by R. D. Brady
Carter snorted. Academics—a bunch of smarty-pants writing articles for each other. But Brannick was different. She was going out on her own, away from the mainstream. He respected that. He knew that while the greatest risk was in ventures like these, so were the rewards.
“But I think it is her own personal experience that gives her the edge,” Thaddeus continued. “She knows she will be successful, because she has already met bigfoot.”
A childhood obsession—just like me. They were both focused on finding the beast. And together, they would succeed.
The financial windfall from the find would be astronomical. From a pure marketing standpoint, the potential profit was incalculable. And for a man known for being able to break everything down to dollars and cents, that was truly saying something. Who wouldn’t pay an arm and a leg to see a bigfoot—live and in person?
But even the financial windfall paled in comparison to what else could be gained. If the hominid existed, it had a strength and build that far eclipsed that of any human. If they could harness that for the military, or figure out a way to genetically modify humans to achieve that same physique… why, that military would be unstoppable.
Of course, Carter knew he wasn’t the first to have thought of the military applications of genetically modifying humans. Back during the Cold War, the USSR had attempted to merge animals and humans in an effort to increase the physical capabilities of their soldiers. It all began with a Soviet biologist named Ilya Ivanovich Ivanov, the first person to figure out how to artificially inseminate animals. The USSR contracted him to create super soldiers using a mixture of apes and humans, so he went to Congo to inseminate chimps with human sperm. But he failed. Attempts at using monkey sperm on human volunteers also failed.
Yet other attempts had demonstrated that cross-species breeding was possible. There was the liger, for instance: part tiger, part lion. And the zebroid: a cross between a zebra and either a horse or donkey. Grolars: a cross between a grizzly and a polar bear. And wholphins: a whale/dolphin hybrid. The list went on.
The biggest problem with the Soviet research, Carter thought, had been the use of gorillas. They simply weren’t genetically compatible enough with humans. But if Carter was right, bigfoot was even more closely related to humans than apes were.
Which meant there was a stronger possibility of success.
Carter twirled his chair and grabbed the cane next to his desk. He stood and swayed. Thaddeus did not move to help him—he knew better.
The moment of weakness annoyed Carter, but it also reinforced why he needed Tess Brannick to succeed. Besides the lucrative marketing and military angles, there was a much more personal angle that Carter was counting on. Bigfoot was strength personified; perhaps the creature might provide a cure, or at least a treatment, for muscular degenerative diseases.
But even if that failed, the discovery of bigfoot would define Carter’s legacy. When he passed, his name and image would live on as one of the twenty-first century’s greatest discoverers. He would be forever known as the man who found bigfoot. He would not live forever, but his discovery and his name would.
“How much would help her succeed?” Carter asked.
“Five hundred thousand dollars.”
Carter did a quick calculation in his mind. “Make it a million. And make sure she signs the contract and that we get twice-monthly updates.”
Thaddeus back out of the room. “Very well, sir.”
He turned to the wall of windows, his thigh muscles protesting even this small exercise. Dr. Brannick, you have just become my greatest hope.
CHAPTER 9
After the video conference call, Tess walked back to the banquet hall in a daze. Carter Hayes is interested in my work. She couldn’t believe it. She hit the button for the lobby as if she were sleepwalking. She crossed her fingers. Oh, please let him fund me.
The doors popped open, and she resolved to force the meeting with Carter Hayes from her mind. He would be a wonderful benefactor, but he was not a lock. She had to focus on other possibilities. Composing herself, she stepped out of the elevator and headed for the main ballroom.
But despite her best intentions, she couldn’t stop thinking about the meeting. As a result, she spent the next hour and a half speaking with people about her work without any real idea of what she was saying. She just hoped she was making sense. The time passed in a blur, and when she finally returned to her room, it was with great relief that she slipped back into her normal clothes: jeans and boots. Her feet thanked her profusely.
But there was no time to lie down. She had another appointment—a much more enjoyable one. And sure enough, the minute she’d gotten changed, her phone chimed. She pulled it out.
We’re outside.
With a huge smile, Tess hurried down to the lobby and stepped outside.
“There she is!” Pax jogged over, a giant grin on his face. He threw his arms around her.
Tess hugged him back. “It’s so good to see you.”
Pax pulled away, looking her over from head to toe. “You need to leave the forest more, but you still look great.”
She grinned. He looked good, too—trim, tan, and his dark hair was lighter. But he also seemed a little fitter and stronger as well. “You too. It looks like married life agrees with you.”
He looped his arm through hers. “That it does.”
Pax’s husband Shawn walked over. And here’s the reason why Pax looks so good. Shawn was six foot six, with dark skin, dark eyes, a ridiculous amount of muscle, and a smile that lit up a room. A Navy SEAL for fifteen years, he’d given up going on active missions when he married Pax, but he still kept in phenomenal shape by putting new recruits through their paces at the Naval Special Warfare Center at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado.
Shawn pulled her into a hug, lifting her off the ground. “Ah, my little sister.”
She laughed, whacking him on the shoulder. “Put me down.”
Shawn did with a smile. “We don’t like you being so far away. When are you moving here?”
