The Eve Genome by Joanne Brothwell Read Free Book Online Page B

off the phone. Fast.
                  “Mom, they’re asking for my voluntary cooperation. There’s nothing conspiratorial going on there. I’m a scientific anomaly, that’s all.” I heard gasping through the phone. “Look, I’m talking to someone right now, I’ll call you later and we can discuss it then, okay?”
                  She responded with a choked garble. The floodgates were nearly open. Less than thirty seconds left. “Tonight. At six.”
                  “Okay. See you then.” I hung up, turned my cell off and shoved it into my backpack. Then I looked up at Kalan. “My mom. She’s still raw from Analiese’s death.”
                  “Of course. I’m sure you both are,” he said.
    I gulped in a breath. “She doesn’t want me to go to the National Human Genome Research Institute for genetic testing. She thinks they’re going to do terrible things to me. I think it’s really because she’s afraid to let me out of her sights, because she’s afraid she’ll lose me too…”
    Kalan’s gaze clouded over, momentarily. “Maybe. Or maybe there’s a reason for her to be afraid?”
    What was he talking about? He couldn’t possibly think my mother’s irrational paranoia had any legitimacy? “I’m sorry?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe your mother’s on to something.”
    I stared at him. He looks normal. Sort of . “Can you elaborate?”
    Kalan shrugged. “I don’t know. Mothers have eyes in the backs of their heads. They always seem to know.”
    I smiled. “Usually her superhero mom-senses are right on target. But lately, the way she’s been acting… I don’t know.” I thought of her odd behaviour in Maryland, with the research team and then on our way home. “This is out of character. She’s not in her right mind.”
    “Well, you know her best.”
    “Hey, um, I need to make a phone call,” I said. “It’s kind of private.”
    “Oh, okay. I’ll get us a quick coffee.” Kalan set off for the Starbucks at the end of the hall and I dialled Dr. McGill‘s personal cell number.
    After three rings, he answered. “Hello? Adriana?”
    How did he know it was me phoning? “Hi, Dr. McGill, I’m calling to let you know I’ve made a decision to come to the institute for the testing you requested—”
    He cut me off. “Look, Adriana. Something has… happened. I don’t know how to tell you this, but something terrible has happened to Analiese.” My heart felt like it fell to the floor. But she was already dead. What worse could possibly happen? “Her body is missing.”
    I stared straight ahead, watching Kalan’s tall form as he stood in front of Starbucks paying for our coffees, my voice refusing to speak the astonished words that bubbled around in my head. Like Ping-Pong inside my skull, question after question. Dr. McGill‘s frantic words only causing interference, like a little bee that wouldn’t stop buzzing. I’m so sorry. We have no idea how this could have happened. We have a state of the art security system. There’s no logical answer for this.
    Finally, I forced the words out. “How? How could her body be gone?”
    “We have no idea. The police have been notified. I’m certain they’ll be arriving shortly to investigate.” He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “Adriana, I’m afraid there’s no point in you coming right now. With the police here and Analiese’s body missing, we won’t be able to work on your case for quite some time. But I do hope when this has all been resolved you will consider coming at a later date?”
    “I… Look. I’ve got to go.”
    “Wait.” Dr. McGill said. “I still need to notify your mother…”
    “I’ll tell her,” I said.
    “Oh. Okay.” He was clearly relieved.
    I hung up.
    Kalan returned to me with a hot cup, but after taking one look at me he set my coffee down on a window ledge. “What’s wrong?”
    It was all so bizarre. “Analiese’s body is missing from