Trace Evidence: A Virals Short Story Collection Page 7

  In truth, I didn’t mind. Despite being youngest, Tory was our unacknowledged leader. She had the knack. I was okay with her making most of the decisions.

  Not that I’d ever let that on.

  I nosed Sewee toward a warren of sandbars a hundred yards offshore. Only shallow-draft vessels like my runabout can negotiate them, and even then you need to know the proper route.

  Not many did besides me. A point of pride.

  After a few twists and turns, accompanied by Hi’s groans, we cleared the maze and hit open water. Morris receded behind us. Moments later a tiny landmass took shape on the horizon. Gradually, the green-brown blur sharpened into an island.

  As we motored close, details emerged. A bone-white beach fronting high-canopied trees. Thick, tangled undergrowth. Gentle waves, spinning eddies in the wet sand. Not a building in sight.

  I cut the engine and let Sewee drift. A habit of mine. You never know what you might see, if you’re quiet.

  A hawk shrieked from the gloom of the island’s interior. Crickets hummed. Palmetto palms swished and rattled in the breeze.

  And everywhere, the hooting of monkeys.

  No matter how often I visited, Loggerhead Island always gave me a thrill.

  A wild, untamed place, forgotten by time. Shrouded in mystery.

  “We’re in a bit of a hurry.” Tory. Gently.

  My expression soured, but I restarted the engine. We cruised down the shoreline, headed for Loggerhead’s southernmost point. Minutes later I pulled Sewee alongside the island’s single dock.

  A glance spurred Hi and Shelton into position. As I eased close they tossed the ropes, then scrambled up to tie us off. I killed the motor.

  “Permission to disembark, sir?” Tory had one foot on the quay. She knew I liked being captain, and was half apologizing for bossing me around.

  “Granted.” I tapped my watch. “Shore leave, two hours.”

  “Then we’d better dash.”

  One final boat-check, then I followed the others down the pier. They waited where the paving stones gave way to a packed-earth trail, as close to a permanent road as you’ll find on the island.

  Barely half a square mile, Loggerhead is even smaller than Morris. No permanent structures exist anywhere outside the LIRI compound.

  We climbed a steep path and hiked into the woods.

  The hooting gave way to howling.

  “Monkey Town seems riled today.” Hi was scanning the canopy. “Banana crisis?”

  The central forest is home to Loggerhead’s boisterous rhesus monkey colony. Dozens of free-ranging troops, squabbling in the trees or at feeder stations scattered about the woods.

  No cages or corrals. The crafty little buggers go where they please. It’s not like they can escape—there’s nowhere to go.

  The LIRI compound is fenced to keep them out, not in.

  But yammering primates aren’t the only game in town. Cooper’s wolfpack family still patrols the woods. Every year, loggerhead sea turtles breed on the island’s protected beaches. Endangered seabirds nest in the tidal marshes. Deer, boar, duck, fox, raccoon, and dozens of other woodland critters inhabit the ponds, dunes, glades, and meadows.

  Pure, undisturbed nature. Peace and quiet. Well, except for the monkeys.

  I love the place. It’s one of a kind.

  Cresting the final rise, we headed down a gentle slope toward LIRI’s front gate.

  Which stood open. Weird.

  I looked around. None of the dopey rent-a-cops were in sight.

  “Where to now?” Hi asked as we reached the chain-link barrier.

  “Lab Three,” Tory answered. “Scene of the crime.”

  “Inside Building One,” Shelton pointed out needlessly. “Which means dealing with security.”

  “Which means Hudson,” Hi finished. “Gonna be a problem.”

  Terrific.

  If anyone could ruin my day, it was that guy.

  Ben was already scowling.

  Never a good sign.

  Tory turned and gave me her Serious Face.

  “Hiram.” She forced eye contact. “We need to get by security without a fuss. So keep the jokes in check, um-kay?”

  “Scusi?” I raised both palms in shocked affront. “Those dudes freaking love me. We’re talking about forming a boy band. Techno-pop stuff.”

