Thicker Than Blood (12 page)

Kento said, "It was a car-jacking trap. One guy was feigning death to draw us in." "That was you guys. Wow. Not what I was expecting today." Skyler looked a bit glazed over. He pulled up a chair and sat down. The chair creaked. "I heard about those bastards on the CB." Skyler stared into space as he talked. "A buddy of mine saw the same thing in the Bronx." The group was silent. Joe wondered if they misjudged the trucker. "What you did on the side of the Expressway that day was selfless. I just can't believe the government would lie for so long about this. Six years. Stealing your own blood." The trucker was mumbling to himself. Mark spoke up. "I even gave you a name." He held up a printout of the trucker's still. With the words "Shotgun Trucker Hero" written across the bottom. SG looked up and smiled. "Shotgun Trucker. Heh, it doesn't get better than that." Suddenly Skyler looked up and grinned, "It matches my Anagram, SGT. Shot Gun Trucker. I've got that on everything." Skyler pointed at his large belt buckle. He sat for a minute. His face relaxed. "It must be fate." He stood up and stuck out his hand for Kento to shake. "You've convinced me. Your secret is safe on one condition." Skyler walked to the next workbench and grabbed a pen and paper. "Here is my email, I want all the dirt on your team as it happens." Kento smiled warmly. "Deal." They shook. That was a little scary, Joe thought. Lucy looked up at Skyler and then at Kento. Her face as red with anger. "Here's the first rumor. I'm selling the team." Lucy broke away from Joe and ran to her small office by Finny's play area, slamming the door. Mark looked crushed. He sat down. Shotgun looked at Kento. "She doesn't trust me does she?" "Me either. She will. Give her time." Kento looked sad. SGT shook everyone's hand. "Goodbye gentlemen, we will meet again. Say goodbye to Lucy for me." "Later," Joe replied. Skyler walked out of the shop. I'm pretty sure Lucy doesn't really want to be alone, Joe thought. He followed her into the office.

Mark just sat there shaking his head.

Thank God Scott won't be there. That idiot would tell him about the nanites and then sue him for listening. MIR won't win this one. Marcie will be forced to weasel us out of it to save her own hide. If she realized that, she wouldn't have forced me to present Joe. He's bright but not exactly articulate. Dr. Graceland gazed at the ceiling as she placed her hand on the id scanner. She read the small sign next to the door "Hyperrespiratory Dysfunction Study. Nuclear Materials, Access Restricted." Teressa frowned. Not even the janitor believes that. Too out of the norm. Teressa swiped her id card through the slot beside the door and walked into the two doored room known as a man trap. The white-walled space was just big enough for a stretcher and two nurses, with one window. The guard smiled and buzzed her through. Dr. Graceland waved. Teressa walked through the mostly empty wing to her inside office. I hope Joe will make it on time. This is causing more problems than he realizes. Marcie has already threatened to fire me, and the study is practically shut down at this point. She walked into her office and shut the door behind her. She grabbed the receiver off her phone, and she dialed as she walked around the desk. "Hello?" A deep gravely voice answered. "Sergio," Teressa answered back, "how are you." Her heart fluttered a bit. "Good good, it's great to hear from you." She could hear him smile. "You don't visit enough." "I've been really busy here at the glue factory. The study has gotten a lot of funding and there's too much to do." She lied. "I miss you guys." "Are you looking for Joe?" "Yes, he's supposed to be here at one. He has to be on time this time."

