Part 22 (2/2)

Tony put a hand to Dex's shoulder. ”Your mom and dad were like family to me, Dex. h.e.l.l, next to your aunt Danelle, they were my only family. When my own flesh and blood shut the door on me for becoming a cop after what happened to my father, your parents were there to help me through it. Your dad and I felt the same. We both wanted to make a difference, and what better way to do that than from the inside? My family didn't understand that. Your mom and dad were good people. Whatever they did, the sacrifice they made, leaving you behind, I'm certain it was a decision they didn't take lightly. Have faith in them. Hear your mom out.”

Dex nodded. His dad was right. The least he could do was listen to what his mom had to say. Even if he didn't want to, he needed to hear her again, even if it brought all the pain back. He needed to hear her voice again. Taking a deep breath, he took the ca.s.sette recorder and box of tapes with him to the stairs and sat down. Dex looked up at Tony.

”Will you stay with me and listen to it?”

”Sure.” Tony took a seat on the next step above him and to the side. He ran a hand over Dex's hair, comforting him, before leaning against the wall. Dex pressed Play.

”Your father and I loved you with all our hearts. What we did, we did for those children, and for you. I know it might be hard for you to understand, but your father and I can't sit back while these children are tortured and murdered. I know there's a chance you might never hear this, but those behind the research facility will come looking for the evidence I've collected against them. There's no place they'll leave unturned. This was the safest place I could think of. On this tape I've recorded my findings, while the remaining four contain all the detailed recordings made by Dr. Abraham Shultzon. Perhaps some of this evidence will be admissible in a court of law, but at the very least, if given to the proper operatives, an investigation can take place. Please listen to the tapes in their entirety, in a secure location, and more important than anything, stay safe, baby.”

Dex closed his eyes and listened.

”My name is Dr. Gina Daley, medical officer for the CDC Registration Office, Department of Therian Children. The date is May 8, 1985. Next year the government will launch the First Gen Research Facility in order to determine the cause behind the rising mortality rate of Therians as a result of posts.h.i.+ft. The facility will be under the direction of Dr. Abraham Shultzon. What originally began as a n.o.ble scientific endeavor for the salvation of Therians has become something truly deplorable. The original proposal for the facility encompa.s.sed the examination of Therian children. Examinations that would be carried out by some of the world's top medical professionals in a controlled environment. No other tests were proposed. These children were merely to be examined and observed throughout their growth into adulthood within their own family surroundings, with all parents of the children informed and educated so that they might better understand the Therian biology. Posts.h.i.+ft and other a.s.sessments that posed risks would be conducted solely on adult Therian volunteers. Not children.

”Dr. Shultzon possessed a list of names, one I've made a copy of and hidden in your most cherished childhood possession. The original was burned. The list contains the names of Therian children, all First Gens, who will be taken for research purposes, tests, and experimentation. Their s.h.i.+fts are being kept from their families. I have personally examined one of the children, a healthy male jaguar Therian named Sloane Brodie. Shultzon has taken great interest in several of these children. Upon further investigation, I've discovered these particular children contain anomalies in their blood. However, these anomalies cannot be fully explored until the children reach maturity. Dr. Shultzon intends to study these particular children. For what, I don't know, but from what I've gathered, these Therians have the ability to impact humans and the world around us. Judging by the facility's equipment and medical invoices, I fear some of these children may not survive whatever is in store for them. After several failed attempts with the board of trustees, I've decided to take matters into my own hands.

”The world is burning around us. It crumbles at the hands of greedy, narrow-minded, power-mad adults whose ignorance threatens to tear us apart, along with everything we stand for. If something isn't done, this poison will spread to our children, and the legacy we leave them will be nothing but a world reduced to ashes. Dex, baby, listen to Tony. Lead a happy life filled with joy. Never lose sight of the good, and help those who appear lost. I don't know what will happen to the children on the First Gen list. If I fail, find them. Help them. Find Sloane Brodie. He's the first. He'll need you. Need you to show him the world is a better place with him in it. He needs love, baby. I can see it in his eyes. You can do that. Your heart is so big, it'll have enough love for everyone. I love you. I love you so much, my angel.”

The tape ended, and Dex wiped the wetness from his cheek. He bit down on his bottom lip and tried d.a.m.n hard not to give in to the sting behind his eyes. His vision blurred, and the harder he fought, the more it hurt. Tony sat beside him and pulled him into his arms.

”It's okay, son.”

”I don't want to let her go,” Dex said through his tears.

”Who says you have to?”

”Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Grieve and move on?”

”You grieve, you move on with your life, but you never forget. They were your parents, Dex. They adored you, and they'll always be with you.”

Dex nodded. He buried his face against Tony's shoulder and cried. It was like grieving for them all over again. Only this time he was an adult, and he understood all the reasons, the whys, but it didn't mean it hurt any less. He let his head rest on Tony's shoulder and just sat there with him for a while in the quiet bas.e.m.e.nt. ”Thank you, for taking such good care of me. For always being there for me. And for being such a great dad.”

