Gone (13 page)

Authors: Francine Pascal

Ulrich. Yes.
This was exactly what she was looking for. She was damn near salivating with excitement. Until she opened the e-mail.

From:
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Time:
9:44 PM

Re:
No subject

Urgent change of plans. Chris has created problems. We need to cut down our time frame considerably. Your father has demanded a final prototype for the drug within 72 hours. This, of course, means that we will be moving to phase two immediately. You will need to complete your task within 24 hours.

I will begin prepping the lab for a full dissection and autopsy of the specimen. You must report in for a strategy session ASAP.

âK.U.

Gaia

I
don't know how many times I reread the e-mail. No, not even the whole e-mail. I just kept rereading that one sentence.

I will begin prepping the lab for full dissection and autopsy of the specimen.

Dissection and autopsy. Of the
specimen.
As in me. Apparently I'm not even human enough to be a “subject” anymore. No, apparently I've been demoted to “specimen.” I've been reduced to a frog in some sixth-grade science experiment, something you throw on a lab table and pin down so you can turn it inside out and look at all the parts. Please observe, fellow doctors: Here is Ms. Moore's fearless spleen. And here are her fearless kidneys. And here is Ms. Moore's fearless heart. As you can see, there is not much left of it.

Now it all makes sense. All of it. Every single dehumanizing step in their little plan.

That's why they gave me fear
in the first place. To pull me in as their specimen. And to make me vulnerable to Skyler. That's why Skyler has been trying to keep me stashed away in his apartment.

Not just to rip off more samples of my DNA. That was only “phase one.” No, what they really wanted was to prep me for phase two:
dissection and autopsy of the specimen.
They wanted to keep me under strict supervision until it was time to bump me off. To make me disappear.

Assholes. A whole family of sick, twisted assholes.

That's
why Skyler was suddenly talking to me about
travel plans.
He's not planning our summer vacation to the Keys; he's planning my “permanent vacation.” A one-way ticket to the great beyond. An all-expenses-paid trip to Autopsy City. It all just gets sicker.

Well, I've got news for the Rodkes:

I have no intention of donating my body to science anytime soon. So if this is how they want to playit, then this is how we'll play
it. I know what I need to know. Somewhere in the next twenty-four hours, they're going to try to take me down and cut me up. And when they do, I'll be waiting for it.

I've got to hand it to them. They've done a brilliant job of covering their tracks up until now. But when they go for the kill, that's when I'll catch them redhanded. That's when I'll call in the Agency. I'm not going to waste my time trying to expose another zillion-dollar drug company's dirty dealings. They've got ten thousand lawyers for that. They'll find a bunch of loopholes and the Rodkes will all get off scot-free. No, no, no. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm ending this thing for good. These assholes are going down for attempted murder.

I'm watching for it, Skyler. I'm waiting for you to make your move, and my eyes are wide open. You're the one who's in the dark now. Because you don't see me coming.

From:
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Time: 9:51
PM

Re:
We need to meet

Christopher, this is General Colter. We have witnessed the incident, and I am convinced that you are not lying. This drug is bad news. We need to meet. Same time, same place. Tomorrow night. 9:00 p.m. The lot on West Twelfth Street. Don't be late.

From:
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Time: 10:25
PM

Re:
We need to meet

General. Glad to be of service. You have made a wise decision. We have much to discuss. I will see you at nine tomorrow.

âChris

Distant Memory

LIZ DIDN'T CARE WHAT TIME IT was. She was just thrilled to finally be getting some face time with days to go to lunch, but he was, of course, his usual selfâtoo busy, too many “social obligations,” too much “on his plate.” She had become used to her sweet brother's runaround tactics, and they generally didn't bother her, but in this case his avoidance had actually gotten on her nerves big time. There were just a few unanswered questions that were starting to drive Liz completely insane. So when Skyler had called her out of the blue for a late-night coffee, she'd been way more than happy to oblige. She'd hopped right into a cab and met him at Around the Clock immediately.

“So this is the best you can give me?” she joked. “Coffee at eleven at night? Nice. What a loving brother.” She blew on her cereal-bowl-size latte.

“I know.” Skyler sighed. “I'm a bad older brother. Guilty as charged. But at least you came out to meet me. I'm eternally grateful.”

“Well, I forgive you this time,” she said. “I'm sure there are worse brothers out there.”

“Aw. You flatter me.”

Liz gave him a playful slap on the arm just as he brought his black coffee to his lips. The coffee splattered
on his A/X T-shirt, and she felt that was sufficient punishment.

“Nice,” he complained, dabbing his napkin in his water and trying to wash it off. “Real nice.” He dropped the napkin and took a successful sip of his coffee. “So, any luck with a prom date?”

Liz rolled her eyes. “You mean for this lousy school I've attended for all of a month? I might as well be attending the prom on Mars. But yes, I have procured the necessary boy toy. James Wellington, of the Connecticut Wellingtons.” She rolled her eyes once more. “We've played tennis twice in the Hamptons. Whatever. I'll just be thrilled to have this high school nonsense over and done with. How many high schools does this make in the last four years? Three, I believe? Yes, thank you, Daddy, for maintaining a Rodke headquarters in four different cities.”

“Well, at least we got to travel,” Skyler said.

