The Island Project: A Thriller Read Online Free Page A
Author: Taylor Buck
Tags: Fiction, thriller, Suspense, Retail
happened,” Perry said in a firm but controlled tone. “I don’t want any excuses about protocol either. I want you to tell me what went wrong, and then I want you to tell me what you’re going to do to fix the mess you’ve made.”
Danner instantly became uncomfortable. The entire lab floor was listening in on his scolding and he wasn’t used to being the one getting the lecture. “I assure you that we are already taking necessary action to resolve the situation and make sure we cover our tracks,” Danner said as his eyes darted around.
Danner’s expression appeared pained, though it was hard to tell this particular expression from his others. His usual look was a wincing, sun-in-the-eyes stare, similar to Clint Eastwood’s coined grimace. Danner stared straight at Dr. Perry through narrowed eyes. He spoke slow and steady—as he always did.
“Please,” Danner said and gestured towards the hallway. “If you follow me over to the enclosures I will show you exactly what happened.” Danner was doing everything he could to divert his public admonishment over to a more private location.
“I’m following, Rick—go,” Perry demanded.
Danner led Dr. Perry out of the floor lab and down the long hallway. They paced down the outer corridor under the rows of pale, fluorescent lights towards the enclosure—also known as the “den”.
CHAPTER 5
THE DEN
14 OCTOBER, 11:54 A.M.
Rick Danner touched his keychain to the receiver and the door hissed open. He and Dr. Perry stepped inside. Danner flicked on the switch that controlled the interior lights of the den. The two men watched as the lights flickered and sputtered to life. Soon the entire room was illuminated.
The enclosure, or den as they referred to it, was a large room with four containment factions on either side. The factions were ten by twelve foot stalls separated by concrete walls. The face of each faction was a double-reinforced, transparent sheet of ballistic glass that ran from the floor, up fourteen feet, to an exposed ceiling. A door was etched into the glass of each faction, held firmly in place by a large locking mechanism that ran the length of the door.
The entire room surrounding the factions had forty-foot walls that reached high up to a transparent A-frame ceiling. The A-frame was a series of crisscrossed beams that suspended a long scaffold walkway. This was used as an access platform to the retractable ceiling panels above it. The room was impressively designed. The whole ceiling acted as a giant skylight. Even with the ominous towering walls all around, there was some comfort in the view from above. Large Koa trees swayed high above the building, stretching their limbs out and creating a protective canopy high above the facility. Their shadows danced across the floor of the den and over Dr. Perry and Rick Danner.
Massive cables ran down from the roof and led to the control room adjacent to the den. These cables piped in solar power from the exterior roof and delivered it to the control room. The entire CERTA complex was 87% powered by solar electricity alone—a fact Dr. Perry never ceased to mention whenever entertaining guests. He was determined from the start on utilizing the strong Hawaiian sun to fuel their efforts. Perry was a strong proponent of solar power technology, another reason why he chose to base CERTA in Hawaii.
Danner made his way to the middle of the den. His boots clicked against the concrete floor and the sound echoed through the big room as he walked. Dr. Perry followed close behind him, still agitated, wearing the signs all over his face.
“There,” Danner said pointing a finger up towards the right corner of the a-frame ceiling. “She got out through panel #18, used the scaffold as a jumping point, then out through the window.”
Perry squinted his eyes and stared up toward the corner of the ceiling where Danner was pointing. He noticed the pane missing from panel #18, a four-by-four-foot square of
Danner instantly became uncomfortable. The entire lab floor was listening in on his scolding and he wasn’t used to being the one getting the lecture. “I assure you that we are already taking necessary action to resolve the situation and make sure we cover our tracks,” Danner said as his eyes darted around.
Danner’s expression appeared pained, though it was hard to tell this particular expression from his others. His usual look was a wincing, sun-in-the-eyes stare, similar to Clint Eastwood’s coined grimace. Danner stared straight at Dr. Perry through narrowed eyes. He spoke slow and steady—as he always did.
“Please,” Danner said and gestured towards the hallway. “If you follow me over to the enclosures I will show you exactly what happened.” Danner was doing everything he could to divert his public admonishment over to a more private location.
“I’m following, Rick—go,” Perry demanded.
Danner led Dr. Perry out of the floor lab and down the long hallway. They paced down the outer corridor under the rows of pale, fluorescent lights towards the enclosure—also known as the “den”.
CHAPTER 5
THE DEN
14 OCTOBER, 11:54 A.M.
Rick Danner touched his keychain to the receiver and the door hissed open. He and Dr. Perry stepped inside. Danner flicked on the switch that controlled the interior lights of the den. The two men watched as the lights flickered and sputtered to life. Soon the entire room was illuminated.
The enclosure, or den as they referred to it, was a large room with four containment factions on either side. The factions were ten by twelve foot stalls separated by concrete walls. The face of each faction was a double-reinforced, transparent sheet of ballistic glass that ran from the floor, up fourteen feet, to an exposed ceiling. A door was etched into the glass of each faction, held firmly in place by a large locking mechanism that ran the length of the door.
The entire room surrounding the factions had forty-foot walls that reached high up to a transparent A-frame ceiling. The A-frame was a series of crisscrossed beams that suspended a long scaffold walkway. This was used as an access platform to the retractable ceiling panels above it. The room was impressively designed. The whole ceiling acted as a giant skylight. Even with the ominous towering walls all around, there was some comfort in the view from above. Large Koa trees swayed high above the building, stretching their limbs out and creating a protective canopy high above the facility. Their shadows danced across the floor of the den and over Dr. Perry and Rick Danner.
Massive cables ran down from the roof and led to the control room adjacent to the den. These cables piped in solar power from the exterior roof and delivered it to the control room. The entire CERTA complex was 87% powered by solar electricity alone—a fact Dr. Perry never ceased to mention whenever entertaining guests. He was determined from the start on utilizing the strong Hawaiian sun to fuel their efforts. Perry was a strong proponent of solar power technology, another reason why he chose to base CERTA in Hawaii.
Danner made his way to the middle of the den. His boots clicked against the concrete floor and the sound echoed through the big room as he walked. Dr. Perry followed close behind him, still agitated, wearing the signs all over his face.
“There,” Danner said pointing a finger up towards the right corner of the a-frame ceiling. “She got out through panel #18, used the scaffold as a jumping point, then out through the window.”
Perry squinted his eyes and stared up toward the corner of the ceiling where Danner was pointing. He noticed the pane missing from panel #18, a four-by-four-foot square of
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