The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) (24 page)

Aldo tried not to look like he was gloating as he sat with Thomas, the investor who had Jennifer. But he did. He had even let his moustache grow a bit longer for the meeting because he knew he was doing well in the game. Reaching his hand to Thomas who sat next to him, Aldo rested it on his back. “Things could turn around.”

“I doubt it.” Thomas brought his lips down to his coffee cup, slurping. “I highly doubt it. What happened?
 
It hardly seems fair that they would still be going on with her.”

Dr. Jefferson, who had been listening, interrupted, “I beg to differ. Yes we went after Jennifer, the same way we went after Fr. Dan, Cal, and Griff. Cal beat hers; she was the only one who did. Now Griff,
we
can see what is happening with Griff, but he is too smart to let the others see yet.” Dr. Jefferson moved his way to the head of the table and pulled out his notes. “What we were doing to Fr. Dan, Griff, and Jennifer, we have now stopped. What has been happening to these people in the past two weeks is being done by them, not us.”

Thomas lifted his head. “So you basically pushed her over the edge?”

Dr. Jefferson shook his head. “Not exactly, we pushed her to the edge. It was her decision to take the leap.”

“So I’m out?” Thomas asked. “Just like that?”

“No,” Dr. Jefferson answered. “She’s still in the game. There’s still a chance she may come back. I do have to remind you, all of you,” Dr. Jefferson said as he peered around the group, “we’re getting ready to head into the next phase. Not only mentally, but physically the tolls are taken there. Cabin fever will start to set in, combine that with the elements and what we have in store . . .” He gave a shrug to his shoulders. “Ask any of the vet investors, it will be quite fun.”

Aldo sat certain throughout the meeting that he would make it through the next phase. The entire time that Dr. Jefferson spoke, Aldo gazed at Stewart. He had Major Graison and looked as cocky as Aldo. With Fr. Dan breaking, Jennifer gone, and Griff, at least according to Dr. Jefferson, well on his way, that left Carlos, Rickie and John. None of them seemed mentally strong, but they did have the physical attributes to withstand what would soon happen.

After the meeting Aldo had to do it. He had to speak to Stewart. As the other investors, some looking glum, some hopeful, walked about, Aldo moved over to the seat next to Stewart. “So, Stew, looks like we may be splitting the pot in the end.”

“Highly doubtful,” he said as he took another drink. “Your girl is nothing without my guy. Wait, he’ll tire of her and he won’t carry her.”

“She doesn’t need him to carry her. She’s tough on her own.”

“But she’s not strong enough physically.” Stewart pointed while holding his glass. “She’ll need him at one point and he won’t be there. My horse will prevail. He’s better.”

“And what happens if they both make it?” Aldo asked. “That’s a possibility.”

“You knew the rules, Aldo.” He swished the ice in his glass. “You’ve been here before. If it comes down to it, we can force the experiment to push it to the end. And I will do that. It is eight million dollars. That’s a lot of money.”

“So is four, asshole.” Aldo started to stand up and stopped. “You know, care to make a little side wager, say a hundred grand, that my girl makes it to the end?”

“You’re on.” Stewart agreed.

“Good. I’ll have my men draw up some papers.” Aldo grabbed his own drink and slipped away from the table. Yes, he knew the rules, and he knew a single winner could be forced, but Aldo knew he would do what it took to make sure, this time, he walked away a winner. Looking back one more time at Stewart, Aldo saw something in him that he didn’t like. Yes, all the investors were there because of greed, but Stewart, he was there because of something else— Deadly Greed. And to Aldo, that could take away all the fun.

“I tried to tell you, but every time I brought it up you changed the subject.” Cal told Jake as they stood before the door in her room.

“That’s because I don’t like her.”

“Then see, you miss the fun. Jennifer’s personalities have emerged again. You just have to watch. Maggie tends to flip her hair quite a bit when she speaks, Rosemary hunches. Of course I don’t know the others but Rickie said there are four of them. You know,
I
knew this and I see her not even five minutes a day.” Cal started to laugh. “I cannot believe you. God, Jake, are you losing your edge?”

“What did you say?”

“Losing your edge?” Cal opened her door. “I’m actually hungry this morning, you want to come with me or not?”

“Yes.” Jake followed. “Do you really think so?”

“Jake. Stop. You’re not.”

“Cal.” He halted her. “I’m being serious. This isn’t good. What if I am? How did I miss the Jennifer thing? Maybe I am so wrapped up in using my instinct that I’m not using my head.”

“And how is that bad?” She folded her arms.

Jake took a moment to try to think of how best to explain it to her. “Things aren’t as clear when you don’t use your head. Things are not going to get easier, what if something happens and I react wrong? It could be costly.”

“Costly to who? To you?”

“More so to you.”

“Then don’t worry about it.” Cal stepped forward and started to walk again. “Don’t worry about me. You put too much emphasis on that. Worry about yourself.”

“But I can take care of myself.”

“And I can’t?” Cal was upset by his remark.

“You can . . . to an extent. But let’s face it Cal, if the physical elements stack up against you, you’re . . .” He motioned his hand out to her. “. . . you’re . . . without me you’re basically screwed. Look at you.”

Cal’s mouth dropped open and she began to walk the other way back to her room.

“Where are you going? I thought you were hungry.”

“I feel an argument brewing and I refuse to stand in the hall and have it.” She opened her door. “Inside Major Graison,” she said in a voice that indicated her order was serious. Once he walked in, Cal slammed the door. “I never told you to protect me. I never wanted or needed that. You chose to do that on your own. Is that clear?”

“Yes, it is.” Jake rolled his eyes at her.

