She turned to glance at him and Ryan struggled to keep his mouth from falling open. Her breasts were high and firm, and as her hair swung forward, each strand reflected an almost blinding sheen of white in the faint light. The fall of white gold fell over her slender shoulders and onto her chest, brushing the dark, taut nipples that peeped through the silky strands.
The fact that she seemed totally unaware of her nakedness wasnt lost on Ryan. It was an unusual reaction and one he tucked away for later consideration.
Are you coming, Doctor? she asked innocently before turning and continuing on into the kitchen.
Ryan stumbled, getting to his feet, raising a hand to stop her, but he couldnt get any words out. Damn. He had expected beauty, but this went way beyond even that. Way beyond.
A shaft of heat shot through him and settled deep in the pit of his belly. Sweat dampened his hands. He sucked hot air.
Oh, my, Betty blurted out as Tess brushed past.
Oh, my, Betty blurted out as Tess brushed past.
A string of startled curses and the sound of chairs scraping frantically across the linoleum told Ryan he wasnt the only male getting an eyeful.
He bent down and picked up the quilt. If I were you, Betty, Id find Tess something a little more permanent than a blanket. Otherwise, none of us are going to be able to concentrate on your good cooking.
Betty snatched the quilt out of his hand and marched through the archway into the kitchen. Close your eyes, all of you! she ordered in the crisp tones of a drill sergeant.
Ryan followed, concern replacing his amusement. Tess might be beautiful, but her confused mental state and the hesitation in her speech worried him. If she was from the center, it would be a relatively easy task to get her back there.
But he couldnt deny the small tug of regret that pulled at him. He didnt like the possibility of her being a patient at the center. Patients came to the center because they had a long history of not responding to the more traditional medications and treatments. Most of their families had given up hope of them ever living normal, productive lives, and the patients came because they were desperate to try some of the more experimental, riskier treatments.
The thought of Tess, a vibrant, beautiful young woman, being one of those desperate individuals, unresponsive to other treatments, saddened Ryan.
If there was anything hed learned over years of practice, it was that the results of experimental treatments benefited future generations, not the people who subjected themselves to it in the here and now. Tess might be a pioneer, but if she was from the center, her prognosis was most likely poor.
Washington, D.C.
CALL FOR YOU, General Flynn. Line two, sir.
General Thomas Flynn swallowed his irritation at the interruption and swung his desk chair away from his office window. He reached out and stabbed the intercom key. Im busy, Lieutenant. Take a message please.
Its a Dr. Sidney Bloom, sir, Lieutenant Sanders said, her soft feminine tones drifting musically through the intercom. Hes somewhat insistent that he speak with you immediately, sir.
General Flynn ran an impatient hand through the close-cropped iron-gray hair. It never ceased to annoy him that someone in personnel had taken it upon himself to assign him a female aide.
Not that Flynn advertised his prejudice against women in the military. No siree. He wasnt a fool. He knew what the twenty-first-century army was all about-a dumbing down of the troops and a lowering of standards.
Ill take the call, Lieutenant. Flynn punched the button for line two and picked up the receiver. Why are you calling me here? He didnt bother to keep the anger from seeping into his voice.
You asked to be kept informed of anything having to do with the project. I didnt want to wait any longer. Dr. Sidney Blooms cool tones conveyed his lack of intimidation.
Flynn reached down and flicked a switch on the side of the phone, the one that scrambled anything and everything that came through the phone. Whats the problem? Id prefer to keep any specifics out of this conversation.
My sentiments exactly, General.
Flynn could hear the bristle of indignation in Blooms voice. From his dealings with him, Flynn knew that the doctor wasnt used to being treated as a flunky. It brought a smile to Flynns lips. He couldnt deny that he took a certain amount of pleasure in doing exactly that. He waited for the doctor to continue.
Our subject took off last night. She knocked out a guard and escaped the grounds. Before Flynn could react, Bloom rushed to add, But we were able to locate her fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we havent been able to get her back here to the center.
Flynns hand tightened so hard on the receiver that his fingers ached. What do you mean she took off? I thought you had a handle on things down there. Shes supposed to begin her assignment in a week.
I realize that, General. Why do you think I insisted on talking to you instead of being put off by your trained seal in the front office.