  Her eyes rolled. “We need access to Lab Three. That’s not gonna happen if they call Kit to confirm we’re allowed upstairs. Which is what they’ll do if you piss them off. So don’t. Capisce?”

  “Totes.” I flashed my patented thumbs-up. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

  Tory’s expression remained skeptical.

  I doubled the thumbs-up. Smiled wide.

  “God help us.”

  With that, she strode toward Building One, the rest of us a step behind.

  The LIRI complex is bombtastic. Totally baller. It consists of a dozen modern glass-and-steel structures surrounded by an eight-foot chain-link fence.

  Only two ways in: the main gate we’d just invaded, and a smaller one around back. Security is tight: motion-sensing cameras, keypad entries, auto-locks, you name it.

  Hidden in the woods, the place felt like a Bond villain’s secret hideout.

  Translation: I heart LIRI.

  The larger buildings consist mainly of offices, conference rooms, and research labs. The smaller ones are mostly sheds, workshops, and garages that store the institute’s heavy equipment and supplies.

  Building One houses LIRI’s executive suite, administration hubs, the most primo offices, and the three largest labs.

  And security headquarters, unfortunately.

  My dad, Linus, worked in there, too. Kit had just promoted him to the exalted position of chief lab tech, which completely rocked. The Stolowitski clan’s rise to power cannot be stopped.

  I knew Pops would be crapping his shorts about the stolen equipment. The theft was as much in his domain as Shelton’s dad’s.

  So let’s solve this bad boy. It’s Big Shot time.

  Tory paused outside the building’s hermetically sealed entrance.

  Her shoulders rose. Fell. Then she marched straight through the sliding glass doors.

  Shelton and I followed. Ben brought up the rear, as usual.

  Tory had the coolest head. In tight spots, we usually let her do the talking.

  Sometimes, of course, I couldn’t help myself. I’m not made of stone, and these clowns were such easy targets.

  Our luck was bad.

  Security Chief David Hudson was manning the kiosk.

  He stood as we approached, hands robotically smoothing a meticulously pressed uniform. Hudson was somewhere north of forty, with close-cropped gray hair.

  His mouth formed a hard line, eyes suspicious.

  Polished shoes gleaming, Hudson stepped from the kiosk to block our entrance. Hips squared, he stuck out one hand. “State your business.”

  Ermahgerd. What a toolbox.

  “Good morning, Chief Hudson.” Tory flashed her dimples at Robocop. “We’re headed to Lab One. My father asked me to check something for him.”

  “I have no order to that effect.”

  “Kit will be here in a few minutes. He’ll fill you in.”

  “You’ll have to wait until Director Howard arrives.” His expression soured, like he’d just caught whiff of a horrific fart. “A crime has been committed on these premises. My premises. Perpetrators unknown. Therefore, I’ve sealed the building until further notice.”

  Hudson’s eyes narrowed, as if suddenly considering a new group of suspects.

  “I’m afraid we can’t wait.” Tory fumbled for words. “You see, thing is, um . . .”

  I stepped forward, ignoring her warning glance.

  I couldn’t help it. This guy
was a big pile of stupid.

  “This is an emergency, Chief.” I waggled an index finger. “The midi-chlorians have already been isolated by centrifuge. If we don’t take a blood count now, the samples will be useless.”

  Hudson blinked. “Midi-what?”

  I nodded companionably. “Midi-chlorians. Our flux capacitor has isolated their Force-rendering properties in the organelles of a rare species of Arctic tauntaun. Professor Vader at, uh . . . Dagobah University is extremely excited.”

  More confident nodding.

  Hudson’s rigid façade cracked, ever so slightly.

  He grabbed a folder from his booth and began flipping pages. “Is Vader a visiting researcher? I assume De-go-ba is a foreign institution.”

  “Correct.” I spoke fast, knowing confusion was key. “Just outside of Hoth. Dr. Vader asked Director Howard to monitor his Jeffries tubes, so that the . . . uh, the proper gigawatts, weren’t too, um . . .”

  Inspiration fled. I floundered.

  Luckily, Shelton stepped into the breach.

