The Secret (The Scinegue Series Book 1) (24 page)

S
arah was startled awake. The room was dark, and she realized her cell phone was ringing and vibrating in her pocket. “Hello?” she answered groggily.

“Sarah! What did you do? Who did you tell?” Her brother’s panicked voice raced through the phone lines, waking her completely and chilling her blood.

“Ritchie?” She sat up straight and alert. “What’s wrong?”

“I found a safe place like you said, or so I thought, then all these guys burst in. I was in the back, but I heard them demanding to know about the computer stuff I told you about and saying you told their boss about it.”

Sarah let out a deep breath and the ferocious pounding of her heart slowed. “Oh, they’re okay. We found someone high up in the company that Billy works for who said he would protect you. He wants to get the information from you about the companies you tampered with. They must have seemed bad because they are in a hurry to fix everything before anyone else gets hurt.”

Ritchie’s voice was breathless as if he’d been running, “Well, it’s too late for that, they just shot John Smith.” His voice broke. “I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”

Sarah sat up fully. “What?”

“I told you! They shot and killed my best friend! You must have trusted the wrong people. How did you even know where to tell them to find me?”

“I didn’t,” she said blankly. “Oh, Ritchie, I’m so sorry! We needed help, and this man seemed to be on our side.” Sarah’s heart sank in her chest. More death, and this time it might have been her fault.

“Have you called the police?”

“I called 911 and gave them John’s address then I hung up.”

“Ritchie, remember the project we worked on last summer?” He’d helped her and Billy install the emergency shelter in their backyard. “You’ll be safe there, I think.” She pictured the camouflaged door that led to the underground room. It was small, but Ritchie should have everything he needed to hide out for a while. “Every now and then get far away from there, and check in with me, okay? We’ll try to find a way to fix things.”

Ritchie huffed into the phone, “I’m going there now, but Sis, I don’t think this is something you’ll be able to fix. A whole bunch of guys burst into John’s apartment and started waving guns and making demands. I was in the back room and was almost out the window when I heard the first gun shot and John’s scream.” Sarah could hear the anguish in Ritchie’s voice. “And I just went out the window. I didn’t even try to help him...” His voice cracked in despair.

“Ritchie, you couldn’t have overpowered all those men. You did the right thing. Look, it sounds like it’s up to us to figure out a way to notify those companies that they have to stop production before even more people are hurt. I thought we found help. I guess I was wrong.” She leaned her head against her hand overcome with weariness. “You know I can’t do this without you.” Sarah looked toward the closed office door, wondering if Mr. Radcliffe had overheard any of her conversation.

“I’ll try to think of some way to stop production and call you back when I can. It might be best not to tell anyone you talked to me. They might have mistaken John for me, and that will buy me some time if they think I’m dead. Stay safe, Sis.” The phone went dead in her hand.

Sarah got up and walked on unsteady legs through the dark room toward the office door and leaned her ear against it, listening for any movement from Mr. Radcliffe. A stream of soft light flowed under the door, but she couldn’t hear any sounds from within. Torn between talking things over with Billy first or just confronting Radcliffe, Sarah let her anger and anguish rule her and burst through the door, prepared to get some straight answers from the older man.

The room was empty.

She raced to the closet, even checked under the desk. Nothing.
So he was a bad guy,
she thought as she dropped into his chair and rubbed her forehead with her hand. They should have trusted their instincts when he ditched them at the restaurant earlier. She guessed that was why he was so high up in the company. He was a very believable liar. Or the company was just as corrupt as they had suspected.

She slumped into the office chair and laid her head on her arms on the desk, overwhelmed with despair. “Oh, God, I seem to only turn to You when I’m in trouble lately. I’m sorry, but I’m in trouble now. I don’t even think I fully understand how big this could be. If these people carry out their plans, they’re going to kill everyone who they don’t think is worthy to live,” she cried out.

“Billy and I are some of the only people who know about it, and I just don’t know what we can do alone to stop it.” She let her tears pour out one last time, knowing whatever happened, tears would only be a hindrance. Then she remembered that Mr. Radcliffe told them to pray about him and the situation.

