While Justice Sleeps(120)
“And yet you let them win by tendering Wynn’s resignation, Avery.” Nigel lifted a glass of Perrier to his lips. “I expected a better return on investment.”
Before Avery could respond, Indira interjected: “Nigel gave you sufficient information to unmask your president and his henchman.” She waved a hand at the papers on the low table, identical to the ones emailed to Avery. “Why do you require our presence?”
“The information that Nigel sent to me requires authentication.”
“Then have Dr. Papaleo do so,” Indira stubbornly argued. “Or get a subpoena for our records.”
“We believe Dr. Papaleo is dead. And getting the Indian government to compel you to comply with a warrant will take years.”
“Perhaps.”
“Absolutely, and you know it. By then, President Stokes will have hidden himself in a country with no extradition treaty. GenWorks will have missed its chance to share technology with Advar, and you both will be out billions. Assuming, of course, your companies don’t go under after a string of congressional hearings, FDA inquiries, and charges from the International Criminal Court.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Indira stood, and Avery rose to face her. “Publicity didn’t work. Supplying you with the documents didn’t either. What else can we do?”
“Before I tell you, I have one more question.”
“Yes?”
“Did you know how far Hygeia went?” Avery took a step closer. “That the Tigris Project didn’t stop at theory?”
“What?” Nigel shot to his feet, alarmed. “That’s impossible. Neither Indira nor I would sanction the actual production of the Tigris technology. That would be barbaric.”
“But that’s exactly what happened, isn’t it?” Avery focused on Indira, who gave no reaction. “Ani Ramji likely died because he did more than theorize about how to weaponize the human genome. He proved it.” Her eyes boring into Indira’s, Avery said accusingly, “He tested his technology, and it worked. When you bought out Hygeia, you didn’t stop the research. You tried to replicate it, expand its potential, but Ani refused to help you.”
“Didn’t happen,” Nigel refuted. “The technology has promise, but they never had time for human trials, right, Indira?”
Avery nodded to Jared, who dropped a folder onto the glass-topped table. “There’s proof.” Stark images downloaded from Ani’s flash drive spilled across in graphic detail. Mangled bodies captured in cold, sterile light.
Indira turned away.
“Indira?”
She stared out at the grand specter of the White House. “The chairman of Advar funded my dream of a company. When he called about Hygeia, I could not say no.”
“To what?”
“The prime minister had learned of a dangerous, promising project funded by his ministry and funds from overseas. A consortium of scientists and governments who wanted to stop terrorism.” She clasped the window frame, her back to the room. “You Americans recall 9/11 as a singular event. But in India, to be Hindu is to be hated by the Muslims. Bali, Mumbai, London. All over, they explode themselves as living sacrifice.”
“So why not make them experiments?” Jared finished harshly. “Is that how they justified it?”
Indira whirled around. “I only found out about Tigris long after the human trials. After we took over the company, I found records of hundreds of prisoners enticed from the Brahmaputra Valley and from Kashmir and targeted by Tigris. As the new president, I conducted a thorough investigation and evaluated the technology to determine if it had other uses.”
“Like purging Muslims?” Avery asked quietly.
“I am a scientist. Editing genes is our mission, and Dr. Ramji’s team had discovered a way to use viruses in ways I had not imagined.” She paused, her expression stoic. “Later, Dr. Ramji wanted to atone, so he began to publish the truth. Neither government could afford the potential scrutiny, nor could our company. We had only inherited his work. It was a bilateral decision to target Dr. Ramji and his colleagues. I was not in charge, but I was kept apprised.”
“And you said nothing,” Avery reminded her.
“I cannot contradict heads of state, Ms. Keene. Instead, I focused my attention where it could be effective. I convinced my board to let me assimilate the Hygeia technology. Their efforts were horrific, but the implications are astounding. We can cure diseases like Boursin’s and Parkinson’s in less than a decade. Using viral vectors to edit gene sequences.”
“So the technology already exists. Once we merge, you simply require our pharmaceuticals.” Nigel backed away. “President Stokes knows about all of this, doesn’t he?”
“Of course. He authorized American funding of the project when he was vice president,” Indira replied derisively. “When Tigris was about to be discovered, he issued the Exon-Florio decision. That’s when our chairman learned that U.S. intelligence was terminating the scientists who participated. I contacted Major Vance to call them off, but it was too late. Only Dr. Ramji remained.”
“That’s not all of it, is it?” Avery asked.
“No.” Indira squared her shoulders in defiance. “Dr. Ramji’s findings were unique, but not irreplaceable. Qian Ku has similar technology, similar research, but they are only a few years behind. I will not let them beat me. This can be used for good.”