out what was going on.” Jake choked up and could hardly continue. “They abducted her yesterday.”

  “No shit? People are dead and missing?” Seth’s macho receded a little.

  “I called the FBI, and they’re sending an agent, maybe even a team, from headquarters.”

  Seth crossed his arms. “I’m not talking to the feds. Count me out.”

  Jake tried to ease the troubled man’s mind. “I won’t tell them where to find you. Hopefully, they’ll be focused on locating Taylor and the assassin.”

  “This shit is too weird.”

  Jake kept quiet. He was plotting his next move. If Dr. Novak wouldn’t talk to him, then it might make sense to leak some of the story to a friend at the Denver Post. If the media reported certain events—like Taylor’s disappearance and Seth’s self-surgery—it might actually protect all of them. Media coverage could backfire too. The people who’d conducted the experiment might panic and destroy all the evidence—including Taylor.

  Chapter 26

  An hour earlier, Stratton Research Complex

  Devin stepped into the major’s office and tensed. Something was wrong. He had that stiff, flushed look she knew so well. “What happened, sir?”

  “Seth Wozac is in the hospital. Paramedics carried him out of his house after he cut open his abdomen. His monitor thinks he tried to commit suicide.”

  That would be convenient. “Did he succeed?”

  “Don’t be a smart ass. He’s in the ICU at St. Paul’s, and I don’t think it was a suicide attempt.” The major was still standing. “Maybe Wozac is mixed gender too. Some hermaphrodites have extra sex organs on the inside, so maybe he tried to remove something. As fucked up as he is, that wouldn’t surprise me. We need to silence him and keep this out of the press.”

  “Yes, sir, I’ll get i
t done.” Devin recalled the discussion about the need for the terminations. “You knew the pyromaniacs couldn’t be trusted not to bring media attention to themselves and the clinic.”

  “I was worried about a major arson fire, not a damn self-surgery.” The major scowled. “The hospital will probably insist that Wozac undergo a psychological evaluation. If he discusses his gender issues or his birth circumstances, we could have trouble.” Her father poured a shot and downed it. “Others in the first group have undergone counseling and two committed suicide. Colorado Springs is a small town, and some shrink or physician will start putting it together. Sometimes, I think we should shut down all the original subjects.”

  Kill thirty more people? The thought horrified Devin. “But most of them moved away. I don’t think that will be necessary, sir.” She also had to reassure the major that she would handle the last two targets and that things would smooth over. The hospital setting was challenging though. What about an overdose? Could she slip in and out without being seen? Patients in the ICU were closely watched. Show no weakness! “People die in the hospital all the time,” she finally said. “I’ll get it done.”

  “Today!” The major’s expression shifted, and Devin couldn’t read it. The old man paced as he talked. “We need to silence Jake Wilson immediately too. Can you handle both, or do I need to bring in someone else? The CIA director has offered one of his operatives.”

  Devin flinched. Why did he doubt her? She’d taken care of all the other pyro subjects and brought in Lopez without incident. “I can handle it, as I have the others.”

  The major nodded. “You’ve done well, son. But now it’s about timing. We no longer have the luxury of carefully planned terminations.”

  The praise surprised her, and Devin took a moment to savor it. “I can act quickly. I believe the reporter is staying in a motel near the clinic and driving Lopez’s car, so he’ll be easy to locate. The ICU will be more challenging, but a diversion might be a successful tactic.”