Killer of Killers (14 page)

“Pheromones?” The occurrence of roid rage in
steroid use was common knowledge, but this was the first Trent
heard of a problem with pheromones.

“That’s what Josh told me,” Samantha said.
“Normal anabolic steroids manipulate hormones and intensify
aggressive behavior, but this form of steroid has been mutated.
With Eternity, it’s the pheromones that go awry. It doesn’t always
happen, but when it does, well, we’ve seen the results. Karl can
explain it better than I.”

“All right, so what was Bernstein’s role in
all of this?”

“Samuel Bernstein was the scientist who
invented the drug, but it was Karl who funded his research.”

“Karl,” Trent repeated, acerbically. “How did
he happen to get involved in all of this, anyway?”

“He was approached by Dr. Bernstein when it
was still a medicine used as a healing agent. Karl made his fortune
as an investor, and he saw the value in Bernstein’s work from the
beginning. But the costs were enormous, and Bernstein’s methods
were controversial. Karl had to build new facilities and new
equipment, all to Bernstein’s specifications.

“They experimented on animals and people,
too. Bernstein needed the government out of his way, so Karl built
what he called Manoukian Labs in Minnesota. He was able to provide
Bernstein with everything...facilities, assistants, resources, and
most important of all, privacy.”

“How long ago was that?”

“About five years ago.”

“And when did Soriah come into the
picture?”

“Soriah came into the picture when they
realized the scope of the drug’s healing properties were without
limit. Of course, that intrigued everyone, but the program needed
more money and additional experiments that were even more
controversial. Something like that was very hard to keep a lid on.
Soriah got wind of it, swooped in, and brought more scientists with
him to participate in the research.”

Samantha stopped to regain her breath, and
Trent used the break to ask his next question. “Is that when Dr.
Benson joined the team?”

“How do you know about him?”

“Never mind. What about Benson?”

“Well, yes, Jason Benson was one of Soriah’s
additions. He was the best biochemist Soriah could find. And with
their joint efforts, Bernstein and Benson struck gold.” Samantha’s
enchanting eyes sparkled as brightly as the analogy she used.

“So then what happened?” Trent wanted to
understand how the two partners could have a conflict of interest
in a discovery so monumental.

“Since Karl had nearly exhausted his own
finances, he thought Soriah’s money and influence would enable his
research to be completed. Karl really only needed a boost in
financial support, because Soriah’s influence he could have gone
without.

“The old shark made Manoukian Labs a
subdivision of Soriah Enterprises and renamed it Eternity Labs. He
expanded the facility and added new researchers. Josh told me he
even brought in two specialists from China. It’s like he created a
new empire, all dedicated to Eternity.” Samantha paused again, this
time with a pout. “Karl didn’t know...”

Unfinished sentences annoyed Trent. “What
didn’t he know?”

“Karl didn’t know what a monster Soriah is.
That’s what he didn’t know.”

“So what happened? What was it that caused
such a hostile feud between Soriah and Manoukian?”

“Karl was counting on Eternity to replace his
fortune, but Soriah had his own twisted ideas. It was a major
problem, but eventually Soriah placated Karl with a list of
concessions.”

“What list of concessions?”

“Soriah allows Karl to oversee the West Coast
distributions and permits him to pocket the profits. Of course,
Soriah has final say as to the recipients, but with California
being the home of so much wealth, Karl was appeased for the time
being.”

“These profits,” Trent mused, “they’re under
the table, right? It must be an illegal operation. I don’t suppose
any of this has been approved by the FDA.”

“I don’t think they ever cared about federal
approval. At least, not until the killings started.”

Trent scowled at the sudden reference.
“
The killings
,” he sneered. “It was big news in Japan. And
every time the killers got off, it was even
bigger
news.”

Samantha continued. “Dr. Bernstein determined
Eternity was the cause, and he wanted to stop the treatments, but
Soriah wouldn’t have it. His man Benson insisted it could be
corrected.”

“But it wasn’t.”