Flynn didnt mind his own bias against his aide, but he didnt appreciate anyone else making comments. Lieutenant Sanders was only following my instructions. Why isnt the subject back at the facility? Has she spoken to anyone?
Slow down, General. One question at a time, Bloom said softly.
Flynn shifted the phone to his other ear and took a deep breath. Dont ever tell me what to do, Bloom. Were paying the bills for your little research facility out there in Gods country. Without us, youre just another egghead looking for funding. He paused for a moment to savor the shocked silence on the other end of the phone. Nothing worked better than threatening a greedy research scientist with cutting off his funding. Now that weve got that straight, why dont you tell me what happened and keep it short.
Apparently her accomplice had a car waiting for them. When my men gave chase, they crashed through the perimeter fence.
Let me guess-youre calling because your men screwed things up?
Silence hummed on the line, but Flynn waited, his impatience building.
My men were concerned theyd get away, Bloom said, his voice rising a bit as he tried to explain. They were forced to shoot the accomplice.
Hes dead?
Yes.
Flynn sighed. I hope youre calling to tell me that they were able to take our subject back into custody.
Bloom sucked air. Unfortunately not. She took off across the field, and in the dark my men were unable to find her.
Then at least reassure me that your men were able to sanitize the crash scene before the local authorities arrived.
Another long pause.
Well, they had time to wipe the car down, Bloom said. But a local farmer must have heard the commotion and came to investigate. They were forced to leave before removing the body.
A searing heat churned in Flynns stomach. Wonderful. And where is the test subject? Has she been found yet?
We know where she is, we just havent been able to take her back into custody yet. My men tell me that shes inside the farmers house. Uh, the chief of police is there, too.
How cozy. Do we know if shes been connected to the body or the car?
Not yet. Bloom paused again. We do, however, have a more serious problem.
Flynn closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Of course there was a more serious problem. He couldnt expect anything less. Please, enlighten me.
Reports indicate that the subject doesnt remember who she is.
Flynn came up out of his seat, his fist hitting the center of his thick green desk blotter. Whats that supposed to mean? He glanced toward the door, concerned his roar might have drifted out through the steel door into the outer office. There was no knock on the door.
She has amnesia-no memory of who she is or why shes there. My man says that she has a small cut on her forehead. She might have fallen or hit the dashboard of the car. Its possible the recent drugs and programming have added to make the injury a little more than a mild concussion.
Its possible? What the hell am I paying you for if its not to give me answers, Doctor? Flynn forced himself to take a deep, cleansing breath. Anger ripped through his veins, heating his face and neck. If he didnt calm down, hed have a coronary right here in the office and never live to see the changes hed worked so hard to bring about.
Are you still there, General?
Of course Im still here, you idiot, Flynn snapped. Where is she now?
One of my new doctors-someone not connected to the project-is out at the farmhouse talking to her right now.
Are you insane?
Silence met Flynns question.
Get the unauthorized physician off the case immediately. Tell him youre taking over. And while were on the subject, why the hell do you have someone not connected to the project working at the facility?
Ryan Donovan is an old student of mine. A brilliant researcher and clinician. He finally took me up on my offer to leave Boston and come help me with some of my research.
I dont care if hes the Albert Einstein of medical research. Its too risky having him involved.
But Donovan has done some interesting research that dovetails perfectly with mine. There are no plans for him to be directly involved in the project. Hell continue his research without any knowledge of what were doing.
Flynn rubbed the side of his jaw, unable to quiet the rumblings of concern from shooting acid into his already aching stomach. I dont like this, Bloom. I dont like it one bit. Get her back under lock and key, and then call me. I dont plan on losing this window of opportunity because you cant arrange for the proper amount of security.
Ill get back to you in an hour or so. Everything is under control.
Flynn snorted his disbelief. If everything was under control shed be in her room, and youd be finishing up the final touches on her programming. He slammed the phone down.
Less than a week to go before the test subject was scheduled to perform her duty and shed taken off like a jackrabbit on speed.
Flynn sighed and got to his feet. Walking over to the window, he stared down at the river and clasped his hands behind his back. Things were starting to unravel.
Perhaps he needed to make a trip to Half Moon. To really check on his investment and see if there was still time to carry out his plans. After all, the decision to control the destiny of United States politics demanded ones full and undivided attention.