DISCLAIMER: See all disclaimers to date. If things had changed, and I were in charge, DA's TV season 3 would be filming at this very moment–and the 1st episode would be Kyre's explanation of the travesty that was S2!
THANKS FOR THE INTEREST and the comments, ideas, suggestions, and nits. Even back-seat driving welcomed on this bus...
FOGLE TOWERS, 8:45 A.M.
He hadn't heard her leave...
Logan made his way into the kitchen to start some coffee, guilt gnawing at his chest...he hadn't really expected her to stay–he'd be a cad to even think she might, after his self-indulgent behavior–but he wished Max would have stayed, or pressed the issue, or...
Or what? Kiss it and make it better? That was it, after all; he wanted her to do what he was unable to do–shake him from this crusade. He was being all noble and driven and knew that he could not voluntarily leave that path, it was his responsibility to keep moving forward until the company was fixed and these killers discovered...but he'd wanted her to force him away, wanted some divine intervention to turn him from his course and let him rest...
Oh, damn it, Max, you can't imagine how desperately I want to just...
...just what? he sneered back at himself. What had he told her, toldhimself, those months ago? "...maybe we got screwed out of living in a time when we could hang out for the afternoon in a cafe someplace wearing $2,000 wristwatches, planning our next vacation, but the world got a whole lot meaner all of a sudden..."
It didn't mean he wasn't exhausted sometimes...didn't mean that he didn't want to give up and give in, and just be with the woman who had captured his soul... And it didn't always mean that the 'law of the jungle' required him to fix everything...
Max might have skills and abilities far beyond normal women, but mind reading wasn't one of her talents...was it? He'd never asked, exactly...
It couldn't be. Because if it was...
If it was, and she'd left anyway, after he coldly announced he was going to bed and left her alone in his living room...if she'd read in his mind how desperately he wanted her to shake him from this mission and stay with him...
The water overflowing the carafe in the sink brought Logan back to the present. Heavily, he poured some of it into the machine to make half a pot, and shoved on to check messages and news updates from the night before. As long as it was a jungle...especially when his own family added to its ruthlessness–he would have to force his own desires into second place. He had a job to do...and, he glanced at the time, an informant–an employee, he corrected himself–to meet. Some things take precedence, he insisted, stubbornly. But maybe...if he was very, very lucky...the world would someday get a little better...and Max might still be around to share it with him...
CORNER COFFEE, 10:50 A.M.
Logan made his way into the quiet coffee shop near the university, one he had used with some frequency to meet certain informants and pass on information. The owner-counter attendant, Rose, was an Eyes Only informant, one who could be trusted not to remember anything about Logan's meetings. He got a fast wink from her as he came past toward a table, while she served an oblivious customer at the counter.
Logan had been in the R & D labs several times that week, after his official return to Cale Industries. Both with employees present and without, he had gone through what materials and files remained. He'd watched as the skeleton crew he'd managed to call back in worked to clean up the damage the intruders had caused, and surprised a few of them when he pitched in to help. He directed them to assess what they had left and where things stood with their projects, and did a bit of assessment of his own.
As he saw it, his mission there was two fold: first, he was there to do what he could to help CI get back on track, maybe to help it develop new, more noble projects that would provide security to its employees and an honest, beneficial help to society...
...what planet did you land from, Cale? his thoughts suddenly jeered...what makes you think that anyone is left to buy helpful products anymore? The only ones with cash are those vipers at Aunt Margo's last night...if it isn't something to make them more money or let them control others, it won't fly...
He forced the bitter inner monologue to a back corner of his mind as he agreed to the coffee Rose offered from across the shop. He hadto believe in something or he'd lose any grip on himself he still had... He turned his thoughts to the medical technology the R & D staff had told him about that week. Clearly more close to his heart these days, the sort of assistive and adaptive biotechnology they explored was as hopeful a sign as he'd ever seen from CI. He had to grab onto that, and maybe he could believe half as strongly as Bennett did that CI could be of service to the community...
But the other part of his mission–the part more pressing–was to discover who–and what–was behind the killer 'drones the company had created. Despite their efforts, Logan had a set of file records and plans retrieved from the back up files in Zurich. They'd left more questions than answers, but at least Logan now had a time frame, some production notes and engineering specs, a development plan–and a working knowledge of just how vast, advanced–and sinister–the project truly was...
