Chapter 33
thiRty-thRee
THE CONFERENCE HOTEL IN Seattle was offensively posh. Crystal chandeliers. Marble floors. The kind of elegance that screamed of money and privilege.
I adjusted my lanyard—fake credentials courtesy of Bacon—and walked in with the rest of the attendees like I belonged there.
I tried to stop my brain from assuming everyone knew why I was there and security would haul me out at any moment.
I knew Quin and his brothers were nearby, making their own quiet entrance.
"Target approaching the stage."
Kragen's voice was clear through the tiny earpiece hidden beneath my hair.
"Five minutes until her keynote begins."
I hummed in acknowledgment. I nodded politely as I moved through the mingling scientists but kept my attention on the stage at the front of the room.
Dr. Anna Cole emerged from backstage, and everyone took their seats as she prepared to give her presentation.
'Advances in Genetic Modification for Therapeutic Applications. '
The irony wasn't lost on me.
Dr. Cole was a petite woman in her sixties. She styled her gray hair in soft waves, and glasses perched on her nose. She looked scholarly. Harmless.
I knew better.
Her signature gave approval on every trial document. Her protocols detailed the acceptable loss rate among participants. Her personal notes on each woman described their suitability as biological vectors for asset deployment.
I sat at the edge of the aisle, close enough to see the uneven line of her lipstick.
Her smile was warm as she surveyed the audience and waited for everyone to find a seat. "Thank you for joining me today. I'm excited to share some groundbreaking developments in genetic research."
I snorted and the woman next to me gave me a chiding look. Groundbreaking. Like what she'd done to us was a scientific advancement to be lauded.
A slide illuminated the screen behind her. Novagen's logo loomed like a specter in high definition. "My research team at Novagen helped make this work possible."
The next few slides were visual aids as she described the future she thought possible. A future where genetic modification could enhance human potential and forge new connections.
Funny how she was able to sanitize the trial to paint her crimes as progress. Forty-five minutes later, she asked for questions.
I raised my hand.
"Yes?"
I glanced around to make sure no one else's hand was raised. Every eye in the room turned toward me as I stood. "Dr.Cole, would you speak to the ethical considerations in your work?"
"That's an excellent point. The type of innovative research we are doing could easily cross the boundaries of current ethics.
We ensured all participants had full knowledge of the research we were conducting, and we obtained consent.
I strive to be transparent and believe the scientific community should hold each other accountable. "
"Your participants had full knowledge of the type of research being conducted?" I wanted to hear her say it.
"Yes."
"Even those who took part in Trial 55B?"
Her smile froze. Just for a beat. Just long enough for me to see fear dawn in her eyes.
"I can't speak about specific studies. There are privacy concerns."
"Right. But you can speak about the protocols used during that trial. Surely you will include them in any scientific papers you submit? You do plan to submit this groundbreaking work, don't you?"
The crowd's focus ping-ponged from me to her, and I could feel sentiment shifting.
"The standard rules of ethics were followed."
She'd gone stiff and cold, her answers clipped.
I walked forward. The security guards I'd noticed earlier were now notably absent. To everyone else, I was a conference attendee asking questions. "I find it hard to believe that your standard rules of ethics allow altering someone's DNA without their knowledge or consent."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Dr. Cole's composure cracked.
"It is inappropriate for me to discuss details of any research project."
"Is it? I'm simply questioning the lead scientist about the work she's done that led to these 'groundbreaking developments'."
She looked to both sides of the stage as she backed a few steps away from the podium.
In my ear, Quin laughed. "All security personnel are currently experiencing... technical difficulties."
The blood drained from Dr. Cole's face. Her eyes darted around the room. The crowd now looking at her for answers, the absence of guards, me climbing the stairs to the stage to face her.
"You're the one who escaped," she whispered.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd. She'd forgotten her mic was still on. She yanked it from her shirt and threw it, but it was too late. The damage had been done, and she knew it.
"I'm a 55B participant."
She shook her head and backed away from me. Then she turned and ran. As soon as the backstage shadows enveloped her, a massive, clawed hand covered in dark fur caught her.
Dr. Cole's scream catalyzed the audience and the room emptied faster than I thought possible. I heard Roul's dark rumble.
"Going somewhere?"
I ignored the chaos of people running for the exits and focused on the woman who signed off on 55B. Who described me and the other women in terms unacceptable even for lab rats.
I stopped in front of her. She struggled in Roul's arms, but he held her like she was no more bothersome than a piece of tissue. Quin stepped up behind me, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from him. The others stepped out where she could see them.
I let her look. Gave her time to process, for her situation to sink in.
"You should know."
Her eyes snapped to mine.
"The monster behind me? He's mine. And he's very, very angry about what you did to me."
Her whimper was almost satisfying.