Chromosome 6 (44 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Mystery & Detective, #Suspense, #Thrillers, #Suspense Fiction, #Fiction - Espionage, #Thriller, #Detective and mystery stories, #Espionage, #Onbekend, #Medical, #Medical novels, #New York (N.Y.), #Forensic pathologists, #Equatorial Guinea, #Forensic pathologists - Fiction, #Robin - Prose & Criticism, #Equatorial Guinea - Fiction, #Cook, #New York (N.Y.) - Fiction
With his mouth full, all Jack could do was nod.
"He told me you won't get in," Esteban said. "We'll see," Jack said after swallowing. "I've come this far, so I'm not going to turn back without making an effort."
"At least the road is good, thanks to GenSys," Esteban said. "Worst case, we've had an interesting drive," Jack said. An hour later, everyone met again in the dining room. Jack reminded the others that going to Cogo wasn't a command performance, and that those people who preferred to stay in Bata should do so. He said that he'd been told it might take four hours each way. "You think you can make out on your own?" Esteban asked. "Absolutely," Jack said. "It's not as if we'll be getting lost. The map indicates only one main road heading south. Even I can handle that."
"Then I think I'll stay," Esteban said. "I have more family I'd like to see." By the time they were on the road with Warren in the front passenger seat and the two women in the middle seat, the eastern sky was just beginning to show a faint glow of dawn. As they drove south they were shocked at how many people were walking along the road on their way into the city. There were mostly women and children and most of the women were carrying large bundles on their heads. "They don't seem to have much, but they appear happy," Warren commented. Many of the children stopped to wave at the passing van. Warren waved back. The outskirts of Bata dragged by. The cement buildings eventually changed to simple whitewashed mud brick structures with thatched roofs. Reed mats formed corrals for goats. Once completely out of Bata, they began to see stretches of incredibly lush jungle. Traffic was almost nonexistent save for occasional large trucks going in the opposite direction. As the trucks went by, the wind jostled the van. "Man, those truckers move," Warren commented. Fifteen miles south of Bata, Warren got out the map. There was one fork and one turn in the road that they had to navigate appropriately or lose considerable time. Signs were almost nonexistent. When the sun came up, they all donned their sunglasses. The scenery became monotonous, uninterrupted jungle except for occasional tiny clusters of thatched huts. Almost two hours after they'd left Bata, they turned onto the road that led to Cogo. "This is a much better road," Warren commented as Jack accelerated up to cruising speed. "It looks new," Jack said. The previous road had been reasonably smooth, although its surface appeared like a patchwork quilt from all the separate repairs.
"He told me you won't get in," Esteban said. "We'll see," Jack said after swallowing. "I've come this far, so I'm not going to turn back without making an effort."
"At least the road is good, thanks to GenSys," Esteban said. "Worst case, we've had an interesting drive," Jack said. An hour later, everyone met again in the dining room. Jack reminded the others that going to Cogo wasn't a command performance, and that those people who preferred to stay in Bata should do so. He said that he'd been told it might take four hours each way. "You think you can make out on your own?" Esteban asked. "Absolutely," Jack said. "It's not as if we'll be getting lost. The map indicates only one main road heading south. Even I can handle that."
"Then I think I'll stay," Esteban said. "I have more family I'd like to see." By the time they were on the road with Warren in the front passenger seat and the two women in the middle seat, the eastern sky was just beginning to show a faint glow of dawn. As they drove south they were shocked at how many people were walking along the road on their way into the city. There were mostly women and children and most of the women were carrying large bundles on their heads. "They don't seem to have much, but they appear happy," Warren commented. Many of the children stopped to wave at the passing van. Warren waved back. The outskirts of Bata dragged by. The cement buildings eventually changed to simple whitewashed mud brick structures with thatched roofs. Reed mats formed corrals for goats. Once completely out of Bata, they began to see stretches of incredibly lush jungle. Traffic was almost nonexistent save for occasional large trucks going in the opposite direction. As the trucks went by, the wind jostled the van. "Man, those truckers move," Warren commented. Fifteen miles south of Bata, Warren got out the map. There was one fork and one turn in the road that they had to navigate appropriately or lose considerable time. Signs were almost nonexistent. When the sun came up, they all donned their sunglasses. The scenery became monotonous, uninterrupted jungle except for occasional tiny clusters of thatched huts. Almost two hours after they'd left Bata, they turned onto the road that led to Cogo. "This is a much better road," Warren commented as Jack accelerated up to cruising speed. "It looks new," Jack said. The previous road had been reasonably smooth, although its surface appeared like a patchwork quilt from all the separate repairs.