"He left a half hour ago, what's so important?" "He has an interview with MIR. The company that makes that hyperrespiratory goo, needs to talk to him about what he felt when he woke up." She hated lying to Sergio like this. It was for his protection. "Oh, okay. He's not in any trouble is he? He's such a troublemaker." "No not really, but he would be if he didn't show up. Sergio I'll call you tonight." "It's good to hear your voice," he said gently. "You too," Dr. Graceland forgot her troubles for just one second. "Bye." "Goodbye." She hung the phone up and felt the tears welling up in her eyes. How much longer did he want them to wait. "No, I must be more than human," she said to no one. She put both hands on her desk to hold herself up. It was to no avail she fell in her chair. She sat and quietly sobbed as she thought about her sister and her widower, and herself. She had been alone for five years. She was interrupted by her phone. She picked it up. "Hello," she said meekly. Oh no, she thought, what if it's Scott? "Hi, Dr. Graceland you have a young visitor in the ER." "Hi Louis. I'll be right down." She felt a little better. She checked her mascara in a small mirror on her desk. Dr. Graceland made her way down two floors and across the hospital to the emergency room. "Joe, hi. I was worried you'd be late." She reached out and hugged him. "Hi Aunt Teressa. Not this time, I know it's important." "How do you know, wait don't tell me yet. Come in here." She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the staff lounge. She roamed around the lounge making sure nobody was there with them. Then she went to the door and locked it from the inside. "Okay Joe. What do you remember?" "About what?" "Okay that's a good answer for later, but now I need you to be honest. What do you know about your week in recovery?" "You put nanites in me." "And, what else?" "You used an ultra sound machine to talk to them." "How did you know that? I didn't tell you that."

"I figured it out." "And what else?" "I saw little dots when I woke up." "Okay, Joe, you never opened your eyes." He paused for a second. He appeared to be thinking. "Aunt Teressa, what are you involved in?" Teressa looked shocked. "Isn't this stuff illegal and impossible?" The maturity of his comments shocked Teressa, "Joe listen to me, very carefully. One day we maybe soon we can talk about this, but not right now. Right now I need to get you through this hearing." "Hearing?" She was talking faster now. "MIR plans to bring legal action against you and me if you have any idea what was done to you. They would ultimately lose that battle, but could use the transcripts to identify you as a national security threat. They could throw you in an enemy combatant clink indefinitely." "Hearing for what?" "Patent infringement." His jaw dropped. "I'm not selling the stuff in the mall. What the fuck?" He was obviously stressed out. "Joe watch your language. That's not the point. All they have to do is get you on the record saying that you know what was done to you." "Unlawful knowledge?" "Yes." She did her best deadpan serious look. "How much trouble are you in?" Joe asked again. "I can handle myself, so long as you don't admit to any knowledge." She tried to believe her lie. Somebody knocked at the door of the break room. The sound echoed off the concrete walls. Teressa quickly walked to the door, unlocked it and opened it just enough in one motion. A male nurse was leaning against the wall outside. "We will be out in five minutes." Teressa closed the door, locking it again. Teresa turned around to find Joe leaning and staring at the side of cabinet. "What's the matter?" She felt her heart sink. Maybe I came on to strong, he is usually so upbeat and self-assured. "Aunt Teressa, I need to tell you something." He looked sullen. "What Joe?"

The door knocked again. A voice came through the door. "Come on doc I'm hungry, and I've only got ten minutes." She was a little annoyed. Obviously Joe knew something else that he's rather keep his silence about. I really don't need to interrupt him. She stomped over the half refrigerator and grabbed the first soda she saw. She grabbed a donut out of the box on the counter and asked him. "Joe, what do you have to tell me?" He continued to look sullen. She knew that look meant some kind of guilt. She stared at him as she walked toward the door. Opening it again, she shoved the donut and cola through a small crack in the door. She closed the door again. "Is there something I need to know?" "Hey this donut is squished!" came the voice through the door. "Deal with it Doug," she yelled back through the door. Her cell phone beeped. She tapped a button on the belt hung phone and a voice sounded aloud from it. "Dr. Graceland, the MIR team is here. They want to start now by the wing. See you there." It was Marcie's voice. "Damn," she said aloud. "Remember you know nothing and you don't remember waking up." "Right." "Afterward I told you that I gave you a blood transfusion. Got it?" "Got it." "Lets go." She hoped he had it.

