Hominid

by R. D. Brady

  “So what are they?” Shawn asked.

  “They’re humans.”

  “They can’t be humans,” Pax said.

  “I don’t mean to say they’re identical to us, of course,” Tess explained. “The term ‘human’ is really broad. Some people define it as Homo sapiens. Others define it as any living being that’s not an animal. In fact, hominid is a synonym for human. That means in one sense, all hominids are humans.”

  “So they’re more like us than they are like animals?”

  Tess shrugged. “So it seems. In fact, most people think denisovans are closer to us than Neanderthals are. Each year, we seem to find more evidence of new hominids that have existed on this planet—more than twenty at last count. And now we know that many of them even coexisted.”

  Shawn’s eyebrows shot up. “Coexisted?”

  “For the longest time,” Tess said, “academics thought each group was isolated, with no overlap. But fossils keep popping up demonstrating that we’ve shared this planet, at multiple points in our history, with other humans.”

  “This is all a little out there,” Shawn said.

  This time it was Tess who shook her head. “No, it’s really not. It’s just that we humans have always considered ourselves unique, the top of animal kingdom. The idea that we aren’t, even if it’s backed by science, is tough to accept. But it doesn’t make it any less true.”

  “How’s that possible? I mean, twenty hominids,” Shawn said. “We all must have at one point had the same ancestor. So how did we evolve differently?”

  “Probably DUF1220,” Pax said.

  Everyone stopped and stared.

  “What?” Pax said. “I’m in PR now, but I do have multiple degrees in the biological sciences. And I keep up with the field, thank you very much.”

  Shawn cocked an eyebrow. “So what’s the deal with DU-whatever-it-is?”

  “It’s a protein, and researchers believe it may be responsible for increases in human brain capacity. It’s what in essence allowed us to evolve. In fact, it’s even suggested to be a cause of autism,” Dev said.

  “I hadn’t heard about a link to autism,” Tess said. “How so?”

  “In autistic individuals, the brain develops extremely rapidly during the first few years of life. Autistic individuals with a higher number of copies of DUF1220 have more severe symptoms of the disorder—repetitive behaviors, communications difficulties, and social deficits. In short, having more copies of DUF1220 results in an increase in brain development. It’s a whole new direction for autism research.”

  “So you’re suggesting that maybe different hominids have different numbers of these particular genes, resulting in different hominids?” Shawn asked.

  Pax shrugged. “It’s just an idea.”

  “Well, we do know that around six million years ago humans started producing an increased amount of DUF1220, which is what separated us from chimps,” Tess said. “Remember, humans and chimps share 99.8 percent of our DNA. So maybe Pax is right—maybe we started developing different levels of DUF1220, creating different hominids.”

  “And your bigfoot is one of these hominids?” Shawn asked.

  “According to the lab results, that seems to be the case,” Tess said.

  “But if bigfoot is a Homo denisova, basically a cousin of Homo sapiens, why don’t they still interact with us?” Pax asked. “You said they did in the past.”

  Tess looked at Dev, and she knew he was thinking the same thing she was. He turned to Shawn and Pax. “There’s this old tale among the Hoopa about the creation of man by the animals, including bigfoot.” He recounted the same legend he’d told Tess—the one about animals creating humans, the humans being afraid of the bigfoot, and the bigfoot hiding themselves away so as not to frighten the humans further.

  When he was done, Tess said, “I think the story may be true—at least in part. Homo sapiens probably really were terrified of bigfoot—or Homo denisova. At first, anyway. But then we developed tools, and they didn’t. They don’t have an opposable thumb, so they don’t have the level of dexterity necessary to make use of tools. As a result, we began to outpace them technologically—and I’m guessing we weren’t exactly kind about that.”

  “We probably started killing them off at a fast clip,” Shawn said.

  “That’s my theory,” Tess said. “They shifted their behaviors. They became nocturnal. They shunned people. And that’s how they’ve managed to survive.”

  “It sounds impossible,” Pax said.