They were now heading southeast away from the coast and into considerably denser jungle. They also
began to climb. In the distance they could see low, jungle-covered mountains. Seemingly out of nowhere came a violent thunderstorm. Just prior to its arrival the sky became a swirling mass of dark clouds. Day turned to night in the space of several minutes. Once the rain started, it came down in sheets, and the van's old, ragged windshield wipers could not keep up with the downpour. Jack had to slow to less than twenty miles an hour. Fifteen minutes later, the sun poked out between massive clouds, turning the road into a ribbon of rising steam. On a straight stretch, a group of baboons crossing the road looked as if they were walking on a cloud.
After passing through the mountains, the road turned back to the southeast. Warren consulted the map and told everyone they were within twenty miles of their destination. Rounding another turn, they all saw what looked like a white building in the middle of the road. "What the hell's this?" Warren said. "We're not there yet, no way." "I think it's a gate," Jack said. "I was told about this only last night. Keep your fingers crossed. We might have to switch to plan B."
As they got closer, they could see that on either side of the central structure were enormous white, lattice-work fences. They were on a roller mechanism so they could be drawn out of the way to permit vehicles to pass.
Jack braked and brought the van to a stop about twenty feet from the fence. Out of the two-story gate house stepped three soldiers dressed similarly to those who'd been guarding the private jet at the airport. Like the soldiers at the airport, these men were carrying assault rifles, only these men were holding their guns waist high, aimed at the van.
"I don't like this," Warren said. "These guys look like kids." "Stay cool," Jack said. He rolled his window down. "Hi, guys. Nice day, huh?" The soldiers didn't move. Their blank expressions didn't change. Jack was about to ask them kindly to open the gate, when a fourth man stepped out into the sunlight. To Jack's surprise, this man was pulling on a black suit jacket over a white shirt and tie. In the middle of the steaming jungle it was absurd. The other surprising thing was that the man wasn't black. He was Arab. "Can I help you?" the Arab asked. His tone was not friendly. "I hope so," Jack said. "We're here to visit Cogo." The Arab glanced at the windshield of the vehicle, presumably looking for some identification. Not seeing it, he asked Jack if he had a pass. "No pass," Jack admitted. "We're just a couple of doctors interested in the work that's going on here."
began to climb. In the distance they could see low, jungle-covered mountains. Seemingly out of nowhere came a violent thunderstorm. Just prior to its arrival the sky became a swirling mass of dark clouds. Day turned to night in the space of several minutes. Once the rain started, it came down in sheets, and the van's old, ragged windshield wipers could not keep up with the downpour. Jack had to slow to less than twenty miles an hour. Fifteen minutes later, the sun poked out between massive clouds, turning the road into a ribbon of rising steam. On a straight stretch, a group of baboons crossing the road looked as if they were walking on a cloud.
After passing through the mountains, the road turned back to the southeast. Warren consulted the map and told everyone they were within twenty miles of their destination. Rounding another turn, they all saw what looked like a white building in the middle of the road. "What the hell's this?" Warren said. "We're not there yet, no way." "I think it's a gate," Jack said. "I was told about this only last night. Keep your fingers crossed. We might have to switch to plan B."
As they got closer, they could see that on either side of the central structure were enormous white, lattice-work fences. They were on a roller mechanism so they could be drawn out of the way to permit vehicles to pass.
Jack braked and brought the van to a stop about twenty feet from the fence. Out of the two-story gate house stepped three soldiers dressed similarly to those who'd been guarding the private jet at the airport. Like the soldiers at the airport, these men were carrying assault rifles, only these men were holding their guns waist high, aimed at the van.