“You know that I think Mr. Radcliffe lied to us about everything and is really on their side. I’m begging You to guide me and Billy. Help us to know what is right and who is true, and please protect Ritchie.” She took a deep breath. “And help us to know what You want us to do and help us to do it. Amen.” She sat there a moment longer, feeling a strange sense of peace after her burst of panic.

“Trust him.”

Sarah jerked her head up and spun around.

“What? Who said that?” She rushed around the room again, even looking behind the floor-length drapes, but again found no one. After a last glance around she hurried from the room and turned on the living room light so she could make it to Uncle Bill’s room without tripping over anything.

Billy was sitting beside his uncle’s bed holding his hand with their heads nearly touching, deep in conversation. Sarah hesitated at the door for a moment in indecision, and then walked in. “Billy,” she said quietly. “Can I talk to you? Alone.”

Billy seemed surprised to see her, and Uncle Bill gave her a smile, appearing much stronger than the last time she saw him. “How are you feeling, Mr. Berkley?”

His strong voice surprised her. “Much better, thank you. Another day or so and I believe I will be up and around again.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” She smiled slightly, and motioned for Billy to follow her as she backed out of the room.

She heard Billy tell his uncle he would be right back, and then he joined her in the hall.

“Hey, how are you feeling? Did you get some rest?” He rubbed her arms and looked into her eyes.

“Do you know where Mr. Radcliffe is?” she asked, ignoring his questions.

“In his office I guess. I haven’t seen him since he went in there.”

“Well, he’s not there.”

“Okay...?” Billy replied.

Sarah filled him in and choked up a little when telling him about her brother’s friend being killed, leading all the way up to her prayer and the voice she heard.

“The strangest part is I do feel like I should trust Mr. Radcliffe, even though Ritchie’s friend was just murdered, very possibly at his direction. Do you think it’s some kind of mind control making me feel this way?” she asked, as the thought hit her.

Billy’s blue eyes held a look of wonder. “I heard a voice on the plane coming here. I forgot all about it until you said that, but I remember looking around to see who said it because it was so clear.”

“What did you hear?”

“I was thinking about everything that has been going on, and I got to the point where I felt like I just couldn’t handle one more thing, and the voice said, ‘Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’.”

“What does that mean?” Sarah shook her head.

“I wasn’t praying like you were,” Billy said, starting to get excited. “But that’s from the Bible, and after I heard it, I fell asleep. When I woke up I just felt...better, I guess. More rested than I’ve felt in a long time, and I wasn’t as worried anymore.”

Sarah gave him a bland look. “So,” she drawled, “you think God is talking to us?”

Billy was annoyed by her obvious disbelief, because even though he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit it to anyone—not even Sarah—he realized that was exactly what he thought.

“You were the one who told me a few days ago that God had ‘chosen me’ for this. What’s so different in believing that and in believing He might give us a message or two to help us along?”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but God doesn’t talk to people anymore like He did in the Bible,” Sarah snapped.

“Or maybe He does, and they just don’t believe it’s Him!” Billy dropped his arms to his side then rubbed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I know it sounds crazy, but...”

Sarah interrupted him, “No, I’m sorry. You’re right,” she stated softly. “That’s exactly what faith is
:
Believing the unseen. We have no reason to think it wasn’t from God. The words we heard weren’t telling us to go rob a store or eat just one more brownie.” Billy’s lip curved up at the reference to his weakness, and often overindulgence, in Sarah’s homemade brownies.

“I would be more inclined to think the voice I heard was some kind of brainwashing trick if you hadn’t heard a voice, too. How would Scinegue profit in any way by sending you a promise of peace from the Bible?” Sarah smiled up at Billy shyly. “I think we need to remember to pray and expect answers. Whether or not we actually see or hear them. If we believe we should expect a response.”

“My uncle was just saying something along those lines. He said that all of the Tops have a deep faith and make it a habit to pray about all of their decisions. I think it’s a good idea.”

“So now what?” She shrugged. “Mr. Radcliffe asks us to trust him, and someone gets killed. For all we know, they might have killed Ritchie, too, if he hadn’t snuck out. Do we just trust him implicitly and let him kill whoever he likes, believing he has a bigger plan?”