And both parts of the mission would be addressed today, he hoped...
As he accepted a steaming cup of coffee from Rose, Logan heard the door and looked up to see Jake Whiting appear, offering an awkward smile and small wave. He nodded in his direction and said to Rose, "I'll get his, too, whatever he'd like." He watched the woman meet Jake on his way over then move back toward the counter as Jake neared the table.
"Hi, Jake. Thanks for coming..."
"Yes, sir..." Jake was a senior project designer but relatively young for that, in his late twenties. He'd been one of those geeks as a kid, starting college at fifteen, with a masters degree in engineering and biotechnology by the time he was twenty one. He'd been at CI ever since, Logan had seen in his file, overlooked because he was quiet despite his impressive work, especially when developing projects of his own, beyond those assigned by the company. Logan had need of someone from the inside, someone who might be willing to share information, and he chose Jake just as he would have chosen among potential informants for Eyes Only. Bright, unassuming... overlooked... aware that so much more could be done... How long would it take him to figure out that he'd been called to meet Logan in a place where there would be no fear of any hidden bugs or cameras nearby?
"I'm not 'sir,' I'm Logan–okay?" He watched the man stand at the table, awkward in front of the new boss, not knowing what to expect. "Grab a seat..." Logan suggested, both for Jake's ease and his own, so he might be able to converse, eye to eye, with the man. "I appreciate your meeting me like this...I thought it might be more comfortable, meeting away from the office. And especially on a Saturday, it was good of you to take the time. Maybe you could trade it for another day, when you want a three day weekend..."
"Nah, it's okay–I used to go in Saturdays, sometimes, anyway" Jake tried to smile, still nervous. "I could do more on my own stuff, then." He glanced up to murmur his thanks as Rose came over with coffee for him, and a pot for the table.
Logan offered his thanks too–she left the pot so they might converse, undisturbed. He looked back to Jake and nodded, taking the opening. "That was one of the things I wanted to ask you about–it looks like you had several good ideas going for development–the nanotechnology you were proposing for prosthetics connections ...and that device that could replace the neuro and cardiac pacemakers that have limited lifespans...why didn't you get them into production, at least at the prototype stage?"
Jake looked away, not sure how to say it without risking the Cale ire. "Well, I ..." he stammered, "I think they just decided it wasn't something they wanted to develop; they were leaning more toward the military stuff and the only biotech development they wanted from me were those things that would have military application–you know, like for soldiers in combat...or... biochemical warfare..."
Logan felt a chill...not that, too? He swallowed, "Have you...developed...?"
"Oh, no, nothing yet..." Jake spoke quickly, reassuring him. This Cale continued to surprise him: the man seemed decent, appreciated his work...and went dead pale at the mention of bio-warfare agents. Jake dared to start to relax a little...and even began to hope that CI might have been averted from its dangerous path just in time... "They–Mr. Cale– your uncle, not Mr. Bennett–and Mr. Neal–they had just started planning another phase of the contract they had to develop the hoverdrones. I guess the same people who asked for the identification technology wanted to develop some chemical agents..."
Logan's thoughts were racing. Maybe everything had been stopped here in the nick of time–but he was not the least bit convinced that those seeking such bio-fare agents would be discouraged from trying elsewhere... "Jake...did you ever see any of these people, the ones requesting these projects?"
"Not really...they really kept that contract apart from the others." At Logan's raised eyebrows, Jake explained, "It's not all that unusual, in companies doing government contract work, especially in weapons development, that sort of thing. If we were developing some new military technology, the project would be in a secured lab, only a few engineers or techs in on the work–you know, to cut down the risk of the information leaking out."
Of course, Logan thought. I should have remembered...
"So, you weren't in on any of that, the identification technology?" Logan thought he saw something flicker in the man's eyes, a thought... unauthorized information he'd obtained ..? Logan watched more closely as Jake spoke, uncomfortable again.
"No, that was all pretty much the optical guys; the 'drone was already developed and it was just a matter of developing the visual recognition and tying it in with the existing hardware..."
Logan wasn't sure what was making the man ill at ease, but needed to find out. "And these 'optical guys?' Were any of them here this week?"
