The Secret (The Scinegue Series Book 1) (12 page)

Farmer Dan was still speaking. “The people who are still inside with Linda really did just show up to learn about gardening. They will learn all we can teach them tonight and be done. We ask that all of you come back as often as possible. We’ll have ‘class’ Monday, Wednesday and Friday, six until nine. I know that sounds like a lot, but our time is limited and we want to do all we can to prepare you.”

He glanced at his watch with a frown. “This is the only secure place to talk on our property, but we can never stay here too long, we don’t want to arouse suspicion.

“Real quick then. Linda and I worked for Scinegue way back when it seemed to have a different purpose. They were ‘trying to save the world’ even then, but I think their ideas at that time were humane. They were trying to produce healthy plants and animals that would provide healthy and healing food for all of humanity.

“They also had some divisions dedicated to public education and health services. They had seen generation after generation of people becoming sick and producing ill children. They also saw a lack of desire to learn or to contribute to making the world a better place, and they wanted to do what they could to change those things.

“Maybe eugenics has always been part of their plan and Linda and I just weren’t aware of it.” He shrugged. “We believe what’s more likely is somewhere along the way someone convinced the leaders of the company that eugenics wasn’t just a theory; convinced them it was the only way to ensure survival of the human race.” He checked his watch again and shook his head.

“Not enough time. Not nearly enough time.” He glanced at the frosted plastic walls of the greenhouse and could see a blurred outline of Linda and her group slowly walking their way. He spoke briskly. “Please try to make it often. We will cover much, much more.

“If you don’t already know, yes, your houses and cars are probably bugged.” He held up a hand, raising a finger with each point. “Your computers and phone calls are being monitored. If you’ve seen cameras on the streets around your houses, those are just for you.

“Scinegue wants you to work for them, nevertheless they’re smart and play things as safe as they can.” That got heads turning as they checked each other out, each as surprised as the next that all of them had been approached with job offers from Scinegue.

“They do not trust you,” he continued, “but you each have something they want. We need you on the inside if at all possible. Their plans are moving forward so fast now that without insiders in the right positions, we won’t be able to stop them.”

The door handle started rattling, and they could hear Linda’s sweet voice speaking loudly. “Oh, this silly door won’t open again. Sometimes it gets stuck or something.”

Farmer Dan punched in his code on the panel by the door and the door flew open with a surprised Linda behind it.

“Whew! We need to work on that door, Daniel.” She gave him a discreet smile and patted his arm affectionately as she walked by, then she started right in describing the different plants and the types of growing mediums and fertilizer they used on each.

“If you’ll follow me to the next greenhouse, we’ll get out of their way,” Farmer Dan said, and led his somber group to another greenhouse next door where the “Back to Eden” portion of the class began. Dan spent the remainder of the class explaining the plants and why they were chosen, along with an overview of what they were experimenting with and the desired results.

Billy’s head was still swimming with the information that he and Sarah weren’t alone in this. He wasn’t able to take much in, but Sarah seemed very interested and even asked a few questions. He kept sneaking peeks at the others.

There was a tall, young, well-dressed couple, both trim and intelligent looking. Another couple, again tall and trim, a little younger than the first. He wasn’t sure if the last two were a couple or not. He hadn’t noticed them talking, and most of the time they didn’t stand together. The man was tall with dark skin and black hair. The woman also had dark skin, however she differed from the rest of the group in that she was very overweight and even shorter than his own petite Sarah. He wondered if she was a spouse of someone Scinegue had approached, or if she had been approached herself?

Farmer Dan concluded the tour and solemnly shook hands with everyone in his group before rejoining Linda and her group back in the house to officially end the meeting. He wrapped his arm around Linda’s waist. “We hope we’ve given you an overview of what we are trying to achieve,” his eyes met Billy’s, “and you’re going home with some new ideas for your own gardens.”

“We’re glad you all came tonight,” Linda added. “Be safe driving home.”

“Let’s stop at the park for a while, okay?” Sarah asked as Billy drove toward home.

“Sure, it’s always relaxing there,” Billy answered, remembering that their car might be bugged.

They walked hand in hand to the swings, both discreetly looking around for cameras or anything else that seemed suspicious. It appeared the park was deserted, and they each claimed a swing and swung in silence for a few minutes, mentally replaying the information they’d just learned.

“What did you think about the Browns?” Billy broke the silence.