“Let’s ask Uncle Bill about it, all right? I know we don’t really have any more reason to believe him than Radcliffe, but I do. He’s part of my family. My great-grandfather. How cool is that?”

Sarah looked up at him with a smile and replied, “Pretty cool. I’m with you. We’ll tell him everything, and maybe he can give us some insight into what Radcliffe might be planning and what our next move should be. I would really like to go home,” she added with a sigh. “To our real home.”

Billy squeezed her hand gently, knowing her palms were still tender from her fall at the Brown’s. “I know what you mean. One day at a time, okay?”

T
hey found Uncle Bill sitting up in bed with a warm, rosy glow on his cheeks. “Wow! Uncle Bill, you’re looking better every second.”

“I can almost feel the poison leaving my body. Ugh,” he shuddered slightly, “what an uncomfortable experience. You say there was no one in my building when you found me? How did you get in?” Uncle Bill asked the questions that had been troubling him.

“I climbed the fire escape and broke through a window. After the ambulance got there I was in a hurry because I wanted to go with you to the hospital, but I did want to leave a message letting someone know what happened to you. I couldn’t find a single person around.”

“I have a full staff on duty around the clock. Have you heard if any of them were injured or killed? I certainly hope they’re all right, but if they are, that must mean they agreed to all be absent during the time of my assault.” His lips compressed into a thin line at the thought of people he trusted conspiring to have him killed.

Billy shook his head trying to remember what Mr. Radcliffe said. “I don’t think anyone was hurt. Mr. Radcliffe stopped at your building first before coming to the hospital, and all I remember him saying is that no one knew where you were.” That brought Billy back to an earlier question. “How did Mr. Radcliffe know you were injured anyway? We asked him, but he never really answered.”

Uncle Bill smiled and pulled his pajama top off his shoulder to reveal a scar. “Just like Bob’s!” Billy exclaimed, scooting over so Sarah could see the odd, square-shaped scar on his upper arm.

“You track yourselves, too? That’s kind of strange, isn’t it?” Sarah asked, studying the scar over the implant.

“Bob?” Uncle Bill questioned. “Oh, the man who sent you the coded message and said that the Tops are the villains in this plot. That man has no idea what our beliefs are and what our lives have been dedicated to or he never could have implied that we have a role in this!” He started to sit forward in anger, and just as quickly leaned back against the pillow with a wheezing breath.

“Of course, there could be some truth to that or this uprising wouldn’t have come as far as it has undetected,” he added as he considered each of the Tops. Each intent upon the same purpose. Each dedicating his or her life to the cause. He looked at Billy and recalled his own sacrifice. They all gave up something when they accepted their life’s work within the company. Some more than others. He found it impossible to point a finger at any one of them and say they could be a potential danger to Scinegue.

“Uncle Bill?” Billy gently pulled the older man from his thoughts. “Why do you track yourselves?”

“These devices can be used to track individuals, however, that is not their main purpose. They were originally developed to help us learn more about the human body and help us stay in top health. They monitor more things than I even know offhand. Things like blood sugar, vitamin and mineral balance, acidity, toxins, including toxins from our foods or toxins injected to make it look as if we are having a heart attack,” he added drily.

“I’m sure that’s what signaled Oliver to my predicament,” he continued. “The tracking option was installed as a safety precaution. As I said before, some people are very opposed to the way we do things. Which I find ironic,” he added with a shake of his head, “seeing as how we are trying to help make the world a better place without harming anyone.”

“So, to your knowledge Scinegue has never harmed anyone?” Sarah asked, watching for his reaction.

Uncle Bill leveled a sad look at her. “I didn’t say that,” he answered slowly. “Many have been harmed by Scinegue. But not for the sake of research, nor towards the end purpose of making the world better.”

Sarah flicked a glance at Billy to gauge his reaction. She wanted to believe what Uncle Bill was saying. Maybe almost too much. She forced herself to listen objectively as he continued.

“We run into people time and again who like our goals but not our methods of achieving them. I can’t tell you how many attempts have been made on my life by those who thought I had no blood heir to pass my position to, in the hopes that they could become a Top and reshape the company. Many of the other Tops have had similar attempts made on their lives. The people who have been harmed by Scinegue were only harmed in self-defense.” His hands fisted by his sides.

