Exposed by Andrea Maller Page B

food and nature calls. Neither stopped long enough to go home. They kept the girls unconscious while they drew blood, took cell samples and ran their endless tests. They were no closer to an answer. After the third day, Jake called, concerned that his father hadn’t been home.
         “Everything’s fine, Jake. I’m working. I’ll be home in the morning.”
         Before he could say a word, his father hung up and Jake was listening to dead air. Howard frequently forgot about his family when he was working on a project. Work always came first. Now was no exception.

Chapter Ten
     
         Just past midnight, Alex knocked on Cassie’s bedroom door. No response. Assuming she was asleep, he opened the door a crack to peek in. The room was empty, her bed still made.
         This isn’t like her. She’s always home by eleven on a school night. Where can she be?
         Alex called her cell phone. Straight to voicemail.
         “Cassie, when you get this message, call me immediately. This is your father. It’s not like you to stay out so late without a phone call. Please let me know you’re okay. I’m very worried.”
         Alex hung up the phone and called Charles. He couldn’t wait for Cassie to return his call. He had a bad feeling that she wasn’t hanging out with friends and she didn’t lose track of time. He felt something was seriously wrong.
         When the phone rang, Charles grabbed it before the second ring, fumbling the receiver in his hand.
         “Alyson? I’m so glad you called. I’ve been going out of my mind.”
         “It’s not Alyson, Charles. It’s Alex.”
         “Alex, what’s wrong? Why are you calling so late? Is it Samantha? Has something happened?”
         “Samantha’s fine. Everything in the lab is fine.”
         “Then why the phone call?”
         “It’s Cassie. She hasn’t come home and I can’t reach her.”
         “She’s a teenager. She’s probably with friends.”
         “You know she’s no ordinary teenager. She didn’t pick up her cell. She always picks up when I call.”
         “Do you think she found out something?”
         “About herself? About the project? How could she? Unless somebody said something to her...maybe. I’ve always been very careful.”
         “We both have, but accidents happen. That’s how Alyson found out. When was the last time you spoke to her?”
         “I’ve been a little distracted lately. I don’t know. A couple of days maybe? But she was fine the last time I saw her. She couldn’t have found out anything. I would have known.”
         “Maybe not. She’s not as emotional as Alyson. Maybe she’s keeping it to herself?”
         “Is it possible Alyson knows about Cassie? Could she have somehow gotten to her?”
         “I didn’t tell her, but she’s very resourceful and I haven’t seen her in about a week. I don’t know where she is.”
         “Now they’re both missing. We need to find them.”
         “We can’t do anything tonight, Alex. It’s too late to call any of their friends. First thing in the morning, I’ll call Alyson’s boyfriend. Maybe she contacted him.”
         “And I’ll call Rachel. If anyone knows where Cassie is, it’s Rachel. They’re like sisters. They tell each other everything.”
         “We’ll speak in the morning then.”
         “Goodnight, Charles.”
         As they hung up, Charles couldn’t help but wonder where Alyson was. Was she okay? Did something happen to her? She was much more than just a science experiment to him. She was his daughter. He nursed her through every headache and childhood illness. He bandaged her skinned knees when she slid into home plate the day she scored four home runs. He needed her to know how important she was to him.
         The night passed slowly. Charles thumbed through old photo albums of Alyson growing up. By the time he reached