AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Don't laugh. Don't laugh. You're an adult. Be better than Jackson.
I manage to clear my throat and keep the conversation moving without so much as a smirk. “You wanted to talk to me, Dr. Franks?”
Still struggling to take his eyes off Bennet, he acknowledges me. “Yes. I, uh…” He lets out a breath, steeling himself. “To be perfectly upfront and honest, I've broken your trust. I didn't set out to betray you or go behind your backs, but I let curiosity get the best of me. Once I realized how my actions could have been perceived, I, well…”
I'm so pleasantly surprised by his admission that it almost feels wrong to keep him dangling the way we are. But hearing him out before we approach him with the plan is important. We need to learn everything about the person we're potentially risking everything with.
Dr. Franks leans forward, resting his elbows on his thighs and looking back and forth at each of us. “I took some of the plasma with me to do some tests.” His words come out a little rushed, but once the truth is out there, he seems more comfortable pushing forward.
“Seeing the way Jackson's leg healed was nothing that I could have ever fathomed. A true medical miracle played out right in front of my face. Even through Bennet's…death,” his eyes cut to Bennet, like he still doesn't trust that he's sitting right in front of him, “he still showed remarkable signs of progress.”
“While I would never seek to put any of you, especially Six, at risk, I'm afraid it was a little too tempting for me to not explore the possibilities. The sheer number of lives that could be saved from researching this phenomenon…the potential is astounding.”
“I can understand that,” I admit. “I considered it myself.”
Relieved, Dr. Franks relaxes a bit more. He looks down at the envelope he brought, and then passes it to me.
Opening it, I find pages of handwritten notes and some printed photos of cells, as well as a memory card, and the five missing tubes of plasma.
“Not that I deserve your trust after taking the plasma in the first place, but I want you to know that there are no records of any of this research. I took all the notes by hand, and I pulled the memory card for the digital camera that was used for the micrographs.”
Luis was right, but he was also wrong. Yes, the doctor went behind our backs to study the plasma, but that he's here right now, telling us what he did, makes me feel hopeful for the future. I make eye contact with Bennet, giving him a small nod.
Dr. Franks mistakes my silence while reading the notes for anger or disappointment.
Bennet addresses him. “You know, Dr. Franks, you had every opportunity to take this and run. Even if you weren't in it for career advancement or fame, you could have surrendered this to any number of companies. The potential for advancements in medical research alone could be staggering. I can absolutely understand your interest. But why did you stop? Why are you here now?”
“I never intended to share the research, but my curiosity overrode my sense. And the more I thought about the implications and potential, the more I came to understand how dangerous this could be in the wrong hands. Not only could it put Six in danger of becoming a test subject again, but there are people that would overlook the inhumane way that she came into the world and possibly try to recreate those same circumstances. And I cannot, even for the greater good, have that on my conscience.”
Bennet and I look at each other again, in full agreement about our next steps.
Putting everything back in the envelope and passing it to Bennet, I turn to Dr. Franks with a serious expression.
“We knew you took the plasma, or at least we had a very strong feeling you did. We used all the rest of the plasma as a last minute Hail-Mary to save Bennet, which didn't work anyway. Or at least we thought it didn't. We noticed there were a handful of tubes missing.”
Dr. Franks' face blanches. “If you didn't have enough, it would have been my fault.”
“Honestly, if it didn't work, it probably wouldn't have. Even with double the amount. I don't think those few tubes would have made a difference. Luckily, it's a non-issue.”
“I have no excuse worthy of your forgiveness. Truth be told, I'm wondering how I made it this far into the house, considering Mr. Posa…”
“He's not your biggest fan right now,” I admit. “It will probably take a lot for him to trust you, but he's generally untrusting of anyone.”
“I had to die to get him to trust me.” Bennet shrugs, smirking.
I scoff at his joke. And you had to die to grow a sense of humor. “It would probably be best to tread carefully around Luis. But we do have a proposal for you.”
“I'm interested in whatever you might have in mind.”
Bennet acknowledges that with a dip of his head, folding his hands together on the table. “Before we get into specifics, there will, of course, be extensive paperwork. You will essentially have to sign away your life in non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, as well as a slew of other paperwork and promises to keep Six and other involved parties safe and protected from identification.”
“Of course, I would expect nothing less from you.”
“It is my intention to destroy The Adley Corporation, tearing it down and selling it off piece by piece. There might be more to the BioCere Inc. lab than what my father was involved with, and we intend to do what it takes to destroy that, too. But we cannot ignore that some of the research and results that came from that tragedy might have some benefits for the future of medical research.”
Dr. Franks' eyebrows raise, his interest peaked.
“Mr. Williams and I were considering starting our own research project. I know genetics is not your specialty, but as you are already involved and we feel we can trust you, we would like to bring you aboard.”
