“I have no idea. It was literally before my time.”
Justin barely heard her. He was too excited by the theory developing in his mind. “I would love to know what clever doctor worked on you guys. Leo, they’ve got full gene analyses of all the victims in the case files. Would you be able to tell if they all had the same sort of manipulation done?”
From his eyes, it was clear Leo had picked up on Justin’s train of thought. “Yes. Geneticists who do this sort of thing almost always have their own unique style. It kind of leaves a ‘mark.’ If their conception was all orchestrated by one person, it should be obvious from a side-by-side comparison.”
“You think they were all part of illegal gene experiments?” asked Mae. Her eyes glittered at the thought of this new lead, and then her expression shifted to disbelief. “You think I was part of illegal gene work?”
“No,” said Justin slowly. “I mean, I don’t have proof. But come on, a whole bunch of nine and eight castals born around the same time? It’s awfully coincidental.”
It would also explain that striking appearance he’d observed from the moment he saw her. No Cain anywhere. Features too perfect for a patrician—maybe even for a plebeian. No way was that natural. It was the work of an artist.
Here’s a hot tip, said Horatio. Do not expound on that. Look at her face. She doesn’t like it.
The raven was right, as usual. Mae was horrified. “Eights and nines can occur naturally all the time, even in castes. And if you knew my parents, you’d know my dad would’ve never agreed to anything like that. Don’t drag me into this with your convoluted theories.”
Justin made sure to note her words, that her dad wouldn’t have agreed to it. No mention of her mother. Data for later.
He tapped his ego. “Aren’t you at least curious? Even if no shadowy creature’s coming after you, there’s an awfully big coincidence here.”
“I didn’t have an illegal conception,” she said. There was fire in her eyes, which now favored green in the bedroom’s lighting.
“Then let’s prove it. Give Leo some blood, and he’ll run an analysis for you.”
“Leave me out of this,” said Leo.
“If you’re so sure of yourself,” Justin continued to Mae, “then what’s the harm?”
“Don’t try that ploy with me,” she warned him. “I’ve been watching your games for almost two weeks. You’re not going to lure me in with a dare.”
“It’s not a dare.” Okay, it kind of was. “I’m just trying to do my job for my country. I thought that was your goal too, loyal soldier. On the very, very, very remote chance I’m right, think what you could do for the mission! And if you’re not a match, then you’ll have bragging rights for proving me wrong.”
“Wow,” she said. “That’ll really impress my friends.”
For the first time in their acquaintance, Leo looked as though he might actually like Mae.
Justin scowled. “Fine. Let’s make it an outright wager.”
An odd expression crossed her face. “I don’t really like wagers.”
“Everyone likes wagers. What do you want if I’m wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Because I’m not doing this.”
“So. You do suspect something.”
Mae’s frustrated expression rivaled one of Cynthia’s. “Fine. You can buy me some ree when you find out you’re wrong.”
That momentarily derailed Justin’s satisfaction at getting his way. “What’s ree?”
“Pr?torian poison,” said Leo, chuckling. Mae smiled hesitantly back at him, and Justin kind of wished they’d go back to their awkward relationship. He didn’t want them ganging up on him. “Expensive pr?torian poison. The only thing that can get them drunk.”
“It’s an obscure children’s cough syrup,” she explained. “The implant doesn’t recognize it as a toxin. Take it in large enough amounts, and you get a pretty nice buzz.”
“Buzz?” Leo’s amusement turned to disapproval. “I’ve seen pr?torians on ree. It’s a little more extreme than a buzz. And while I respect you guys’ having a loophole, intoxicated supersoldiers make me a little nervous.”
Justin found it fascinating but had to focus back on the real revelation. “We’ve got a deal,” he told her. “So you’ll give him the blood?”
“Thanks for signing me up without asking. Do you know what a pain it is transporting blood?” Leo turned to Mae. “The military would’ve done an analysis when you enlisted, and you have open access. Save me the hassle and just send that file. Do it soon so that we can all enjoy the satisfaction of him being wrong.”