"I don't like this," Warren said. "These guys look like kids." "Stay cool," Jack said. He rolled his window down. "Hi, guys. Nice day, huh?" The soldiers didn't move. Their blank expressions didn't change. Jack was about to ask them kindly to open the gate, when a fourth man stepped out into the sunlight. To Jack's surprise, this man was pulling on a black suit jacket over a white shirt and tie. In the middle of the steaming jungle it was absurd. The other surprising thing was that the man wasn't black. He was Arab. "Can I help you?" the Arab asked. His tone was not friendly. "I hope so," Jack said. "We're here to visit Cogo." The Arab glanced at the windshield of the vehicle, presumably looking for some identification. Not seeing it, he asked Jack if he had a pass. "No pass," Jack admitted. "We're just a couple of doctors interested in the work that's going on here."
"What is your name?" the Arab asked.
"Dr. Jack Stapleton. I've come all the way from New York City." "Just a minute," the Arab said before disappearing back into the gate house. "This doesn't look good," Jack said to Warren out of the corner of his mouth. He smiled at the soldiers. "How much should I offer him? I'm not good at this bribing stuff." "Money must mean a lot more here than it does in New York," Warren said. "Why don't you overwhelm him with a hundred dollars. I mean, if it's worth it to you." Jack mentally converted a hundred dollars into French francs, then extracted the bills from his money belt. A few minutes later, the Arab returned. "The manager says that he does not know you and that you are not welcome," the Arab said. "Shucks," Jack said. Then he extended his left hand with the French francs casually stuck between his index finger and his ring finger. "We sure do appreciate your help." The Arab eyed the money for a moment before reaching out and taking it. It disappeared into his pocket in the blink of an eye.
Jack stared at him for a moment, but the man didn't move. Jack found it difficult to read his expression because the man's mustache obscured his mouth. Jack turned to Warren. "Didn't I give him enough?" Warren shook his head. "I don't think it's going to happen." "You mean he just took my money and that's that?" Jack asked. "Be my guess," Warren said.
Jack turned his attention back to the man in the black suit. Jack estimated he was about a hundred and fifty pounds, definitely on the thin side. For a moment Jack entertained the idea of getting out of the car and asking for his money back, but a glance at the soldiers made him think otherwise. With a sigh of resignation Jack did a three-point turn and headed back the way they'd come. "Phew!" Laurie said from the backseat. "I did not like that one bit." "You didn't like it?" Jack questioned. "Now I'm pissed." "What's plan B?" Warren asked.
Jack explained about his idea of approaching Cogo by boat from Acalayong. He had Warren look at the map. Given how long it had taken them to get where they were, he asked Warren to estimate how long it would take to get to Acalayong.
"I'd say three hours," Warren said. "As long as the road stays good. The problem is we have to
"Dr. Jack Stapleton. I've come all the way from New York City." "Just a minute," the Arab said before disappearing back into the gate house. "This doesn't look good," Jack said to Warren out of the corner of his mouth. He smiled at the soldiers. "How much should I offer him? I'm not good at this bribing stuff." "Money must mean a lot more here than it does in New York," Warren said. "Why don't you overwhelm him with a hundred dollars. I mean, if it's worth it to you." Jack mentally converted a hundred dollars into French francs, then extracted the bills from his money belt. A few minutes later, the Arab returned. "The manager says that he does not know you and that you are not welcome," the Arab said. "Shucks," Jack said. Then he extended his left hand with the French francs casually stuck between his index finger and his ring finger. "We sure do appreciate your help." The Arab eyed the money for a moment before reaching out and taking it. It disappeared into his pocket in the blink of an eye.
Jack stared at him for a moment, but the man didn't move. Jack found it difficult to read his expression because the man's mustache obscured his mouth. Jack turned to Warren. "Didn't I give him enough?" Warren shook his head. "I don't think it's going to happen." "You mean he just took my money and that's that?" Jack asked. "Be my guess," Warren said.
Jack turned his attention back to the man in the black suit. Jack estimated he was about a hundred and fifty pounds, definitely on the thin side. For a moment Jack entertained the idea of getting out of the car and asking for his money back, but a glance at the soldiers made him think otherwise. With a sigh of resignation Jack did a three-point turn and headed back the way they'd come. "Phew!" Laurie said from the backseat. "I did not like that one bit." "You didn't like it?" Jack questioned. "Now I'm pissed." "What's plan B?" Warren asked.
Jack explained about his idea of approaching Cogo by boat from Acalayong. He had Warren look at the map. Given how long it had taken them to get where they were, he asked Warren to estimate how long it would take to get to Acalayong.
