graph for the second set of data. This graph is not in RadGuard’s report.”
Jeannine looked. The second graph had the same labels, and a much sharper drop in Strontium-90 (to near zero) at forty miles.
Wayne spoke.
“One of these graphs is wrong! But which?”
“Let me think. Hand me that CD.”
Jeannine inserted the disc into her laptop and typed.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m straightening the curve by taking logs and fitting a straight line to them. Their reported points look too symmetric. I’m betting they picked the line they wanted and then spaced points evenly around it so that when they fit the data they got the desired line back.”
A new graph appeared on the screen.
Jeannine explained.
“This graph shows the distance of each point from my fitted line. The points are perfectly symmetric about the horizontal line at zero. That’s not possible by chance. The data RadGuard presented in the report are faked.”
“Because the distances-above cancel the distances-below at each mile?”
“Yes, for real data, the points above and below shouldn’t balance at each mile.”
“What about the second data set? Did you make the same graph for those data?”
“I did, and here it is. The points above and below do not balance at each mile.”
“So the points don’t balance and these data could be real. But why would RadGuard report the fake data? What’s their goal?”
“Apparently RadGuard wanted to show that the radioactivity is higher than it is. The fake data show that Sr-90 is still high 40 miles away, but in reality the Sr-90 level is near zero at 40 miles.”
She took a breath.
“Someone wants to say that this ‘source’ contaminates the environment more than it really does. Maybe the source is a nuclear power plant? Or maybe even a one-time nuclear event, but I’m thinking nuclear plant.”
“Could Radguard’s cheaters want to show that the plant contaminates the environment so they can force its closure?”
“Sounds plausible, but if Bill were here he could tell us. He had his reasons for taking these documents. He must have the answers.”
At the thought of Bill, her shoulders drooped
“Bill’s in trouble, or he would have contacted me by now!”
***
Jeannine’s colleague, Aileen Harris, opened the door of Ryan Associates in Bethesda Maryland. Aileen was a Ph.D. in Bioengineering and a minority owner of the company. The past week, she had been on vacation with her daughter, Mary Catherine.
Aileen stared. Jeannine’s desk was clear of papers, and dry brown circles ringed the coffee pot. Jeannine survived on coffee. She had not been here for a some time.
She saw a note in Jeannine’s handwriting.
Aileen,
If you are back before me, call. There’s a new prepay cell phone for you in the safe. I have a new cell too. The number is in the “special” file on my computer. I changed my password, but it’s just the palindrome of my old one minus one. I’m going to pick up something for Bill. He’s gone and I don’t know where.
Jeannine
Aileen paused. Why the secrecy? She went to the safe and retrieved the phone. She calculated the new password for Jeannine’s computer, found the new phone number, and called. Jeannine answered.
“Aileen, you have the safe phone, good. You can expect a visit from the FBI soon. They're looking for me, and for Bill. Take your mother and Mary Catherine up to your Aunt Agatha’s in Pennsylvania and stay the weekend. They probably won’t track you there, but don’t talk to them if they do.”
“What’s this all about?”
“Bill is missing and I’m with Wayne Johnson. We’re looking for Bill, but so is the FBI. They think he stole government secrets. Meanwhile, I have some documents for you to examine if I can get them to you. First, you should get away from the office, now. They might be watching it.”
“Who’s ‘They? ’ The
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