“Blackwood knew about experiments that had been going on, using monkeys, in which researchers were working on cures for Parkinson’s, MS and other neurological diseases. They’d had some success making use of the body’s own chemicals to at least ameliorate some of the symptoms.”
“Tomas Barillo had hired chemists and biologists to look into uses for puffer fish toxin,” Matt said. “They’re all under arrest now, but most of them were kept pretty much in the dark. They must have suspected that some of their work was being used in less than legitimate ways, but they were being paid—and they were afraid. Their motto was pretty much ‘act stupid, receive a nice income and live.’ It’s self-defense when you see people being killed all around you.”
“Just how many people did Tomas and Blackwood kill?” Adrianna asked.
“We’ll never know for sure,” Brett said.
“Because they won’t tell you?” Grady asked.
Brett sighed. “No, Blackwood is silent and mean as a snake. But Tomas Barillo is talking away—dealing for his life. He’s implicated just about everyone. They arrested Anthony Barillo today with what his brother gave us. His empire is going to crumble to dust. But those bastards have been at it awhile. They don’t even know how many people they’ve experimented on—and killed—since they started.”
“But why make zombies out of people and then program them to kill?” Rick asked, shaking his head.
“It turned out to be a byproduct. One of the concoctions they put together killed, but slowly. And it wiped out the portion of the brain that had to do with rational function. They were basically programmed. I think that having them go after their own loved ones was an attempt to see how much of the original personality remained, and given that all the ‘zombies’ seemed willing to kill their nearest and dearest, the answer seems to be ‘not very much.’ So in the end, they still didn’t find the cures they were looking for,” Brett said.
“I’ll never be able to understand how anyone could be that cold and that cruel,” Grady said.
“They put two powers—money and the urge to rule—together and ended up with a force that was truly terrifying,” Diego said.
“My heart breaks for all the victims who will never be properly mourned,” Lara said. “We should say a little prayer for the forgotten.”
They were all silent for a minute, paying tribute in their own ways.
Grady sighed. “And the man was a sponsor at Sea Life. I hope what he did doesn’t overshadow everything we’re trying to do.”
Brett looked at Lara, and she shrugged and said, “Blackwood had convinced Taggerly to form a new company to focus on neurological research. He knew about relevant research Dr. Amory had done in the past and convinced Taggerly to try to lure him away. But neither Taggerly nor Dr. Amory knew what was going on.”
“Of course not! Not that I would have left under any circumstances,” Dr. Amory said.
Grady looked grim for a minute, but then he brightened. “We’re going to be okay,” he said. “We have a famous lifesaving dolphin after all. With the wonderful way Lara has written about her and handled everything with the media, we’re going to be golden. And,” he added, “thank God we didn’t lose anyone at Sea Life.”
“Well, technically. But that snake Myles won’t be darkening our doors again,” Dr. Amory said.
“Sea Life is like a family,” Adrianna said. She looked over at Meg and Lara and smiled. “I can attest to that. You two risked your lives for me.”
Lara smiled back at her. “My life wouldn’t be worth much to me if I’d hadn’t at least tried.”
“Ditto,” Meg said. “And I’m not just saying that because it’s my job.”
For a minute they were all silent again.
Then Grady let out another sigh. “I’m heading out, folks. Long day tomorrow.” He turned to Lara. “You’ll be back after your break?” he asked.
Lara nodded. “I’ll be back,” she promised. “I love Sea Life.”
Rick, Adrianna and Dr. Amory followed Grady’s lead. Good-nights were said. They were awkward and a little emotional, but nice.
Diego hovered by the door. “I need to get going, too,” he said. He grinned at Brett and Lara. “Apparently only one of us gets to go to the Caribbean for a week.”
“You’re off the week after,” Brett reminded him.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Diego said.
“Don’t go yet,” Lara said, taking his arm. “We want you to see something.”
Together with Meg and Matt, they returned to the backyard.
There was a tiled bench that looked over the yard. The moon was full and the night was warm, without a hint of the rain that so frequently plagued the South Florida summers.
There, on the bench, together at last, were the ghosts of Miguel and Maria Gomez.
Arm in arm, they sat together, content to watch the moonlight.
“I see them,” Diego said softly. “And I’m glad they got their happy ending.”