"I'd say three hours," Warren said. "As long as the road stays good. The problem is we have to
backtrack quite a way before heading south."
Jack glanced at his watch. It was almost nine a.m. "That means we'd get there about noon. I'd judged we could get from Acalayong to Cogo in an hour, even in the world's slowest boat. Say we stay in Cogo for a couple hours. I think we'd still get back at a reasonable hour. What do you guys say?" "I'm cool," Warren said.
Jack looked in the rearview mirror. "I could take you ladies back to Bata and come back tomorrow." "My only reservation about any of us going is those soldiers with the assault rifles," Laurie said. "I don't think that's a problem," Jack said. "If they have soldiers at the gate then they don't need them in the town. Of course there's always the chance they patrol the waterfront, which would mean I'd be forced to use plan C."
"What's plan C?" Warren asked.
"I don't know," Jack said. "I haven't come up with it yet." "What about you, Natalie?" Jack asked.
"I'm finding it all interesting," Natalie said. "I'll go along with the crowd." It took almost an hour to get to the point where a decision had to be made. Jack pulled to the side of the road.
"What's it going to be, gang?" he asked. He wanted to be absolutely sure. "Back to Bata or on to Acalayong?"
"I think I'll be more worried if you go by yourself," Laurie said. "Count me in." "Natalie?" Jack said. "Don't be influenced by these other crazies. What do you want to do?" "I'll go," Natalie said.
"Okay," Jack said. He put the car in gear and turned left toward Acalayong. Siegfried got up from his desk with his coffee mug in hand and walked to the window overlooking the square. He was mystified. The Cogo operation had been up and running for six years and never had they had someone come to the gate house and request entrance. Equatorial Guinea was not a place people visited casually.
Siegfried took a swig of his coffee and wondered if there could be any connection between this abnormal event and the arrival of Taylor Cabot, the CEO of GenSys. Both were unanticipated, and both were particularly unwelcome since they came just when there was a major problem with the bonobo project. Until that unfortunate situation was taken care of, Siegfried didn't want any stray people around, and he put the CEO in that category.
Aurielo poked his head in the door and said that Dr. Raymond Lyons was there and wished to see him.
Jack glanced at his watch. It was almost nine a.m. "That means we'd get there about noon. I'd judged we could get from Acalayong to Cogo in an hour, even in the world's slowest boat. Say we stay in Cogo for a couple hours. I think we'd still get back at a reasonable hour. What do you guys say?" "I'm cool," Warren said.
Jack looked in the rearview mirror. "I could take you ladies back to Bata and come back tomorrow." "My only reservation about any of us going is those soldiers with the assault rifles," Laurie said. "I don't think that's a problem," Jack said. "If they have soldiers at the gate then they don't need them in the town. Of course there's always the chance they patrol the waterfront, which would mean I'd be forced to use plan C."
"What's plan C?" Warren asked.
"I don't know," Jack said. "I haven't come up with it yet." "What about you, Natalie?" Jack asked.
"I'm finding it all interesting," Natalie said. "I'll go along with the crowd." It took almost an hour to get to the point where a decision had to be made. Jack pulled to the side of the road.
"What's it going to be, gang?" he asked. He wanted to be absolutely sure. "Back to Bata or on to Acalayong?"
"I think I'll be more worried if you go by yourself," Laurie said. "Count me in." "Natalie?" Jack said. "Don't be influenced by these other crazies. What do you want to do?" "I'll go," Natalie said.
"Okay," Jack said. He put the car in gear and turned left toward Acalayong. Siegfried got up from his desk with his coffee mug in hand and walked to the window overlooking the square. He was mystified. The Cogo operation had been up and running for six years and never had they had someone come to the gate house and request entrance. Equatorial Guinea was not a place people visited casually.
Siegfried took a swig of his coffee and wondered if there could be any connection between this abnormal event and the arrival of Taylor Cabot, the CEO of GenSys. Both were unanticipated, and both were particularly unwelcome since they came just when there was a major problem with the bonobo project. Until that unfortunate situation was taken care of, Siegfried didn't want any stray people around, and he put the CEO in that category.
Aurielo poked his head in the door and said that Dr. Raymond Lyons was there and wished to see him.