  “So the Sith Foundation doesn’t have to repeat the chemical displacement process.” Shelton yanked his earlobe, a nervous habit. “That’d be a logistical nightmare.”

  “You’re telling me!” Recovered, I flashed wide eyes at Hudson. “This experiment has been running for months.”

  I could sense Chief Jackass wavering.

  Time for the stick.

  My voice dropped to a serious tone. “Kit would be here himself, right now, if he didn’t have this awful security breach to deal with.”

  Hudson winced. His department, and he knew it.

  I was preparing my finishing move, but Tory beat me to the punch.

  “We can wait down here if you’d like.” Innocent. Then she twisted the knife. “But if those samples expire, my dad will freak. I’m not sure his temper can handle another disappointment this morning.”

  Hudson stiffened. Then he jabbed a finger at a clipboard on the counter.

  “Sign.”

  I heard Ben snort, then cover it with a cough.

  Shelton’s foot tapped mile a minute.

  Tory carefully printed and signed her name, trying not to appear hurried.

  I struggled to keep a neutral face.

  Tory laid down the pen. “We’ll be in Lab One.”

  Hudson hesitated. Seemed on the verge of changing his mind.

  And now, the carrot.

  “Good work today, Chief.” I extended my hand. “We heard Kit bragging that you’re the only reason the thieves didn’t swipe everything not nailed down. The thin blue line, he called you. Don’t quote me on this, but you might be in line for a commendation. Like, an accomplishment medal. Super, great stuff.”

  “Yes. Well.” Hudson accepted the handshake distractedly. “That was nice of him to say.”

  I caught Tory’s eye. Tipped my head toward the stairs.

  “We won’t be long.” Tory strode past Hudson without glancing back. Shelton was practically in her back pocket. Ben sauntered in their wake, a wry look on his face.

  Hudson watched them go, eye uncertain. His lips parted as if to call them back.

  I leaned in conspiratorially. “I also overheard Director Howard say he planned to review your findings first thing.”

  Hudson started, as if he’d forgotten I was there.

  “He was awfully upset.” Left-eye wink. “I’d have that report buttoned up, if I were you. Word to the wise.” Right-eye wink.

  “Yes. Yes of course.”

  “Okay, then.” I clapped Hudson’s shoulder, then hurried down the hallway, trying not to laugh. What a maroon.

  “Oh, Mr. Stolowitski?”

  I froze. Worried the shoulder tap had pushed it too far.

  “Yes?” Swiveling to face him.

  “Thieves may be hiding somewhere on this island.” Hudson gave me a hard look. “I’ll inform your father you’re here. Just to be safe.”

  “Excellent.” Crap crap crap. “Saves me the trouble.”

  I hustled to join the others by the elevator.

  Problem: Dad didn’t know I was coming out to Loggerhead that morning. And if he called home, Mom would find out I’d lied about my plans.

  That meant trouble.

  Ruth Stolowitski was not to be trifled with, especially by her own son.

  She’d swim out here if she thought I’d played her.

  I caught up with the gang just as the elevator arrived. Tory entered and pressed three. Waited until the doors closed.

  “Midi-chlorians?” She grabbed the bridge of her nose. “Dagobah University?”

  I shrugged. “Hey, it worked.”

  Her hands flew up. “Why couldn’t you keep it simple? Or believable?”

  “Because unlikely and complicated are easier to sell. That’s a fact. Besides, what are the odds Lieutenant Fake Cop has ever watched a Star Wars movie? Is there a number less than zero?”

  “Negative one,” Shelton said. “And I can’t believe you said ‘a species of tauntaun.’”

  “Arctic tauntaun,” I corrected. “Personally, I thought ‘Dr. Vader’ was the low point. But we got away with it, that’s all that matters. Almost, anyway.”

  Ben laid a hand my shoulder. “Almost, Thick Burger?”

  He squeezed. I swear my collarbones creaked.

  “Unhand me! You’re tearing my rotator cuff!”

  Ben released his grip. I rubbed my aching limb. “If you ruined my baseball career, you’ll hear from my lawyer.”

