Deadly Deception Read online

Dr. Avery’s face brightened when he noticed her arm come up. “Yes, Ms. Byrne, you have a question?”

  “Yes. I understand the function and behavior of telomere in the cells, but could you please explain again what the enzyme Telomerase does.”

  “Certainly. Telomerase is an enzyme made of protein and RNA subunits that lengthen chromosomes by adding sequences to the end of the telomeres. If Telomerase is activated in the cell, it will continue to grow and divide. It will not age. The cell becomes immortal.” He paused and poured some water into a glass. After taking a sip, he continued. “In cancer, the malignant cells multiply until a tumor is formed. The tumor grows uncontrollably, eventually taking over and destroying its host. Telomerase has been found to be twenty to thirty times more active in human cancer cells than normal cells. If Telomerase activity can be turned off, this would prevent the cancer cells from dividing. In other words, the cancer cells would die.”

  Mara stared in awe. “So, turning off this, uh, Telomerase would cure cancer?”

  Dr. Avery smiled. “My dear, this could be a cure for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and so much more. If the current theory is proven correct, having the ability to regulate Telomerase, turning it off and on, could reset cells and prevent uncontrolled cell growth. A sick or dying individual could have a second chance, a do-over if you will. If this ability became readily available, life as we know it today would not be the same.”

  Mara looked around the table to see if his explanation had captivated anyone else. This man was proclaiming a cure for disease, a way to stop aging, a cure for cancer for God’s sake. How can they all be sitting around so nonchalant? “So, what’s stopping scientists from doing this?”

  “Various reasons, number one being, Telomerase is found in fetal tissues, adult germ cells, and tumor cells. Research using any of these sources is very controversial and not popular with some people. Secondly, it’s a very expensive process. A synthetic form of Telomerase was developed and is currently available to the public as a supplement. However, the cost is astronomical for a one-month supply. Not to mention, the benefits have not yet been proven, because it has been on the market for such a short time.”

  The excitement Mara felt moments ago evaporated. That’s always the case, so close and yet so far away. There it is, just within our grasp, a cure for cancer and so many other life-threatening diseases, yet it might as well be a million miles or a million dollars away.

  “Thank you, Dr. Avery. Please accept my deepest gratitude for taking time out of your busy schedule to come here today.” The president shook the doctor’s hand. “Mr. Ruiz will show you out. Please keep me posted on your progress. Call me anytime you need anything.” Glancing at Ruiz he said, “Make sure Dr. Avery has my private number.”

  “Certainly, sir,” Ruiz said.

  “Please, don’t mention it, sir. It was my honor.” Dr. Avery took his leather satchel and walked to the door with Ruiz. The two men left.

  After a moment, Richard sat beside Mara.

  “That’s a shame,” she said. “I guess it’s not meant to be.” She felt the president place a hand on her arm. Her eyes met his.

  “There is another source for Telomerase. One that’s available now and affordable to everyone.”

  Mara’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “The problem is, we don’t know where to find it. That’s why I need your help. You and Dr. Foster are the only two people left alive who know where we can find it, and now, she may be dead.”

  Thirteen

  Alex’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Who removed her from the plane?”

  “Just what I said. Some guy escorted her off,” Doyle said.

  “You saw her being removed from the plane?” Alex felt his face get hot and an ache developed at the base of his skull.

  “Sure, I saw it. Everybody did.”

  “Tell me exactly what happened.” Perspiration dotted his forehead. Alex wished someone would turn the air conditioner on high but doubted Doyle could afford one.

  “Some dude in a suit dragged her off the plane.”

  Alex fell back into the chair as if pushed by the force of the words. “Who was it? Police?”

  “Don’t know. Like I said, he was in a suit, a black suit. Looked like secret service. You know, short hair, clean shaven, tough. Serious face. He had a limp though.”

  “Did you see a badge? Did he cuff her?”

