In Death 21 - Origin in Death

ourselves."
    "It just gets better and better," Eve remarked.
    "In a way, we'd really be celebrating your lives, and our love for you both."
    "Maybe you're the ones who die in a freak accident," Eve tossed back. "Then me and McNab... No, Jesus. No." She visibly shuddered. "I don't love you that much."
    "Aw, that's not very nice. Too bad for you, because McNab's an airjack in the sack."
    "Shut up now. Save yourself."
    "Brookhollow Academy," Peabody said in dignified tones. "Established 2022."
    "Just a couple years before Avril was born? Who's the founder? Put the data on-screen."
    "On screen one."
    "Private educational institution," Eve read, scanning. "For girls. Just girls. Founded by Jonah Delecourt Wilson-secondary run on him, Peabody."
    "On that."
    "Grades one through twelve, full boarding. Accredited by the International Association of Independent Schools. Ranked third in U.S., fifteenth worldwide. An eighty-acre campus. That's a lot of ground. Six-to-one student-to-instructor ratio."
    "Serious individual attention."
    "College preparatory, full housing for students and staff. An Intentional Community. Huh, some phrase. A challenging, yet supportive environment. Blah, blah. Foundation for Brookhollow College, an: blah about that. Tuition . .. Holy Mother of God."
    "Wowzer!" Peabody's eyes widened. "That's a semester. That's a semester for a six-year-old."
    "Get me a comparison to another top-level boarding school."
    "Coming up. What are we chasing here, Dallas?"
    "I don't know. But we're gaining. Double," she replied. "Brookhollow's priced double a comparative facility."
    "Got the founder. Jonah Delecourt Wilson, born August 12, 19t-Died May 6, 2056. That's Dr. Wilson," Peabody added. "M.D. as well as Ph.D. Known for his research and work with genetics."
    "Really? Hmm."
    "Married Eva Hannson Samuels, June of 1999. No children Samuels-also doctor-predeceased her husband by three years. Private shuttle crash."
    "Hannson. Avril's maiden name. Gotta be related."
    "Wilson founded the school, served as its first president for five years, then his wife took the helm. She remained in that position until her death. Current president is an Evelyn Samuels-listed here as her predecessor's niece-and one of the first graduates of Brookhollow College."
    "All in the family. Bet when you pump money into an institution like this, you get all sorts of perks. I bet you could have your own lab. Maybe send some of your subjects in as students. Get them a fine education, while you were monitoring them. A geneticist, a reconstructive surgeon, and a private all-girls' boarding school. Mix well, what might you get?"
    "Urn. Really, really major fees?"
    "Perfect females. Gene manipulation, surgical enhancements, specified educational programs."
    "Jesus, Dallas."
    "Yeah, pretty fucked up. Screwed squared if you take it a step further and speculate that the grads might be 'placed' for a stinging fee with interested parties. She said-last night during her statement- Avril said she was what Will Icove wanted. Just like that. Wouldn't a doting daddy want to give his only son what he wanted?"
    ''It's a little science fiction, Dallas."
    "DNA."
    "And?"
    "Dolores Nocho-Alverez. DNA. I bet that alias is a little private joke." She picked up her 'link when it beeped. "Dallas."
    "Got a freaking tome so far on Senior. Due to the recent events, I’m working on one for Junior. What's going on, Dallas?" Nadine demanded.
    "Is there anything in that tome regarding an association with a Dr. Jonah D. Wilson?"
    "Funny you should ask." Nadine's eyes sharpened. "They both gave their time and skill during the Urbans. Became friends, and associates. Helped found rehabilitation centers for children during and after the wars. There's more on that, and other things, but I need to dig more. I'm getting a whiff of something-maybe a censure from the AMA, internal inquiries, but it's buried deep."
    "Mine it out, and if I'm on the right track, you might just have the story of your career."
    "Don't toy with me, Dallas."
    "Send me everything you've got. Get more."
    "Give me something to air. I need a-"
    "Can't. Gotta go. Oh hey, if Roarke contacts you, it's about an invite for Thanksgiving."
    "Oh yeah? Frosty. Can I bring a date?"
    "I guess. Later."
    She clicked off. "Let's go take another look at Icove's house."
    Peabody saved data, jumped up. "Are we going to New Hampshire on this?"
    "I wouldn't be surprised."
    In a palatial house overlooking the sea, the privacy screens