Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Lexi
The air in the penthouse felt electric. Not panic, not excitement. Just intense focus. We’d already crossed the moral line. The break-in was happening. Now we needed a case strong enough to bury Tango Bio when the dust settled.
There was no time to waste, so I took a breath and started assigning roles. “Okay, guys. We’ve only got a few hours. We’re using every one of them.”
Everyone looked at me.
“Barbie, you’re building the legal kill shot.
Reach out to every animal welfare contact you have.
Advocacy groups, former inspectors, and whistleblower networks.
See who is willing to help us bring down the lab.
Also, I want confirmation that Tango Bio isn’t registered with APHIS.
I need documentation that proves it. If we walk out of this with the animals and evidence, we need a federal hammer waiting to drop. ”
Barbie nodded immediately. “I can get three organizations moving in the next ten minutes. If Tango Bio isn’t registered, I’ll give you a paper trail that will prove it.”
“Technically, I’ve already checked, and they aren’t registered,” I said. “I just need you to make it official, if you know what I mean.”
She nodded grimly with understanding. “On it. And I’ll see who’s on board to ready that federal hammer.”
“Excellent. Angel and I will handle the lab security for tonight,” I continued. “Cameras, door controls, and alarms. We’ll loop some camera footage to keep things safe, but we’ll also create a clean timeline. When Barbie goes in, the system will swear nothing happened.”
Gray let out a low whistle. “That’s impressive.”
“That’s cautious,” I corrected.
“Who’s Angel?” Barbie interrupted.
“My little sister,” Gwen said. “She’s a teenage hacker, but don’t let her age fool you. She’s really good at what she does.”
“Technically, Angel is a computer security expert who happens to have the knowledge and skills that would make her an excellent hacker if she elected to go over to the dark side,” I countered.
“Semantics,” Gwen said and I rolled my eyes.
I pointed at Gray and Basia. “You two get to purchase a white lab coat for Barbie and a GoPro camera. I need one of the high-performance models with real-time live-streaming capabilities.” I rattled off a couple of the models that would work, and Gray jotted it down on her phone.
“I’ll also need a head mount for it. Ask the salesperson if you need help.
Just make sure it’s something stable. I need eyes inside the building so I can guide Barbie through the lab.
I’ll download the required app for it and make sure both Angel and I have it installed. ”
Basia blinked. “We’re buying espionage equipment now?”
“We’re buying sporting goods,” I clarified. “They just happen to be multipurpose.”
Barbie looked around the table, impressed despite herself. “You guys have done this before.”
“Not exactly this,” I said. “We tend to make it up as we go along.”
Gwen raised a hand. “What’s my assignment?”
“Communications. Earbuds, phones, etc. We’ll need everything charged, ready to go, and in sync.”
“I can do that,” Gwen said.
For a moment we just looked at each other, and then Barbie flipped a page in her notebook.
“Okay, let me make sure I understand what we’re building here,” she said, tapping her pen to the paper.
“We’re not just rescuing animals tonight.
We’re also documenting an illegal lab operating without local, state, or federal oversight. ”
“Correct,” I said.
“So, that makes it even better that it’s me going in, since I know what to look for and how to build the best case against them.
By the way, since Tango Bio is not receiving federal funds for research, they aren’t subject to the Public Health Service Policy regulations that require companies to follow rigorous federal guidelines regarding vertebrate animal testing.
However, if they were legally working on vertebrate animals, there would be a paper trail with both the state and feds.
The good news is I’ve confirmed Tango Bio Research Solutions is not registered with them. ”
Basia frowned. “That’s good news…how?”
“Because it’s illegal,” Barbie said. “If I can get in there and confirm firsthand that they’re conducting medical or experimental research on vertebrates, they’re toast.”
Gwen leaned forward. “Maybe they registered under a subsidiary?”
“Already checked for that,” she said. “Every shell, every ‘doing business as,’ and every holding entity that Tango Bio might be remotely connected to. I came up empty every time. Not only that, but I can’t find any record of an IACUC.”
“Say what?” Basia asked.
“Sorry, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee,” Barbie explained. “Companies in the US using warm-blooded vertebrates for research must create a IACUC for review. That’s the law. Tango Bio hasn’t done that, either. I think our case will be really strong.”
“Are you sure there are no exceptions?” Gray asked.
“None. I’m careful, and I checked for any IACUC filings, minutes, and inspections from the company. There’s absolutely nothing on record or in any of the databases.”
Basia narrowed her eyes. “Then that’s the nail in the coffin for that despicable company.”