  “Hi!” Tory clapped her hands in agitation. “Explain.”

  “No biggie.” I flexed my shoulder, casting accusatory glances at Ben. “But Hudson’s gonna tell my father we’re here. And he could come looking for me, since I gave my mom a different explanation of our whereabouts.”

  “I don’t want to know.” Shelton’s palms covered his glasses. “Wait. Yes, I do. Where are we supposed to be right now?”

  “I told her we were going to a shark festival.” Offhand. “In Walterboro.”

  Ben chuckled. Tory’s eyes found the ceiling.

  “That doesn’t even make sense!” Shelton’s hands shot outward. “And nobody goes to Walterboro. Why do you do that?”

  “Conceptually, it’s hard to visualize,” I agreed. “Maybe it’s more of a film society than a traditional festival. Or a Jaws fan-fiction conference.”

  Mercifully, the elevator doors opened.

  “Enough.” Tory stepped into the hall. Lights off. No one in sight. “Let’s hurry, we don’t have much time.”

  The third level consisted of offices, the smaller Lab Two, and the sprawling Lab Three. A cubicle village filled the center of the floor. From where we stood, narrow hallways ran left and right.

  Though usually packed with lab-coated techs and scientists, that day the corridors were deserted.

  “Coast’s clear.” Tory hurried down the left-hand passage to a well-lit chamber spanning the building’s eastern end. A floor-to-ceiling Plexiglas wall separated the room from the corridor, which turned ninety degrees and continued to the building’s rear.

  “Whoa boy.” Shelton’s eyes bugged behind his lenses.

  Lab Three was a showroom-sized rectangle, interspaced by half-a-dozen workstations in the room’s middle. Industrial-sized storage cabinets lined the windowless outer walls, with a bolted stainless-steel countertop running just beneath.

  “Jeeeeeez.” I understood Shelton’s astonishment.

  When I’d last visited with my dad, Lab Three had been jammed with all kinds of dope equipment. Like a scene from an outbreak movie.

  Now it looked like a war zone.

  Workstations were stripped. Cut wires hung from tabletops. A computer bank was completely missing, its security cables severed. Servers, modems, routers, you name it. All
gone.

  Files lay scattered everywhere. Broken glass covered the floor. Several cabinet doors stood ajar, their contents smashed, scattered, or missing.

  “This place was freaking trashed,” Shelton squawked. “It’s like a tornado passed through here.”

  I knelt beside pile of empty drawers. “Whoever did this didn’t make any attempt to conceal their crime. It was a smash and grab, pure and simple.”

  Tory’s eyes were roving the room. “We need a plan.”

  “Looks like ninja work,” I quipped. “We should check for throwing stars.”

  Ben shot me a look, but my excitement grew unchecked.

  Honestly? I was thrilled.

  Not that LIRI had been jacked. Or that Lab Three had been totaled. That was all uncool.

  I was stoked because we were standing at the scene of a legitimate crime. A true heist. A bona fide whodunit.

  And the Virals had a chance to solve it.

  Finally, some action.

  I was about to crack a joke, but the look on Tory’s face made me reconsider.

  She was horrified. As though her own home had been robbed.

  Horrified and very, very angry.

  Then Tory’s expression morphed to another I knew well.

  Eyes narrowed. Teeth gritted. I’d seen it before.

  Her hands found her hips.

  Tory Brennan was thinking. Planning. Weighing options. Making choices.

  Tory’s the only person in the world smarter than me. She could cut to the heart of any problem. I’d follow her lead anywhere.

  And she’s kinda crazy, too, which makes her fun.

  I shelved the urge to spout one-liners. Put on my game face. Got ready to rumble.

  It was time to make someone regret messing with our turf.

  Unclenching my fists, I tried to quell my anger.

  Hi was looking at me strangely. Was that eagerness on his face?

  “Tory?” Shelton was nervously eyeing the empty hallway. “What’s our play?”

  “We search this lab,” I replied. “Top to bottom. Let’s divide the room into sections and each take one.”

  “What are we looking for?” Ben asked.