Siegfried rolled his eyes. He didn't want Raymond around, either. "Send him in," Siegfried said
reluctantly.
Raymond came into the room, looking as tanned and healthy as ever. Siegfried envied the man's aristocratic appearance, and the fact that he had two good arms. "Have you located Kevin Marshall yet?" Raymond demanded. "No, we haven't," Siegfried said. He took immediate offense at Raymond's tone. "I understand it's been forty-eight hours since he's been seen," Raymond said. "I want him found!" "Sit down, Doctor!" Siegfried said sharply. Raymond hesitated. He didn't know whether to get angry or be intimidated by the manager's sudden aggressiveness.
"I said sit!" Siegfried said.
Raymond sat. The white hunter with his horrid scar and limp arm could be imposing, particularly surrounded by evidence of his extensive kills. "Let us clear up a point involving the chain of command," Siegfried said. "I do not take orders from you. In fact, when you are here as a guest, you take orders from me. Is that understood?" Raymond opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. He knew Siegfried was technically correct.
"And while we are talking so directly," Siegfried added, "where is my retrieval bonus? In the past, I've always gotten it when the patient left the Zone on his way back to the States." "That's true," Raymond said tautly. "But there have been major expenses. Money is coming in shortly from new clients. You'll be paid as soon as it comes in." "I don't want you to think you can give me the runaround," Siegfried warned. "Of course not," Raymond blurted out.
"And one other thing," Siegfried said. "Isn't there some way you can hasten the CEO's departure? His presence here in Cogo is disrupting. Can't you use the patient's needs in some way?" "I don't see how," Raymond said. "He's been informed the patient is capable of traveling. What more can I say?"
"Think of something," Siegfried said.
"I'll try," Raymond said. "Meanwhile, please locate Kevin Marshall. His disappearance concerns me. I'm afraid he might do something rash."
"We believe he went to Cocobeach in Gabon," Siegfried said. He was gratified with the appropriate subservience in Raymond's voice.
reluctantly.
Raymond came into the room, looking as tanned and healthy as ever. Siegfried envied the man's aristocratic appearance, and the fact that he had two good arms. "Have you located Kevin Marshall yet?" Raymond demanded. "No, we haven't," Siegfried said. He took immediate offense at Raymond's tone. "I understand it's been forty-eight hours since he's been seen," Raymond said. "I want him found!" "Sit down, Doctor!" Siegfried said sharply. Raymond hesitated. He didn't know whether to get angry or be intimidated by the manager's sudden aggressiveness.
"I said sit!" Siegfried said.
Raymond sat. The white hunter with his horrid scar and limp arm could be imposing, particularly surrounded by evidence of his extensive kills. "Let us clear up a point involving the chain of command," Siegfried said. "I do not take orders from you. In fact, when you are here as a guest, you take orders from me. Is that understood?" Raymond opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. He knew Siegfried was technically correct.
"And while we are talking so directly," Siegfried added, "where is my retrieval bonus? In the past, I've always gotten it when the patient left the Zone on his way back to the States." "That's true," Raymond said tautly. "But there have been major expenses. Money is coming in shortly from new clients. You'll be paid as soon as it comes in." "I don't want you to think you can give me the runaround," Siegfried warned. "Of course not," Raymond blurted out.
"And one other thing," Siegfried said. "Isn't there some way you can hasten the CEO's departure? His presence here in Cogo is disrupting. Can't you use the patient's needs in some way?" "I don't see how," Raymond said. "He's been informed the patient is capable of traveling. What more can I say?"
"Think of something," Siegfried said.
"I'll try," Raymond said. "Meanwhile, please locate Kevin Marshall. His disappearance concerns me. I'm afraid he might do something rash."
"We believe he went to Cocobeach in Gabon," Siegfried said. He was gratified with the appropriate subservience in Raymond's voice.
"You're sure he didn't go to the island?" Raymond asked.
