S. Bodeen - The Fallout

Dad said, “It wasn’t enough to stop aging. I wanted to reverse it.”

Reverse it?

“That’s impossible!” I said. “No one can reverse aging.”

“Really, Eli? You honestly think I can’t do anything I put my mind—and money—to?” Dad had this look on his face as he watched me. This smug look.

The same kind of smug look Tony had given me on the plane before I’d passed out.

The same kind of smug look Phil had given me that day in the boardroom.

What was I missing? I couldn’t help thinking it had something to do with Phil.

Dad interrupted my thoughts when he asked, “Did you see my jellyfish?”

“The tank in the foyer?” I asked.

Eddy said, “We saw them.”

Lexie nodded.

I asked, “What are they?”

Dad said, “ Turritopsis nutricula . Originally from the Caribbean, but they’ve spread all over the world.”

There had to be a reason for their prominent display in the foyer. “What’s so special about them?” I asked.

Dad said, “The Turritopsis nutricula is technically a hydrozoan, a cousin of the jellyfish. I heard about it while I was working on Dr. Barkley’s discovery. And it’s special because once it matures and mates, it is able to revert back to a juvenile form.”

Lexie asked, “So it shrinks or something?”

“No.” Dad shook his head. “It is the only animal capable of reverting completely to its younger self.” Dad set his drink down. “Most members of the jellyfish family die after mating. But this creature has the ability to return to a polyp state, an earlier stage in its life cycle.”

“How does it do that?” I asked.

Dad said, “Through trans-differentiation.” He must have seen the confused looks on our faces, because he added, “They turn one kind of cell into another. Some animals have the ability to do this in a limited capacity, like how salamanders can regrow limbs. But the Turritopsis can regenerate its entire body. It reverses its aging process.”

An immortal jellyfish . I swallowed.

Had Dad done it? Had he figured out how to reverse aging?

The implications…

I couldn’t breathe.

I shoved my chair back and dropped my head between my knees.

“Eli?” Eddy put a hand on my back.

I tried to breathe.

This can’t be true. It can’t. I have to be wrong.

Immortal jellyfish? The reversal of aging?

None of it was possible.

Despite the air conditioner, I was sweating, my shirt nearly soaked through. My jeans felt as if they weighed a ton, and something was poking my leg.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the flash drive I’d shoved in there earlier. I reached up and dropped it on the table.

Eddy asked, “You okay?”

I nodded. “Just a little light-headed.”

Somewhere a door opened and shut, and then I heard footsteps.

“Good afternoon, all.”

I sat up and barely missed braining myself on the edge of the table.

“Tony.” Lexie stood up. “You are here.”

Tony wore a blue rash guard and flowered swim trunks. He walked right past Lexie, slid out a chair, and sat down. “Family meeting?” he asked. He reached for the platter of sliced mango and papaya at the center of the table, then took a plate from the stack of china next to it and filled it.

Eddy watched him with narrowed eyes. “Did you drug us?”

Tony stuck a forkful in his mouth and slowly chewed, then swallowed. He shrugged. “Figured it would be easier than trying to fly the jet plus keep you all in line.”

“You were the pilot?” Lexie frowned. “You work for my dad?” She glared at him. “But you let me think…”

Tony looked at her. “Let you think what?” Then he grinned. “Flattering, for sure, but you’re not my type, sweetie.”

“Watch how you talk to my children,” snapped Dad.

“Sorry, Rex.” Tony held up both his hands, palms toward Dad. “I’m just used to playing the role.”

“What role?” I turned to Dad. “ What role? ”

Tony sighed. “Seriously, kid. The role of buddy and protector to all of you. Get in good, make you trust me, then get you on a plane.” He looked Dad’s way. “I did finish about a month earlier than you expected.”

Dad nodded. “Yes, you did. I appreciate that.”

“Bonus time, Boss?” Tony smiled.

Eddy shoved a thumb in Tony’s direction and asked Dad, “He was part of a plan?”

“From the get-go,” I said. “He followed us everywhere we went.” I turned to Dad. “Didn’t he?”

He nodded.

Tony started talking with his mouth full. “I had a few things go my way. Like you leaving your little brother alone in the bathroom. Tsk-tsk-tsk.”

My hands turned into fists. My first instinct, to neither like nor trust Tony, had been right. I reached out and picked up the flash drive, turning it over and over in my hand.

Lexie asked Dad, “How could you send someone like that into our life? We could’ve had him in our house ?”

Dad and Tony exchanged a quick glance, then Tony said, “I’ve been in your house.”

Was he talking about the nights at the mansion when Eddy snuck out with him? When I snuck out with him? But we hadn’t been inside.

Eddy said, “What are you talking about?”

Obviously, Eddy hadn’t taken him inside either. So—

I froze and looked at the flash drive in my palm. The initials on it.

P.A.W.

Philip A. Whitaker.

Phil’s middle name.

Anthony.

My heart dropped.

I set it on the table and stood up. My heart pounded and my hands trembled as they turned into fists. I strode over to Tony. “Dad had no problem sending him into our lives, because he was already there.”

Tony stood up, so we were chest to chest. He said, “Take it easy.”

My face mere inches from his, I repeated, “ He was already there . Had been for years.”

Eddy asked, “What are you talking about?”

“This is not some teenager named Tony.” I swallowed. “He’s a middle-aged douche bag named Phil.”

And I punched him in the face as hard as I could.

Tony went down, hitting a chair on his way, and lay there on the floor, holding his nose and swearing.

Dad was on his feet. “Eli! That wasn’t necessary.”

“Really?” I yelled. “I’ve wanted to do that since I was five years old!”

Lexie was standing by Tony, not helping him, just watching him. Eddy stood up and pulled on my shoulder, yanking me around to face him. “What is wrong with you?”

“Absolutely nothing.” I looked at Dad. “It took me awhile. I even knew his whole name. Philip Anthony Whitaker. Clever to use Tony .”

Eddy fell back down into his chair. “Somebody seriously needs to tell me what’s going on.”

“The reverse-aging process works,” Dad said matter-of-factly. “I used it on Phil so he could go back and get you all here.”

Lexie grabbed on to the table. “What?” She pointed at Tony. “That’s Phil?” She made a face of disgust, then covered her mouth. She walked over to the sectional, where she perched on the edge of an arm, eyes wide.

Eddy sat there, shaking his head, as Dad put some ice in a towel and handed it to Tony. “Probably should head over to the infirmary and get that X-rayed.” He helped Tony get to his feet. Tony glared at me as he left.

I said, “I want to see the rest of this place. Now.”

Dad smiled. “Of course. You each have your own room and—”

“No!” I was so frustrated I couldn’t help yelling. But I knew it wouldn’t help, so I tried to sound calmer as I added, “I meant the rest of the island.”