“Someone found out about you, and while I’m sorry you were dragged into this situation, I’m so glad to finally see you again.” He relaxed his clenched fists and smiled fondly at Billy, reaching over to pat his arm. “You, your father, your grandfather, just knowing I had family out there made my solitude easier to endure.”

“So you still believe Mr. Radcliffe is on our side? On the good side? Because it sounds like he just had one of my brother’s friends killed and was quite possibly trying to kill my brother.” Sarah stood with her arms crossed, waiting for his answer.

Uncle Bill gave Billy a troubled look. “Who is the brother again?” Billy reminded him of Ritchie’s part in modifying the formulas, and his connection with the FBI agent who shot Farmer Dan and the others.

“Oh, yes. So much has happened so fast, and I’m afraid my mind might still be a bit groggy from the effects of the poison. I remember now.”

“When did you have time to tell him about Farmer Dan and Ritchie?” Sarah asked, knowing they hadn’t spent much time alone together.

“Just a little while ago while you were resting on the couch. He was feeling so much better, I’m afraid I just dumped everything on him.” Billy looked guilty. “I’m sorry Uncle Bill, I hope it wasn’t too much. We just feel like terrible things are starting to happen, and they will only get worse unless someone with more knowledge than us can stop them.”

Uncle Bill gave him a reassuring smile as he reached over to touch Billy’s shoulder. “You did nothing wrong. I will be fit as a fiddle soon enough, and you are right,” he nodded, “if things are not stopped soon they will escalate out of control. Have you told all of this to Oliver?”

“All but the last part because it appears he is gone,” Sarah explained in a cool, calm voice. “That’s why we need to know if we can trust him.”

“Without question,” Uncle Bill replied with quiet conviction. “I don’t know where he is, but I’m sure he is trying to put a stop to this.”

“Can we track him?” Billy asked. “Using his arm thingy?” He motioned towards his uncle’s shoulder.

“No, the tracking can only be enabled by him with his code. Unless,” he paused thoughtfully.

“Unless what?” Sarah asked intrigued.

“Unless he finds himself in a dangerous situation. The monitor will activate if there is any threat to the owner’s safety.”

“How would it know if he’s in danger?”

“It’s not completely accurate, but in a life-threatening situation, like the one I was in, the system will be triggered. Also, if there is a threat of danger that he is aware of, his pulse and respiration will accelerate and adrenaline will be released to a point that triggers the override.” His eyes narrowed.

“And I suppose it would be possible for someone on the inside to reprogram the system in a way that enables the tracking. The system was built very securely, and we have always been very careful about who works in that department. It would be extremely dangerous if someone was able to track the location of all twelve of the Tops. If more than a few of us were killed at the same time, this company and everything we believe in could crumble. It is why we live so far apart, scattered around the world, and very rarely all meet together in one place at the same time anymore.”

“How is it that no one seems to know much about Scinegue? The company’s not in the papers. You and the other Tops are apparently very wealthy, yet you aren’t on any
Who’s Who
lists that I know of. I don’t understand how such a large organization can stay so invisible.”

“I think you can guess the answer to that. Money and connections. That’s really all it takes.”

“That’s another thing. How can Scinegue afford to pay me so much? I’m guessing people who have been there longer than me are probably making much more than I am. And you and the other Tops? I can’t even begin to imagine what you must earn.”

With a patient smile Uncle Bill answered, “We have a cap on salaried positions. I don’t earn any more than you do.”

“Well, I know that’s a lot of money, but I’ve seen where you live. You have to be worth much more than me!”

Uncle Bill chuckled softly at Billy’s wide-eyed expression. “You already know Scinegue hires the most brilliant minds we can find. Our goal to improve the world is also pursued through technological advancements. Some we keep secret, believing the world might not yet be ready for them, but many we sell. To governments, top manufacturers, wherever there is a useful market.

“As to my personal finances, I’ve started a few companies and bought the rights to produce some of the products developed by Scinegue, and I—like the other Tops—have invested very wisely over the years.”

Sarah joined the conversation and completely changed the subject. “Does God talk to you or any of the other Tops?”

Billy looked at her in surprise, but Uncle Bill just answered calmly, “All the time.”