“You’ve taken it upon yourself to be my guardian angel. I came up here on my own, Jake. I don’t expect you to protect me. Nor would I be mad if you decided not to. Have you got that?”

“Right, I’m supposed to just stand around and let something happen to you. Something I can prevent?” He fluttered his lips at her. “Yes, I chose to watch over you, because I want to. But aside from that, don’t you think it’s my responsibility to do that, because you’re a woman . . .”

“Oh . . .” Cal was dumbfounded. “Oh . . .” She waved her hand about. “Protect Jennifer. She’s a woman.”

“I want to protect you. You need me to . . .”

“I just refuse to discuss this anymore with you. If something should happen to me, Major Graison, and I can’t handle it, it is my loss not yours.”

Jake made a loudly buzzing sound. “Wrong! It is my loss if something happens to you. You know it. I’m involved with you, Cal. And what if it’s that involvement that is the cause of my losing my edge? It’s that involvement that is making me think with my heart instead of my head when it comes to you. That’s wrong.”

“Jake!” Cal sounded annoyed. “Do you hear how stupid you sound? It’s human, human nature. Deal with it. And to help you along . . .” She walked back out of her room. “Quit protecting me.”

“I can’t do that.” He shut her door and followed. Once again they would attempt to go to eat. “I like watching out for you and
 
it has great benefits. Besides, you wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t pester you or follow you.”

“No, you’re the one who wouldn’t know what to do. You’re the one who latched on to me, probably just so you could get laid.” Cal joked.

“No, no. Sex with you, was the farthest thing from my mind . . . the . . . first couple days. But, I could keep occupied.”

“Really?” Cal stopped in the center of the gathering room. “Why don’t we see who folds first, me or you? Let’s have a breakup”

“A breakup? What does that include or not include? I need some basic ground rules.”

Cal held out her hand, flicking out each finger, tapping on it as she spewed forth her list. “No working out. No meals together. No talking. No games. No taking walks. No spur of the moment drinking games. No showering . . . together. No sleeping in the same room and no sex.”

“Forget it.” Jake stopped her line of talk. “I concede right now.”

“You never concede.”

“On this I do. And why is Rickie following us?”

Snapping his fingers, Rickie jumped out from a doorway. “Dude, you spied me. Hey, can I hang out with you two. I like it when you fight.”

“No.” Jake answered in his walk.

“Yes.” Cal stated.

“Cool.” Rickie tagged along. “Oh, dudes, did you know?”

“Know what?” Jake asked and then noticed Rickie pointing into the dining room. “Shit. They let him out.”

Fr. Dan sat alone at a table, slouched and seemingly in his own world along with his cereal.

“Rickie,” Jake whispered. “Do not say anything to him. I’m not in the mood to pull him off of you again.”

Rickie gave a thumbs up and walked into the dining room with Jake and Cal. He felt bad ignoring the padre, especially since he delivered all those blessings to him through the locked bathroom door.
 
So to be cordial, Christian, and also to irk Jake, Rickie sat down with Fr. Dan.

Aldo pushed the doors open with his backside, his arms filled. Two large pizza boxes rested in his right hand, a bottle of soda in his left. “Dinner, boys,” he called as he tossed the boxes which slid across the table.

Stan smiled as he lifted the lid. “Aldo, you are like the coolest. Isn’t he the coolest, Lyle?”

“The coolest,” Lyle said and took a look in one of the boxes. “Hey, Aldo, any plates?”

“I’m getting them.” Aldo strutted over to the refreshment area and retrieved plates for the three of them. “Munch.” He decided to indulge himself as he took a seat next to Stan. “Anything yet?”

“It depends. Rickie has Maggie high right now and John is getting perturbed because he keeps knocking on the door, and Jennifer keeps saying that Jennifer is not there.”

Aldo laughed and played with the cheese on his pizza. “My girl?”

Stan shook his head. “She still has not spoken to Graison since this morning. He got aggravated because she didn’t eat, and stole her goodie stash. She’s hanging with him, but not talking. He’s pissed.”

“What else is new?” Aldo said sarcastically and walked over to the monitors. “The catch hasn’t gone back into the woods then, I guess?”

Lyle shook his head and wiped his mouth. “Nope, he hits the woods about three in the morning. Infrared picked him up going there. Unfortunately, sometimes he goes too deep for the cameras. He has everything ready in his room. That’s what is scary.”

Aldo tapped his fingers nervously on the table. “How long did they say he’s been digging?”

“He’s been digging since the beginning, but more so the past three nights.” Lyle answered. “We think the carved wood is going in the bottom of his so called pit. He’s kept it covered pretty well. Those spikes look ready. We think he’s setting it tonight.”

“Son of a bitch.” Aldo slammed his fist. “Is it my girl that he’s going after or just someone in general? I mean only three people walk those woods regularly, Cal, Graison and Jennifer.”

Stan shook his head. “We think it’s anyone. He needs the thrill of the catch. And don’t forget, you know something no one else knows. You know about the experiment. That’s starting to take effect and that is causing a lot of it, too.”

“I see.” Aldo looked down at his watch. “I’m heading back to my hotel. I want to be here in the morning to see if anyone gets caught in it. Call me, no matter what time, if something happens.”

“We’ll do that, Aldo,” Lyle answered. He saw Aldo snatch up another piece of pizza and grab his jacket to head to the door. “You shouldn’t look so concerned.”

“I am.” Aldo said. “How can I not be? The way Graison and my girl tromp through those woods in their own private games, one of them are going to hit it. I feel it.”

“Then maybe it will be Graison,” Stan said.

“No!” Aldo snapped back. “It must be neither of them. If it’s Cal, I lose. If it’s Graison . . .” he exhaled. “I lose, too.”