The Link

Chapter 16 - Sam

"I have to leave when we get back," Hank said as we walked through the woods. The days were getting crisper as winter approached. "It was a risk coming in the first place." Natalie and Teegan hadn't joined us by polite design. Hank felt it was important that we talked alone. I wasn't as sure.

"How do you know you weren't followed?" I asked.

"There are too many of us," Hank said, "We know they are keeping tabs on our phones. Much easier to watch our homes and track us electronically. A colleague of mine is preceding me to Chicago, a scholastic conference on Ancient Egypt," he smiled, "my phone is with him, so they think I am as well. It won't take me long to catch up."

"Smart," I admitted, "glad to see they have a few weaknesses."

"They have to play within budgets like the rest of us," Hank continued, "it's Corbett that is the wild card."

"Corbett?"

"The corporation that funded Teegan. Obviously, they don't play by the normal rules. Their interest is solely financial." Hank sighed as he spoke, "If I had to guess, they were behind your encounter outside of Flagstaff."

"How much do they know about Teegan?" I asked.

"Douglas Corbett linked with Teegan," Hank said. That it surprised me must have been evident on my face. I stopped walking and tried to think.

"And he still wants to risk her, turn her into a baby factory?" I asked incredulously.

"It is his way," Hank nodded, "greed and power are his motivations, and as I said, Teegan improves on those. Somehow, he justifies it in his mind and sees it as best for Teegan as well. It was his linking that set Dr. Forrester's kidnap plan into motion. Corbett thought we would agree with his future plans for Teegan."

"Kidnap?" I said, "Doesn't Teegan have any rights?"

"Depends on who you talk to, I guess," Hank admitted, "In my mind, she's a child and deserves a normal life. To others, she is an asset to be harnessed...or feared."

"Feared?" I said shaking my head, "She's not even a year old. Nothing but love in that girl." I laughed when I thought of her rear explosions, "Maybe they want her secrets to chemical warfare." I had to explain myself to Hank, but I soon had him chuckling as well. The thoughts that had been digging into my mind came forward. Hank was the only one I could speak to about it.

"Hank, I'd like some truth." We were hopping over a small stream, less than an arm's length wide. I steadied him when he stumbled a little, and he thanked me for keeping dry.

"What do you need to know?"

"Natalie is the smartest woman I know," I continued, "you know she's a lawyer. A good one I hear."

"Yes, Rose told me." Hank hooked his hands behind his back and patiently waited for me to continue.

"I barely graduated high school. I never really held an honest job, well not for long anyway," I said and was surprised when Hank didn't show any signs of disapproval. He just nodded as we walked. "I was basically a two-bit criminal," I said to emphasize my point. Still no reaction to note, so I just let it out.

"Is Teegan making Natalie love me?" I asked, my eyes feeling heavier than they should. I waited for the answer I had suspected. Instead, I received laughter.

"Why else would she be seen with me?" I added, my anger rising in my tone.

"Sam," Hank replied, haltingly, trying to control his laughter, "she loves you because she loves you. I've already told you Teegan only emphasizes what you already want."