All The Beautiful People (A Dread Novel Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

allowing us to meet for…what?
    Jason’s handshake was firm without crushing. He didn’t attempt a smile or pleasantries. On instinct Taylor knew they were both thinking the same thing.
    “Please sit,” Wade motioned.
    Taylor took her seat on the opposite side of the desk as Wade and Jason. The high-backed cushioned seat designed to offer comfort gave her anything but. The anticipation for an explanation brought goosebumps to Taylor’s arms despite her jacket. Years of training brought her feet to rest directly under her body, ready to spring into action if the situation required.
    While Taylor didn’t think her employer would silence her after an event like last night, she needed to be ready for the possibility. It crossed her mind in the past that if a situation was dire enough, the company would allow no loose ends. With billions of dollars on the line, Taylor was under no false pretenses as to how much her own life would be worth. She was a cog in the machine, a piece which could be replaced if the need ever arose.
    Wade cleared his throat and began. “I understand it’s not protocol for an Operator to meet his or her Cleaner; yet after the events that occurred last night, the Board deemed it appropriate. I’ll start by relieving the tension and letting both of you know no one here is in any kind of trouble. You each handled the situation as well or better than anyone could have. You followed procedure to the letter.”
    The muscles in Taylor’s body relax the slightest bit. Jason’s shoulders also seemed to drop as he took in a deep breath.
    Wade reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a voice recorder he then placed on the edge of the desk. “We’ll start with you, Mr. Waters. If you would state your full name and title, and tell us exactly what happened last night.”
    Jason licked his dry lips. “Jason Oliver Waters, Operator for Lazarus Pharmaceuticals. I received the call relayed to us from the police station last night at 10:12 p.m.”
    Taylor was never told what the exact terms of agreement where between the pharmaceutical company and the police but she imagined it worked something like this: Lazarus Pharmaceuticals would pay a large amount to the police department, in turn the authorities would allow them first crack at resolving any issue that may arise related to their drugs. It was an excellent deal for the authorities. They’d be given thousands of dollars each month to do nothing. If an event did happen to occur, Lazarus would be allowed to handle it, and the police could sit back and relax.
    Jason’s voice once again filled the room, and Taylor had to remind herself she wasn’t on a call. Over the years she wondered what he might look like. Her guesses as to her Operator’s appearance ranged from a battle-hardened, retired Navy Seal to a young technological prodigy The truth was, he was actually a mix between these two. Jason couldn’t be that much older than she was, somewhere in his mid-twenties. He was fit without being muscular. His glasses spoke of a sedentary lifestyle placed behind a computer.
    “The caller stated her name was Mrs. Jones,” Jason said. “She was hysterical. I did my best to calm her and get her to state the facts. As soon as I could get enough information from her, I put her on hold and called my Cleaner. She picked up on the second ring. I gave her the address. With the Cleaner en route, I tried to get as much detail from Mrs. Jones as possible. She told me her husband was acting strange and violent toward himself. She was worried about both of their safety. It was at this point she told me her husband was taking Vanidrum. She went on to say things I attributed to panic and hysteria.”
    Wade held up a hand to pause Jason’s testimony. “What kind of things?”
    “She said he was trying to make himself beautiful. He was trying to give himself the face he always wanted.”
    The room settled in an uncomfortable silence. Wade and Jason stared at each other.