The Lives Between Us
Page 41
“Not your fault,” Mark cut her off. “You had no reason to suspect Eileen wasn’t trustworthy. She fooled us all.”
“But we feel bad.”
“Don’t. You couldn’t have known.” Mark stood, held out a hand, and pulled Skye to her feet. “We’ll figure this out.”
Skye leaned into Mark’s shoulder, loving that he was so gentle and reassuring with her family.
Peter stood. “How can I help?”
Mark stared at him, considering. “Get a good night’s sleep. We’re going to need somebody to be well-rested tomorrow,” he glanced at her, “and I have a feeling it’s not going to be us.”
Mark fished his phone from his back pocket. “Hey David, sorry to wake you. Can I talk to Serena?”
Skye heard some grumbling and whining through the phone.
Mark nodded. “I know. I know. I’m sorry, but we’ve got a problem. I need you back at the lab right away. We’ll bring the coffee.”
* * *
Two days later, Skye was still trying to catch up on her sleep. She’d been at Aviva until two in the morning that night and they still hadn’t managed to find the ESC line. Not that she and Mark were all that much help. They mostly kept Serena company while she carefully poked around the lab and searched the tanks there.
The vapor nitrogen tanks were carefully controlled and monitored and had a very specific protocol to accessing them, so the actual searching had to be done by Serena. Edward sent food and people to ostensibly help her “clean up” the mess. In reality, they guarded the lab while Serena caught a few hours sleep, before hunting again.
Pete called several times wanting to help, but at this point it was all Serena. The most he and Faith could do was swab their cheeks to provide Serena with DNA samples, so she could verify the ESC line once she found one.
Besides, Skye and Mark discussed it at length and decided that because Pete was a cop and he had more than enough on his plate caring for the twins, it was best to keep him out of it as much as possible.
If Serena couldn’t find anything by the end of the day, tomorrow she was moving onto Aviva’s other storage site in Ann Arbor. The three of them discussed bringing in other lab techs to help Serena comb the numerous tanks, but decided secrecy was paramount. Neither Serena, nor her boss, had been pleased at her using PTO for her “family emergency,” but Skye was so grateful that she had.
Though Serena hadn’t found Faith and Pete’s ESC line yet, she hadn’t found any embryos either. What the heck had Eileen actually done with their other unused embryos? Maybe she had actually donated them like Faith had wanted. She really hoped so for Mark’s sake.
As Skye sat at her counter munching on a bowl of Raisin Bran, she marveled at Eileen’s confidence and nonchalance. She hadn’t displayed a single iota of remorse about illegally obtaining embryonic stem cells or tricking her patient and the neurosurgeon into using materials other than what they’d thought. And she hadn’t admitted to anything. How could that be?
Either she doubted they’d be able to find the evidence or Eileen simply didn’t care if they had proof, figuring they’d never have the nerve to use it, or the last and most disturbing scenario was that she simply didn’t care. To her, the ends justified the means.
Eileen’s utter calm and confidence disturbed Skye on so many levels, the worst being that she’d envied Eileen that implacable poise in the face of adversary.
Mark and Edward were adamant, hard, and intimidating. Given the circumstances, Eileen should have been at a disadvantage, yet she’d held her own. It was she, Mark, and Edward who walked away from last night’s encounter feeling threatened and powerless—and they hadn’t done anything wrong. How was that?
Skye would love to be that self-assured. And even if Eileen hadn’t been that confident, Skye would love to be as good as she was at projecting it. So much in Skye’s life seemed to breed insecurity and fear, until it seeped deep into her bones and became an integral, uncomfortable part of her. What made Eileen so secure and how could Skye get some of it?
Was it years of discipline and study spent obtaining multiple higher-level degrees? Was it clawing her way through a male-dominated career? It couldn’t be losing a spouse because Skye was intimately acquainted with death and loss. That wasn’t it. Perhaps it was innate.
