“I did what?” Butler said.
“You said you had the girl. You said you would release her for ten million. That is why I am here.”
He paused, the idea filtering leisurely through his mind like a coin rattling down a Plinko board. Con began to laugh.
“What is so funny?” Dr. Fenton demanded.
“You both got played,” Con said.
They both stared at her incredulously.
“What are you talking about?” Butler asked.
“Your anonymous donor struck a deal with you and sent Fenton in their place.”
“No, I spoke directly to him on video,” Fenton said.
“Well, you got deepfaked good,” Con said.
Fenton was shaking her head like something unpleasant had landed in her hair and was nesting there. “What? No. Impossible. I have anti-deepfake software installed. It would have known if it was a simulated video call.”
“Well, apparently you need an upgrade, Doctor,” Butler said, warming to Con’s theory. “Because we’ve never spoken before.”
“Then who?” Fenton demanded.
Butler glared at Con, his turn to gloat. “My guess would be Vernon Gaddis.”
“You’re insane. Gaddis is the one who took her out of Palingenesis in the first place. He’s been stymying my efforts to bring her back ever since. Why on earth would he tell me where to find her now?”
“I haven’t the faintest,” Butler admitted. “That’s why I asked for this meeting, but the old bastard outmaneuvered me yet again. He got to remain in the shadows, get us to do his dirty work for him, and he saved himself ten million dollars. Assuming you have my money, that is.”
“I have the money. Are you willing to turn her over to me?”
“I’m not his prisoner,” Con said, feeling it was important to make that clear even as they haggled over her.
“Yes, I see that,” Dr. Fenton said. “What exactly am I paying you for? What’s stopping me from simply taking her?”
“It’s a long drive back to DC, Doctor,” Butler said, favoring her with a friendly smile and letting the implications of his threat settle like fine ash. “Do you have my money?”
“Of course I have it,” Dr. Fenton said. “Now do you wish to make a deal or are we simply here to enjoy the rain?”
“Yes, to that in a moment, but while I have you, there’s one other matter we should discuss.”
“And what is that?” Dr. Fenton said with a tired sigh.
“Vernon Gaddis and his case before the Supreme Court. He’s going to lose.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of his legal difficulties.”
“I’d think that would concern you. If the court rules against him, and it will, it marks the beginning of the end of human cloning in this country. You will be out of business.”
“As will you.”
“Exactly. That’s why it’s in both our interests that he drop the case before it comes to that.”
Con and Dr. Fenton both looked at Butler with bewildered curiosity. Ever the narcissist, he stood basking in the confusion he’d sown.
“Please. Your life’s work is the abolition of human cloning,” Dr. Fenton said.
“Yes, Doctor, but”—Butler paused for effect—“it can’t very well be my life’s work if it is abolished.”
“I don’t understand,” Dr. Fenton said. Con shared the same sentiment.
“In this country, power doesn’t derive from defeating a threat; true power comes from the fear of the threat. And maintaining power requires a continuing threat. No one worries about causes that are already decided. When was the last time someone wrote a check to defeat prohibition?”
“You don’t actually give a shit about cloning,” Con said in dawning amazement. “Everything you said in the car was bullshit.”
“Don’t turn na?ve just when I was beginning to have a modicum of respect for you,” Butler said. “Of course I care about it. However, at this time, I find cloning to be a useful evil.”
“What are you proposing exactly?” Dr. Fenton said.
“Vernon Gaddis and his kamikaze lawsuit threaten the status quo. I, for one, have no interest in spending the next ten years repositioning myself as the face of a different movement. I’ve invested too much time and effort. How about you, Doctor? Ready to start over after Palingenesis is shut down?”
“I’m listening.”
“I propose an alliance. Strictly under the table, obviously. In public, I will continue to vilify you as a scourge upon the human race. As you will me. But in private, we pool our resources and find a way to halt this suit. It would be a win for both of us.”