”You're welcome, son.”

Dex cleaned his face up as best he could with his s.h.i.+rtsleeve. His nose was stuffed up, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Not that he cared if his family saw him cry. He wasn't even bothered that Ash was included in that thought. Dex asked Tony to get the guys back downstairs. As soon as Sloane reached the bottom of the stairs, Dex slipped his arms around him and held him close, needing to feel his strong, warm body against Dex's. He let out a shuddered sigh before stepping back.

”So the file Shultzon was talking about? It's all on tape. The first tape is my mom, recording her findings. The next four are Shultzon's recordings.”

”What are you going to do with them?” Cael asked.

”Keep them safe. Listen to them. Then hand them over to Sparks.” Not to mention make a copy of each one. He wasn't handing anything over without taking precautions. ”Oh, and my mom said she hid the list of First Gen Therians with anomalies in my most cherished childhood possession.”

Tony scratched his stubbled jaw. ”I looked through all your toys after the funeral, but I came up empty.”

”Well, she said most cherished. Which is it?” Ash motioned to the ocean of boxes.

Dex shrugged. ”I don't know. I cherish all my childhood stuff.”

”Was there one thing you loved more than anything else?”

Sloane put his arms around Dex's neck from behind, and Dex leaned back into him, thinking.

Something he'd loved more than anything else? ”If there was something, it wouldn't be down here in a box. I'd have kept it somewhere else.”

Dex and Tony exchanged glances before Dex ran for the stairs, the box of tapes cradled in his arms.

”I know where the list is.”

He pointed to Tony, knowing TIN was probably listening in. Everyone followed him upstairs, and Dex paused. The tapes. He couldn't leave them here. He ran to the front door, grabbed his messenger bag, and stuck the box inside before he settled the strap across his body.

”Why don't we all go get some dinner? I'm starving.” He wasn't letting these tapes out of his sight.

”Dinner's on me,” Tony said, following along. ”Why don't we go over to my place? I got those Therian-sized pizzas in the freezer, some beer in the fridge.”

They all climbed into Ash's truck, since it was bigger. Dex told him not to speed and to drive normally. The last thing they needed was to draw attention to themselves. If TIN had operatives following them, who knew who else might be keeping an eye on them. Fifteen minutes later, they were outside Tony's house.

Tony opened the front door and stepped aside. They followed Dex inside, leaving their jackets in the hall before Tony said he'd get the pizzas in the oven.

”Ash, why don't you grab us some beers?”

Ash grabbed the six-pack from the fridge, twisted off the caps, and handed them each one. They made idle chat as they followed Dex upstairs, his heart ready to beat out of him. He could feel it in his gut. This was it. They had the file. Now all they needed was the list. Inside Cael's old bedroom, Dex went straight to the bookshelf, where he gently took hold of Brave Heart Lion. A lump formed in his throat as he held it. Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them back. He carefully squeezed different areas, but there was no sign anything was inside. It was soft and well-loved. Only one way to find out. He turned to face Ash and made a cutting motion.

Ash didn't ask questions or even comment. He reached into his pocket, drew out his Swiss Army knife, then held it out to Dex.

”So what do you want to do about dessert?” Dex asked as he cut through the st.i.tches in Brave Heart's back with exceptional care.

”There's ice cream,” Cael said, hovering by Dex's shoulder along with everyone else.

Gently, Dex felt through the stuffing until his finger poked against the corner of what was most likely a folded up piece of paper. With shaky hands, he gingerly pulled it out, handing his favorite childhood toy to Cael, who'd continue to take good care of it.

The paper in his hand was somewhat faded but otherwise in pristine condition. He unfolded it, his eyes widening at how long it was. Dex stared at the four columns of names written in small block letters on the front and back, and at the very top of the first row, the first name was Sloane Brodie.

Dex went to Cael's stereo and turned it on, tuning it in to Retro Radio. Ash rolled his eyes.

”Seriously? Don't you get tired of that s.h.i.+t?”

”Screw you, Simba.” Dex motioned for everyone to huddle close. He looked up at his dad, his voice quiet when he spoke. ”You didn't check Braveheart?”

”I felt around,” Tony replied. ”But it didn't feel any different from the previous times I'd held it. It didn't occur to me to remove the st.i.tching. Not on this one. I didn't have the heart. The way you clung onto that toy, hugging it so tight.... It broke my heart.”

Dex nodded, and gave his dad's shoulder a squeeze. ”It's okay, Dad.” He went back to scanning the list. ”It's longer than I expected.”

”So all these First Gens have anomalies in their blood?” Tony asked, looking the list over.

Sloane shook his head sadly. ”Maybe they all did. Some of them never made it out of the research facility.”

”And some of the ones that did didn't last that long outside of it,” Ash added.

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