"Dr Graceland, good to see you." Nathan Jones smiled. Nathan was a short but muscular man. He wore a light gray fitted suit with a blue power tie. He carried a simple leather briefcase. He was accompanied by another muscular tall man who looked young and distracted. I bet you can't wait to eat Joe alive, Teressa thought. "Hello Nathan. How are the wife and kids?" Teressa acted. "Good, I miss them." Nathan seemed authentically distraught. "Nathan, Marcie, meet Joe Vallone." Teressa smiled. Joe stretched out his hand and smiled. Nathan shook his hand firmly. "Mr. Vallone so much ado over you. You must be a little nervous." Joe stared into Nathan's eyes. "Not really." Joe's voice was extra deep. "This is my associate, council Laurence. He will be taking minutes for the meeting," Nathan said. Charles Laurence shook Joe's hand. "Firm grip." Laurence also locked eyes with Joe. "I work with my hands," Joe grumbled. He looked stern. "Gentlemen, Ma'am, shall we sit?" Nathan inquired. As the group walked to the table Joe did not take his eyes off Nathan. Teressa needed to break the uncomfortable silence. Joe's socially awkward speech might land him in a military jail this time. "So gentlemen, what brings you here?" "This is our attempt at civil discourse." Nathan replied as matter of fact. "We strongly suspect that a serious violation of patent law by manner of contract breach has occurred. We would prefer not to discuss the case until the court reporter arrives. We expect the testimony today will be important to our case."

"Aren't we waiting for a judge as well?" Teressa asked. Nathan continued, "This is not a formal hearing as no charges have been brought. I would prefer to maximize the integrity of the information gathering stage." Teressa was fuming. She saw right through their euphemisms. Where do they get off dragging us in here when they don't know anything. "So this is just a fishing expedition?" Marcie Keith spoke, "Teressa that is not appropriate." "No, it's not." Joe reverberated through the carpeted room. "What?" Nathan turned to Joe. "What is not appropriate?" He crossed his arms. Oh no, Joe shut up. Don't be macho, that's just what he wants. "To take time from doctors for legal games." Joe's pronunciation was unusually concise, he mimicked the lawyers tone. Marcie spoke again. "Joe, you don't understand the nature of our work." Joe was visibly fighting his brewing rage. He turned to Dr. Keith. "Okay. How am I wrong." Joe that's my boss, Teressa worried. Nathan said, "She can't tell you Mr. Vallone." "Why not? What's the big secret?" Joe taunted him. Council Laurence chimed in, "It's a trade secret Mr. Vallone." "I thought it was a patent case?" Joe asked. "It's a contract case," Nathan answered. He was obviously frazzled by Joe's hostility. "So it's whatever you feel like," Joe was smirking a bit. Teressa had to stop Joe before he said something dumb. She reached over and grabbed his shoulder, and looked him in the eye. The door opened. A small twenty something woman with long brown hair walked in the door carrying a small case. The group sat silent glaring at each other while the woman quickly set up her computer. Her haste seemed sensitive to the tension. You know, Joe might just be on to something. Nathan looks positively pissed. Good. If he thinks he's not going to get anything, then maybe he won't. "Hello, my name is Christina Douglas." The slender woman broke the silence with far more indifference than her posture might suggest. "I am ready when you are." "Hello Ms. Douglas." Nathan acknowledged her greeting.

The group sat silent while Joe stared between Charles and Nathan. Men and their pissing contests, Teressa thought. Council Jones turned away from Joe loosing his scowl. "Ms. Douglas, my name is council Nathan Jones, I represent MIR corp." "My name is council Charles Laurence. I am co-council for MIR corp." "I am Marcie Keith, Supervising Doctor on the Hyperrespiratory Dysfunction project." "I am Joe Vallone, and I am a patient at this hospital." "I am Teressa Graceland, and I was Joe's acting Doctor, and I am part of the project. I am also his Aunt." The reporter raised an eyebrow at her last comment. "Is anyone representing Mr. Vallone, Dr. Graceland or Dr. Keith?" "No need." Nathan Jones smiled warmly. Joe ears were turning red. "The time is twelve fifty five." Christina looked at her watch. "Please raise your right hand and say I do when I finish. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" The group spoke in unison. "I do." "Dr. Keith, would you please repeat that, I didn't hear you." "I do." Nathan Jones glared at Joe and rifled through his brief case for a few minutes. Rustling papers cut the silence. Joe's return stare gave him the look of a hungry wolf. Teressa worried about Joe loosing his cool. He's only twenty two. Any proceedings under oath are practically built to be the undoing of angry twenty two year old boys. "Mr. Vallone, what relationship do you have with Dr. Graceland?" "Can I plead the fifth?" Joe smirked, pleased with himself. "You may at your own peril." Council Laurence forced a return smile. "She's my aunt." "Interesting that she is your aunt to you before your doctor. I wonder if the that relationship is mirrored in the other direction." Joe and Teressa talked over each other. "Of course, he's my nephew," became muddled with Joe's, "No it's not." "What?" the reporter asked. "I said, of course he's my nephew. It would be impossible for me to ignore my blood relationship with him." Nathan Jones smiled. "I'm more interested in what Joe said." He rasped sarcastically.

