“I wish,” Alexei responded. “At this point all we can do is keep the galactose concentration at a specific level, same with the temperature, acidity, and oxygen, all of which is being done.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Dmitry said. “All that microbiological recombinant technology is beyond me.”
“What do you think our chances are that we’re even going to find Ethan Jameson’s body, much less get it back to the Bennet Estate?” Alexei asked, changing the subject. “It irks me that Viktor and Nikolai are so cavalier about it, as if we can just waltz into the Bennet Clinic building and walk out with it. You and I have had no training for something like this.”
“I’m with you. It was my immediate concern as well.”
“Jack, the forensic pathologist, merely said they were going to do the autopsy in the local doctor’s office. He didn’t say anything about where the body was.”
“For whatever it’s worth, it does make sense the body would be where they will do the procedure.”
“But if there is no cooler, it can’t be there. If it’s not, I’m worried it might be in the funeral home on the other side of town near the police department. They have to have a cooler to store bodies before they embalm them.”
“Without doubt,” Dmitry agreed. “But let’s think positive since we don’t have a lot of choice. We have to find that body and make it disappear. Let’s just concentrate on the first step, getting into the Bennet Clinic building to see what we can find. At least the building is in a commercial part of town, so at this time of night there shouldn’t be any witnesses.”
“Okay, I’m with you,” Alexei said in a forced, spirited fashion to buoy his own spirits.
They entered the western end of Main Street. As they expected, at nearly ten o’clock at night, it was almost deserted. There were a few people doing the final cleaning at Ted’s Diner, and the only bar in town, the Ale House on the opposite side of the street, was moderately busy with a half dozen trucks parked in the immediate vicinity. Beyond the school and library, there was almost no activityat all, and by the time they got to the end of Main Street where it abutted the old Bennet factory building, the town appeared deserted.
Alexei turned right and pulled into the parking area, which was completely empty, and immediately doused the headlights. With a gibbous moon high in the sky, they could see fine as they drove along the side of the building heading back to the freight dock.
“What do you think we should do with the truck?” Alexei asked, pulling to a stop. “It’s an issue I hadn’t thought about until this second. Being the only vehicle in the parking lot, it’s going to stand out if the police happen to drive by.”
“Why would they?” Dmitry asked.
Alexei shrugged. “Just making rounds, I suppose. I don’t know whether the Essex Falls police do that or not on a regular basis. The police certainly did in Staraya Russa, where I grew up.”
“They did it in Ryazan, too. Okay, let’s not take any chances by leaving it here to attract attention. I saw some vans parked down the street toward Roaring Fork River where there are a few other commercial buildings. Let’s leave it there.”
“Good idea,” Alexei said. He did a U-turn and then drove back out to the street and made a left. He didn’t bother using the headlights with the moon providing more than enough light.
Five minutes later, they were back at the clinic building. Approaching the double front door, Dmitry tried it. It was locked as they expected. Alexei had his flashlight out, and shielding its beam, he illuminated the door’s lock.
“How are you at picking a lock?” Alexei asked.
“With no tools, terrible. With tools I’m not too bad. I had some experience as a teenager.”
“I’ve no experience whatsoever,” Alexei admitted. “I’m beginningto think we should have planned this a bit more. What were we thinking?”
“We weren’t thinking. We were following orders.”
Alexei laughed but without humor. “Let’s try the freight dock.”
Walking quickly, they rounded the building, staying within its shadow as best they could. Reassuringly, they saw and heard no one. At the freight dock, they mounted the five steps despite the overhead light illuminating the platform. While Alexei quickly tried the large overhead door, Dmitry tried the side door. Both were locked. Rapidly they fled the lighted area, but then held up when they got back into the shadows.
“I just got a new worry,” Dmitry said. “We’re trying to break into a doctor’s office where there are undoubtedly drugs. We’ve not even thought about there being an alarm system. What are we going to do if there is?”
“Good God,” Alexei murmured. It was true; as isolated as the town was, he hadn’t given the idea of an alarm system any consideration. “You’re the electronics guy. Can we somehow tell if there is an alarm system using our phones?”
“No, that’s not going to work. We’d need a frequency scanner. Phones don’t do that.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“I think we just have to hope for the best,” Dmitry said. “On the positive side, I haven’t seen anything at any of the doors we’ve tried suggesting an alarm or camera or any security whatsoever. Ultimately, I’m afraid we’ll have to just break in somehow, probably through a window, if we can find one unlocked, and see what happens. If there is an alarm, we’ll get the hell away from here and give up on finding the body.”
“Agreed! All right, let’s check the windows.”
Going from window to window, they learned all were unfortunately locked although, encouragingly enough, they did not see any signs of an alarm system. Finally in the rear of the building that faced the reservoir, the second window they checked was missing half of its lock.
