FIND OUT by Kate Bold

Author:Kate Bold [Bold, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Dusk had settled over Seattle by the time Addison and Javier headed back toward the field office. Streetlamps cast pools of yellow light on the pavement, and headlights from passing cars briefly illuminated their faces before sliding away again. The day of warnings and interviews had left them both drained, with precious little to show for their efforts. It always amazed (and depressed) Addison how a day stacked with interviews and driving were often more exhausting than chases, fights, and other high-stress moments.

Addison leaned her head against the passenger window, watching the city lights blur through the glass while her mind worked feverishly to find some connection or missed clue from the day’s work. They were less than ten minutes from the field office when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and then to Javier.

"It's PJ," she said. “Maybe he found something in his analysis.” She answered the call and said, "Wright, please tell me you've got something useful."

"Maybe," PJ replied, his voice tinged with an unusual note of uncertainty. "I've got Nathan Carlisle on the other line. He's been analyzing the samples from our victims, and he wants to discuss his findings. Mind if I conference him in?"

“Damn, that was quick.”

“Yeah, he seemed very eager to help out. One moment, I’ll set it all up on conference.”

"Go ahead," Addison said, signaling to Javier.

Javier nodded and pulled the car into the parking lot of a small grocery store, turning off the engine but leaving the battery on so the dashboard lights provided dim illumination. Addison put the phone on speaker and placed it on the center console between them.

There was a brief series of clicks, then PJ's voice again. "Dr. Carlisle, I've got Special Agent Shine and I assume Special Agent Esposito as well?"

"I'm here," Javier confirmed, leaning toward the phone.

"Excellent," came a new voice, crisp and precise—Nathan Carlisle. "I've completed my preliminary analysis of the compound found in the victims' tissues, and I believe I can shed some light on what we're dealing with here."

"We're listening," Addison said. She found herself wanting to get excited, but forcing herself to wait until he had given them the update.

"What we're looking at isn't a natural enzyme at all," Carlisle began, enthusiasm evident in his voice. "It's what we call a 'synzyme'—a synthetic enzyme designed to mimic the catalytic activity of natural enzymes, but with customized properties and often greatly enhanced efficiency."

"And you know this how?" Addison asked.

"The structure was immediately apparent once I was able to get a good look at it," Carlisle replied. "Natural enzymes have evolved over millions of years, with certain structural signatures and limitations. This compound shows deliberate design choices that don't occur in nature. For instance, the active site—that's the part of the enzyme that actually does the chemical work—has been modified to accept a much broader range of substrates than would be possible naturally."

"Substrates?" Javier interrupted. "Remember, there's a non-science agent on the line. English, please."

"Sorry," Carlisle said, though he didn't sound particularly apologetic.

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