Mutation

“Wherever it came from, it represents a lot of money. It is a clever way to present it, though. I wonder what kind of program was used. I wouldn’t mind getting a copy of it.”

After going through a number of pages of the accounting data, Louis went on to the next file. It was a stock portfolio of a number of small companies, all of which held Chimera stock. All in all, it represented a large portion of the Chimera stock not held by the three founders and their families.

“What do you think this is?” Louis asked.

“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Victor said. But there was one thing that he had a good idea about. He was going to have another talk with VJ about using the computer. If the information before him represented actual truths and wasn’t part of some elaborate fantasy computer game, the ramifications were very grave. And on top of that was the question of the deleted Hobbs and Murray files.

“Now we’re back to more of the DNA stuff,” Louis said as the screen filled again with the lists of the nucleotide sequences. “Do you want me to go on?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” said Victor. “I think I’ve seen enough. Would you mind leaving that floppy disk you’ve used to bring these files up? I’ll bring it to Chimera on Monday.”

“Not at all,” Louis said. “In fact, this is just a copy.

You can keep it if you want. I have the original at home.”

Victor saw Louis off, holding the front door ajar until the man got in his van and drove off. Victor waved and then shut the door. Going upstairs, he made sure that VJ was not around. Back in the study, he called Marsha’s office but got the service. They didn’t know where she was, although she’d been at the hospital earlier.

Victor put the phone down. Then he got the idea of contacting Able Protection. Maybe they could get in touch with their operative. If so, then Victor could find out where VJ was.

But a call to Able Protection only yielded the recording.

Victor was forced to leave his name and number with the request that he be called as soon as possible.

For the next half hour, Victor paced back and forth in the upstairs study. For the life of him, he could not understand what it was all about.

The phone rang and Victor grabbed it. It was the grating voice of the man from Able Protection. Victor asked if it were possible to contact the man accompanying VJ.

“All our people carry pagers,” the man told him.

“I want to know where my son is,” Victor said.

“I’ll call you right back.” With that, the man hung up.

Five minutes later, the phone rang again. “Your son is at Chimera, Inc.,” the man said. “Pedro is at the security gate this minute if you want to talk to him.”

Victor thanked the man. He hung up the phone and went downstairs for his coat. A few minutes later he was cutting his wheels sharply to do a U-turn in front of the house.

After a quick drive, Victor made an acute turn into the entrance to the Chimera compound and came to an abrupt halt inches from the gatehouse barrier. He drummed his fingers expectantly on the steering wheel, waiting for the guard to raise the black and white striped gate. Instead, the man came out of the office in spite of the rain and bent down next to Victor’s window. Without hiding his irritation at being detained, Victor lowered his window.

“Afternoon, Dr. Frank!” the guard said. He touched the brim of his hat in some kind of salute. “If you’re looking for that special security man, he’s here in the guardhouse.”

“You mean the man from Able Protection?” Victor asked.

“That I don’t know,” the guard said. He straightened up.

“Hey, Pedro, you from Able Protection?”

A handsome young man came to the door of the guardhouse.

His hair was coal black and he sported a narrow mustache. He looked about twenty.

“Who wants to know?” he asked.

“Your boss here, Dr. Frank.”

Pedro came out of the guardhouse and over to Victor’s car.

He stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Frank. I’m Pedro Gonzales from Able Protection.”

Victor shook hands with him. He wasn’t happy. “Why aren’t you with my boy?” Victor asked brusquely.

“I was,” Pedro explained, “but when we got here, he said he was safe inside the compound at Chimera and that I was supposed to wait in the guardhouse.”

“I think your orders were pretty clear to stay with the boy at all times,” Victor said.

“Yes, sir,” Pedro answered, realizing he’d made a mistake.

“It won’t happen again. Your son was quite convincing. He said you’d wanted it this way. I’m sorry.”

“Where is he?” Victor asked.

“That I can’t say,” Pedro answered. “He and Philip are on the grounds here someplace. They haven’t left if that is what you’re concerned about.”

“That’s not what I’m concerned about,” Victor snapped.

“I’m concerned that I hired Able Protection to watch over him and the job’s not being done.”

“I understand,” Pedro said.

Victor looked up at the gate operator. “Is Sheldon working today?”

“Hey, Sheldon!” the guard yelled.

Sheldon appeared at the doorway. Victor asked if he had any idea where VJ was.