CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
It was late Sunday afternoon before Erin, Riley, and Suzette appeared from the labs. They were exhausted yet showed signs of excitement as well.
“They did it,” said Erin. “They were able to figure out how the fish, how the other animals do it and replicated the amino acids, antibodies, and hormones that cause it to happen. I’m not sure it’s permanent, or even good, but they figured it out.”
“Shit. What now?” asked Luke.
“That’s on you. The drugs they’re giving those kids is illegal. These are not legal formulations or substances at all. They are definitely illegal. So, based on that, you could arrest them.”
“But?” frowned Hex.
“But what they choose to do to their own bodies is not something we can try them for. They get a choice.”
“Not if it’s done illegally,” said Cam.
“No. Not if it’s done illegally. It would have to be done in a state where it’s allowed by law and follow the legal requirements. Or, they could do it in South America or Europe where it’s done routinely.
“I think what you want to do is shut down their illegal distribution of the drugs, and illegal and mandatory delivery of the drugs, to those kids in their program.”
Luke and the others nodded at the three women.
“We couldn’t have figured this out without you guys. I have no clue what to do with the knowledge of it all but we wouldn’t have figured out any of this.”
“Maybe,” nodded Suzette, “but you still would have done the right thing. When the time comes, you’ll know what that is.”
“I’m glad she has confidence in us,” said Hex. “I’m more confused now than ever before.”
“I thought a lot about what Grandma and Grandpa said,” said Luke looking at the others. “I’m not here to judge. It’s not my place. I am here to stop them from killing kids in their program and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I’ll get a team together to pick up our Olympic committee tomorrow. We can have a chat with them before we drop them off at the hotel and then follow them to the meet.”
“Sounds good,” said Luke.
“Where is it? Where is everything?” screamed Butch.
“I-I don’t know. It was here yesterday morning when I checked on everything. The crates were ready, they were packed. All we had to do was pick them up.”
“What did you do to them?” he said accusing her.
“I did nothing,” said Helen staring at her brother. “I checked on everything and met you. I didn’t touch it. Look, the fish are still here, everything is still here.”
“No. No, no, no! The books are gone. The notes are gone!” he said panicking.
“We have to go, Butch. Let’s leave,” said Helen. “Leave it all. We’ll do this somewhere else again.”
“No! This was our chance. This is our chance. We have to meet with them and see what they offer. If it’s nothing, we’ll leave. If it’s what I believe it will be, we’ll keep going.”
“What about our athletes? We lost all those athletes the other day. We’ve only got a few left that can even compete.”
“I’m aware, Helen! I don’t know. I don’t know,” he said staring at the empty room. He crossed over the trap door in the floor and heard it rattle, realizing that it had been unlocked. “No.”
“Oh, God,” she said staring into the empty space. “They took it all. They took all the jars. Butch we have to leave. We can’t stay.”
“No! You want to leave, fine. Go. But if you walk out now we’re done. Whatever I make on this deal is mine.”
“That’s not fair. I’m the one that did most of the work on the formulations.”
“Then stay. Wait and meet with them and we’ll see what this yields. We’re so close, Helen. So close.”
Staring at the empty spaces where their lives were once hanging in the balance, she shook her head.
“Fine. Fine, we meet with them and then leave. Or at least I’m leaving.”