Slugger nodded his appreciation of Vaill’s insight. “More specifically, I made call and ask if ship was within thousand yards of coast in Washington County at one o’clock any days between fourteen and twenty-five October.”

Lou’s mouth had gone dry. “And?”

“And it was,” Slugger said, as matter-of-factly as if he had just shared the top item on his grocery list. “On twenty October. I make print out of exact location of land from shipping coordinates. So I know where video was recorded, but could not have figured it out without Lou Welcome’s help.”

“Itsuki, you can’t tell anybody about this,” Vaill said urgently. “Please. It’s highly confidential.”

“Understood.”

“Where?” Lou asked. “Where was this filmed?”

“According to my map and other sources, video recorded on property of private residence. Big, big place called Red Cliff. Here nice photos from Google Earth and also one of our satellites.”

Lou and Vaill peered first at one, then the other remarkable pictures of what appeared to be a sprawling medieval castle, complete with moat, perched on a cliff over the ocean.

“Home run,” they said nearly in unison.

Chapter 48

CHAPTER 48

At some point, and this is a guarantee, the trustees overseeing the finances of Social Security will issue a report informing the American people that the fund is bankrupt.

—LANCASTER R. HILL, LECTURE AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA, MAY 21, 1947

Electronically distorted images of the seven Neighbors flickered and glowed on the screens filling one wall of Bacon’s magnificent study. The financier, N-38, was flushed with excitement—a condition that had little to do with the tumbler of twenty-one-year-old Glenlivet he was clutching. Victory was again within reach. He inhaled the aroma of his Scotch and savored the smoky taste of a more lusty swallow than typical for him. There were still mountains left to climb, obstacles to overcome, but with each hour, each piece of news, he was feeling more confident. As director of the Society of One Hundred Neighbors, it was time to share the latest regarding AP-Janus with the members of the project board.

Good news indeed.

“We are all here, Eighty,” Bacon said. “Please begin with an update on the medical.”

Academic surgeon Dr. Carlton Reeves, known by name to Bacon but only as Eighty to the others, was the coordinator of Action Project Janus. It was he who initially investigated the bacteria discovered by N-71, saw the possibilities, and formed an advisory committee consisting of several of the society’s members—each with an expertise that would help make the possibilities a reality. The advisors were selected by summaries of their backgrounds, accomplishments, and abilities, and submitted to Eighty by Bacon.

From his control panel, Bacon sent the physician’s distorted image to the rest of the board. Except for him, none of them would know Reeves by anything other than his number, unless their paths had crossed by coincidence. It had been that way since the organization’s inception.