Chapter 8

A nurse sat there reading a book. She looked up when Babe entered. “Can I help you?”

“Hi. I’m Jeanette Van Orden.”

“My replacement?”

“Yes. I mean I guess so.” They hadn’t really told her very much.

“I’m Petra. Thank God you’re here. Did they have you sign the nondisclosure agreement?”

“Yes.” They hadn’t given her much choice in the matter, but that afternoon it hadn’t seemed a big deal.

“These babies won’t last much longer, and they’ll be coming to take them away. Frankly, I’ll be relieved. I can’t deal with more of them dying.”

“What?”

She went on as if Babe hadn’t spoken. “It’s a shame Dr. Gautier tries to keep them going for so long. She seems to think one more drug…one more surgery…and she’ll be on track for her latest project.”

“Her latest project?”

“Dr. Gautier is a genius. Finchley will be the first one to tell you that. She plans to develop a cadre of geniuses.”

“Don’t their mothers have anything to say about it?”