Skye firmly believed people came out of the womb with some traits preprogrammed into their psyches. Or had Eileen’s confidence come with age? Skye sighed and picked up a bright hanging basket of colorful petunias.
Walking out the apartment’s front door and around the parking lot to the alley behind, Skye examined at the heavy metal door facing her. The decorative wooden door she’d picked out had been backordered, but the new awning and pretty coach light they’d installed yesterday looked nice. She hooked the basket of flowers from the hanger beside the door and stood back.
“That’s better.”
Unlocking the inner door to the stairs, she climbed the short switchback to her new home. Skye traversed the large, open room, made her way around her new stove, past the leftover faux rock used to build her fireplace. Pulling the sliding glass doors open, she stepped out onto the fourteen by twenty foot portion of unfinished roof surrounded by a hip-tall brick wall, in a space that would make for a delightful enclosed patio.
The contractor had added a few skylights to brighten the family room and was now working on separating the kitchen from the main room with a large counter and bar area. Skye stepped over a pile of two-by-fours. This place was as big of a mess as her life.
He’d finished framing out and dry-walling her master bedroom and bath, the smaller second bedroom and bath, and her little study off the patio. The painter and tile guy were scheduled for next week and then the carpeting.
Patience. It was coming along. She just had to have faith. Faith that it would turn out like she envisioned and faith that Serena would confirm Noelle’s cells and find Faith’s ESC line. She sighed. Niki’s death had derailed her faith. Skye sat on a hard stack of bathroom tile.
One day she’d curl up a big cushy couch in front of her fireplace high above the street, cozy in her apartment, while watching the snow fall outside. Niki would have loved this apartment. Though Niki had always lived in a house with a large backyard, her niece would have loved sleepovers here where they would eat breakfast outside on the balcony and watch the Saturday shoppers wander by.
“Skye?” Jenny called out.
“Come on up.” Skye left the patio, sliding the doors shut behind her and moved to the stairs. Jenny led Mark and Edward into her new home. “Pardon the construction mess, and I’m sorry there’s no place to sit, but the apartment’s well-insulated so the noise from the bar won’t bother us and nobody can overhear.”
Skye crossed her arms over her chest and looked from Jenny, to Edward and Mark. “So. Any news?”
Mark moved to the center of the room and leaned against Skye’s new stove. “The notebooks confirm that Eileen used ESCs in Noelle’s treatment. And Jenny was right, the Connors—the source of Noelle’s stem cells—don’t exist. Though we won’t be able to prove any of this until Serena grows the cells.”
“And we get a spinal fluid sample from Noelle,” Edward said. “If we need to take it that far.” If they got backed into a corner and the whole mess became public knowledge.
“And where’d she get the money to buy the embryos?”
“Eileen claimed to buy a new, fancy fifty-thousand dollar laser scanning microscope none of the assistants know about and I couldn’t find anywhere in the lab.”
Edward winced. “Fifty thousand? Sorry, man.” They all knew that was stolen money Mark’s company would never see again—and he couldn’t exactly report it to the police or an insurance company. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Mark shrugged. “That’s the least of our troubles.”
“What if you destroyed all the evidence?” Jenny asked. “Burn the files, destroy the ESC lines. That’d get the senator off the hook.”
“What if I found Eileen her dream job in... China, or Great Britain—maybe Israel? I could do a little research, ask around to see what’s available,” Mark offered.
“That’s an idea, but, there’s no guarantee she’d take it or if she did take it, that she’d keep her mouth shut. We need a more permanent solution.” Edward stared at the floor, before looking up and speaking softly. “She could... Disappear.”
“Permanently?”
Edward nodded. “It’d have to be. She’s too great a risk.”
“Shit.” Mark swiped a hand across his mouth.
“Or maybe not. Maybe just long enough for her to know we’re serious. I have a friend in Special Forces who can be pretty persuasive.” Edward looked at Mark. “Where’s a conference she’s dying to go to being held this year?”
“The International Stem Cell Symposium is in Israel in August.”
