Soul

ced down at her dress. If she pawned it, it would only bring in enough funds to live frugally for a month. The gold earrings she wore perhaps another month, and then where would she go? She knew that her father would not welcome her penniless and scandalous return. Not only would it compromise his friendship with James, it would be the end of his parish and his social standing in the community.

And what of her son? She would not dare to take him from his father. Despite all, James was a loving and attentive parent. What right did she have to deprive him of his child?

Outside a lame beggar woman, no older than thirty years, hobbled past the window pushing a barrow filled with all her earthly possessions. An ancient terrier rode atop the pile like a king, with a Union Jack tied around his neck. Everyone feared the workhouse, Lavinia thought; even the rich.

Nevertheless, that night, in the privacy of her own bedroom, before the lassitude of the laudanum hijacked her senses, she began to compose a letter to the Reverend Kane.

My dearest Papa,

I am writing to you out of desperation for I fear my marriage is no longer a safe haven for either myself or my child. I respect the long and intimate acquaintance you have enjoyed over the years with my husband, but I have found him not to be the man I thought he was. He is possessed of a dissolute and decadent nature, which he cannot help.

Father, please allow me and my child to return to Anascaul. Without your support, I am penniless and entirely dependent on the shelter of my husband’s house. I know the implications of my request, but if you are a true Christian you will grant me this.

In hope,

Your loving daughter.

50

Los Angeles, 2002

‘FROM WHAT YOU DESCRIBE, it sounds like Tom Donohue. He was Delta Force—one of the best until last year. Then he went AWOL suddenly after a special op.’

‘Was there any particular reason?’ Clutching the phone, Julia stood at the back door and stared out at the yard. Gabriel had left half an hour before and it was still early morning in California—afternoon in Washington. Colonel Smith-Royston sounded like he was in the middle of his day, while exhaustion and the previous night’s tussles permeated Julia’s whole body. Leaning against the doorframe, she decided not to dwell on the morality of her actions.

‘I cannot release that information,’ the colonel said, his voice dropping into a sudden formality, ‘my job would be on the line.’

‘Now I’m really interested.’

‘Don’t be. This guy is bad news. Do you want me to post some security outside the lab?’

‘No, he didn’t strike me as dangerous.’

‘He is, just like any zealot on a mission is. If he appears again, you’re to ring me immediately, Professor Huntington. You got that?’

‘Yes, sir, cross my heart and hope to die.’

‘Julia, you’re to take this guy seriously, you understand?’

There was a distant click on the phone line as Smith-Royston hung up, and Julia had the uncanny sensation that someone else had been listening in.

Sipping her coffee, she sat down on the doorstep and, watching a blackbird wrestle a worm out from the lawn, wondered how the search for one mutant gene had suddenly become so interesting for so many people.

Julia waited a moment before entering the laboratory, feeling anxious about how to relate to Gabriel since their lovemaking the night before. She smoothed down her skirt and pulled at her shirt cuffs. She was determined to maintain the equilibrium in the laboratory at all costs. I must retain my authority, she resolved before opening the door.

The four assistants were in the dry laboratory, clustered around Dr Jennifer Bostock’s computer. Leaning over Jennifer’s shoulder, staring at the screen, Gabriel whistled in disbelief.

‘The guy must have had a pass. Night security is wicked.’

‘Has there been a break-in?’ Julia said.

‘About three this morning.’

‘Why didn’t you ring me earlier?’ Julia pushed her way through to the desk.

‘We thought you might like to sleep in,’ Gabriel said with a straight face before winking at her. Julia blushed and glanced at the other students. They appeared oblivious to the flirtation.

‘Check this out. Emmanuel, the security guy, gave it to me.’ Jennifer Bostock hit a key and the grainy interior of the wet lab came up on screen, the image angled down from a high point.