“No, it wasn’t. The murders kept happening,
and they were more brutal than ever. No one knew who would be next.
Everyone was on edge. Josh told me Soriah was always secretive, but
he became reclusive and totally obsessed with the drug. He kept a
very tight circle of men around him. Josh and Benjamin Stiles were
part of that circle.”

“Then what happened?”

“Dr. Bernstein discovered Soriah’s plan, and
it was too much for him. He destroyed the files at the research
center and ran off with the formula.”

“That’s when Stiles murdered him?”

“Soriah sent Josh and Benjamin Stiles to
retrieve the data. And they succeeded, but, well, you know what
happened afterward.”

“So
that
was the mess your brother was
in.” Trent shook his head. “Josh took part in those murders?”

“Benjamin committed the murders,” Samantha
insisted. “To this day, Josh feels he should have done more to stop
him.”

“So why didn’t he?”

“Because Benjamin
flipped
when
Bernstein resisted. Josh is my brother. I know him better than
anyone. The guilt has been eating him ever since.”

Trent was convinced Samantha believed it. “So
Manoukian managed to clear Josh, and he got Stiles off, too?”

“Karl protected Josh as a favor to me, but it
was Soriah who pulled the strings that managed an acquittal for
Benjamin. Like he does for all of them. Soriah’s people cavort as
they like with his blessing. The program needs all of its test
subjects unhindered; otherwise, the process will be disrupted, the
media will have a field day, and the whole operation will be
jeopardized.” Samantha caught her breath again and added, “Could
you imagine the repercussions if their connection to the murders
became public?”

“So, Manoukian has reconciled himself with
Soriah?”

“Karl didn’t want anything to do with
Soriah’s plan, but Soriah was making the decisions by then. Karl is
an investor waiting for a return, and that’s the only reason he
agreed to manage the West Coast. He’s not happy about it, really,
because he knows the money is a fraction of what it should be. It’s
frustrating for him, because monetary profit is not Soriah’s
objective.”

With that, Trent knew Manoukian wasn’t
interested in the well-being of the general populace any more than
Soriah. The man had no thought to promote justice, only capital. As
for his reclusive partner... “What exactly
is
Soriah’s
objective? World domination?” To Trent it sounded like a bad
movie.

“Soriah wants to keep the formula secret. He
wants the serum only for himself and a select few.”

“A few that he selects, you mean.”

“Yes, that’s pretty much it.”

Trent mulled over the news. He
cross-referenced the words with Susie’s and with what he learned
from Soriah. All he really knew at this point was that some kind of
steroid-based drug existed that can heal cuts remarkably fast. Was
there more to it? Certainly, it pumps up an athlete’s body, which
it’s been doing for years. Did their science make it into something
else? Trent understood there were healing properties in anabolic
steroids, but could it really stop aging? Samantha seemed
convinced, and so did Susie. If any of this was true, was
Manoukian’s goal simply to make another fortune? Trent had nothing
against Capitalism, but when it was paid for with innocent lives he
drew the line.

Soriah, however, was a different story. What
did he have in mind? He was already a multibillionaire with one
foot in the grave. He didn’t need another fortune. Was he trying to
save himself from Father Time? A Ponce de Leon, whose quest for the
Fountain of Youth had actually succeeded with a drug?

Or did the old tycoon have something else up
his sleeve? He doesn’t want the world to know. Why? Did his means
not justify his ends? Was the development of the serum knotted in
legal issues so severe that their product couldn’t be marketed?
Would connections to the murders be exposed? No. The old man
already owned the courts. No doubt he ran the press as well. Did he
really want to hoard immortality for himself and his sycophants to
rule the population of earth as some kind of eternal god? That
sounded crazy.

Or did it? The more he heard, the more Trent
became convinced that this Eternity meant just that, but only for
those within the shade of Soriah’s exclusive umbrella. He didn’t
know exactly what to make of it. But there was one thing of which
he was sure. It didn’t make him any more sympathetic to the
berserkers who murdered under its influence.

As Trent brooded, Samantha rested her head on
top of his shoulder. “You never said anything about working for
Karl. Do you have an answer?”

“You still haven’t told me why Stiles didn’t
fly straight to SFO,” Trent reminded her. “What was the reason for
his stopover in L.A., and why were you meeting him there?”