  “It does sound impossible,” Tess agreed. “Except for the small fact that they exist. And now that we know they exist, we need to make sure that no else does.”

  “Okay. So how?” Dev asked.

  “Well, first, no one can know where Missy has really been this whole time. She was alone in the forest for this last year, okay?”

  The men nodded back at her.

  Tess turned to Pax. “And I need those results destroyed. No one can know what we found.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” Pax said.

  Tess let out a breath, feeling relieved. “Good. I have another hair sample in my collection case, which I’ll also toss, and then—”

  “What hair sample?” Shawn interrupted.

  “Part of the sample from Charlie. I only sent Pax some of it. The rest is in my office in my bookcase.”

  Pax exchanged a look with Shawn. “You mean with your casts?”

  Tess narrowed her eyes. “Yes. Why?”

  Pax spoke slowly. “I’ve been using your office since we arrived. I must have looked at those casts dozens of times. I don’t remember seeing a hair sample.”

  Tess stood up, concerned. “It’s there. You must have overlooked it.” She hurried into the office. Dev, Shawn, and Pax followed her.

  Tess made her way to the case, and her eyes went immediately to the right-hand side of the bottom shelf—the place where she’d placed the hair sample.

  That spot was now empty.

  Tess unlocked the cabinet and started searching every shelf methodically, pushing casts aside. Dev helped. Tess’s panic increased as she continued to look and continued to find nothing. “Where is it?”

  When she reached the last shelf, she turned around, stunned. “It was here. I swear it was here.”

  Pax moved to the desk. “You’re sure there’s not somewhere else you might have placed it? In your desk maybe?”

  Tess shook her head. “No. I put it in the case. But where is it now?”

  Dev shook his head. “You’re asking the wrong question.”

  Tess looked up at him, confused.

  Dev’s voice was grim. “You should be asking who took it.”

  CHAPTER 72

  Tess woke up before the sun had broken the horizon. She had been so exhausted last night after speaking with the guys, she had thought she’d sleep forever. And for a while she did sleep deeply, but then Missy had cried out just after midnight, and Tess had pulled her into her arms, and rocked her. It had taken a while, but Missy eventually had drifted back to sleep. Then Tess lay next to her, holding her hand. Before long she also headed back to dreamland.

  Tess watched the little girl sleep now, wondering how she had gotten here. Tess had never planned on having a child on her own. Certainly not one who was six and was going to need quite a lot of help to adjust.

  But the truth was, the girl had worked her way into Tess’s heart. There was no way Tess could trust her wellbeing to someone else. And Tess knew she needed to keep Missy safe, along with her secret family. She owed all of them that much. But the task ahead of her was terrifying.

  She slept on and off for a little while longer, but gave up as the sun crept over the horizon. She had too many questions and concerns rolling around her mind. Foremost among them: Who had taken the hair sample? She knew it had to be Hayes, somehow. Which led to the next question: What would he do when he got the results?

  Quietly, she rolled off the bed. Missy was curled up with her hand wrap
ped in Shelby’s fur. Tess smiled and then stepped outside the room, closing the door behind her.

  “Coffee?” Shawn whispered from the kitchen.

  She looked up in surprise and made her way over to him. “I thought I was the only early bird.”

  “Nope. But Pax is still out. He hasn’t slept much for the last week.”

  Tess cringed. “I’m so sorry.”

  Shawn waved her words away. “Hey, you were doing what you needed to do. And it’s good for him. Gives him a little taste of what’s to come.”

  “Why? Is he planning on increasing the stress and worry in his life?”

  “I was thinking more of the lack of sleep which we’re hoping might be heading our way soon.”

  Tess was momentarily confused, and then a smile spread across her face. “You guys are adopting?”

  Shawn smiled. “We heard back from the agency. They might have a baby for us in about two months.”

  Tess hugged him. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you two. And I guess that means I’m going to be an aunt.”

  “Yup.” Shawn raised an eyebrow. “And maybe a mother as well?”

