John Locke - A Girl Like You

Doc Howard says, “I can reprogram the code so that it can’t be activated.”

“So I’d be paying you to change the code.”

“That’s right.”

“And Darwin will never know.”

“Unless he’s watching you while he types it in.”

“Which is unlikely.”

“Here’s the best part: if we do this, you’ll be able to tell if he ever does punch in his code.”

“Very valuable piece of information,” I say.

“You can see why, right?”

“Of course. Darwin will think I’m dead, and I’ll know he tried to kill me.”

“Exactly.”

“But what prevents you from re-setting the code after I pay you?”

“When I verify you’ve wired the money to my offshore account, I’ll show you how to set the code. We’ll set a new one together. After that, you can change it whenever you wish.”

“Burglar alarms use codes,” I say.

He frowns. “They do. What’s your point?”

“You can assign me a personal code that will get me in your house without setting off the alarm. And each of your family members can have a different code.”

“So?”

“So, what if there’s more than one code?”

“I doubt there’s more than one access code,” he says, “because Darwin would want sole control over your demise. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume there’s more than one. It doesn’t matter, because before you and I can change the code, we have to disable the chip. When that happens, the previous codes are wiped out. It’s like pressing the factory reset button on your cell phone.”

“What keeps you or Darwin from disabling the chip next week and re-setting the code?”

“Well, you’ve got me there,” Doc Howard says. “I’m positive the only way to disable the chip is to have the current code. But I can’t prove it. Still, you’ll know if someone has done that to you, because when the chip is disabled, it buzzes. It will be very uncomfortable. If you ever feel the buzz, you’ll know someone has disabled the chip. When the buzzing stops, you’ll know they’ve set up a new code.”

“At which time I can deactivate the chip again?”

“Precisely.”

“Is there a way to prove you’re giving me the right code?”

“How many brain-burning incidents have you experienced?”

“How many do you think I’ve had?”

“I’m hoping you’ve had two. The first was Darwin’s code, which I attempted to access. The second was mine. The third was Darwin’s again, and if I’m right, that one shouldn’t have worked.”

“So you’ve proven it to your satisfaction,” I say. “Can you prove it to mine?”

He smiles and gestures to the chair by the bed. “Have a seat.”

“I’d rather stand.”

“Please,” he says. “I’m afraid when the pain starts, you might lash out at me, and if that happens, I might not be able to over-ride the sequence in time. My intention is to have you experience as little pain as possible, while proving the lethal nature of the chip.”

I frown, then take a seat. “How long are you going to let it run?”

“You won’t be able to stand more than two seconds.”

“How long could you run it before there’s permanent brain damage?”

“I don’t know. Maybe ten seconds.”

“Run it for nine,” I say.

“Donovan. You don’t understand. This is not some Army test weapon that’s been used on an actual human being. I could be wrong about the ten seconds.”

“Doc, look at me.” He does. “You expect me to fork over a hundred million dollars based on two seconds’ worth of pain?”

“Two seconds should be more than sufficient. And anyway, I’m trying to protect my investment. If your brain turns to mush, you won’t be able to wire the money.”

“Give me nine seconds. I want my money’s worth.”

Doc Howard sighs. “Very well.” He takes what looks like a fancy wristwatch from his pants pocket, studies it a moment, then presses a button. The face opens up, and he says, “You’re going to feel a slight burning sensation.”

“Funny.”

He taps the device four times and I feel a bomb go off in my head. The pain is excruciating. No, it’s worse than that. It feels like…no. There are no words to express it. Example. Example. Example. Okay. If you lay me down on the floor, and take the largest drill you can find, say an inch in diameter, and you and drill a one-inch hole in the center of my forehead until you’ve created a deep cavity, then jam a funnel into it, and pour enough molten lava to fill the cavity, then take a hammer, and pound the lava till it’s cooled. Then heat two ice picks until they’re as hot as branding irons, and use the hammer to pound the red-hot ice picks into each of my eyes until they’ve gone all the way to the hilt—do all that, and you might have an inkling what the first second feels like.

The next eight are much worse.

When I come to, Doc Howard and I look at each other a minute. Then he says, “I can’t imagine how you endured that.”

I clear my throat, try to speak. Nothing comes out. I swallow a couple of times. Then say, “Is that all you got?”

He laughs. “You’re one of a kind, Donovan.”

“As you are,” I say.

“So what do you think about my offer? Is a hundred million a fair price?”

“It was a rough ride,” I admit. “But the pain was manageable. A few more seconds and I wouldn’t have felt anything anyway, so it’s not the worst way I can think of to die. But what I can’t abide is letting Darwin kill me any time it suits him, from anywhere in the world. If you can help me prevent that, then your offer is a bargain.”

“No hard feelings?” he says.

“You’re screwing Darwin, not me. And if he finds out you reset his code—”

“If he finds out, you’ll know it, and I’ll trust you to deal with it,” Doc Howard says.

“You better hope I do.”

“I’m betting my life on you.”

In a strange way, I’m flattered. I mean, sure, he’s gaining a hundred million dollars. But he also thinks I can handle Darwin, and all of Darwin’s resources, which makes me feel like the owner of Seabiscuit, going against War Admiral, knowing the fans have bet their life’s savings on the underdog.

“Doc, I’m not happy you put the chip in my brain, but I understand why you did it. I know you’re feathering your nest at my expense, but the truth is, I’m only giving you a small portion of the money I stole from someone else. So how can I blame you? We’re probably both getting tired of doing some of the things we’ve done. But I still need you to help me save Rachel, and I know there’ll be a hundred things I’ll need from you in the future. So I’d like to consider this payment a cost of doing business with you.

“Honestly?”

I shrug. “All honesty is contextual. But if you do everything I ask of you with regard to these Asprin people, especially the one we’re calling Paula, and you keep these results between the two of us, I’ll wire the money to your account.”

36.

It’s 9:00 p.m., and the only sleep I’ve logged since Sam’s “reveal” occurred at altitude as I criss-crossed the continent. Fourteen hours have passed since Doc Howard burned my brain for nine full seconds, and I’m still feeling the after-effects.

Callie and I are standing in the eighth-floor hallway of the Lucian-Jevere Hotel and Conference Center in Chicago. After checking for cameras, I stand out of view while Callie knocks on the door of Roger Asprin’s suite. It’s late, and Chicago’s a dangerous place, but Callie is Callie, and of course, Roger opens the door. She punches his throat hard enough to keep him from crying out, then pushes him back into his room as she enters. I slip in behind them and lock the door.