Jake looked flat out nervous now; he licked his lips and looked away, finally shaking his head. "None of them were." He hesitated, then, looking up at his new boss, decided to trust him. He said, barely audibly, " I don't think they're around at all– "
Logan's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" Jake blinked, looking cornered; Logan knew the signs from years of meeting with whistle-blowers and insiders–Jake had admitted something big and now questioned his doing so. Logan backed off, slightly, and tried, "Look, Jake...if you think something has happened to them..." He considered the man before him, and realized he had to offer something in trust for the information he sought. If Jake was trustworthy, he might have found an ally and invaluable source of information. If not, and he talked to the wrong people...well, those were the people he sought, weren't they? Maybe it would hurry things along... Logan drew a deep breath to confess, "I'm back at CI to try and help the company get back on its feet, just as we announced–butmy main purpose is to try to find out what happened to my uncle–and what was going on at CI. I need to find out who these people are–and see if there's any way to stop them."
Jake shook his head quickly. "It's some kind of government project–unless you think you can take them on..."
Logan shrugged. "Maybe not directly. But sometimes, if they don't want their activities to become public, just letting them know you know..."
"That's suicide..." Jake opined, flatly.
Logan was silent for the moment, unable to disagree. Finally, he shrugged, "Sometimes it can be done without tipping too much about where the information was found. Jake, if you can tell me what you know–as much as you can–maybe I can take it from there. No one will need to know where I got the information ." He watched the other man carefully, and decided to add, "If I can help your friends..."
Logan saw he'd guessed correctly; there was definitely a reaction at that. Jake hesitated...squirmed a little...then said in a whisper, "Speculation was that they were offered a pay-off–and a relocation across the border–to leave and forget what they'd been doing. But I think..." he paused again, the idea sounding paranoid and outlandish when he thought of putting it into words. "...I think they might have been–disappeared."
Logan frowned. "By the people who ordered the 'drones?"
Jake nodded. "They were behind your uncle's death, weren't they? If they're going to be so public in killing him, using a prototype that only CI could have–why would they be squeamish about eliminating the two employees working on the project?"
"Excellent point" Logan conceded, mind racing ahead. "Only two working on it?"
Jake nodded. "Project engineer, Rick Collins, and his tech, Karrie Myers."
"Did you know them well?"
"Rick, pretty well. He was here when I started, seven years ago. A good guy. Karrie..." He paused, fidgeted. "We dated a couple times. She wasn't supposed to be talking about the project but..." Jake shrugged, "well...you know..." Jake glanced up to the green eyes, getting approval, and went on, "She told me maybe ten days ago that the project was suddenly taken from them and moved out, presumably to the customer's place." His eyes saw past Logan to the memory. "It was only about two days ago that she and Rick learned what the project was being used for. Their prototypes had carried additional cameras as the extra weight for the tests–they didn't know about the guns until Rick stumbled on to the testing they'd been doing, with the parolees being killed. A couple of those men were killed even while they still had the project at CI..." Jake remembered how upset Karrie had been, at that. "Rick showed Karrie...and she told me" Jake clearly feared the worst. "Then suddenly, Karrie said they were offered some great package to relocate over the border, a fantastic job at a lab they were developing, supposedly they were going to have all the highest tech stuff available, plenty of time for research..." His words were bitter now, "I think somehow they caught on to the fact that Rick and Karrie knew–and there wasn't really a job in Canada...just a story to explain why they weren't around any more."
Logan nodded, quiet for the moment, outwardly respectful of the man's loss...and hiding his thoughts, racing at the information. The guy might know something...and had strong reason to assist him in his investigation here...after a few more moments, Logan asked slowly...quietly... "Jake...did Karrie ever tell you much about the project, or the people there to check on it?" As Jake looked at him in question, Logan admitted, "I've seen surveillance tapes–there were three of them, two men and a woman, who stopped by several times over the past couple weeks. They were government?"
"I don't know. Or," he corrected, "Karrie didn't know. But–they acted like it. Actually, I hadn't ever seen that level of security there before–the only ones close were the secret services, clandestine branches, those sorts of groups." Jake stared at the tabletop, unseeing, remembering. "These guys...I think Rick spoke with them a couple times by phone, but no one saw them, as far as I know; they came after hours–only the guard would have seen them, they had security at the lab 'round the clock."