  Tess glanced back at the bedroom door. “I don’t know. It’s such a big step. I mean, you guys have been talking about this for two years. Two weeks ago, I wasn’t even thinking about it. Heck, two days ago I wasn’t. It’s a lot to take on.”

  “But you can do it,” Pax said as he climbed down the ladder from the loft. He hugged Tess.

  She returned the hug. “Sorry. Did we wake you?”

  “I heard your voices, but honestly? After these last two weeks, I am more than happy to be woken up by you. Our little friend still asleep?”

  “Yeah.”

  Pax leaned into Shawn, who put an arm around him. “Did you tell her?”

  “I told her about the adoption agency. I thought I’d leave the other part to you,” Shawn said.

  Tess looked between the two of them. “What other part?”

  Pax grinned. “Well, we thought that if the adoption went through, our little rug rat was going to need some family around. So we were thinking it would be good if we moved back here.”

  Tess went still. “Are you serious?”

  Shawn and Pax grinned.

  Tess threw her arms around both of them. “That would be incredible. But what about the Navy? And Pax’s work at the genetics lab?”

  Pax shrugged. “I can do a lot of stuff remotely, and Shawn has been asked to develop a training program for the state police.”

  “And I can do that from anywhere,” Shawn said. “I’ll have to travel anyway. We both will, now and then, but it will be worth it.”

  Tess stepped back, wiping at a tear in her eye.

  “Hey, what’s that about?” Pax asked.

  “Nothing, it’s just—I’ve missed you guys. And the idea of you being around, well… it’s kind of exactly what I need to hear today.”

  “Well, we’re really only moving for the free babysitting,” Pax said.

  Shawn shook his head. “His attempt at humor. I keep telling him he’s not funny.”

  “I’m hysterical,” Pax said.

  Tess laughed. “Yes you are.”

  Pax’s face turned serious, and he took Tess’s hand. “And we’re here for you too. I know taking Missy on is going to be a lot. But you don’t have to do it alone.”

  Tess felt a lump in her throat. “Thanks, guys.”

  The door to the bedroom creaked open, and Missy’s big eyes stared out at them. Tess smiled. “There’s our girl now. Are you hungry?”

  Missy watched them before giving a timid nod.

  “How about some of my famous chocolate chip pancakes?” Tess asked.

  Missy’s eyes got wider.

  “Never had them before?”

  Missy shook her head.

  “Well, you are in for a treat. Come on—you can help me make them.” Tess held out her hand to Missy. And held her breath. The only way this was going to work was if Missy started to trust her.

  It seemed like the seconds passed by incredibly slowly. But then Missy opened the door all the way, walked over to Tess, and took her hand.

  Tess let out the breath she was holding and tried to force back the tears that wanted to leak from her eyes. “Okay, let’s get to work.”

  CHAPTER 73

  Scottsdale, Arizona

  Thaddeus strode into the office. “Yes sir?”

  “Any word from Brannick?” Carter asked.

  “Nothing yet, sir. Would you like me to call Abe?”

  Carter waved Thaddeus away. “No, I’ll handle it myself.”

  Thaddeus departed, and Carter picked up the phone and punched in the number. He drummed his fingers on the desk.

  Abe’s voice finally came over the line. “Yeah?”

  Carter didn’t waste time with hello. “Has Brannick been found?”

  “Actually, the search for her was just called off. I swung by the sheriff’s office and learned she’s back.”

  “Good. Now where the hell was she?” He paused. “Is she hurt?”

  “From all reports she’s fine.”

  “So where the hell has she been?”

  “I’m not sure—”

  “Find out. Now.”

  “Will do.” Abe disconnected the call. Carter started at the receiver, anger rolling through him. The man had no respect. Carter would have dropped him years ago, but for some jobs, you needed someone like Abe—someone who wasn’t so worried about legal versus illegal. Unfortunately, those type of people tended to come with some rough edges.

