Data Sets by Meredith Spies

Author:Meredith Spies
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Meredith Spies
Published: 2020-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

“I ALREADY TOLD YOU the first three times you asked—I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing,” Drew muttered as we took the lift up to the sixth floor, where DuMarque had instructed us to meet him in the conference room. The conference room on six was intimidating, one of those old-school oak-paneled jobs you expected to get fired in.

Which, given how things were going, was likely what was about to happen.

“We literally just started this project,” I muttered. “How could they kick us out this fast?”

“Hey, slow down there. Who said we’re getting fired? Birdie? Why the hell are you believing him? He’s a stranger to us.”

I hesitated. He was an absolute stranger...but he knew Jim. Or knew about Jim. And how could he? I barely remembered the story happening to me. If I thought hard about it, I could see the fuzzy details, like watching an old sitcom on a janky TV. The only part of that day that really stood out for me was my dad in the coffin. Figuring out finally he wasn’t coming back, ever. Jim was...nebulous. I didn’t even associate him with Reynard, as someone my parents had worked with, until Birdie said his surname. In my head, Jim was suit-clad legs and a vague, sad smile, holding up a ball.

Not someone I associated with James Reynard, former lead researcher with HEEL, who fell from public grace when he and one of the other lead researchers split from the company. But the fact Birdie knew at least enough to mention that private moment decades ago between a scared, confused little boy and a man he never saw again? That fuzzy fizzy watermelon feeling was back and making me feel like not believing Birdie would lead to some very bad things.

“He knew about a moment there’s no way he could have unless Jim or I told him,” I finally said as the elevator doors slid open on six. “And since I never met Birdie before today, the only person who could have told him is Jim.”

“Jim of the levitating markers,” Drew said quietly, discomfort heavy in his words.

“That...okay, that was fucked up,” I acknowledged as we reached the closed conference room doors. “But there’s so many ways that could have happened. Hello, magic?” I pushed open the door, and we both froze. Seated along one side of the table was DuMarque, Ivan, a woman I recognized but didn’t know by name, and Benny, who looked incredibly uncomfortable.

“Hey,” Benny muttered, ducking his face when DuMarque sent him a quelling, acid glare.

“Gentlemen. Please be seated. Have you dropped the samples at the lab from today?”

Drew nodded. “Yes, Doctor DuMarque. On the way up here. Left them in the secure unit to be tested tomorrow.”

DuMarque nodded. “Good. Well, we have some interesting news, don’t we?”

Benny winced. “I’m sorry,” he said miserably.

Ivan grinned. “Orrin, my man...you are a slick one, aren’t you? Very slick.” He elbowed the woman. “Mina, you didn’t tell me how slick Orrin was.”

“How the hell would I know?” she groused.

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