“I think they seem like very sweet, down to earth people. What about you?”

“Pretty much the same. I feel like we learned so much tonight, but we really only learned that we are not the only ones who know something strange is going on.”

“It’s a relief though, right? It is to me at least. I felt like we had to figure out what’s going on all by ourselves, and then stop it by ourselves.

“Just hearing that people already know what’s going on, and apparently have a plan in motion to stop it, just feels like such a weight off our shoulders.”

Sarah sighed and tilted her head back with her eyes closed, her blond hair flowing loosely behind her as she enjoyed the cool evening air.

“I was thinking the same thing. I wish they would have told us more tonight. I feel like we should be doing something, and we just keep getting these little trickles of information.”

Sarah slowed her swing until she was barely swaying and looked at Billy intently. “You know you have to accept that job offer, right?”

“I know,” he answered with a nod. “I’m just trying to figure out a way to keep you with me. We are not getting a divorce, even if it is just for show. It wouldn’t be right.” He turned towards her and grabbed her hands. “I need you with me, and I need to know you’ll be safe.” A breeze brushed across the leaves overhead and Billy looked up towards the dark sky.

“I keep thinking about Ben and Jerald. If I knew they had just changed jobs or something that would be one thing, but the way they both vanished...” He cringed and looked back at Sarah. “I don’t like to even say it out loud, but I can’t help wondering if they were killed.”

“I’ve wondered the same thing,” she added quietly, “but don’t you think someone would question their disappearances? I don’t know about Jerald, but Ben has a family. If he disappeared they would’ve contacted the police. It would have been all over the news in this small town,” she asserted.

“I agree with you for the most part, but I can’t help thinking that the family could’ve been bought off, or threatened, to keep things quiet. Scinegue is a huge company, and I think we’re just beginning to learn how powerful they are. I won’t take a chance with your safety.”

Sarah smiled at the resolve in Billy’s voice. She liked to think she was pretty self-sufficient, but it was reassuring to know that Billy would always be there for her. What he didn’t know was that she would be doing all she could to look out for him too, including trying to get more information about what they were dealing with.

“I did some more research on eugenics on the computer today. I used the adapter Linda gave me and erased all my search history when I was done. As long as no one looks too close I don’t think it will cause a problem.”

“Did you learn anything new?”

“I had to dig through a ton of stuff about demonic possession and black magic.” She looked at Billy. “It’s not that I don’t believe evil in general is the root of most, or maybe even all, bad things. The stuff I keep running into takes it much further, though. The authors make it sound like some people open themselves up to evil and are actually used by it. It just sounds a little over the top.”

Billy nodded his agreement. As far as he was concerned, that stuff made for good scary movies and not much more.

“Once I got past all that,” Sarah continued, “I did learn some stuff that was new to me. Like, sterilization was the main action taken in the U.S. as far as I can tell. The worst part is that many of the people were coerced into it. Sometimes mothers who were on welfare were threatened that their welfare checks would be discontinued if they didn’t agree to be sterilized.”

She shook her head and hot tears burned her eyes. “Just because those people were poor at the time didn’t give anyone the right to take away their ability to have more children.”

Billy knew how much Sarah wanted to have a baby, and could imagine how painful it was for her to read about other women being forced to give up the ability to have children. He searched for words of comfort, but before he came up with anything she continued angrily, “They could have given those families jobs or a better education, something to help them pull themselves out of the poverty they were in.”

Her voice trembled with emotion, “Just giving them enough food to survive didn’t help anyone. Instead of wasting so much time and money experimenting and making lists of what supposedly makes a perfect person, someone should have been helping those people, not trying to come up with ways to eliminate them!”

“You know, that kind of sounds like what the Browns are trying to do. They’re trying to teach people how to raise their own healthy food to provide for themselves, and I’m sure there is money to be made selling produce like that.” He looked over at Sarah. “That sounds like what the original Scinegue was trying to do, too. Did you find what the exact criteria are for the ‘perfect race’?”

“Not really. There are many opinions about eugenics and they seem to differ from one group to another.” She reached up to tuck the stray strands of hair blowing across her face behind her ear.

“What I read today focused on a person’s financial status. If someone could make money they were acceptable. Other stuff I read was about the tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed stereotypical perfect individual. Surprisingly, that was more in the minority. Most of what I read seemed to keep coming back to finances and put the ability to earn money above other characteristics.”

