Constance (Constance #1)(81)

“Yes, to that in a moment, but while I have you, there’s one other matter we should discuss.”

“And what is that?” Dr. Fenton said with a tired sigh.

“Vernon Gaddis and his case before the Supreme Court. He’s going to lose.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of his legal difficulties.”

“I’d think that would concern you. If the court rules against him, and it will, it marks the beginning of the end of human cloning in this country. You will be out of business.”

“As will you.”

“Exactly. That’s why it’s in both our interests that he drop the case before it comes to that.”

Con and Dr. Fenton both looked at Butler with bewildered curiosity. Ever the narcissist, he stood basking in the confusion he’d sown.

“Please. Your life’s work is the abolition of human cloning,” Dr. Fenton said.

“Yes, Doctor, but”—Butler paused for effect—“it can’t very well be my life’s work if it is abolished.”

“I don’t understand,” Dr. Fenton said. Con shared the same sentiment.

“In this country, power doesn’t derive from defeating a threat; true power comes from the fear of the threat. And maintaining power requires a continuing threat. No one worries about causes that are already decided. When was the last time someone wrote a check to defeat prohibition?”

“You don’t actually give a shit about cloning,” Con said in dawning amazement. “Everything you said in the car was bullshit.”

“Don’t turn na?ve just when I was beginning to have a modicum of respect for you,” Butler said. “Of course I care about it. However, at this time, I find cloning to be a useful evil.”

“What are you proposing exactly?” Dr. Fenton said.

“Vernon Gaddis and his kamikaze lawsuit threaten the status quo. I, for one, have no interest in spending the next ten years repositioning myself as the face of a different movement. I’ve invested too much time and effort. How about you, Doctor? Ready to start over after Palingenesis is shut down?”

“I’m listening.”

“I propose an alliance. Strictly under the table, obviously. In public, I will continue to vilify you as a scourge upon the human race. As you will me. But in private, we pool our resources and find a way to halt this suit. It would be a win for both of us.”

“Gaddis will never give up his family,” Con said.

“I am inclined to agree with the girl,” Fenton said.

“As am I,” Butler said. “We may need to be very encouraging indeed. But there’s simply no other way, not unless you want to see the valuation of Palingenesis drop to nothing.”

Dr. Fenton took a long time answering. There was no doubt that she despised Franklin Butler, and the thought of accepting his offer clearly turned her stomach. But when she spoke, it appeared that pragmatism won out over principle. Con wondered if it was ever any other way.

“I think something can be worked out,” Dr. Fenton said.

“Good. Then I’ll be in touch,” he said and threw his banking information from his LFD to hers. “If you’ll transfer the funds in the cryptocurrency of your choice, I’ll be on my way.”

While Fenton did as she was asked, Con asked Butler if she could make a suggestion. Butler seemed amused at the idea and gestured for her to go on.

“What if, instead, you encouraged the in-laws to throw the case? Let Gaddis win,” Con said.

“Why on earth would I do that?”

“You said power derives from the threat itself. Imagine the power you would have if the federal government recognized the legality of human cloning.”

Butler stood there a long time, face frozen in the last expression he’d made, too deep in thought to even reset to neutral. “Gaddis’s brother-in-law would never go for it. To do that, I would need to buy a Supreme Court judge, maybe two. I would—”

“If only you had ten million dollars burning a hole in your pocket,” Con interrupted.

A smile crept across his face. “And what’s in it for you?”

“Existence,” she said simply. “It would be a win for both of us.”

He looked at her and laughed. “You do enjoy quoting me back to me, don’t you? It was truly good to meet you, Constance D’Arcy.”

Con couldn’t say the same so said nothing at all.

“Be careful with the good doctor,” Butler said. “Don’t turn your back on her.”

“Oh, I’m aware.”

Butler offered his pistol to her, but she made no move to take it. She was going to ride the train to the end of the line, and if she got cold feet, she didn’t want anything that would help her get off it early.

Butler regarded her somberly, all of his artifice and showmanship fading away momentarily. “And yet you go voluntarily. I don’t know whether to admire or pity you. I hope you find the answers you’re searching for.”

“You’re really strange, you know that?”

“Shh. Our little secret,” he said with a sly wink, and having confirmed that the money was in his account, he opened the back door and left without another word.

Con watched his sedan until it was out of sight. When it was gone, she looked across to Dr. Fenton, who waited impatiently in the rain, which was beginning to drive in off the lake.