room. “It doesn’t appear they’re a realistic solution. Someday, though, I’d like to submit a confidential memo to my committee on this group. I’m bothered by the existence of a clandestine organization operating without government oversight. That strikes me as particularly un-American.”
“You got it, Senator,” Ben Dare said, exiting the room. His feeling of dodging a bullet now felt like he was hit squarely in the back. A memo on the cleaners would not be easily written. Only the president and a select number of joint chiefs knew the full extent of the cleaners’ activities.
Come to think of it…I don’t, either, he thought, feeling like he’d just been fingered for taking home classified documents. Jesus…this could become a nightmare if it leaks out. What the hell is going on?
AUGUST FIFTH
TWENTY-FOUR
Stanford
10:00 HOURS
Ryan Marshall patiently studied the surroundings from the seclusion of his rented SUV. He was parked in the farthest corner of the Quantum parking lot, designated for students and visitors. He watched intently as students and faculty were entering and exiting the building, hoping to spot his cousin. He was sipping coffee and eating a pastry, both of which he bought from the corner deli about three blocks from the entrance to the Stanford campus. He was restless, having slept badly following his lengthy drive from Pueblo. After an hour of watching, he decided to take a more direct route and desert the plan to casually await Jarrod’s arrival.
Ryan pondered his next move, considering that Jarrod might not be coming back to his lab at all. There was no way to determine his state of mind, but he was certainly plotting revenge. No way would he accept present circumstances without retaliation. Jarrod would be trying to even the score after learning that Ryan was considered the prime suspect in the burglary of his lab. This would provoke yet another round in their endless feud.
This was fine by Ryan; he had his own score to settle with Jarrod. Of all the vile deeds Jarrod had committed through the years, vandalizing the crane at the gorge was by far the worst. Even in his wildest imagination, Ryan couldn’t have conceived of anything worse than the prostitute Jarrod had concocted in New York City. But tampering with the crane could have easily killed at least half a dozen men if the side-loaded guy wire had not been discovered. Ryan shook his head in contempt of his cousin’s actions.
Ryan grew impatient. He decided to locate his cousin’s house in a more forthright manner. Instead of waiting for him to appear and tailing him home, he’d risk asking the students if they knew the whereabouts of Professor Conrad. He sensed that this was not the ideal option; students might have heard about a family member involved in the break-in, which would expose his identity. Unfortunately, asking for help was the quickest method to determine Jarrod’s whereabouts, and he felt it was worth the risk.
Ryan stepped from the SUV, stretched, straightened himself out a bit, and headed toward the entrance of the Quantum Building. “Excuse me, do you know where I can find Professor Jarrod Conrad?” he asked a group of three students walking toward the entrance, each toting a large pack of books.
“Yeah, his lab’s on the fifth floor,” answered the lanky boy in the group. “But it’s too early, if you expect to find him up there. He works late, so he usually comes in around noon. His teaching assistant should be there, though; she can probably tell you more.”
“Okay, thanks. I appreciate your help,” Ryan replied.
“Hey, mister, are you investigating the break-in at Dr. Conrad’s office?” asked the frail black-haired girl, who looked barely able to support the large knapsack she was carrying.
“Yes, I guess you could say that. I’m a friend of his,” he said, guarding his anonymity. “I heard he had a problem and came to see if there was anything I could do. Thanks again for the help.”
His answer seemed to satisfy the students, as they moved toward the entrance without further comment. He followed them into the Quantum Building, and the boy turned abruptly.
“Check the directory,” he said, pointing toward the wall, which contained an alphabetical list of all the professors and administrators in the building. There was a large photo of the founder of Quantum Corporation prominently displayed adjacent to the directory. The man looked scholarly in his white lab coat, and the oversized black rimmed glasses that dominated his face further conveyed this appearance.
Ryan quickly scanned the directory and located his cousin’s office in room 539. He proceeded to the elevators, determined to speak to someone who might know how to locate Jarrod. Without delay, he arrived at room 539 and noted that the office was connected to a large lab that also carried the same number. He entered the room without knocking.
“Can I help you?” asked a prim-looking young woman dressed in a white lab coat, her strawberry-blond hair severely pulled back into a ponytail. Ryan noticed that she was very plain-looking, and would do herself better by changing the green horn-rimmed glasses that gave her such a straitlaced look. “I’m Millicent Ormsby, Dr. Conrad’s teaching assistant,” she said, extending her hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Millicent. I’m Richard Mason. I’m trying to locate Dr. Conrad. Can you tell me when he’ll be in today…or how I can contact him?” he innocently asked.
Millicent looked closely at Ryan as if studying his sincerity. “Dr. Conrad hasn’t told me his plans. His lectures have been cancelled for the remainder of the week. I’m just here to keep the lab open for investigators who might need access. Otherwise, everything’s secured because of the break-in the night before last. Can you show me your credentials?” she asked, assuming he must be a detective with the Palo Alto police.
“Oh, my goodness, no. I’m not with the authorities, Millicent,” Ryan replied, grateful that she didn’t appear overly concerned by his presence. “I’m a friend of Jarrod’s and stopped by to see if there was anything I could do. I heard he might be missing some research information. Are there any clues about who might’ve done this?”
“The authorities believe his cousin had something to do with the break-in and Dr. Conrad was pretty upset when he found out. He’s been unavailable ever since. Can I ask how you know Jarrod?” she asked, her eyebrows pinching together with a slight look of uncertainty. Her demeanor was growing more suspicious by the minute.
“Not at all,” Ryan answered. “I’ve known Dr. Conrad for several years. I’m an industrial engineer. I’ve followed his research publications on the potential for practical application of the grand unified theorem. I heard him speak in San Francisco several years ago and we struck up an acquaintance. He’s a fascinating physicist with an incredible imagination. Everyone’s pulling for him to somehow harness gravity.”
“Well, ‘fascinating’ isn’t the word I’d choose to describe him, Mr. Mason,” she said, frowning and quickly averting her eyes. Ryan sensed that the young woman had experienced some trouble with Jarrod but was trying to conceal her true feelings. “But I’ll grant you, he’s clearly on to something that could change the world. He’s not easy to work for, but I’ve learned a great deal as his graduate assistant.”
“Well, he can be a bit cantankerous…no doubt,” Ryan replied with cynical smile. “But aren’t most geniuses usually idiosyncratic?”
“Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Mason,” she hastily added. “I’m proud to be Dr. Conrad’s assistant. But he has a lot on his mind…he’s very gifted. I don’t know where I’d be had he not agreed to mentor me. But enough about me. How can I help you?”
“If you don’t expect him in today, can you tell me where he lives?” Ryan blurted out, flashing his best smile. He wanted it to sound spontaneous, and not alert Millicent to any reason she shouldn’t provide this information.
“Well, I’m not sure I should give you his address. He may not appreciate you showing up unannounced. Will you promise not to let him know you got it from me?” she asked, returning his smile with a mischievous look in her eye.
“Scout’s honor,” Ryan replied, holding up his hand like a Boy Scout reciting a pledge. Thinking quickly, he added, “He’ll never suspect you gave me the information if you don’t tell him I visited here first. We’ll protect each other, agreed?” he asked, giving her a playful wink.
There was a pause, as if she was considering the propriety of keeping Ryan’s presence secret from her