  Carter pulled over Brannick’s last report. There was nothing in here. She had been making progress, and then it was as if everything had stopped. Or she was covering something up. Had she found them and wanted to keep the credit for herself?

  Well, if so, that wasn’t going to go very well for her. Carter Hayes had a legion of lawyers who would make her life hell if she tried to go around the contract and lay claim to his discovery.

  You are becoming a disappointment, Dr. Brannick.

  CHAPTER 74

  Tess toweled off Missy’s shorter hair—which was much shorter now. Tess had decided that scissors were the only option; even the world’s greatest hair stylist would not have been able to unravel those knots. So she’d cut off a good ten inches, with Pax hovering at her elbow giving advice. Now Missy’s hair hung in ringlets that just reached her shoulders.

  Tess grinned as she wrapped the towel around Missy. Not bad. “Okay. Let’s go find you something to wear.”

  She gathered up the bags that Sasha and Abby had picked up yesterday. Walking over to the bed, she spread everything out—and struggled not to groan. It was as if something pink and sparkly had exploded all over her bed. Apparently, her two friends had been reliving their little girl dreams of being a princess.

  Wary, Tess turned to Missy, hoping she liked something. And that it wasn’t too much for a girl who’d basically been in rags for the last year.

  Missy’s eyes were wide, and she reached out a hand to touch a pink and purple tulle skirt.

  “Um, is there anything you like?” Tess asked.

  Missy looked up at Tess, then back at the bed. “These are for me?”

  “If you want them. My friends got them for you.”

  Slowly Missy pulled the skirt over and hugged it to her chest.

  Tess knelt down. “That’s a good choice. Let’s see.” She pushed through the pile, finding a white shirt with a picture of a ballerina in a similar skirt. “Do you want to wear this with it?”

  “Yes,” Missy said quietly.

  Tess quickly picked out some underwear, socks, and sneakers—all with yet more sparkles on them. She helped Missy dress. When they were done, Missy stood looking down at the skirt, not saying a word. Tess couldn’t tell if she liked it or if she was completely freaking out.

  She turned Missy by the shoulders and led her over to the standing mirror in the corner. “Well, what do you think?”
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  Missy stared at herself in the mirror. She reached out a hand, like she was surprised that the reflection was really her.

  “Do you like it?” Tess asked.

  Missy stared at herself for another long moment, then a smile spread across her face. She shook her hips, watching the skirt swirl around her. She let out a laugh and then twirled in a circle.

  Tess laughed with her, watching the joy spread across Missy’s face. And then Missy turned and flung her arms around Tess, nearly knocking her over. “Thank you.”

  Patting Missy on the back, Tess swallowed the lump in her throat. “You are very welcome.”

  CHAPTER 75

  Tess spent the next hour showing Missy around the cabin. The girl loved the stuffed bigfoot that Tess kept in her office and now had it clasped in her arms. But Tess could tell she was getting a little overwhelmed, so Tess brought her to the coffee table and pulled out a jigsaw puzzle Abby and Sasha had added to the bag of clothes. They sat down and worked on it together for the next fifteen minutes, until Tess heard Dev’s car in the drive.

  “Can you sit with her?” Tess asked Pax.

  “I would love to.” Pax plopped down on the other side of Missy. “Did I ever tell you how awesome I am at puzzles?”

  Tess smiled as she stepped out onto the porch. But her smile didn’t last when she saw Sheriff Hank Cowley stepping up to the cabin with Dev.

  Missy would have to speak with people—Tess knew that. But she had hoped to give Missy a couple of days before she had to be questioned. Dev had tried to put the sheriff off, but Hank had insisted on seeing her this morning.

  Dev gave Tess a reassuring smile. She gave him a small one in return before turning to the sheriff. “Hank.”

  Hank took off his hat as he made his way up the stairs toward her. He ran a hand over his comb-over, flattening the few long white hairs he had left. “You’ve caused some people quite a bit of bother, little missy.”

  Tess ignored the “little missy.” He called everyone under the age of fifty either little missy or junior. “So I hear.”