  “He showed her an ID but no cuffs. He asked her to cooperate so the plane could continue its destination.”

  “So, let me see if I have this right. At Dallas-Fort Worth airport, a suit took her off the plane—”

  “No, man. The plane made an unscheduled landing somewhere else.” Doyle air quoted with his fingers.

  Alex stood and paced around the cluttered living room. “Where?”

  “Some run-down airport between Ontario and Dallas,” Doyle said after he drained his cup. “It didn’t have much of a runway. Mara was scared shitless when the plane landed.”

  “How do you know she was scared?” Alex asked.

  “She told me.”

  “So, you spoke to her?”

  “Sure, we talked for quite a while. I was sittin’ next to a big guy who took up two seats. Pretty near damned uncomfortable. She looked like a nice lady, so I sat next to her and started a conversation. When the captain made the announcement about the stop, I moved back to my assigned seat.”

  “What did you talk about?”

  “Don’t remember much about it. She told me she was from some little town south of here called Persimmon Hollow. Oh, and she told me about her dead husband.” Doyle glanced at his wristwatch. “Look, I have an important appointment soon and really need to get ready. If you want to continue this conversation, we’ll have to reschedule.”

  Alex rubbed his palms together. “Yeah, that would be great. What time would be good for me to come back?”

  “Why don’t we meet in Hot Springs, since I’ll be there anyway? Save you a drive all the way back out here.”

  “Okay, great. Where and when?”

  “How ’bout Molly’s Bar on Central Avenue at three this afternoon?”

  Alex stood and offered Doyle his hand. “Listen, thanks a lot. In the meantime, try to remember as much as you can. I’ll see you later.” Alex walked to the door and let himself out.

  ****

  Through the cloudy door window, Doyle watched Alex drive away. A smile emerged across his lips.

  Ginger walked over and stood behind him, putting her arms around his waist. “Boo, what appointment do you have?”

  “Don’t have one. I just want to make a phone call before I give this guy any more information.”

  “Who ya gonna call?” she asked as she rubbed his chest beneath his shirt.

  “The man who arranged for me to be on that flight. Something big is going on. I can feel it. Ordinary middle-aged women aren’t dragged off planes for no reason at all. It’s not like she’s a terrorist or something.”

  “She could be. Maybe she’s a fugitive, Boo.”

  “No. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I’d bet six-week wages she’s not that type of person. My bones are speaking to me on this one. I’m going to ride this gravy train for all it’s worth.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, enjoying the feel of her warm arms around him. Doyle turned to face Ginger, kissed her hard and eagerly while deftly untying her robe, letting it fall to the floor.

  ****

  Alex found a hotel on Central Avenue a few blocks from Molly’s Bar. The Knickerbocker Hotel stood four stories above the street. According to the plaque on the wall near the entrance, the redbrick structure dated back to 1902. Alex entered the lobby and felt like he had stepped back in time. Old elegance was the only way to describe it. He expected Al Capone or Bugsy Segal to strut down the ornate, marble spiral staircase.

  The desk clerk, an elderly man with sunken cheeks that framed a long, narrow face, greeted him cheerfully. “Hello sir, would you
like a room?”

  “Yes, and can you suggest a good place for lunch?”

  “Do you like barbeque?”

  “Yes, I do, but I don’t get it often where I’m from,” Alex said as he completed the registration form.

  “Where are you from, if I may ask?”

  “Riverside, California.”

  “Well, you’re a long way from home. I hope you enjoy your stay here at the Knickerbocker. For lunch, I would suggest McClard’s Barbeque on Albert Pike. It’s very popular, although we do have some other very fine restaurants nearby.”

  “If you recommend it, I’m sure it will be great.”

  The clerk extended his wrinkled hand with the room key. “You’re in room 222. Take a right off the elevator. If you prefer the stairs, your room will be the second on the right, after you reach the landing.”