She gave a small shrug. “I’m sure if you have a very wealthy person looking into this who has brown hair and brown eyes, and a short, heavy-set wife who he loves dearly, he probably isn’t interested in upholding the blond-haired, blue-eyed stuff. And being wealthy, he probably doesn’t want to pay taxes that help support the poor, no matter what color their skin. He sees them as lazy or incapable, and he wants them gone so they don’t deplete his wealth.”

“That makes sense. Everyone will have a different opinion on what defines the ‘perfect’ person.” He pictured the people he had seen at work. “Scinegue must not be using the blond-hair/blue-eye standards because the employees I saw in the office building had a wide variety of hair colors and skin tones.” He hadn’t been paying attention to eye color, but he knew for a fact neither Mr. Bryant nor the receptionist had blue eyes.

“I did notice that everyone I’ve seen there is pretty tall though,” Billy said thoughtfully, picturing how physically similar everyone was, “and I haven’t seen anyone who is obviously overweight or handicapped.”

“So, they seem to be looking for a certain body type.” Sarah twisted her swing to face him. “And we know they’re looking at intelligence based on what Mr. Bryant told you.”

“I guess they think they’ve found what makes a perfect, productive person.” Billy kicked the ground, giving his swing a boost. “The question is, what are they planning for the people who don’t meet those standards?”

“
M
r. Roth, please come with me.” The beautiful redheaded receptionist who hadn’t given him the time of day before had apparently been watching for him. She stood at the front door and called him into the office building before he could walk past on his way to the trucks.

“Ma’am? I really need to get to my truck. I’m sure you know that being late is not acceptable around here,” Billy called to her retreating form as she slipped back into the building, leaving him no choice but to follow.

The receptionist—Mary Sinclair according to her name plate—was a very attractive, tall, slender woman with an upsweep of deep red hair and a porcelain complexion. She was dressed impeccably, as she was each time Billy saw her. She was gathering up a stack of papers and a clipboard from her desk as Billy walked in.

Without glancing in his direction she started briskly towards a hall to the right, the opposite direction from Mr. Bryant’s office, her high heels tapping smartly with each step and echoing through the large open lobby. “Follow me, please.”

Billy stopped where he was, his eyes drawn to the beautiful multicolored ceiling, but his words were directed to the receptionist’s back. “Ma’am? I’m not sure what’s going on. I really need to get to work.”

Ms. Sinclair glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see she wasn’t being followed as directed. Her lovely features dipped into an impatient frown as she looked at Billy with piercing green eyes.

“Mr. Roth,” she articulated each word, “that is exactly what I am trying to do. Get you to work. If you will follow me as I asked, I will escort you to your office, then alert the tailor that he can come take your measurements. Mr. Bryant has asked that you spend today filling out paperwork for your new position and reviewing these documents.” She held up a large envelope along with the stack of papers she was holding.

“What new position?” Billy tore his gaze from the enticing ceiling and focused on the impatient woman before him. “Mr. Bryant talked to me about a new position here,” he said shaking his head, “but I haven’t accepted yet. I was supposed to have access to some information before I made my decision.”

Looking at him as if he was crazy, Ms. Sinclair spoke calmly. “I believe this is the information you wanted.” She indicated the stack of papers she was holding. “Mr. Bryant said he wants you on the job immediately and that you can talk later.”

“But what about my other job?” Billy looked towards the front door. “And Michael, my driver? He’s going to wonder what happened to me.”

“Your previous job has been filled,” she replied shortly. “This ‘Michael’ has a job to do and I am quite sure he is doing it. Unlike some of us,” she muttered as she turned back towards the hall to the right, calling over her shoulder, “Now please, follow me.”

Billy reluctantly followed her through the lobby past a comfortable looking arrangement of chairs. As they neared the lobby wall, he noticed discreetly placed artificial lighting which augmented the flickering gas flames. He’d wondered how the sconces on the wall were able to keep the room so bright. He decided they were for ambiance more than lighting, but they were still impressive.

Even as he appreciated the overwhelming beauty of the room, his mind worked to unravel his current situation. Mr. Bryant assumed he would take the job and took it upon himself to set things in motion. His old position had been filled, so if he didn’t take this job, he would probably be out of work completely. What did this mean for Sarah? he wondered. He certainly wasn’t going to divorce her, but Mr. Bryant had made it clear he could only have this position if he did.