I nodded in agreement. “That’s definitely federal-level trouble. It’s enough to shut them down for good, but it won’t come in time to save Ginger or Tootsie.”
We all knew that whatever regulatory wheels we set in motion would grind forward at their usual glacial government pace. Inspections. Hearings. Warrants. Ginger didn’t have weeks, days, or even hours.
“No, it won’t, which is why we’re going in tonight,” Barbie said resolutely. “So, Lexi, how’s the break-in going to go down?”
She said it so matter-of-factly, it surprised me. But that didn’t stop every head from swiveling toward me.
I rubbed my temples. “Well, you can’t just stroll into a secured laboratory and walk out with a bunch of animals.
We have to make the animal release look accidental or organic.
” I slid my laptop closer and brought up a rough schematic of the lab.
“Human error, for example. A cage door left unsecured. A door that didn’t latch and the animals escape on their own. I still need to think a bit on it.”
“How are you going to handle the cameras?” Gray asked. “They will probably have video recording of Barbie strolling into the lab.”
“They have video monitoring,” I confirmed. “But Barbie will be on camera only if I want her to be on camera. And I don’t want her to be.”
“So, how exactly do you plan to erase her?” Gwen asked curiously, setting her elbows on the table.
“Angel,” I said simply. “That new AI software she showed us will be useful in this situation. To start, I’ll have her create a loop of the lab hallways to keep Barbie’s entrance off camera.
I’ll also be manipulating the alarms, doors, and security system.
Any logs generated will be adjusted in terms of time and motion to show no anomalies.
That’s all the easy part. It’s pretty much a cakewalk once we’re in the system. ”
Gray stared at me. “You’re really scary sometimes, Lexi.”
“I agree with her,” Barbie said with wide eyes, pointing at Gray.
“Then it’s a good thing you guys don’t know all the things I’ve done with my computer,” I said, smiling tiredly. “Bottom line, Angel and I will get it done, and if my idea works, we’ll even have a special little surprise for Baldy and his minions.”
Basia sighed. “Your amazing hacking skills aside, Lexi, this is really dangerous. Not to mention illegal. Barbie is technically breaking and entering. If she gets caught, she could go to jail. We could all get in trouble for this.”
“She won’t, and we won’t,” I said. “But now is the time to step back if you don’t want to go any farther. I totally understand. There’s serious risk involved.”
I looked around the table, but no one budged.
I nodded. “Okay, then we’re all in. Even if we entertain the worst-case scenario about tonight and, say, Barbie gets caught, I sincerely doubt the lab would call the police, because that would invite immediate legal scrutiny—something they can’t afford on the night before their big presentation.
It’s true we’re risking a lot, but all the facts we’ve gathered so far indicates they’re already operating outside the law. Exposure would destroy them.”
“That makes sense, but it’s still a significant gamble,” Gray said.
“Everything about this situation is a significant gamble,” I replied.
“But if we’re right, just stopping the technology that created Ginger from getting into the hands of the highest bidder could be a major win for our national security.
I think it’s worth the risk, not only on behalf of Ginger, Tootsie, and any other animal, but for the country, too. ”
Gray sighed. “You’re really going to pull the national security card? You know how that gets me every time.”
“I am,” I said, spreading my hands on the table. “Because I’m right.”
Silence fell hard as we thought it over.
After a few minutes, Gray spoke. “Okay, so Barbie goes in. Lexi and Angel guide her through the lab. She gathers whatever paper or photographic evidence she needs and releases the dogs. The risk-success rate is fair. Not great, but fair. After that, here’s how I think it goes.”
Gray looked directly at me as if daring me to argue.
“Lexi, you need to be close enough to the lab to access their Wi-Fi to hack in, and we’re not going to be in the woods doing it in the dark and cold.
So, I recommend that I drive us right up to the lab and park in the parking lot.
If we’re worried about getting caught on the camera, you’ll fix it, right, Lexi? ”
“Right,” I confirmed. “And I like that idea, Gray.”
“Well, I’m not staying behind,” Gwen said. “I’ll need to monitor the comms to make sure everything is working.”
“We’re all going,” Basia said quietly. “We’re a team. Besides, Barbie might need our support if anything goes sideways. The more hands on deck, the better. So, one for all and all for one. Rah, rah. Let’s not argue about it. We’re all in.”
I blew out a breath as I looked around the room. The plan wasn’t foolproof, but it was sound, and I trusted the ability of my friends, including our new team member, an investigative reporter.
And tonight, trust mattered as much as skill.