"No, it's not," Joe replied deep and cold. "Not, what?" Nathan was still smirking. "Not interesting, it's a dumb question" Teressa grabbed Joe's shoulder again. Restraining herself form digging her nails in. Why was Joe so angry? Did he know more than we talked about? Nathan's smile cracked just a little. "I, nor the court am aware of the state of your relationship with Dr. Graceland. Your hostility is unwarranted," Nathan growled. "Is it?" Joe inquired. "It is," replied Charles. "We are assessing the integrity of our trade secret. Background on the private lives of the parties involved are fair game according to our NDA." "Non-Disclosure Agreement," Dr Keith said. "I didn't sign anything," Joe said. "Your aunt did." Nathan was becoming flush. "This talking out of turn would not be tolerated in a courtroom." I can't believe he took the bait, Teressa thought. These guys obviously don't have much experience as trial lawyers. She caught herself smiling slightly. "So?" "So what?" Nathan was clearly exasperated. "Exactly." Joe was grinning. Charles tried to regain control of the situation. "Mr. Vallone this is no laughing matter. We believe you were unlawfully administered our patented hyperrespiratory formula. This could have serious implications for your Aunt's standing on this project, her fiscal status, and her license to practice medicine." His adult tone didn't match his young face. Teressa was stewing. Joe don't fall for it, she thought, it was my decision. Joe looked at his aunt. She nodded solemnly. She almost regretted doing so, she was having so much fun. Joe sat quietly. His smile faded. "I know this is important." Joe paused looking for the words. "But I was unconscious." "Okay, that is good start," Council Lawrence continued. "Tell us everything you know in order." Joe looked right at Nathan who was still visibly fuming. Then he looked to his aunt who gave him a gentle nod. "I have hemophilia. I got into a bad car accident when my lower control arm broke in my Camaro. I woke up after the car rolled and I was bleeding a lot, I thought I was going to die. I woke up eleven days later in this hospital. My aunt told me the next day after I woke up, I almost died and she had to give me several blood transfusions." Pens scribbled away as Joe spoke. "That's why it's crazy that my aunt's in trouble. She saved my life, I'd be dead." "Joe why is it that you think your Aunt saved you?" "Because she gave me that goo you make." Pens scribbled even faster. Oh Joe, what did you say. "Mr. Vallone, you just said she told you that you received multiple blood transfusions." "It's obvious." Joe stumbled a little. "It's obvious that she wouldn't be in trouble, unless she gave me your stuff." "Why do you say that?" Nathan asked. "I'm here," Joe said innocently. He can lie pretty well, Teressa thought. I'm glad we kept on him all these years. "Dr. Graceland is this true? Did you administer the hyperrespiratory formula to your nephew?" Nathan was asking the questions again. He looked calmer now. "Yes." "What justification can you offer for your contractual breach?" Nathan's tone sounded a little snotty. "It was life and death. Joe was missing three pints of blood when he arrived. His blood pressure was nearing 60 over 40, brain death levels. He was bleeding too fast. We couldn't give him any blood protein, cardiac arrest or stroke would have been instant since the blood was moving so slowly. Blood transfusions weren't making any headway because his injuries were too numerous and the bleeding too rapid. The only clear non-fatal path was increasing the blood density, a side effect of the formula." Teressa felt terrible as she told the story. The lawyers paused and scribbled more notes. "How did you get the formula, didn't you have to transverse the lock down room and the distance of this wing to get the formula and the activation and mixture tuning equipment? It must take five minutes to drag all that stuff to the ER." Nathan seemed to be enjoying his task.