Ms. Sinclair disappeared into an office. Billy followed her, stopping just inside the doorway. While Mr. Bryant’s office had been exquisite, this was beyond words.

The wood-paneled room was spacious and elegantly decorated, with a couple of amazingly realistic paintings on the walls. But its most outstanding feature was the view through a wall of glass along the back of the room. A towering fountain surrounded by fanciful mosaics and lush green plants was the central focus. It appeared to be a central court and he guessed it must have cost thousands—possibly millions—of dollars to build. He couldn’t even fathom that kind of money.

Ms. Sinclair was watching Billy and his awe-filled expression made her smile. “Pretty impressive, huh?” she asked, forgetting her cold, clipped speech for just a minute. “I still remember when I first started here. The building just doesn’t look like much from the outside, does it?”

Billy shook his head mutely, tearing his gaze from the view through the back wall to study the furnishings and paintings before walking to the gorgeous dark wood desk Ms. Sinclair had set the stack of papers on.

Her voice became terse and fully professional once again. “The lavatory is through here.” She indicated a door with a wave of her hand. “A kitchenette is across the hall and is only used by you and a few other employees. A gym is at the end of this hall and to the right. Everyone in this wing has access to it and is encouraged to use it often. It’s critical that we stay in shape, as you know.”

Billy felt as if he didn’t know anything and stood staring at her with questions in his eyes.

Ms. Sinclair walked briskly toward the door. “I will schedule the tailor as soon as possible. I suggest you get started on that paperwork.” She indicated the pile she left on his desk. “Mr. Bryant is eager to have you working so you need to get the preliminaries taken care of.” With that she walked out, closing the door behind her and leaving Billy in a state of bewilderment.

“What tailor?” Billy finally managed to ask the closed door.

Billy looked around the expanse of the room. This was his office? Why would he, a trash collector only yesterday, have a nicer office than Mr. Bryant, who seemed to be pretty high up in the company?

Left alone in the room, he marveled at the beautiful artwork on the walls, ran his hands along the ornate woodwork on the back of a chair, and finally sat in the plush leather chair behind the desk, unable to resist giving it a spin.

This was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, a
mis
-something. He had to talk to Mr. Bryant before things went any further. He sat back in the chair and closed his eyes, his mind spinning even faster than the chair had. Maybe this wasn’t really his office. Maybe it was a teaser just to show him what he would miss out on if he didn’t take the job. But what about all the paperwork the receptionist had left him? He sat forward to take a look at it.

There were several new employee information forms on the clipboard for him to fill out. Nothing too exciting. He opened the large, bulky envelope and dumped its contents onto the desk. Keys and garage door openers slid out before the papers. Billy picked up a key and read the information written on the temporary key ring:
72 Pleasant St.

He froze as it hit him. He knew that address. It was on his route. In Scinegue. The nicest neighborhood out of the three he worked. He closed his eyes and pictured the street trying to envision the exact house, but he hadn’t ever paid too much attention to the street numbers.

He did know that there wasn’t a house in the neighborhood that wasn’t gorgeous. He picked up a garage door opener and turned it over in his hand. It wasn’t labeled nor was the other when he checked it out. He had to assume they went to the same house as the keys.

The next key ring he picked up held several keys each labeled with white tags: Office, Kitchenette 3, Gym 3 and Lobby. Pretty straightforward.

The last key was obviously to a vehicle. It had a remote access pad with it and was labeled F14, followed by what was probably a license plate number.

He laid the keys out side by side on the desk and released a long, slow breath as his eyes skipped from one set to the next. They sure knew how to tempt a guy. If it wasn’t for the ‘you have to divorce Sarah’ part, he knew it would be hard to turn this job down, no matter what the company did. His eyes narrowed as he realized he still didn’t have any idea what the job even was.

The papers from the envelope were lying on the desk, and he noticed a handwritten note attached to the first page.

After speaking with the Tops, it was decided that your wife is not an issue at the moment. Being married to her does not disqualify you from the position. In light of this, I have taken it upon myself to proceed. Please spend today reviewing the information included and familiarizing yourself with the company.

Unless I hear differently from you, movers will relocate you to your new house tomorrow. The house is yours upon your acceptance of this position, provided by the company. Utilities and upkeep are your responsibility. The vehicle is also yours with the same stipulation; fuel and maintenance expenses are your responsibility. Your salary will be tripled, effective today, and a tailor will provide you with an appropriate wardrobe, again at the company’s expense. If you find all of this acceptable, please meet with me in my office at eight a.m. tomorrow.