“Like, you sit down and have a cup of tea and visit with Him kind of talks?” she persisted.

He laughed. “Well, I’ve had those kinds of talks with Him. They were pretty one-sided with me doing all the talking, but I have to presume that He was listening.”

“So, He doesn’t actually speak to you in a human voice?”

“He has, I believe. I’ve heard a voice give me answers or comfort on a very few occasions when no one else was around.” He gave them a questioning look. “Why do you ask?”

“Billy and I both heard a voice when there wasn’t anyone there. We are trying to figure out what it means or if it means anything.”

“What did the voice say?” He leaned forward and peered at her intently.

Sarah let Billy go first. “I heard mine when I was flying here to meet with you. I was feeling overwhelmed with everything we had been learning about the company, and I heard a voice say, ‘Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“That’s from John 14:27. Did you follow that advice?”

“I guess I did, but not intentionally. I fell asleep on the flight, and when I woke up I felt better. Not worried or stressed like I was.”

“What about you, my dear? What did you hear?”

“I was praying a little while ago and remembered that Mr. Radcliffe asked us to pray about whether to trust him, so I did. Then I heard a voice tell me to trust him.” She shrugged. “With all the other strange stuff going on, I thought maybe he was trying to brainwash me into trusting him. Does your company use mind control like that?”

“No, it’s something we’ve experimented with, hoping to find a way to persuade people to just do what is good and right, but we’ve found that education has the best long-term effects. And what we tried is more like what you said your partner went to.” He looked at Billy. “A type of ‘reprogramming’ where ideas are constantly presented as being good or bad until the person is convinced that what he is told is true. We’ve never had any type of mind control like what you might be imagining.” He chuckled softly and started to cough.

“What’s so funny?” Billy asked as his uncle alternately coughed and laughed.

“I was thinking that although we don’t have mind control, we have progressed a bit beyond simple codes. I’m still curious why you were sent coded messages. There are so many ways you could have been contacted.”

“We always wondered why the codes were so easy to figure out. Not that they were super easy, but with a computer it didn’t take long at all to decipher the messages. I thought that if someone was trying to hide information they could’ve done a better job of encoding it.”

“I think that’s a question for ‘Bob’. I can’t presume to know why he reached out to you in the way he did. I am curious how he figured out your connection, though. And how he knew the Tops were interested in you.”

“I think I’ve at least partially figured that one out,” Billy answered. “At the Scinegue job fair, along with all of the other strange testing they also did a blood test. I’m sure it wasn’t hard for someone to match my results with yours.”

“Hmm. Yes, that is very likely. I wonder if they were looking for a connection, or if they just stumbled upon it.” Uncle Bill scooted his pillow back down. “If you will let me rest for a little while I think I will be up to trying to contact Oliver to see what he has found out.”

“So you really believe in Oliver?” Billy asked, knowing he must sound like a broken record but still needing the reassurance.

“I won’t get into our history now, but he is trustworthy. I trust him completely. If he does something that calls his character into question, he has a good reason for it.”

Billy and Sarah left Uncle Bill to rest and wandered around the apartment. “Did you find out anything about the accident?”

“No, I tried to find out if he knew about it without coming right out and asking him. I didn’t want to upset him if he hadn’t heard. You know, the accident could have been another Top having a ‘heart attack’ last night only he or she wasn’t as fortunate as Uncle Bill. Whatever happened left Mr. Radcliffe in shock.”

“It really did. I don’t understand why anyone would think all they have to do to become a Top is to have a Top killed. Do you?”

“Uncle Bill said the attacks are usually orchestrated by a person who works directly with a Top and assumes they would be a likely replacement if that Top dies.”

“Okay,” Sarah leaned against the back of the couch and crossed her arms, “so say that all works out for them and they do become a Top. They’re not going to be able to go in and convince the other Tops to change the way they do everything overnight. I really don’t see how being a Top benefits their purpose.”

“Most of the people who attempt to go about changing the company’s goals in that way have unlimited patience.” Billy shrugged. “Uncle Bill told me that some of the people who have been caught trying to eliminate a Top and take his or her place have already been with the company for years to get to the position they’re in. What’s a few more years as they slowly try to warp the opinions of the other Tops?”