"Jonas saw them..." Logan told him, "and Gilbert Neal..." He spoke slowly. "We know what happened with Jonas...and no one has seen Gil since then." Logan mulled over his next concern. "Is there any chance they know you suspect anything, or that Karrie spoke with you?"
"I don't know" Jake admitted, "I don't think so, but that's the scary thing about these guys–they're invisible. You get to ops that black–they have skills and technology we can't even guess. I just keep hoping the longer I go without hearing from them...the more likely it is that I'm clear."
Logan's brow clouded, worried for the unassuming man. "Look, if you're concerned...I have some contacts, I could help if you wanted to get away from here..."
"And go where?" Jake asked. "If they really want someone gone...it doesn't matter where you go..." He saw the pained look on Cale's face and relented–this man was trying to help, his boss, no less, a Cale who was trying to clean up the company. "But thanks. If I have some problems, or if it looks as if they caught on...maybe I'll change my mind."
Logan looked at him, levelly. "Deal." He agreed, softly. "And anything you remember, or if you think of anything that might be helpful..."
"Deal." Jake offered a wan smile.
"I'm glad you want to stick around, though" Logan lightened the topic, remembering his other purpose at CI. "As far as I'm concerned, you can start building those prototypes–on the projects you already pitched, or any you might have that you haven't proposed yet." He drained his coffee. "It's time for Cale Industries to do something positive for society–and your projects could help countless people. I'd like to see you have a chance to develop them."
"I appreciate that..."
"You're the only one back so far who was pursuing the biotech projects, aren't you?"
Jake nodded, "There were only three of us, anyway–and one left to move back east, when CI shut down..." He raised his eyebrow to make a pitch. "If you really want to pursue it, we could use another good bioengineer or two..."
Logan mused, an idea beginning. "I know of someone who might be enticed to join in your efforts– maybe just as an advisor, he's got a lot of irons in the fire. Still..." he smiled, "he has a particular affinity for assistive technology. A man of many talents...I'll put the two of you on the phone–see what you think about collaborating on some projects. It will be your call; I promise you that neither Sebastian nor I will think anything of it if you prefer to work alone."
"Sebastian Harrow? You know him?" Jake's eyes rounded. "You think he'd consult? They tried every year since I started at CI to bring him in, at least as a consultant. He always passed as too busy."
Logan smirked at the news. Why did it not surprise him that Sebastian was known in bioengineering circles...or that he'd been approached regularly by his family's company...or that he never mentioned it to Logan? "Well–maybe he'll be more interested if he understands that we'd like to pursue more high-minded research than was done here before."
"Maybe" Jake nodded...and Logan was suddenly aware that the man was considering the fact that both men were chair- dependent. He had paused, and, glancing up, he then asked, awkwardly, "Your... uh...wheelchair... an SCI?" At Logan's nod, he dared, "Complete, or...?"
"Complete." Logan anticipated the next response.
"Oh."
The silence was awkward before Logan spoke. "Look, Jake, I know all the recent research; if only I had a bit intact I could practically be up dancing." He waved it away, "It's old news."
"Well, maybe someday, huh?" Jake shrugged. "Maybe Cale Industries..."
"Maybe" Logan finally smiled a little. "Look, Jake–it's going to be a struggle, but we just might get CI back on the path. I appreciate your willingness to help–both with your projects–and the information. And the offer stands–if you ever suspect that you're in any sort of danger..."
"I'll remember. Thanks, Mr. Cale," the engineer nodded.
"Logan–remember that, too" Finally, after the week of such disappointment and ugliness, Logan had reason to hope. "I'm grateful for all of this, Jake–and I know Bennett will be, too, when he knows about your work. I won't say anything to him about the rest...or to anyone. You have my word..."
Jake considered his boss, and nodded. "I have a feeling that's worth more than much else at CI these days. I'll take it." This time the grin was easier, more comfortable. "I'm glad you called me in. I won't let you down."
Logan was again amazed at the nobility still to be found in this difficult, strange postPulse world, and felt gratitude that such people existed, in a world that his uncle and his kind threatened to overrun. "That's the best thing I've heard this week." He admitted. "Thank you, Jake..."
...to be continued...