"We can't be totally sure," Siegfried admitted. "But we don't think so. Even if he did, he wouldn't be apt to stay there. He would have been back by now. It's been forty-eight hours." Raymond stood up and sighed. "I wish he would turn up. Worrying about him is driving me up the wall, especially with Taylor Cabot here. It's just something else in a long string of problems going on in New York that have threatened the program and made my life miserable." "We'll continue to search," Siegfried assured him. He tried to sound sympathetic, but in actuality, he was wondering how Raymond was going to respond when he heard the bonobos were being rounded up to be brought into the animal center. All other problems paled in the face of the animals killing each other. "I'll try to think of something to say to Taylor Cabot," Raymond said as he started for the door. "If you could, I'd appreciate being informed the moment you hear about Kevin Marshall." "Certainly," Siegfried said obligingly. He watched with satisfaction as the previously proud doctor beat a meek retreat. Just as Raymond disappeared from view, Siegfried remembered that Raymond was from New York.
Siegfried dashed to his door, catching Raymond on his way down the stairs. "Doctor," Siegfried called out with false deference. Raymond paused and looked back.
"Do you happen to know a doctor by the name of Jack Stapleton?" The blood drained from Raymond's face.
This reaction was not lost on Siegfried. "I think you'd better come back into my office," the manager said.
Siegfried closed the door behind Raymond who immediately wanted to know how in the world the name "Jack Stapleton" had come up.
Siegfried walked around his desk and sat down. He gestured toward a chair for Raymond. Siegfried was not happy. He'd briefly thought of relating the unexpected request for a site visit by strange doctors to Taylor Cabot. He'd not thought of relating it to Raymond. "Just before you arrived I got an unusual call from our gate house," Siegfried said. "The Moroccan guard told me that there was a van full of people who wanted to tour the facility. We've never had uninvited visitors before. The van was driven by Dr. Jack Stapleton of New York City." Raymond wiped the perspiration that had appeared on his forehead. Then he ran both hands simultaneously through his hair. He kept telling himself that this couldn't be happening since Vinnie Dominick was supposed to have taken care of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. Raymond hadn't called to find out what had happened to the two; he didn't really want to know the details. For twenty thousand dollars, details weren't something he should have to worry about-or so he thought. If pressed, he would have guessed that Stapleton and Montgomery were somewhere floating in the Atlantic Ocean
"We can't be totally sure," Siegfried admitted. "But we don't think so. Even if he did, he wouldn't be apt to stay there. He would have been back by now. It's been forty-eight hours." Raymond stood up and sighed. "I wish he would turn up. Worrying about him is driving me up the wall, especially with Taylor Cabot here. It's just something else in a long string of problems going on in New York that have threatened the program and made my life miserable." "We'll continue to search," Siegfried assured him. He tried to sound sympathetic, but in actuality, he was wondering how Raymond was going to respond when he heard the bonobos were being rounded up to be brought into the animal center. All other problems paled in the face of the animals killing each other. "I'll try to think of something to say to Taylor Cabot," Raymond said as he started for the door. "If you could, I'd appreciate being informed the moment you hear about Kevin Marshall." "Certainly," Siegfried said obligingly. He watched with satisfaction as the previously proud doctor beat a meek retreat. Just as Raymond disappeared from view, Siegfried remembered that Raymond was from New York.
Siegfried dashed to his door, catching Raymond on his way down the stairs. "Doctor," Siegfried called out with false deference. Raymond paused and looked back.
"Do you happen to know a doctor by the name of Jack Stapleton?" The blood drained from Raymond's face.
This reaction was not lost on Siegfried. "I think you'd better come back into my office," the manager said.
Siegfried closed the door behind Raymond who immediately wanted to know how in the world the name "Jack Stapleton" had come up.
Siegfried walked around his desk and sat down. He gestured toward a chair for Raymond. Siegfried was not happy. He'd briefly thought of relating the unexpected request for a site visit by strange doctors to Taylor Cabot. He'd not thought of relating it to Raymond. "Just before you arrived I got an unusual call from our gate house," Siegfried said. "The Moroccan guard told me that there was a van full of people who wanted to tour the facility. We've never had uninvited visitors before. The van was driven by Dr. Jack Stapleton of New York City." Raymond wiped the perspiration that had appeared on his forehead. Then he ran both hands simultaneously through his hair. He kept telling himself that this couldn't be happening since Vinnie Dominick was supposed to have taken care of Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. Raymond hadn't called to find out what had happened to the two; he didn't really want to know the details. For twenty thousand dollars, details weren't something he should have to worry about-or so he thought. If pressed, he would have guessed that Stapleton and Montgomery were somewhere floating in the Atlantic Ocean
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