Until then,

Eugene Bryant

Billy shook his head and smiled. This was unbelievable. His smile faded as his dad’s favorite expression ran through his mind:
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
This was definitely too good to be true. He didn’t even know what his job would be. What kind of company hired someone without even telling them what the job entailed?

He wished he could call Sarah to get her opinion on the job and its incredible benefits, but he preferred to have that conversation privately, without bugs. Even if his home phone wasn’t bugged, he felt sure this office phone was. For all he knew, the whole office building might be bugged.

He scanned over the note again. “Whoa! Triple salary!” he couldn’t help exclaiming. His salary was already outrageous considering the job he was doing. What on earth would he have to do for this kind of money?

He gave his chair another spin and ended up facing the center court. He was mesmerized by the tranquil view through the window. Varying shades of blue in the beautiful mosaic tiles and sparkling water in the fountain lent the center court a cool, relaxing atmosphere, and occasional splashes of contrasting colors added a bright cheerfulness.

A sharp knock on the door startled him and he realized he hadn’t read through all the paperwork yet. If that was Mr. Bryant coming to check up on him, he wasn’t going to be off to a very good start.

“Come in?” he called towards the door, wondering if he should go open it himself. Before he could, a tall, thin man with black hair slicked back from his long, narrow face hurried in wearing a carefully pressed suit and carrying a measuring tape and a pad of paper.

“Mr. Roth,” the man said with a slight accent. “Please stand over here and I will take your measurements.”

“Measurements for what?” Billy’s voice rose questioningly.

The man looked at him with a frown. “Forgive me, I am Anthony. The tailor? I was quite sure you were notified that I would be taking your measurements for an office wardrobe.”

“Oh, wow, okay. That was fast.” Billy shook his head in disbelief that this was really happening.

“I would also be pleased to provide personal attire for you and any family members,” the man continued briskly, “however, the company does not pay for that. If you decide you are interested in my services in that direction, contact me and we can discuss costs and styles. Now,” he waved impatiently for Billy to come to him, “this way please. I won’t take five minutes of your time.”

True to his word he had Billy extend his arms and twirl around while he measured everything necessary, and was gone with a brief, “Thank you, sir. Good day,” leaving Billy breathless.

Billy glanced around the office—his office—once again, and decided no matter if this really became his office or not he would at least explore so he could tell Sarah all about it. He walked into the lavatory. It was like a bathroom from a mansion. Or what he pictured a mansion’s bathroom would look like. There was a lot of dark wood and marble countertops, with a huge walk-in shower lined with what looked to him like black slate walls. A Jacuzzi tub was set beside it surrounded by a marble floor.

The floor was a light beige color with streaks of darker shades of brown running through it that complemented the wood in the room. It was shiny and smooth with plush, neutral rugs spread in front of both the vanity and shower. A small, separate room revealed the toilet and a bidet.

He turned in a slow circle, taking in the size and extravagance of the room.
Someone must expect him to spend an awful lot of time at the office to need a bathroom like this,
he decided.

He returned to his desk intent on perusing the remaining papers, but his eyes and thoughts were repeatedly drawn to the keys he had lined up in a row on the desktop. Mansion, new car, amazing pay
and
Sarah? His heart pounded. It didn’t matter what his job here was, his eyes shifted around the office again. He could do it. He nodded to himself. He would do it.

He and Sarah had just let their imaginations run wild with the information they’d found. And Farmer Dan and his wife? They were nice enough people, but what did they really know about Scinegue? If they had any hard evidence that bad things were happening here they would have just told everyone last night at the meeting.

He steepled his fingers under his chin and pictured Sarah in a huge, magazine-worthy kitchen, as he had before. This time he could make it work. He could see her cooking something delicious on a huge stove and smiling over her shoulder at him.

Of course she would have some kind of music playing. Classical? He grinned at the picture, knowing Sarah’s eclectic taste in music could make that happen. With the income he would be making and no car or house payment, they could decorate any way they wanted and make it elegant but still homey. They could be happy there.

He looked around the office again before glancing down at his plain khakis and golf shirt. He might not fit in right now, but he was smart. He had always planned to have some type of office job. Give him the right clothes and some work to do, and he felt he could fit right in.