  Alex froze, staring at the old-fashioned brass key with 222 engraved on it. Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck spike, he said, “Um, I’m a bit superstitious. Would you mind giving me another room?”

  The clerk hesitated, taken aback by the unusual request. “Uh, certainly, sir,” he said, turning to retrieve another key from the board behind him. “Would room 202 be better?”

  “Yes, that would be fine. Thank you.”

  Alex took the stairs, at first feeling silly about his request until he found himself enthralled by his surroundings. He wondered who else had walked the wide, spiral staircase in the past. Mara told Alex stories about Hot Spring’s checkered past with gambling and prostitution. In its heyday, a hotel like this would have been quite vogue, now like the desk clerk, it was senescent.

  The second-floor hallway reminded Alex of something he would see in an old horror movie. The wall sconces provided dim light and gave the appearance of impending doom. The deep-green carpet decorated with red and gold swirls darkened the mood. The doors to the rooms were old, but well maintained, with louvered vents, a feature not seen in modern doors. Crystal doorknobs and brass plates engraved with the room numbers in old-world style script adorned each door.

  Inside his room, a crystal chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, looking out of place. The four-poster bed stood almost too high off the floor. Someone shorter might have trouble climbing onto it. Ebony wood furniture scattered around the room might have been expensive at one time. The once luxurious room was now a novelty.

  Alex took out his laptop and placed it on the table overlooking the window. He opened the drapes to introduce much needed sunlight into the bleak room. He reached for his cell phone and called Noah to give him an update on his meeting with Doyle.

  After the call, Alex powered up his laptop and opened Google Maps to explore Hot Springs. The barbeque place the desk clerk suggested was a little over a mile and a half away. He decided to walk, a good opportunity to get some exercise, build an appetite, and see more of the quaint little town.

  Turning right outside the entrance of the hotel, Alex headed south. He turned onto Ouachita Avenue and walked past the Garland County Courthouse, the Sheriff’s office, a few law offices, and Standard Ice Company before turning down West Grand Avenue. Lined with older, well-kempt homes with massive porches and stately oaks, Grand Avenue turned sharp left onto Summer Street. The houses were smaller but no less tidy. Eventually, Summer Street curved into Albert Pike. The traffic was heavier. Small businesses dotted both sides of the road. A shady cemetery located at the corner of a side street captured his attention.

  Alex paused on the sidewalk, staring at the solemn, spooky graveyard. Chills ran through his body as he let the magnetism wash over him. He took a couple of steps toward the wrought iron entrance, wanting to explore more, but a rumbling made him look up. The sky overhead darkened with clouds. He shrugged and headed back down the street. A strong gust of wind rushed by, and he caught a whiff of smoke, the kind of smoke that promised good food. Then he saw the restaurant the desk clerk had recommended. His mouth watered. A good sign.

  He quickened his pace until his cell phone buzzed inside his pocket. He pulled the phone out and looked at the screen. He stopped dead in his tracks. It was Mara’s number.

  Fourteen

  With her mouth agape, Mara stared at the president, words evading her. She stood and circled the conference table. Clenching the back of an empty chair, a flood of emotions poured out of her.

  “I can’t believe Dr. Foster would have kept this kind of knowledge to herself. Why wouldn’t she have told someone where to locate this enzyme?” Mara stopped and leaned on the table to study the president’s face. Seconds later, she continued to pace the perimeter of the table. “Why do you think I know anything about it? I don’t. I can’t tell you what was in the letter. I don’t remember.” Mara ran both hands through her hair.

  “I believe you.”

  “Good,” she said as she plopped down in the seat across from him. “I purged all that garbage out of my head. After I found out what the letter represented, it was no longer an issue for me. It symbolized Thomas’s secret life, not with another woman, but with the government and his special assignments.” She paused. “I was thrilled when Dr. Foster put the Zippo to it.”

  The president nodded and smiled. “Even though you don’t consciously remember, there are ways to help you remember.”

