CHAPTER 30


 

JAIN WAS BORED. Solaria had left the condo several days ago and hadn't been heard from. Neither was there any news about Joanie.

They probably think they're protecting me, she thought and sighed. Someone could have at least told me if Joanie and Betta made it home okay.

Sifting through the returned book basket, she pulled each one out and examined it closely for damage or wear and tear.

"I never realized what a boring job I have," she grumbled.

Halfway through the box she noticed one with a paint stain on the binding. Shaking her head in disgust, she rubbed the white stain with her thumb.

Still wet! Maybe I can wash it off!

Walking into the ladies room, she grabbed a paper towel and began blotting the stain. Whatever the substance was, Jain realized it wasn't paint. In fact, by the time she finished rubbing it, the stain was vanished.

"Hmmm. Strange," she murmured flipping through the pages to see if the inside had been damaged. A small piece of paper tucked between two pages caught her attention. Pulling it out, Jain read the note.

Recently found package delivered to owner but tracking number still active. Company researching all possibilities pertaining to initial disappearance and any possible persons involved in handling up to time of discovery. H.A.

"What the hell! H.A?" Jain muttered, rereading the note. "Shit! Hackattack! The bastards are watching me. I hope Solaria knows this."

Tearing the note into tiny pieces, Jain divided them into several sections and flushed them down three toilets.

"Let the assholes find this."

Frowning, she glanced around the bathroom suspiciously, looking for anything out of order.

Like I'd really be able to spot a bug.

Shrugging she grabbed the book and headed back to her desk. If she was being watched, she'd make sure whoever it was understood what a boring life she really had. If that didn't put them to sleep nothing would. The rest of the day she made sure she followed her normal routine but was frustrated knowing there was no way to warn Solaria.

*  *  *

It had taken Solaria more time than she expected to find the right scientist to impersonate and then alter Carley's I.D.. Dr. Sasha Sonella had advanced degrees in Physics and Microbiology but specialized in retro-viral research. From everything Solaria had read about her, the woman was dedicated to discovering a magic bullet to cure several forms of cancer using genetically altered viruses to attack malignant cells in their embryonic state. Curing cancer at such an early stage would be mankind's greatest medical success, and worth billions to whoever held the patent.

Similar in build and bone structure, it would be easy for Solaria to alter her features. Because Dr. Sonella had dark hair and wore it short, Solaria would need to cut her own hair and dye it.

It'll grow back, she thought and then wondered if she could excite the hair follicles enough to cause them to produce longer hair faster than the normal growth rate.

Maybe I'll try it after I'm done with all of this.

Immediately, she filed the thought away and concentrated on her plan. Dr. Sonella was known for her eccentric irregular hours. It would be a gamble entering the complex as the doctor, but Solaria hadn't been able to come up with anyone else who fit the requirements she needed to accomplish her goal. The woman had a high security clearance, was physically similar to Solaria and erratic enough to make her sudden reappearance in the same day accepted behavior. At least she hoped. She was about to find out.

Parking her car in the shadows, she climbed out, straightened her lab coat and glanced at the security station several hundred feet away.

When the security guard saw Dr. Sonella walking toward the gate, he nudged his partner.

"The woman's fuckin nuts. Why anyone wants to spend so much time at this place is beyond me."

Shaking his head, the other guard flipped the page on the porn magazine.

"Just make sure you check her out good. We're in a red alert here and I'm not about to lose my job because you screwed up."

"Yeah, yeah. If you're so damned worried, you check her out."

Giving him the finger, the guard's eyes never left the nude centerfold picture.

"Good evening, Dr. Sonella. What brings you back here tonight?" the first guard asked, trying to sound pleasant. It wasn't in his best interests to alienate someone with her clearance.

Giving him an irritated look, the doctor pulled out her I.D. and handed it to him before he could ask for it.

"My work," she replied, curtly.

"Of course. Could you place your palm on the screen and look into the optic scanner?"

Dr. Sonella mumbled something unintelligible under her breath but did as she was asked. Two green lights appeared simultaneously on the security console.

"Thanks. Sorry about this but orders are orders, doctor."

Handing back the I.D., he signaled her to go on in knowing she had three more gates to go through.

"This place hires nothing but kooks as far as I'm concerned," he muttered, looking at the other guard in disgust.

"As long as I get paid I don't care who they hire. It's a cushy job with good benefits."

"I guess."

Picking up one of the magazines his partner had brought in, the guard sat down and relaxed. It was going to be another boring night.