“Great location, but we can’t wait that long.”
“UCSD has something next month.”
“San Diego?” Edward slowly shook his head. “Needs to be out of the country. Women traveling abroad disappear from time to time. It’s not all that uncommon.”
“Natalie Holloway,” Jenny murmured.
“How about a cruise? There seems to be a rash of people falling overboard and disappearing lately,” Skye chimed in. But one look around the group of serious faces had a weak smile flittering across her lips. A chill chased down her spine. Edward was senator; a popular, beloved politician who knew hundreds of people. A powerful man with extraordinary avenues closed to the average citizen. Geez, what had Eileen done?
“You guys are kidding, right? I mean, I was just goofing. You’re not serious about kidnapping her, or...or... Right?”
“Skye’s right. We can’t harm her, but we have to find a permanent solution to quiet her,” Mark said.
An implacable, hard expression froze on Edward’s handsome face as he scanned the circle, gauging the other’s attitudes and asserting his dominance. When he spoke, his low voice rumbled in quiet determination. “Let’s not forget just exactly how dangerous this woman is. She has the capacity to destroy both Mark’s family and mine. I can’t allow that.
“We haven’t harmed anybody, we aren’t a danger to society, and I will not allow that woman to ruin our lives.” He turned to Skye. “And your family’s not in the clear yet either. Serena still hasn’t found their ESC line and we don’t know for sure what she did with their embryos.”
“Still, there has to be a better way. Remember, the easiest solution often isn’t the best solution?” Mark threw Edward’s words back in his face.
Edward sighed. “I suppose my Special Forces friend could persuade Eileen to retire to another country. If this all came out, off the top of my head, I can think of at least three federal offenses she’d be charged with, and, if found guilty, could send her to jail for ten to twenty years.”
“That’s a decent incentive to keep quiet,” Jenny said.
“So we could beat her at her own game.” A smile lit Skye’s face and the weight in her chest lightened. “I like that option.”
“It’s much more risky—no way to be sure it’s a permanent solution,” Edward warned.
Skye looked at Jenny. “You can be more subjective. What do you think?”
“I like turning the tables on her. Burn the files, have Serena keep Noelle’s vials under lock and key. You can do that can’t you?” At Mark’s nod Jenny continued. “While still trying to locate Lynch ESC line and embryos. And blackmail her so she’ll want move to another country. And. If at all possible I’d try to get her to sign a document swearing that the senator knew absolutely nothing about her switching the cells—just in case it ever comes out.”
“It can’t come out.”
“Just in case.”
“There can be no ‘in case,’” Edward said.
Mark looked back at the group. “We’ll have to wait a week or so, to give Serena time to grow the cells to be positive Eileen used ESCs and find the Lynch line, then we’ll have to fake documents to show that Noelle had a spinal tap to bluff Eileen, and we have to make copies of the PI’s report.”
“And you think this’ll really work?” Skye asked.
Mark caught his lower lip between his front teeth, and slowly nodded. “It could. Eileen loves her work. Her son’s grown and, with her husband gone, work is all she has.
“If this comes, out she’ll go to jail for a minimum of five to ten years at least. She’ll be broke, and her reputation will be shot. She won’t be able to get a job anywhere in the world. When we get through pointing out all the advantages of her relocating, I’m sure Eileen will go.”
“There’s just one more thing.” Edward paused. His gaze swept the group until he had their undivided attention. “This is our mission, and I need your word that whatever happens stays with us.” He divided a stern look between Skye and Jenny. “Especially you two. This is beyond off the record. Do you understand?”
A verbal blood oath.
“Agreed.” Skye said, along with the others, this time having no hesitation.
“My wife can never find out about this mess. Never.” Edward pinned them all with a serious look. “Noelle has been through more than any one person should ever have to endure. Finding out that ESCs were used in her treatment would kill her—if the spinal injury doesn’t. I will not have her burdened with that. Please,” he added in a husky voice.