“Never. But you two are always welcome to move back home.”
It was their running argument. Pax and Tess were as close as brother and sister could be. And when Shawn and Pax had started to get serious, that closeness had extended to him as well. They all wished they could move closer to each other, but jobs kept them in different spaces. Pax was the marketing director for a genetic lab based in San Diego. He used to run one of the labs, but he was happier after the move to the PR position. “Fewer test tubes and more people,” as he explained.
And seeing as Bigfoot didn’t often hang around in downtown San Diego, moving was not really an option for any of them.
“But we are all still agreed that we’re retiring together at Catalina Island, right?” Tess asked.
“We’re in,” Pax said. “Now let’s eat.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were seated at a quiet Italian restaurant. Tess grabbed a roll from the bread basket. “So, what’s going on at work?”
“Oh, same old—except there was a big hubbub about a paternity test that was done at the lab involving an unnamed celebrity,” Pax said. “The media has been camped out trying to get the name. I’ve been fielding calls all week. It’s been a zoo.”
“And he’s loving every minute of it,” Shawn said.
Pax grinned. “That I am.”
Tess smiled as she watched the easy camaraderie between the two. She’d had that with her fiancée, David, too. It had been as if they could read each other’s minds. The thought of David still hurt. Three years after his death, though, she was finally able to think about him without debilitating sadness. Now it was merely an ache, one that, she knew, would never completely go away. He had been young, and kind, and hers. And a drunk driver had taken him away.
Her phone rang, jarring her back to the present.
Shawn frowned. “I thought the no-phone rule was in place.”
“Sorry. But I’m waiting to hear on a gran
t.” She read the name on her screen and stood up. “Holy crap. It’s them.”
“Go get ’em,” Pax called after her as she made for the quieter balcony.
Steeling herself, Tess answered. “Hello?”
“Dr. Brannick, Thaddeus Regan here.”
“Mr. Regan. Nice to hear from you again.”
“Yes, you as well. Mr. Hayes has decided to fund your research for two years. At the end of two years, depending on how the research is progressing, he will have an option to extend. Five hundred thousand dollars annually is the amount we have reached. Would that be acceptable to you?”
Tess’s head spun. Five hundred thousand dollars. She could get new cameras, maybe hire an assistant, afford electricity and food. Holy cow. “Um, yes, yes. That is acceptable.”
“Excellent. I’ve emailed you a copy of the contract. Please review it, have it notarized, and send it back to the address listed within the week. Mr. Hayes looks forward to sharing your research successes.”
Thaddeus disconnected the call without waiting for a reply. But that was fine with Tess, because she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to form one. She walked back to the table in a daze.
Pax took her hand as she resumed her seat. “Tess?”
She looked over at him and saw the concern on his face. Shaking herself from her shock, she said, “I’ve been funded for two years by Carter Hayes.”
Both Shawn and Pax went quiet, then both got up and hugged her.
“I am so proud of you,” Pax said.
“I knew you could do it,” Shawn said.
The waiter appeared. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
Pax grinned. “Margaritas all around. We’re celebrating.”
CHAPTER 10
The next afternoon, Tess got off the plane at Susanville Municipal Airport with a groan. The sun was awfully bright. She said a silent thank-you that she hadn’t driven herself to the airport.
Last night, she, Pax, and Shawn had celebrated with margaritas. Lots of margaritas. They’d left Pax’s car at the restaurant and taken a cab back to his and Shawn’s place. This morning, Tess had then had to rush to the hotel to grab her stuff, check out, and get to the airport.
Now her head pounded as she made her way past the gates at baggage claim. A tall brunette in khaki slacks and a sweater made her way over with a smile.
“Well, you look like hell,” Abby Newman said.
Tess groaned. “Must you yell?”
Abby laughed as she hugged her. “I’m barely whispering.”
“And yet…”
Abby took Tess’s bag. “Let me get this. You take these.” She handed Tess a bottle of water and two aspirin.
“How…?”
“Pax called. He was worried you’d be a little bad off.”
Tess took the pills gratefully. She’d taken some this morning before she left, but the droning plane had not helped her pounding head.
“Sasha is meeting us at the curb. Do you have another bag?”
Tess shook her head. “Nope. Traveling light.”
Abby took her arm. “Come on, lightweight. Let’s go.”
They headed for the automatic doors that led to the passenger pick-up area. Even from here, Tess could see Sasha’s bright blue FJ Cruiser. Sasha bolted from the driver’s door with a squeal as Abby and Tess stepped onto the pavement—and all the men nearby stopped to watch. At five foot two, Sasha was petite and busty, with a body that even Tess could admit was sexy as hell, long dark wavy hair, and a pouty mouth that you usually found only with a plastic surgeon’s help.
Sasha wrapped Tess in a hug. “Congratulations!” Tess had called both Sasha and Abby last night with the news of the grant.
Tess hugged her back. “Thanks, but not so loud.”
Sasha grinned. “Lightweight. So, I’m guessing lunch is on you?”
“You got it.”
Twenty minutes later, the three of them were tucked into a booth at the back of Poor Richard’s. They ordered sandwiches and drinks, and when the waitress left, Abby turned to Tess. “You ready to talk about the contract?”
