Page 20 of Hollow State

"And this was all to enhance performance?" Prewit asked. He'd changed since the last time they’d worked side by side in a laboratory. More gray at the temples. Deeper lines beside his mouth. He moved with the same steady precision, though. No wasted motion. No frantic tapping against the counter when equipment took too long or results failed to cooperate.

Darwin had always admired and wanted to emulate that trait.

Prewit was content to wait for science to answer, while Darwin wanted to drag the answer out by force. But age and maturity had taught Darwin that force never worked. He returned his attention to the screen. "That seemed to be the reason, but I doubt that was his end goal. I'm sure he has bigger plans, like selling the system, but it's so flawed. From what I can tell, Pryce has been using multiple delivery systems.”

“Based on what?”

“The reservoir patterns. The backing materials. The volume remaining in each patch.” Darwin shifted to the next image. “This one released almost everything it contained. This one only released half. The third appears to have delivered multiple smaller doses.”

“Which would support Gideon’s theory about the watches controlling them.”

“Yes, but that means communication, and according to Gideon, it would have to be either his telemetry system, or maybe an app via a cell phone.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

“I’m not convinced of anything, and yet, when you put the evidence together, with the technology, it's the only thing that makes sense.”

Prewit placed the sample in the centrifuge and closed the lid. “There’s the Darwin I remember. Straddling both sides of the answer.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

The machine began to spin with a low, familiar hum.

Darwin removed his glasses and wiped the lenses on the edge of his shirt. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he pushed his glasses back up his nose. Kane should be nearly done and Wynn would be helping him settle back in his room within the hour.

Prewit crossed to the computer and scanned the first set of readings.

Darwin tried to do the same, but his attention had shifted toward the door. Wynn was two corridors away with Kane. Close enough that Darwin should have been able to concentrate, but maybe that was the problem.

Staring at the monitor, he let his mind wander for a moment, giving it a chance to recenter. To recalibrate and allow what he knew to settle so he could be open to all the possibilities of what he didn't know.

Prewit clicked into the next screen. “How are things with you? The team? The bunker?”

“Fine.”

“Not an acceptable answer.”

Darwin moved the pen between his fingers. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth would be refreshing.”

Darwin stared at the patch beneath the magnification lamp. The thin square of polymer looked harmless from a distance. No sharp edges. No warning labels. Nothing to suggest it could flood a human body with enough chemicals to destroy it.

“The truth is I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

Prewit stopped typing. "Do what?"

“Hyperion claims I stole proprietary research and compromised national security. I'm wanted for corporate espionage.” He set the pen on the counter. “Some days, I wonder if it would be easier to give myself up, only that means trying to answer questions from the government without giving up people who are technically dead.”

Prewit straightened. "You can't be serious."

Darwin folded his arms. “I'm tired.”

“You surrendering won't solve anything. It won’t clear your name. It won’t stop Finch. And it certainly won’t help the people he’s using.”

“It might keep everyone else from being dragged down with me.”