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Boony stepped into the infirmary to speak with Dr. Lee. In the waiting room sat the two guards Magnus had roughed up and confined in his cell. From what she had heard, one of them was unconscious and in critical condition. Someone apparently had gotten the facts incorrect. Of course, since Magnus was a prisoner, it made sense, albeit unethically, for the guards to exaggerate their injuries in the report. She imagined these two guards were embarrassed that one prisoner had bested them at the same time. Magnus had crushed their egos, so apparently they hoped the other guards would make him suffer. But since Magnus had escaped Mars entirely, payback was now impossible.
She recognized these two guards from the Vortex. Both had hit on her without success on several occasions. Their looks had not turned her off during their initial approach, but their arrogant attitudes did. Both men were handsome in certain lights, but the all cocky, stuck on themselves stances signaled to her that other men made better company.
Matt’s right eye was swollen and dark purple. Cain’s arm was in a sling. Based upon Magnus’ size, their injuries were actually milder than she imagined them to be. He could have easily put these men into comas, or much worse, if that was what he had intended to do. She believed that he did only what was necessary to subdue them without inflicting any serious or permanent damage so he could escape. He held back, at least partially.
A malicious convicted murderer trying to escape wasn’t someone who left behind living witnesses, and even Jonas had mentioned about how these controlled miners had been some of the most vile, ruthless people in the penitentiary systems on Earth. Magnus didn’t fit that profile.
So who had framed Magnus on Earth and why?
That was what she hoped to find out.
Boony walked to the desk where a redheaded woman sat. Her nametag identified her as Mary.
“I need to speak to Dr. Lee.”
“Sign in,” the woman said, sliding a clipboard across the desk.
“I’m not here for any exam, and I don’t have time to wait,” Boony said. “I need to ask him a couple of questions.”
“About?”
“It’s not medical but it is confidential and doesn’t concern you.”
“You must still sign in,” Mary said.
Boony frowned and rested her hand on her gun. “Why don’t you get Jonas Walker on the phone?”
Mary stared at the gun and then looked into Boony’s cold hardened gaze. The fierceness of her eyes made Boony’s stature of little significance. It was an almost believable example of getting killed from someone’s icy glare.
Mary’s uneasiness was obvious, but before she replied, Dr. Lee peered out from his office, and offered a friendly smile. “Please, come on back.”
“Thanks.”
After she entered his office, he shut the door and sat down behind his desk. He was tall and slender, wore a white lab coat, and round-rimmed glasses. In spite of his gray hair, the glasses caused his Asian face to resemble someone right out of high school. “What can I help you with?”
“I have a couple of questions.”
Dr. Lee nodded. “Sure. What is it?”
“About these Sleeper Chips . . . what did you find out about the one that malfunctioned in the miner that committed suicide? I assume you did his autopsy?”
Dr. Lee cringed. “I did. That was a bit messy.”
“In what way?”
“When the chip shorted, that’s exactly what it did. The tissue around the implant was charred. Almost like a burst of hot energy burned his flesh.”
Boony shivered. “So was he conscious after that happened? No longer under its control, he’d have to be, right?”
“My guess would be . . . yes. After watching the video feed, and seeing him plummet into that deep pit, he was probably experiencing so much pain that he had no other choice but to kill himself.”
“Have any of the other defective chips caused these kinds of reactions?”
Dr. Lee shook his head. “No. We’ve not had many chips that have malfunctioned, but with the few that have, most of the prisoners are simply disoriented, stop working, and the guards notice them right away. With this man, there wasn’t any forewarning at all. No time to get him to the infirmary.”
“Any idea why these chips are malfunctioning?”
“From what the techs have told me, the chips somehow misread the directive signals from the CAM-Ls and this friction overheats the receptor, causing the chip to malfunction. None have ever heated so severely as to burn into the flesh though.”
Boony nodded. “Are you aware of the chip in the prisoner who stole the Percival 3000?”
Dr. Lee rolled his eyes slightly, thinking. He shook his head. “Nothing more than the report I read and what the two guards in the waiting room told me when I examined them.”
“I’m not certain I’d hold a lot of confidence in what either of those two guards might have told you.”
“Why not?”
“Their report indicated that one of them was in critical condition . . .”
Dr. Lee smiled. “One was unconscious when he arrived at the infirmary. It was several hours before he awakened.”
“But still . . . that’s not critical condition.”
“Yes. I understand your point.”
Boony sighed. “So Magnus Knight’s chip somehow deactivated, too?”
“Yes.”
“I’m curious about something. How did he keep the guards on the mining lines from realizing that?” she asked.
“I’m not certain. According to those two men, he kept working like the other miners, never showed any sign that his chip had malfunctioned, and even pretended to be under its control when they entered his cell.”
“What set him off?”
Dr. Lee shrugged. “According to them, when they tried to capture the ferret, that was when Magnus attacked them.”
“How serious are their injuries?”
“Not that bad, really. Bruised up, but nothing really serious. Why does this really interest you?”