In addition to being one of Tess’s best friends, Abby was also a lawyer, and Tess had sent her the contract last night to look over.
Tess cleared her head and took a handful of chips. “Yeah. What do you think?”
“I think there are a lot of strings.”
Tess had expected that, of course. But from Abby’s expression, she could tell her friend was not happy with the number of strings.
“Okay. Tell me.”
“Well, according to this, any discovery you make, Hayes gets credit for. He gets top billing. From the way this is worded, you work for him as a practically unnamed employee.”
Tess had been expecting something like that, but not quite so strong. “Well, I’m not really looking for the notoriety. But how would that affect my research? How would it affect my publications?”
“You couldn’t have any. Everything would have to go through Hayes and be sent out by Hayes, if he agrees.”
Tess’s stomach dropped “So are you saying, that even though I’m the lead researcher, Hayes will have the rights to anything I discover and veto power over anything I try to publish?”
Abby nodded. “And that includes all your casts, hair samples, et cetera, too.”
“I can’t do that. I can’t hand everything over. Especially the casts.” Tess shook her head, her hopes dimming. “I mean, I need the grant money, but not if he ties my hands with regard to the research. That’s the whole point.”
“I know. And there’s another issue I’m concerned about. There’s nothing in here that allows you to sever the relationship with Hayes. You would essentially be locked in for two years, and there are huge penalties if you don’t come through.”
Tess slumped down in her seat. “So this grant is not a dream come true after all. It’s a nightmare.”
Abby reached out and squeezed Tess’s hand. “Let me call his people. I’ll see if I can rework the contract, make it more palatable. But… if I can’t do that, will you be willing to walk away?”
Tess looked away. Ever since what had happened with her father, she had focused on this one goal: proving bigfoot exists. And she knew she was close. But with this contract, Hayes would take over. He would control every aspect of her research. She couldn’t let that happen.
She sighed. “If I have to, I’ll walk.”
CHAPTER 11
Madge and Shelby were waiting on the porch when Sasha and Tess drove up. Madge invited them both to dinner. Sasha accepted, but Tess declined. She needed to get home and get caught up. She wanted to get everything set up, check emails, grab a shower, and have an early night so she’d be ready to face tomorrow. Plus, after Abby’s review of the contract, she wasn’t really in the mood for company.
When Tess pulled up to her cabin just before dusk, she smiled. Just the sight of her place lifted her spirits. Some people loved the hustle and bustle of the city, but Tess would take a little cabin in the woods any time.
She stepped out and breathed deep. Yup—this was home. She looked around, feeling the quiet. “Come on, girl.”
Shelby was still in the truck. And instead of hopping out and running around like she usually did, she whined and cowered on the floor.
Tess whirled around, looking for what was wrong. But she couldn’t see anything. She reached into the back of the truck and pulled out her shotgun. Whenever she traveled, she left her weapons with Madge—the shotgun, a rifle, and her Browning handgun. Teenagers had broken into empty cabins a few times, and Tess didn’t want to take a chance on them finding her weapons.
“Stay there, girl,” Tess said, closing the door with Shelby inside.
She walked slowly toward the cabin, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary. But she didn’t see or hear anything out of place until she walked around the side of the cabin and saw some broken tree branches scattered on the ground.
She frowned. How’d
these get here? Windstorm? No, her herb garden and flowerpots sat undisturbed on the porch. And Madge hadn’t said anything about bad weather.
She walked to the back of the cabin and froze. Beside the window that looked in over the kitchen sink, a giant footprint was clearly outlined on the ground.
Tess whirled around, her heart pounding. She brought her shotgun to her shoulder. But there was nothing. The forest hummed back at her, giving no indication that a predator was nearby.
Tess began to shake. She’d never had one come this far out before. Had it somehow tracked her? But why?
Slowly she continued to make her way around the cabin. She found another print, a heel print, at the window on the other side. She moved away from the cabin, studying the ground a bit farther out. At about twenty feet from the building, just inside the tree line, she found another print.
Tess looked around, goose bumps breaking out along her skin. There was no smell that she could make out, but she had no doubt that a faint smell was what had scared Shelby. And Tess couldn’t help be a little freaked out as well.
Still, whoever had visited seemed to be gone now. Tess forced the scientist part of her mind to the forefront. Okay, get some casts and let’s see who we’ve got.
She headed back to the cabin, cautious of her surroundings. Nothing set off any alarm bells.
She stopped at the truck and opened the door. “All right, you big chicken, let’s go.”
Shelby just peered up at her from the floor on the passenger side.
Tess adopted a gentler tone. “It’s okay, Shelby. I won’t let anything hurt you. Come.”
Shelby slowly crawled out from her spot. Tess rubbed her back. She hated how hard Shelby was shaking. And she knew that inside, she was shaking just as hard.
CHAPTER 12
Tess headed down the path, her thoughts still on the footprints outside her cabin. She had slept little last night, jumping at every sound. But getting back into her routine energized her. As she rounded a mountain maple, her mind ran over everything she’d learned for the millionth time.