“Agent Steele,” I asked, “based on what Ray said, don’t we have enough evidence to move against Nichols? Can’t we enlist some help higher up the chain in the FBI?”

The door opened, and the agent from the hallway stepped in. “Ben, I’ve been instructed to escort you out.”

I turned to the man. “Escort out? Out of where?”

“The secure area of the hospital, sir,” the hallway agent replied.

“Why?”

“Mr. Steele is no longer with the FBI.”

That answered my question about obtaining help. We were on our own.

Ben tapped me just before two in the afternoon. He was sitting at a desk in what I assumed was his VR office.

“I didn’t expect to see you again,” I said. “What happened?”

“Someone with serious power decided I was getting too close to the truth, I guess.”

“Can you at least help us meet with Ray once more?”

“I can do more than that. Getting fired won’t make me go away. I’m in this to the end, Creighton, assuming you want my help.”

I was taken aback by his resoluteness. “Of course we do. I…” I didn’t want to come across as impertinent. “I am curious why you feel so committed to us.” To Abby, I imagined.

He glanced to his left, toward the bottom of his desk, then his eyes returned to me. “It’s…it’s a personal matter.”

The four of us reconvened as planned at two thirty. Ben pushed the agenda. “Our window for these meetings will close soon. We need to develop a plan—quickly.”

Ray spoke. “Nichols’s vision is for all humanity to convert to transhuman status. That’s what he calls humans with silicon brains.”

“Poppy, how did you ever get involved in this?” Abby had been quiet most of the day, reading her Bible and leaving my room for walks. With Ray, she seemed composed, but I was worried about her.

“I joined with Nichols because I saw the potential medical benefit to individuals with terminal brain disease. It was the only organ never transplanted. I knew Nichols had this grand idea about transhumanity, but I never expected—”

“Okay,” Ben interrupted. “This is all very interesting, but it doesn’t give us a plan.” He turned to Ray. “You said Damien Cleary was the most likely suspect.”

Ray nodded. “Nichols would never have authorized the murder of the Inisi. At least I don’t think he would. One thing I’ve realized is that after the transplant is done, one’s sense of conscience starts to dissipate.”

“Why would the conscience be affected?” I asked.