Again, Samantha’s eyes became lost. She was
hiding something, and Trent couldn’t tell if she would ever let it
out. “Don’t tell me you and Stiles...”

“Oh, god, no!”

Trent knew better, but he wanted to point out
how her secrecy could be misconstrued. He looked at her squarely
and pinched her chin so she wouldn’t look away. “Look me in the
eyes and answer the question,” he demanded.

“I’m not working alone,” she finally
admitted.

“All right. Now we’re getting somewhere. So
who are you working with? The SFPD? Are the police investigating
this thing?”

“Not the SFPD,” Samantha answered,
maintaining the eye contact on which Trent insisted. “The FBI.
Stiles had a black leather bag when you killed him. You might
remember it.”

“I do.”

“It contained a shipment of the drug for
their Southern California clients. After you left the scene, I took
it from the restroom. Now, the Feds have it. We began setting this
up when Karl asked Josh to bring in Benjamin, but I couldn’t do it
in front of Karl, or even in front of my brother. Neither of them
know. And I need
you
to keep it quiet.”

Trent nodded, thinking to himself that her
explanation was solid. “Was Stiles cooperating with the FBI,
also?”

“No. Sorry about that, too. The plan was to
acquire a sample from his bag before he passed it to Karl’s L.A.
distributor.” Samantha smiled again. “You made that part real easy
for me. Thank you. You’re so sweet.”

“Well, you’re welcome. So are you turning
everyone in, or what?” He found himself further impressed with this
policewoman.

“Right now, federal agents are analyzing the
serum, and they’re building a case against Abraham Soriah. They
promised not to prosecute Josh and to go easy on Karl. That’s my
deal.”

“I hope they go easy on me, too.” Trent
thought he’d throw that in.

“Don’t worry,” Samantha purred. “You’re not
even on their radar.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“So you see, you don’t really have to kill
Soriah. Just tell Karl you will. Otherwise, he’ll make Josh do it.
You know I can’t let my brother get involved like that. He couldn’t
kill anyone. He doesn’t have it in him.”

“I’m not so sure about that. I think we all
have it in us. It depends on the circumstances, I suppose.” Trent
struggled to believe what he just said. Nevertheless, he now
understood why a policewoman was so eager to see him accept an
assassin’s job.

“Now, will you work for Karl?” Samantha
renewed her smile and moved her face to within an inch of
Trent’s.

Trent turned away. “What if I say no?”

“I don’t want you to say no.”

Trent noted the eros in her tone and the way
she stroked his hair while awaiting his reply. “Well, then I won’t
say no,” he said while moving her hand away from his head, “but I
won’t say yes.”

Trent faced her again. She was yet another
flawless specimen of a woman in her prime. Her captivating eyes
penetrated his and would lay claim to his soul if he dared peer for
too long. Trent hoped to get a good night’s sleep before his flight
to Minneapolis, but the physical attraction was overwhelming and
submitting to it was instinctive. Their lips touched, and there was
no holding back. His passion from the prior day with Susie returned
in full with Samantha. Trent noted the difference, not only in the
color of their skin, but in the color and texture of their hair,
the scent of their bodies, and the style of their lovemaking. He
referenced his romantic experiences with his Asian lover, Yoshiko,
and considered if he lived another million years, he would never be
able to choose one over the others. All three were women, and women
were women, whether black, white, or anything else. Trent resigned
himself to simply being glad he was a man.

* * * *

A golden sun tipped its crest above the
horizon, silhouetting the New York skyline against a beaming
crimson backdrop. Rising higher than its neighbors, the Soriah
Skyway ruled supreme. Within its walls of glimmering glass, Charles
Morgan carried a silver tray in both of his hands. It contained a
royal blue mug rimmed in gold. The tang of coffee filled the air.
Next to the mug, a white linen napkin, folded square, based a small
plastic-covered syringe. It was a daily routine, and Abraham was
sitting at his desk when Charles reached his side. “Abraham?”

Abraham looked up and said, “Thank you,
Charles.” He sipped the hot brew and placed the cup on top of his
desk.