Like any scientist, he had encountered instances where unexplainable knowledge or recall had been excused by the theory of genetic memories. How did an individual born and living in contemporary times recall vividly the exact details of an incident that occurred hundreds of years prior?
Galen gave no credence to such occurrences. However, that this female seer could have known that a world outside Center existed before her training had exposed her to that data defied any other explanation.
That issue might very well remain a mystery. The matter did not particularly concern him. He had only one priority at this point—capturing the two seers.
The Collective and Center had taken everything from him…had left him with nothing. He could envision no way to regain his former status and certainly would never be able to reassemble the Concern, the new organization he had secretly built after being shunned by the Collective and Center. He was on his own.
At the very least, he could start his new venture with his two greatest creations. The male would fight him, try to eliminate him. But Galen knew his one weakness now. He would exploit that.
And the female. Well, her containment would be a simple matter. She had many weaknesses. But he would see that she received the proper training to alleviate those inadequacies. Already he had set the plan in motion.
Soon she would realize she really had no choice in the matter. He wasn’t worried about Center’s involvement. He felt certain the male would not want to risk her elimination, which would most certainly be ordered in light of what Galen suspected. He wondered what Darby Shepard would think if she discovered that her hero—her lover—had been sent to determine whether or not she should continue to exist.
Very soon he would know all he wanted to about her.
Already he’d left her a gift.
Château Garden Apartments
Garden District
AIDAN SURVEYED the headlines of the Times-Picayune, as well as several other local newspapers, to see what had been reported about the discovery near Lester’s swamp habitat.
As he perused the numerous articles that related much and verified little, he also listened to the conversation between Darby and the Shepard family attorney, Mr. Thomas. She’d called his office and he’d agreed to come by this evening.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you, Darby,” Thomas was saying. “Your father handled the adoption personally. The only thing I did was review the contract for him. I had my reservations, as any attorney would, about that kind of private, closed adoption, but it worked out, didn’t it?” He smiled warmly at Darby.
She managed a faint smile in return. “Yes, sir, it did. I guess I was just curious.” She sighed wistfully. “After all this time, I don’t suppose it really matters.” She leveled a hopeful look on the older man. “Did you keep a copy of the contract at your office?”
“I didn’t.” He shrugged. “It was a personal venture so I didn’t bother keeping a copy. Surely your father kept the original.”
“I couldn’t find anything even remotely related to my adoption.”
“I wish I could do more, but unfortunately I don’t know much of anything about it.” Mr. Thomas pushed to his feet. “Please don’t hesitate to call me in the future, my dear.” He patted her on the back as she walked with him to the door. “I assure you I’m generally a good deal more useful than this.”
Darby laughed, the sound pleasing to the ear but hollow. “I appreciate you stopping by.”
The attorney gave her a fatherly hug. “Call me again soon. Don’t let so much time pass next time.” He glanced in Aidan’s direction. “Good to meet you, Agent Tanner.”
Aidan nodded. Every instinct told him that the other shoe was about to drop.
Thomas hesitated when he would have gone out the door, a frown furrowed his brow. “There was one thing,” he said to Darby. He shook his head then, disgusted with the effects of aging. “I’d almost forgotten.”
Tension vibrated through Aidan, but he kept his gaze focused on the newspapers spread in front of him on the dining table.
“Anything you remember might prove useful,” Darby urged, her tone hopeful.
Aidan could feel her holding her breath. She wanted to know the details of her past, now more so than before.
Even in the short time that he had known her, he’d sensed the restlessness growing inside her. It was easy to see that as soon as the business with Lester was over, she would focus more fully on learning the truth about where she’d come from. Though he doubted any real success would come of her enthusiasm, the Collective, O’Riley in particular, would not see it from that prospective. They would only see what they wanted to see, which was a confirmed risk.
Her elimination would be ordered.
No margin for error.
Aidan couldn’t let that happen.
His jaw hardened and his hands clenched into fists.
He had to find a way to protect her from Galen as well as the Collective. She was a part of him. Despite the gaps in his memory of their time together, he sensed how close they had been. Knew on some level that they had been created for each other. Now that connection was complete on a physical level. The mental connection grew more solid with each passing hour. He’d sealed his fate when he’d made her his this morning. That intimate bonding had completed him in a way that left no doubt as to what he must do.
He would not allow her to be harmed…no matter the price.
“There was a gentleman your father dealt with,” Thomas said as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “An Irish name, as I recall. O’Riley.” He nodded, his eyes narrowing as he rolled the name around in his mind. “Yes. Richard O’Riley. But he was only the courier. Your father never dealt directly with your biological parents.” He chuckled. “I’d completely forgotten that name.” With a shrug he added, “They say memory is the first thing to go.”
Darby tiptoed and kissed his