  “What kind of ways?” Torture came to mind. Mara licked her lips. He wouldn’t dare.

  “Hypnosis or drugs are options.”

  “Those may be options for you, but not for me,” she said.

  “Think about what we could do, about all the people we could help. Consider what this would mean for the entire world.”

  Mara closed her eyes, wishing the decision was not hers to make. Where are you Jessica Foster? She inhaled and then exhaled in a rush. “Do you know who has Dr. Foster?”

  Clasping his hands together and staring at the table, the president sighed. “I believe a group known as the Guardians of Society abducted her. This group aspires to control the discovery for the good of humanity; however, their ultimate goal revolves around wealth and power. The ruthless lot will more than likely offer it to the affluent, the elite, those who can afford it. Don’t be mistaken, the rich will pay dearly for the treatment. Unfortunately, the rest who can’t afford it will do anything to get it. That’s why I’m making it my mission to see that it’s made available to anyone who needs it. If we can’t ensure this, there will be civil unrest. I need your help.”

  “Why didn’t Dr. Foster give you the information?”

  “Molecular biology was not her area of expertise. Dr. Foster had to be 100 percent certain of her discovery. She wanted it thoroughly examined. After the team completed the research and testing phase, she was convinced. Ready to advance to the next level, she had no idea who should control the drug.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “So, close. I almost convinced her to let me take control of the program. Then someone snatched her right out from under my nose.”

  “And you have no clues of her whereabouts?”

  “No.”

  “So, I’m your only hope?”

  “Yes.”

  When clouds of desperation shaded his eyes, Mara pulled her gaze away from him to think. Grasping at straws for another solution other than her memory, she said, “Have you tried to retrace her steps? Figure out where she’s been and go from there.”

  “If it were that simple, but she’s been all over the world. It would take too long.”

  Mara’s eyes narrowed. “Have you thought about the long-term ramifications Telomerase would have on society?”

  “You mean like overpopulation?”

  “All of that and more. This is not an end-all solution. I mean no disrespect, Sir, but I don’t think you’ve thought this through.” Mara scrubbed her face with her hands.

  “You may be right, but I can’t wait around for all the questions to be answered. I must act now and figure out the details later.” The lines in his face became stern and serious. “Could you live with the knowledge that
you are the reason innocent children will continue to die of cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases?”

  Mara felt the temperature in the room rise as anger blazed inside her. “I don’t like how you’re putting this off on me. You seem to forget what the letter cost me! You told me that my husband was possibly murdered because of it. Now, all of a sudden it’s my responsibility to save the world?”

  “I’m sorry,” the president said.

  “No, I don’t think you are,” she said through clenched teeth. “You have proven that you’ll stop at nothing to get what you want, even if it means removing me from a plane. You dragged me to some unknown location and now you have the balls to throw little kids dying of cancer in my face. No, I don’t think you’re one bit sorry.” After speaking her mind, Mara shoved the chair into the table and marched toward the door. Without turning, she said, “Arrange the hypnosis. You’re playing dirty pool, and if the world goes to hell, it’s on you.”

  Fifteen

  Alex answered in a rush, “Mara, thank God, where are y—”

  A man’s voice rasped through the receiver. “Sorry, but this isn’t Mara,”

  “What? Who is this? Where’s Mara? How’d you get her phone?” Alex walked over to a bus bench plastered with the poster of Hot Springs’ Top Realtor and sat before his weakened knees buckled beneath him.

  “I know you’re following up on leads to find Mara. I can help you.”

  “How’d you get her phone?”

  Ignoring Alex’s question, the man spoke in a whisper. “I know where she is. She’s fine. Don’t worry, she’s being well taken care of.”

  “And you are?” Alex demanded, jumping to his feet.

  “Listen, all you need to know is to be at this address by two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Mara will be there.” The man rattled off an address.

  Alex committed it to memory. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Let’s just say I’m an interested party.” The line went dead.