Boony gave an even smile. “Since Magnus is one of the three that stole the shuttle, we’re trying to find out exactly what happened so we can accurately report it to Grayson. You know how a stickler he is for thorough details?”
Dr. Lee nodded. “Oh, yes. Very particular.”
“Well, the more we know about the thieves, the better Grayson can prepare for their arrival. One thing that might help Magnus is that he never killed either guard when he had every opportunity to do so.”
“That’s true, but if he’s ever brought back to the mines, he won’t live long.”
“And why’s that?” she asked.
“Those two guards will kill him.”
“I see.”
Dr. Lee nodded. “They’re not very forgiving, especially when it comes to their prisoners.”
“Even though he spared their lives?”
“Both are furious about what happened. I examined each of them, and each grumbled the entire time about how they’d like for Grayson to ship Magnus back here so they can make him pay. Can you blame them?”
“I’m certain more details will surface about what happened that night. However, I don’t think Magnus will ever return to Mars.”
“Why not?”
Boony shrugged. “It’s a feeling I have.”
“You could talk to Cain and Matt to get more information.”
“That’s not necessary. I needed the information about why the chips have been malfunctioning so I can try to understand the drastic differences between Magnus’ chip and the miner that killed himself.”
“Without a computer tech examining Magnus’ chip, we’ll never really know,” Dr. Lee said.
“I assumed as much, but I was hoping that maybe you could provide some speculation?”
“I’ve told you all that I know from the medical perspective. A computer technician would be more helpful, I’m sure.”
“Thanks. You’ve been very helpful,” Boony said, turning to leave. She paused at the door. “What’s your opinion on how one’s mental state will be after they are released from the Sleeper Chip’s control?”
“What do you mean?”
“Once the miners’ contracts end and they’re released, do you expect any of them to suffer from depression or become more aggressive? Anything like that.”
“There should be little change.”
Boony frowned. “So their minds being in limbo for years won’t affect their psychological state once they’re released?”
“It shouldn’t. Why would you expect it to?”
“You’re the doctor. That’s why I asked.”
Dr. Lee stood. “I suppose that what you’re suggesting is possible since the chips suppress their thought processes and quite possibly conflicts with the brain’s chemical uptake. So I guess that maybe it could. But no one rightly knows, and everyone’s body chemistry is different. No extensive research has ever been done. At least, none to my knowledge. The prisoners on Mars are the first to undergo such a long-term usage.”
“I know. That’s what makes me worry.”
“Worry about what, exactly?” he asked.
“If ever the CAM-L control devices stopped working and the guards lost control of the prisoners, we’re all screwed.”
Lee’s eyes widened slightly.
She smiled. “You understand what I’m hinting at. Those prisoners will take over, killing anyone that tries to stop them, including us. There’s no safe place for us to hide here.”
Lee looked toward the door as she opened it.
“Since you’re with security,” he said, “what suggestions do you have?”
“If I were you, I’d contact Grayson Enterprises and see how soon the newer chips will arrive. You might also see if you can find any recent publications that detail studies about these chips. The sooner, the better.”
He nodded.
Boony left the office and closed the door behind her. Mary glanced in her direction but quickly looked away, pretending to busy herself with papers on the desk.
Matt and Cain both looked Boony up and down with lustful glances. She rolled her eyes in passing.
“I so wish you were one of the prisoners,” Cain said.
Boony stopped midstride. “Why’s that?”
“Oh the things I’d make you do under the control of a CAM-L.”
Boony smirked. “That’d be the only way you could ever get near me since I’ve shot you down so many times before. Even chip controlled, I’m sure I’d reject you.”
Cain’s hands balled into fists.
Matt elbowed him. “Stop.”
She grinned. “No, let him. I dare him to come at me.”
Cain leaned forward in his chair, but Matt grabbed his arm. “Don’t. Can’t you see her weapon?”
“I don’t need my weapon,” she replied.
Cain stared into Boony’s harsh gaze, read her anger, and eased back into his seat.
“That’s better,” she said. “I’d hate to give you any more bruises. Looks like you took a nasty beating already.”
She was at the door, turned her back to them, and grabbed the door lever.
“Best watch your back from here on,” Cain said in a low tone.
Boony didn’t reply or look back. She opened the door and exited.
Before the door closed, Matt whispered to Cain. “We don’t need any eyes on us from security. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Boony thought his statement was a bit odd. Since she didn’t have a lot of hobbies to occupy her extra time, she planned to keep an eye on these two guards for a few nights. While doing that, she could also research the events behind Magnus’ court case to see if she discovered any new information that might help clear his name. Even if she did, Grayson would, no doubt, file charges against Magnus for the theft of the shuttle, which could still put him in prison. However, from what she had learned about Grayson, Magnus would never see a prison should Grayson take him into custody.
She couldn’t imagine what type of punishment Magnus faced. Again she wished that she had left Mars with them, but she believed she had a better chance to help clear him of his charges by thorough research while he traveled through space. The more facts she gathered that proved Magnus was innocent, the more likely Jonas might actually help him, too. Jonas didn’t seem to like Grayson that much, and she got the feeling that Jonas was in a majority with that belief.