“I believe so. We found some interesting files, but other than that, nothing. As we suspected, Moneisha is little more than a collecting point. It’s not where these duplicates are coming from.”
“So they weren’t set up for research of any kind?”
“Yeah. But basic stuff.”
I frowned. “I thought it was Moneisha who had isolated the cluster of genes that make a vampire a vampire?”
He gave me a perplexed look. “Where did you hear that?”
“It was apparently reported in the newspapers.”
“Not in any I’ve read.”
Now
“Who told you that they had?”
“Misha. He said there’d been protests outside Moneisha because of their genetic research.”
“There have been protests all right, but mainly because they’ve been buying up residences in the area with the intention of expanding.”
“Maybe Misha mixed up a couple of stories.” Yet even as I said it, I doubted it was the case. Misha had the best memory I’d ever come across
“Maybe.” Rhoan didn’t sound any more convinced than I was
I chewed on my lip for a moment, then asked, “Have you found out any information about Konane?”
“Who?”
“Konane. They apparently own Moneisha.”
“Where did you hear this? Because I know Director Hunter is still working her way through the paper trail.”
“Misha told me.”
He frowned. “I wonder how he knew?”
“I can ask, when I next see him.”
“Tell Jack and see what he says.” He paused. “So how come Gautier suspected you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. He was standing at the office door as we were coming out. Maybe he heard something.”
“Those offices are soundproof.”
“Then either he has a nose as sensitive as a wolf or something Quinn said tipped him off. Though what that could be, I have no idea.”
Rhoan frowned. “You know, the few times I’ve worked with him, I’ve noticed he has extraordinarily keen senses for a vamp. If he
I leaned back against the sun-warmed wall of the old shed. “Has Jack checked all the military installations? Couldn’t this be a government program?”
“The military is certainly working on implanting vampire genes into other nonhuman races, but from what Jack says, the longest any of them has lived is a couple of years.”
I remembered the smell in the parking garage. Remembered the feeling I was facing dead—or at least dying—things. “Whoever is behind this, I don’t think they’re having much luck in the longevity stakes, either.”
“They’re living long enough to do some pretty nasty stuff.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
He hesitated. “You know we’ve had ten guardians gone missing?” When I nodded, he continued, “From what we can glean from the remains of those we’ve found, it appears they might have been forced to fight for their lives in some kind of arena.”
I closed my eyes and prayed that Kelly hadn’t joined their number. Hadn’t become just another means of testing some madman’s grotesque creations
She didn’t deserve that sort of end. None of the guardians had
But once again I shoved the thought away, not wanting to face the hurt of it until the moment hope was totally gone and I knew for sure she was dead. “Obviously, the bodies were dumped in areas out of the sunlight; otherwise, there wouldn’t be any remains to study. Which in itself suggests someone wanted the Directorate to find the remains.”
He nodded. “Jack says there was an enormous amount of growth accelerant in the body of the vamp they discovered in Quinn’s plane. And the prelim results Quinn got back on Gautier’s clones also show high dosages.”
I frowned. “Sounds like they don’t really care if their creations live all that long.”
“Maybe just long enough to complete a task.” His expression was grim when it met mine. “A vampire’s body degenerates pretty quickly once he’s dead. Can you think of a better killing machine than one designed to get in, do its job, then self-destruct before any evidence can be pulled from it?”
“It’s not something I actually want to think about.” I watched a willy wagtail flit across the backs of the nearby cows. “How come Gautier has been allowed to stay with the Directorate? Especially after his clones started appearing everywhere?”
“We think Gautier is working with someone in the Directorate—someone other than Alan Brown. Until we can ferret that person out, Gautier stays. It’s better to have an enemy where you can watch him.”
“You’re not exactly watching him now.”
“Director Hunter is.”
“Ah.” I closed my eyes, listening to the wind keening through the nearby gums. The storm that had hit Melbourne earlier that afternoon was on its way. “As a guardian, Gautier has to undergo regular health checks. I’m gathering nothing out of the ordinary has ever been found?”
“No. And Jack’s told you about his history—or lack thereof.”
“Yeah. Bit by little bit.”
Rhoan grinned. “He wants you in the program, sis, and he’s just trying to reel you in.”
“So he’s already said.”
The man in question came out of the trees as I spoke
“Riley,” he said, a smile touching his lips but his eyes all seriousness. “We need to talk if you can give me a moment.”
I glanced at Rhoan, who shrugged at my unasked question. I pushed to my feet, and said, “Sure.”
Jack followed the path back into the trees and I trailed him. We walked down to the dam and stood on the edge, watching dragonflies buzz the water
“What’s up?” I said, after a moment
“Something you may not like.” He looked at me, green eyes hard with anger. “You remember the blood sample I took?”
My stomach dropped. “Yes.”
“We got some interesting results back.”
I briefly closed my eyes, not sure I really wanted to hear this. “So, I was drugged?”
“Yes. There was N529, a fast-knockout drug designed for use on nonhumans, and one which is not due to come onto the market until next month. The other was ARC1-23.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“It’s a drug that’s still on the experimental list because of the serious side effects it appears to have on some nonhumans.” He hesitated. “It seems someone is trying to get you pregnant.”
Chapter 11
Actually, killing him was too quick. Maybe I’d settle for ripping his fucking balls off
