Basia dropped onto the couch with her hand on her stomach while I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the dining table.
The girls, minus Basia, who was now taking a nap, and plus Barbie, helped me set up the table with phones, tablets, charging cords, and notepads. Barbie put her folder and laptop at one end of the table as I opened my laptop and Wi-Fi enhancer at the other.
“Okay, guys,” I said. “As I mentioned before, our priorities are multifold. First, we need to find a solid link between Al-Nadir Nexus and Tango Bio, and by extension Yahir Al-Rashid. Second, I need to obtain the municipal blueprints to the lab so I can have a good idea of what is where, including the potential location of the animals. Third, I need to do more digging into the security system and may need some help from Gwen’s little sister, Angel, to expedite things. Once we have this information, we can start to formulate an actual plan.”
“I have materials that can help,” Barbie said. “You guys are welcome to go through all the research I’ve collected in the past and more recently. Maybe something will pop. I’ve worked so hard to get the information I need to put them away, but I’ve fallen short of the proverbial smoking gun I need. I’m going to see what I can dig up on this Yahir Al-Rashid guy.”
“I’ll take a look at what you’ve got,” Gray said, and Barbie slid her a bunch of papers.
“Me, too,” said Gwen, and Barbie gave her another pile.
“Lexi, remember that I also have an extensive network of specialists and people who may be able to help us,” Barbie said. “So, keep that in mind. If we need to reach out to them, we can.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I will.”
I decided to start with a hack into the Washington Township building permit department, which would certainly have the blueprints to the lab. In less than thirty minutes, the blueprints were sitting open on my laptop.
I zoomed in on the rear quadrant of the first floor and rotated the schematic. The lab hadn’t been laid out like an office. It was segmented, compartmentalized, and designed for containment.
“Guys, check this out,” I said.
Everyone came to look at my screen, leaning over my shoulder. “What are we looking at?” Barbie asked.
“The blueprints for the lab,” I said, tapping the screen.
“Wow,” Gwen said excitedly. “See the reinforced walls here? And this corridor only exits in one direction. That’s a classic biocontainment layout. As I recall, the lab had a biosafety level four certification fifteen years ago. That must be where it was. I’ll bet that’s where the animals are being held.”
I followed Gwen’s finger, pointing out a narrow hallway that ran along the back of the structure, terminating in a double-door airlock. It seemingly opened directly to the fenced yard we’d seen earlier. The blueprint labeled it Exterior Exercise Access (Controlled). Beyond it were a cluster of rooms arranged like spokes around a central monitoring station.
Animal holding. My stomach tightened.
“Those rooms,” I said quietly, reading the tiny print. “They’re all individually sealed.”
“Observation kennels,” Barbie explained. “Climate controlled with drainage in the floors. Independent ventilation. Whatever they’re doing to those animals, they don’t want cross-contamination.”
Gwen made a small sound. “I think I might be sick. I bet that’s where Ginger is, and Tootsie, too.”
“Almost certainly,” Barbie said. “They built the yard access directly off the holding wing. Quick in, quick out. No walking animals through the rest of the facility. That’s deliberate.”
I traced the path with my finger. From the rear door to the kennels. From the kennels to a surgical suite two rooms over. From there to a secured lab marked Restricted Operations. Authorized Personnel Only.
Gray exhaled slowly. “Look at the scope of this. It isn’t a side project.”
“No,” I agreed. “This is the project.”
And now we knew exactly where to find Ginger. The animals weren’t hidden in some random corner of the building. They were at the heart of it.
I glanced up from my screen and saw Barbie watching me. “This already feels really familiar,” she said quietly. “Too familiar.”
I sighed. “I bet, and I’m sorry to put you through all this again.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said, anger flaring in her eyes. “You’ve given me another opportunity to bring them down. And this time, hopefully, once and for all.”
We returned to our researching until Barbie suddenly jumped up from her seat. It startled me so much, I almost fell backward in my chair.
“I found it,” she said, pumping a fist in the air.
“What did you find?” I asked as the girls gathered around again.
