Chapter 7 - What the Blood Remembers
Samuel locked the church.
Then he drew Elias's blood.
"Why?"
"Because Tomas is right."
Samuel placed a drop beneath a portable analyzer.
"Grace doesn't heal the way people think."
Elias frowned.
"You saw my foot."
"I did."
"Then what is it?"
"Her cells carry a signaling protein developed during Lazarus. In most subjects, it did nothing. In some, it caused catastrophic immune reactions."
Ruby went pale.
"And Grace?"
"Grace's body produces a stable version."
Mateo held the baby tighter.
"You're talking about her like a lab."
Samuel's face softened.
"I'm sorry."
Elias said, "What happens when she touches someone?"
"We don't fully know."
Tomas answered.
"It wakes things up."
Samuel nodded reluctantly.
"Damaged tissue seems to respond. Not instantly. Not always. But enough to make men like Russell Wynn believe she is worth more than any drug patent in history."
Elias looked at his leg.
"And me?"
"Your blood may now contain a temporary copy of the signal."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning if Vance Biomedical gets you, they may not need Grace."
Elias almost laughed.
"So I'm bait."
"You're evidence."
Samuel's machine beeped.
He looked at the screen.
Then again.
"That's impossible."
"What?"
"The protein is there."
Elias stared.
"Can it make me walk?"
Samuel looked at him.
"I don't know."
"I don't care about walking."
Mateo looked at him.
"You stared at your foot for ten minutes."
Elias met his eyes.
"I care more about keeping you alive."
The boy looked away.
A vehicle approached outside.
Frank checked the window.
"Two black SUVs."
Samuel swore.
"Back exit."
Tomas froze.
"They found us."
Ruby grabbed Grace.
This time Mateo did not argue.
Elias pulled Samuel close.
"Where do we go?"
Samuel handed him a flash drive.
"Elena recorded everything."
"Everything?"
"Every illegal trial. Every death. Every payment."
"Why didn't you release it?"
"Because Russell has judges, hospital boards, investigators."
"So what good is it?"
Samuel looked toward the children.
"It proves Elena was alive after her supposed death."
Elias's breath caught.
"Supposed?"
Samuel stared at him.
"Elena didn't die in that car."
Elias gripped his chair.
"Then where is she?"
The church windows shattered.
Smoke canisters rolled across the floor.
Samuel coughed.
"Russell took her."
"Three years ago?"
"No."
May you like
Samuel's eyes filled.
"Three days ago."
