Chapter 8 #4
“You like to be included.” She grinned over her shoulder.
“I’m including you.” She stopped as she reached an area surrounded by boulders.
“This should do fine.” Leaning against the boulder beside her, she took the gloved hand out of her backpack and carefully unwrapped it.
“Remember I told you that I needed more time to figure out how to use the hand? Well, it all came together for me.” She used the end of her jacket to wipe some of the mud from the device and brought it closer to look at.
“I remembered what you said about that soldier who had been wounded, and I thought about the numbers.”
“Numbers?”
“I was thinking that those numbers on the stone had to do with a mathematical equation that might solve an algorithm. But then I wondered if I was overthinking. Maybe it was a copy of a number that had to do with the structure of the hand itself.”
“And you’re excited about it?”
Kendra nodded. “Though I shouldn’t be. It was there all the time.
I’d almost forgotten that there’s almost always an ID number on prosthetics, no matter if it’s an artificial limb, dentures, or even breast implants.
Sometimes the number is so small . . .” She drew the prosthetic hand closer and squinted. “Yes! Here!”
Jessie leaned nearer. “What is it?”
“I found it!” Kendra pulled out her phone and trained its camera lens on the prosthetic wrist area.
She swiped her fingers on the phone screen, enlarging the image until a sixteen-digit series of letters and numbers came into view.
She snapped the photo and checked the focus.
“Perfect.” Then she checked the number on the stone.
“Also perfect. And the same number. But which one is the copy and why was it made?”
“Wow,” Jessie whispered as she looked at the photo. “I may have someone in L.A. who can run this down for us.”
Kendra chuckled. “I have someone closer in mind.”
“Really? How close? Can you trust him?”
“Don’t worry. I intend to take out insurance.
” She saw Fitz walking up the hill toward them together with a dark-haired young man she recognized as one of his crew.
“And here he comes. It seems he got a little impatient and decided to join us. Hello, Fitz. We were just about ready to come down to join you.”
“No need. Here I am. I brought you a few odds and ends.” He deposited an armful of various picks and shovels on the ground beside them before gesturing to the man at his side.
“And I thought I should introduce you to Robert Dunne. He’s the man I put in charge of keeping an eye on you here at the camp.
Robert, this is Kendra Michaels and Jessie Mercado. ”
“Good to meet you, ma’am.” The young man smiled and shook Kendra’s hand, then Jessie’s. “I’ll make sure you’re both safe.”
“I’m positive you will,” Fitz said dryly.
“But Bruce might have something to say about that.” He turned back to Kendra.
“As I said, Dunne will take care of securing and guarding the camp itself. Kenneth Bruce is more of a mountain man and will be patrolling the perimeter and keeping a sharp eye out for unwelcome visitors. You’ll meet him later.
They’re both good men.” He gestured to Dunne.
“That’s all I need for you to do. You can go back to camp now. ”
“Right.” Dunne flipped his hand to his forehead and then was on his way back down the hill.
Fitz immediately turned back to Kendra. “It’s time I got on the road. You wanted to talk to me? I take it that it’s something confidential.”
She nodded as she reached down and extended the glove-
wrapped hand she was still holding. “Very confidential. I want you to deliver this to the name and address I’ve enclosed with it. I’d like you to watch both the package and the man to whom you deliver it until he calls you back to pick it up. Then you’ll return it to me.”
Fitz looked down at the package. “You’re not going to tell me what it is?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have the right. It’s not my secret. I’m trusting you a lot just asking you to handle this for me.”
He nodded. “I’ll accept that.” He looked at the address. “He’s a doctor?”
She nodded. “He’s at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.”
“Whatever you say.” He paused. “Those two men I’m leaving with you are both former military. They’ll do a good job watching out for you. And I’ll get the other information you requested as soon as possible.”
“I know you will. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Take care, Kendra.” He glanced at Jessie as he turned away. “She’s obviously into something kind of sticky, Jessie. Keep an eye on her.”
“I will,” Jessie said. “See you later, Fitz.”
He waved his hand and took off down the hill.
Jessie instantly turned to Kendra. “Doctor? It has to be your old surgeon, Charles Waldridge?”
Kendra nodded. “He’s the surgeon who gave me my sight.”
“You’ve mentioned him to me.”
“Dr. Waldridge is probably the most brilliant person I’ve ever known.
He headed the Night Watch project and developed techniques that helped thousands of vision-impaired people.
I read recently that he returned to his old lab at St. Bartholomew’s to continue his research.
He’s the only one I could think of who might be able to help.
He has fantastic contacts with everyone in the medical field.
He might be able to put me in touch with someone who can tell me what kind of work was done on that hand and who did it. ”
“Or maybe he could find out himself?” Jessie asked.
Kendra nodded. “If he can even spare the time to talk to me. Miracle workers like him are always under tremendous pressure. I almost hate to ask him. He’s already given me one miracle when he made this blind girl see. Now I’m asking for another one. I’ll just have to cross my fingers.”
Jessie nodded. “I can’t say I’m familiar with many miracle workers, but I’ve heard they keep their reputations pristine at all costs.
” She smiled gently. “And guilty or not, we both know that you believe Lynch is worth knocking on the Pearly Gates for. So stop being an idiot. I’m betting on you, Kendra.
So why the hell don’t you make that call right now? ”
Kendra nodded ruefully and then reached for her phone. “You’re right, I shouldn’t even think of keeping him waiting.”
She placed the call, and Waldridge answered almost immediately. “Dr. Waldridge?”
“Kendra? What a nice surprise!” These days he spoke in a cultured British accent, even though Kendra knew he’d grown up in a working-class neighborhood outside of London. But his tone was as warm and kind as ever.
“Did I disturb you? I’m sorry to bother you, Dr. Waldridge.”
“Come now. Why so formal? We’ve discussed this dozens of times over the past decade. I refuse to let our conversation continue until you address me correctly.”
“All right . . .” She hesitated. “Charles.”
“See? Was that so difficult?”
“Actually, yes. Part of me will always be that timid nineteen-
year-old I was when you first met me.”
“There was never anything timid about you, Kendra. You were always one tough cookie. And these days you sometimes intimidate me.”
“Bullshit.”
He laughed. “Well, only sometimes. You see, I told you that you weren’t timid. Not many people talk to me that way these days. Now, what’s happening in your life?”
“You mean, besides me being deplorably rude to you? You wouldn’t believe it. But for now, I just need your help tracking down the owner of a prosthetic hand.”
He laughed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Long story. But I have a serial number.”
He was silent for a long moment before speaking. “What are you into now, Kendra?”
“I’ll tell you about it sometime. Right now I just need you to be patient and tap into whatever database will get me the answer I need. Do you have access?”
“Not directly, but I have colleagues who do. Though it might be simpler to look around for a man fumbling around with a single hand.”
“Ha. How long do you think it will take?”