Chrysalis

36

Back in the noisy concourse, with the cool humid breeze wafting over them, Logan stepped onto the travelator.

“What’s going to happen to him?” he asked Asperton.

“He, and that unnamed surgeon, broke just about every rule we’ve got. Performing procedures on-site. Offering prototype medical devices to clients rather than test groups. And, of course, deliberately concealing all this from us.” Asperton sighed. “Think he held anything back?”

“I have a feeling we got everything.”

“So do I.” They stepped off the travelator and made their way through the plaza leading to the Northern Spoke. “So both Spearman and Bridger had medical implants.”

“But completely different types.”

“And the number of types BioCertain has developed would fill a catalog. But Marceline had none — we know that for sure, because her body was autopsied.” A brief silence. “Do you think Spearman might have found a way to mess with his? Dose himself without an inhibitor? It seems like it might fit his character profile.”

Logan considered this. “It would have shown up on the device’s output. Remember, those things now send and receive messages. Besides, if it was as simple as a mere overdose, Spearman could obviously have gotten his hands on more Thanturil — in pill form, if not suspension.”

Asperton nodded, then lowered her voice. “So where does that leave us?”

Where, indeed? Logan thought a moment before answering.

When he learned Spearman had been conversing regularly with Purchase, he felt sure he’d made an important connection. But connection to what? They’d tried feverishly for days to figure out how Omega devices could be hacked or converted into killing machines… without success. Now, here was a Chrysalis subsidiary that did manufacture devices that could, if abused or malfunctioning, potentially kill. But countless different types were available, many in successful operation for years, and the supply chains that delivered them — at least, those built by BioCertain — were bulletproof.

“I don’t know about you,” he said after a moment. “But I’m going to have a nice, long chat with a certain psychiatrist at the Vagelos College of Physicians.”

As he spoke, Logan saw Asperton touch the Sentinel unit cradled over her right ear. “Yes?” she said. And then: “Yes.”

She looked around, quickly taking in the surrounding plaza. “Give me two minutes.”

Then she ended the conversation and grabbed Logan by the elbow. “Come on.”