Skye turned away, no longer able to stand the too-bright eyes and the pleading last word.
What was one more secret?
Chapter 38
Mark held Skye’s hand as they walked through the cold night. She jiggled their entwined hands to get his attention. “You’ve been pretty quiet tonight. Feeling okay?”
“Just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well.” Sleep lost to worrying about the missing Lynch ESC line, combing the company’s finances, and brainstorm with Ed.
“Worried?”
“And mad. I’m still just so pissed at being put in this position.” He sighed. “Serena and I are going to have to increase the security and revamp policies and procedures so something like this can’t happen again.”
“I’m not really sure you could institute enough safeguards. Desperate people do desperate things.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry you got caught in the fallout from my desperate family.”
He raised their clasped hands and kissed the back of hers. “That I don’t regret.”
“You know,” Skye frowned. “I’ve been thinking about the Faith’s missing stem cell line and… What if it isn’t missing? It’d be absolutely crazy, but, you don’t think that Eileen could have used their ESCs in Noelle’s treatment, do you?
“I mean…she had the line ready. That could be why Eileen was so cocky and unconcerned that we’d find them. What if she’d already used them for Noelle? I know it’d be obscenely coincidental that they’d be a good match, but it’d explain why Serena can’t find them and it’d be the perfect safeguard for Eileen ’cause she’d know that if we did discover the truth, Edward would never let us destroy them.”
They stopped walking. Mark faced her. “Damn, that’d be genius. Crazy, but genius.” He pulled his cell from his coat pocket. “Let me text Serena and tell her to test them.”
“I’m grasping at straws, but why else can’t Serena find them? Could she have sent them to a different lab?”
“I doubt it. She’d want to keep them close.” He sighed. “This is such a mess. Why’d Eileen have to pick Ed? Anybody else and it wouldn’t be half as bad. I understand her getting carried away at the opportunity, but why’d it have to be them?”
“Because the opportunity fell in her lap. Because she could. It’s not so bad, really. I mean look at the results. Noelle is a lot better.”
“Yeah, but she would�
��ve been with the CBSCs, too. Eileen tricked Ed and Noelle into going against their principles. And in doing so she’s jeopardized my company.” Mark’s pace slowed and he sighed. “I’ve made such a mess of things. It’s gonna break Dad’s heart.”
He thought of the long hours, missed meals, the hard work Dad put into building Aviva. He was going to be furious and then heartbroken.
“You didn’t—Eileen did. Behind your back.”
“That argument won’t hold up in court. She ruined our reputation—nobody in the industry—or clients will trust us if this comes out. All Dad and I have worked for will be out the window before we really even had a chance to prove how great CBSCs are.”
“Only if she talks.”
“I screwed up. I should have just stayed away from all ESCs—no matter what.” It killed Mark to make this admission. He made fewer mistakes as an adult, but they were far costlier.
“But you would have lost your best researcher.”
“Nobody’s irreplaceable.” Mark scowled at the empty street. “How am I going to tell Dad I wrecked thirty years of his hard work while he was in Singapore? He was only gone six months for Christ’s sake.”
“Don’t tell him. Don’t tell him anything. Get rid of Eileen and convince Serena to work for Aviva so she can keep an eye on the R & D and this never happens again.”
That’s a good plan, but Mark had to tell Dad. He couldn’t live with himself otherwise. He wasn’t Ed. “He has to know.”
“Of course he does—eventually, but not until you’ve fixed things. I’m sure you and Edward can convince Eileen to move and keep quiet. Don’t forget, she has a lot to lose, too. Her career, her son, her reputation… Her freedom.”
Mark stopped walking. “She does. You’re right. One way or another, we’ll convince her. Ed’s right. She can’t be allowed to screw up all our lives.”
Mark’s phone rang. He looked at his sister’s photo on the screen. “Only good news, Serena.”
* * *
Edward looked at Noelle who stared back at him, thoughtful. “You’re quiet tonight. Something wrong?”