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Chapter 3

As I entered the high-rise I thought about how I hated big cities. I Walked to the front desk.

“I have an appointment with Mr. Collins.”

“Your name sir?”

“Michael James.”

“Mr. James, please go to elevator four. It will take you to the Penthouse.”

“Thank you.”

I walked to elevator four, finding the doors open. Once inside the elevator, the doors quickly closed and the elevator lifted. When the door opened two security guards were waiting.

“Sir, we need to pat you down.”

As the guards patted him down, one guard took his cellphone.

“This goes in the tub, you won’t need it.”

When they were satisfied, one escorted Michael to see Mr. Collins.

“Welcome, Mr. James. I’m Jonathan Julius Collins.”

“Thank you, Mr. Collins. How can I be of service?”

“Yes, well, a scientist we believe is doing unethical—maybe illegal—research. We would like you to investigate.”

“OK, what do you have already?”

“We have some historical data. He is involved in genetic research.”

“Can I get access to this data?”

“It will be made available.”

“Then if I can get some information to familiarize myself with, I can get started.”

“The envelope Reginald has is some background information.”

“Good, then I shall take it and get started. I’ll be in touch, Mr. Collins.

Michael took the envelope and returned to the elevator. As Michael waited, he looked over some information about Dr. Paul Minder. When the elevator opened, a middle-aged gentleman got off.

“Evening, Doc. Mr. Collins is waiting for you.”

Michael read as the elevator dropped. Getting out on the first floor, Michael put the papers in his jacket pocket. Outside the high-rise, Michael pulled out his cellphone. As he walked to the subway, he dialed.

“Hi, bro, what’s up?”

“Sis, I have a big job. I might need some help.”

“What’s the job?”

“Not until I get there.”

“Sure, bro. See you soon.”

I took the subway to Greenwich Village. Getting off, I went to do some window shopping. Checking in each window for anyone following me. Six blocks from the subway, I entered Greg’s Tavern. I walked straight through without stopping, out the back door and into the alley. I went to the store next door. I swiped a badge on the door and went inside Mary’s clothing store.

“Hi, Mary, how’s business.”

“Hi, Mike. Good to see you. Business is good.” Mary grabbed a broom. “Let me see if the coast is clear.”

Mary went out the front door. As she swept off the front steps and the sidewalk, she looked for anyone loitering. Mary returned and put the broom back. “It looks all clear out there.”

“Thanks, Mary, I’ll see you later.”

Walking out the front door, I turned right and crossed the street. At the corner, I caught a cab. I gave the driver a corner to drop me off at. On the way, I tried to find out who the doctor was. I had seen him somewhere before. I paid the fare and got out. I walked to the alley. I walked halfway up the alley and swiped my badge on a door. Inside, I took a freight elevator up. On the upper floor, Sean opened the elevator.

“Thanks, Sean. Sis, I need data on a Dr. Minder.”

“OK, Bro. Coming up.”

I looked over April’s shoulder as she worked the computer. “Hold up, sis. Who is that person in the picture?”

“That’s Dr. Pelkey. He’s an authority in biotechnology. Five years ago, he put an implant into a young girl so she could walk.”

“How did that work out?”

“I went to MIT with her. She won’t run any races, but she can walk.”

“Get me everything you can on the good doctor.”

“You got it, bro. Not sure what he has to do with this job.”

“He came in just as I was leaving the penthouse. What does Mr. Collins need from Dr. Pelkey?”

“Maybe he’s funding some research.”

“Maybe, but what research is the question.”

“Mike, can I get an apartment for hacking? I might find some systems to hack.”

“Sure, sis. I’ll set one up in Eatontown, New Jersey.”

“Thanks, bro, come look at this. Dr. Minder has a daughter. Jane Minder, assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs.”

“Wow, not what I expected. Look, his father was into genetic engineering.”

“Like father, like son. They both studied the same thing.”

“OK, sis. Check to see what you find on both of them.”

“OK, bro. I’ll check them both.”

Hopping on another computer, I started to check airlines. I looked for a history of flights taken. His airline flights piqued my interest.

“Sis, look at this. Dr. Minder has flown to almost every state in the nation. Twice a year for twenty years. Except for Austin, Texas, He went there every month. What’s in Austin that gets him to go there every month?”

“I don’t know, bro. Something or someone.”

“Yeah, I need to talk to some of Dr. Minder’s peers. Maybe they can shed some light.”

I shut down my computer. Walking to the closet, I picked up a pre-packed overnight bag.

“I’ll let you know what I learn.”

My first step was to go to Austin, Texas. I needed to find out what was so important that Dr. Minder went there twelve times a year.

Landing at Austin/Bergstrom Airport, I stepped into a hot and muggy day. My first stop was the University of Texas. I dialed my phone.

“Hi, bro. What’s up?”

“I’m in Austin. Don’t know of any biology schools in Austin. I’m gonna dig around, see what turns up.”