“Right. I just haven't seen enough of this great country of ours. Whatever. I don't even understand why he brought us to New York in the first place. Just please get my ass to college. I want to know what it feels like to be in the same place for four years. But enough about meâ
you
have some explaining to do, speaking of prom dates.” Liz flashed him the evil eye.

“What did
I
do?” Skyler laughed.

“What did you do? Hel-
lo.
I haven't heard from Gaia in days. I was actually starting to worry about
her. Would you mind telling me what the
deal
is between you two? I mean, is she hanging out at your place or not? Are you two going to the prom, or is she going with Jake? I haven't seen Jake in a while either. What is going on? The girls at school keep asking me about her and I look like a complete ditz for not even knowing if she's hanging out with my own brother or not. Why am I completely kept out of the loop in this family?”

“Okay, okay.” Skyler smiled. “My bad. Yes, Gaia has been hanging out with me, so you really don't need to worry about her. I'm sure she's sorry for not checking in with you, but you can blame me entirely. I guess some of my social flakiness has rubbed off on her.”

“Mm-hmm,” Liz muttered. “Well, what about the prom? Are you her date or not?”

“Ah, the prom,” Skyler mused, gazing up toward the ceiling. Liz gave him another mini-slap on the arm. “Okay.” He laughed. “Sorry. No, look, I'll tell you the truth. From what she's told me, I don't think Gaia could care less about the prom. She doesn't even want to go.”

“What? You guys are going to leave me there all alone? That
sucks.
You're going to make me talk to James Wellington all night about backhands and serves?”

Skyler held up his hands in defense. “Hey, it wasn't my decision, sis. Honestlyâ¦ I don't even know if I'm supposed to be telling you, but the way Gaia's been
talkingâ¦ I'm not even sure she's going to stick around for graduation.”

“What?”

“I don't
know,
” Skyler squawked. “I think she's just had it with the whole business. She's done. She's been telling me that she's thinking about just skipping town altogether.”

“Uch, that's ridiculous. Doesn't she at least want to get the handshake and the diploma first? Why else do we endure four years of this high school nonsense? We do it for the handshake and the diploma.”

Skyler shrugged. “Well, the way she's talking, I think she'd be more than happy to have the diploma mailed off to her. She says she's sick of this school, and she's pretty much sick of her life here in the city. She just wants to buy herself a one-way ticket to the Florida Keys and take a nice long vacation. I guess Florida's her favorite state or something. I tried to talk her out of it,
believe
me, but you know Gaia. She's so independent. Once she makes her mind up about somethingâ¦”

Liz sighed with disappointment. “I think that's just really sad. I mean, not just for me at the prom, but for her, too. She made it this far; why is she going to run away now? That sucks.”

“I know it.” Skyler sighed. “But I guess she feels like she's worked too hard. She just wants to head down to the Keys for a nice long stretch of R & R. I can't really blame her.”

“Well, is she even going to say goodbye to anybody? Me, Jake,
any
one?”

Skyler shook his head slowly. “Honestly? I don't even think she is going to say goodbye to anyone. I don't think anyone's going to hear from her for a long time. She just wants to forget high school altogether. And New York. She says she wants to lie out on some beach somewhere and justâ¦ 'get lost.' Whatever that means.”

Liz sat there for a minute and stared at her coffee. This news made her even sadder than she would have expected. She really hadn't gotten the chance to know Gaia all that well, but she had honestly believed that they might have the chance to become truly good friends someday. Apparently she'd been wrong. Apparently Gaia was going to be like so many of the girls Liz had met a long the way. She would just be another name that Liz couldn't quite remember from the past. Gaia Moore would end up as nothing more than a faint and distant memory.

It really was a shame.

prom night

Gaia was stepping down the stairs, prom ready for Ed to escort her to the prom.

From:
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Time:
6:16
PM

Re:
Our night has arrived!

OMG, Mels! This is it, baby! I am so psyched! PROM NIGHT. Did you ever think we'd actually make it? Did you ever think we would finally cross that finish line?? Hallelujah!!!!!

Anyhoo, just checking in on all the deets. I confirmed the reservation for 10 of us. 8:00 at Balthazar. Mmm, moules frites. Rob is picking me up at 7:00, and the limo is starting with us at 7:15. We should get to you and Brad by 7:30. If din goes well, we should be at the Supper Club by 10:00. Fashionably late for a prom, yes? Yes.

I'm not ashamed to say it, btwâ¦I look fabulous! The dress alterations were perfect, and I am totally trying your idea with the upsweep. I love it! You rule!

So let's go out there tonight and kick this school's ass with our collective bad selves!

GO, US!

See you soon,

Love,

Meegs

From:
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Time:
6:32
PM

Re:
Our night has arrived!

Meegy! So glad about the hair idea. I could not be more superpsyched for tonight. Brad should be here by 7:15, so we'll be pressed and dressed to the nines by 7:30 for the sweet, sweet limo! Thanks for confirming the res, btw!

I must say, not to be too conceited, but as I look in the mirror, I'm looking pretty damn fine myself. I do believe that Tammie's vision is about to become a reality.

We are gonna storm the Supper Club like queens! There shall be no woman who can stealeth our thunder! Lolâ¦