“OK, bro, wait… I found out something. Jane Minder is the CEO of the Minder Foundation.”

“Sis, dig into it. Let me know what you find.”

“Sure, bro, talk to you later.”

Not sure where to start, I picked up my rental car. I drove to the University of Texas. Going to the administration building, I checked all departments. No biology or technology departments. What did he come here for? I returned to searching for something. I decided to stop at the Smoke Pit for lunch. When you walk in, there is a bulletin board with pictures of patrons. I found one of a teenage Jane Minder with a young girl. Looking around, I took the picture and stuck it in my pocket. I went to the counter and sat down.

“What’ll it be, young man?”

“Ribs, baked beans, potato salad, and iced tea.”

“Coming right up.”

As I ate lunch, my phone rang.

“Hi, sis. What do you have for me.”

“I’m going to Eatontown. I have some sites to hack. When I get something, I’ll let you know.”

“OK, sis. I’ll wait for your call.”

“Oh, the Minder Foundation owned an 800-acre ranch thirty miles west of Austin.”

“Thanks, I’ll check it out.”

Following April’s directions, I found the ranch. I walked past the “for sale” sign. The house was huge. A small playground for children. Wait, six swing sets in a large circle, two large bunk houses, enough picnic tables for forty people. I went back to my car after taking pictures. I continued west another twenty miles. The ranch was abandoned, no animals on the ranch. I turned around and went back to Austin. Back in my hotel room, I sent sis the pictures. Looking at my options, I decided to drive to college station. I needed to talk to people at Texas A&M. Arriving at Texas A&M, I looked for their biology department. Finding the main building, I parked five rows from the building. As I walked to the building, I spotted Dr. Richard Mahoney.

“Ricky, how have you’ve been.”

“Mike, what are you doing here? You still with the FBI?”

“No, resigned several years ago. I’m looking for information on Dr. Minder.”

“Is that Richard, Charles, or Paul Minder?”

“Well, Paul mostly, but if you can tell me of the others, I’ll take it.”

“Buy me dinner and I’ll give you what I know.”

I followed Ricky to a nice Tex-Mex restaurant. Inside, we went to a back table. After ordering dinner and a beer, Ricky waited until the waitress left.

“So what do you want to know?”

“How well do you know Dr. Minder?”

“I dated Jane for about a year, why?”

I pulled out the picture. “Ever seen this young girl?”

“No, I’d remember her, she’s cute.”

“So what is Dr. Minder working on?”

“Not sure. Paul and Charles worked on gene splicing. They had a way out theory.

“How so?”

“Paul’s theory is that genes can be spliced with new data.”

“What would that do.”

“Well, let’s see, if you knew the right code sequence, faster runners, stronger weightlifters, smarter scientists.”

“How can that be done?”

“Richard came up with a crazy way decades ago. However, the technology was not up to his crazy ideas.”

“Any idea how this progressed?”

“Not a clue, Mike. And the theory hasn’t been proven yet.”

“What can you tell me about Dr. Pelkey?”

“You mean the mad scientist?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Dr. Pelkey thinks implants will be the next evolution of humans. Claims it’s possible to boost speed and strength.”

“Well, not according to my sister.”

“What do you mean?”

“My sister went to school with a girl with implants so she can walk.”

“OK, I think he’s been working on more advanced implants. Not sure how advanced they are.”

“I wonder what they’re working on together?”

“Who is working together?”

“Dr. Minder and Dr. Pelkey.”

“I’ll tell you what they are working on…nothing.”

“Why do you say that?”

“They don’t like each other. Dr. Minder won’t work with Dr. Pelkey.”

“So their ideas don’t work together, or they don’t want the other to get credit.”

“No…no…no, Dr. Minder called Dr. Pelkey Frankenstein.”

“Wow, I see what you mean. Thanks for the information, Ricky.”

Leaving the restaurant, I dialed Carl O’Malley.

“Hi, Mike, what do you need?”

“I need an apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, and one in Denver, Colorado.”

“OK, Mike. I’ll set it up and express the addresses and keys to you in New York.”

“Thanks, Carl. Just send me the bill.”

“You got it, Mike.”

On the way back to Austin, sis called.

“What do you have for me, sis?”

“No information on the girl. I can’t find anything linking Dr. Minder with Dr. Pelkey.”

“Forget any connection, they hate each other.”

“That makes sense. I did find out the Minder Foundation ran a lot of orphanages throughout the country.”

“Really, I wonder what that was about? Check into it for me.”

“Sure, anything else you need?”

“Can you hack into Mr. Collins? I need to find out what Dr. Pelkey is up to.”

“Sure, bro. I’ll see what I can get.”

“When you get everything, go to Phoenix, Arizona. Leave nothing behind.”

“OK, bro. I’ll see you in Phoenix.”

I got in my rental car and took off for Houston, Texas. I needed to start digging.