The Perfect Clone Page 4

After seeing Roger out, Laura hurried to the living room, to visit with Richard. “Can I talk you into a sleep over? I don’t know about you, but I’m beat.”

  “Is my same room still available?”

  “For you…always,” Laura teased as she ran upstairs to make a quick once over of the room. She wanted to ensure everything was in order. Remembering that Richard liked extra pillows, she went to the linen closet in the hall to grab a few. Closing the door, she let out a yelp and landed a hard slap against Richard’s chest. “I hate it when you sneak up on me like that!”

  “I know. I had to get one in for old time’s sake. It’s been too long Laura.”

  “Yes it has, good to have you back.”

  “Since tomorrow is Saturday, I insist that we spend it together playing catch up. There’s something I’d like to get your opinion on.”

  “I‘d love to spend the day with my second most favorite guy in the world, and I have plenty of opinions to share.” Laura shoved the pillows hard into Richard’s chest. “And just for the record, the next time you creep up on me, I’ll nail your butt. And I promise you, it’ll feel the same regardless of which of the thirty-seven languages you’re thinking in.”

  “I know thirty-eight now, Ms. Smarty Pants.”

  With a quick turn of the head, Laura padded down the carpeted hall to her old room. The rugged sound of Richard’s laughter filled her ears.

  ************************

  Dr. Hamstein was determined to let go of his emotional pain. He’d spent the last two weeks in deep contemplation over a major professional opportunity that had presented itself.

  Acknowledging the time, but having made his decision, Igor sat on the corner of his desk and picked up the phone. He knew that his call would be accepted regardless of the late hour.

  “Yes?” The deep male voice on the other end of the line was professional.

  “When do we start?” Once Igor had made a decision, he wasn’t one to waste time with small talk.

  The man on the other end didn’t hesitate. “I’ll have my private jet ready at the terminal one week from today, assuming that gives you ample time to tie up any loose ends you might have?”

  Igor was enticed by the urgency and no nonsense manner in which this man conducted business. “That will be more than enough time.”

  “Excellent, I’ll have my attorney at your office Monday morning to hash out the details.” The connection ended abruptly as the other caller hung up.

  Returning the phone to its cradle Igor stared at it and thought about the new direction his life was about to take.

  Chapter 5

  A small sand crab scampered across a discarded flip flop in its rush to escape an unseen predator. Throwing her head back in amusement, the sweet sound of Sarah’s laughter carried on the chilly night breeze. Captivated by the busy workings of nature‘s need to survive, she eyed the crustacean as it scuttled across the sand and disappeared beneath a nearby piece of discarded driftwood.

  The waves coming in on high tide stroked the beach with outstretched fingers, lapping hungrily against the expanded shore’s surface. The ocean sprayed upward, signaling its approval, as it swallowed up the delicacies of objects usually outside of its reach. Sarah listened to the melodic rhythm of the water as it pounded against its prey.

  The full moon beamed its radiance onto the water below, reflecting in ecstasy against its choppy surface. The bright light illuminated the wave crests, creating the illusion of a phosphorus lined paradise.

  Gazing up at the constellations, Sarah inhaled the salty air, allowing it to fill her lungs. This used to be her haven, now it was a place of remembrance. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she recalled happier times.

  Following the death of her mom and dad, her older brother Josh had taken on the role of father, mother, and best friend. Thanks to the careful planning of their parents, the life insurance and savings that they’d left behind, had allowed Josh and Sarah to keep the family home. Their will had given Josh legal custody of Sarah. She had been the tender age of sixteen when they had died. Josh had just turned twenty.

  Regardless of his youth, Josh had accepted his guardianship role with the courage and resolve of a mature adult. Sarah hadn’t lacked for anything. Josh had provided her not only with the material things she’d needed during her adolescent years, but he had provided strong emotional support as well. His constant presence, attention to detail, and appropriate situational intensity, had not left room for Sarah to try self-parenting. He was always home when she got out of school and he never left her alone at night. Even with all his resilient dedication to raising her right, she had never once felt suffocated by his steady guidance. Besides, she’d had plenty of freedoms. She’d just known better than to take advantage of them.

  Josh seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He always knew everything she’d thought about doing, before she’d actually gotten around to doing them. She’d been certain that he’d had friends watching over her who reported back to him. Sarah thought it was sweet, even if her handful of friends had hated it. Needless to say, after Josh took over as parent, her so called friends had scattered like flies. At sixteen and seventeen her classmates had been eager to discover the party scene. The last thing they‘d wanted was Sarah’s big brother dampening their style.

  At first it had bothered her that he’d stayed involved in her personal life, but after a few of her friends ended up pregnant or with DWIs, Sarah was more than grateful for Josh’s interference.

  After graduating from high school, Josh had insisted that his baby sister use the remaining life insurance funds to attend the local college. She had tried to reason with him, but he’d remained insistent. Sarah had known how much was left of the remaining funds, so she never would have asked to use them for her personal gain. They had too much money to receive financial aid, but too little to pay for college and keep them afloat. It seemed selfish to use up all the money on her education.

  “It’s what mom and dad would have wanted. Please do this for me. It’s important that you go.” That had been the first and only time that Josh had ever mentioned mom and dad since their double funerals, so she’d known how critical it was to him that she fulfill his wish.

  Before Josh had made his wishes known, Sarah had just assumed that she’d be unable to attend college. Her plan had been to work her way into management at the seafood restaurant she’d been waitressing at for the last year. Though she’d never told him, Sarah had been relieved that he’d insisted she go.

  That was Josh, always putting his kid sister first. Without much arguing, Sarah had eagerly become a student at the local college and devoted herself to her studies. She had been determined not to let her brother down.

  Positive that his kid sister was on the fast track to adulthood, Josh had finally let loose. He followed his own path; straight to the surf and hanging out with his ‘buds’.

  Having fought their way through the hard times, Sarah was happy to see Josh finally enjoying himself. With the struggle safely behind them, they’d comfortably settled into their new life as scholarly sister and surfer brother. She’d felt more indebted to him than he could ever know.

  Sarah had often thought that life had been unfair to her older brother, and sometimes felt guilty for being the reason he’d lost so many years of young adulthood. Three years of his youth had been stripped away in the blink of an eye. Josh, however, had never complained. He’d enjoyed every minute of every day, unlike anyone else she’d ever known. He’d lived in every moment.

  Sarah had never realized just how much Josh had loved living on the ocean, until she was in college and his responsibility load had lightened. Everything about beach life suited his personality.

  People were instantly charmed by Josh’s lackadaisical ways and quick laughter. Easy going, witty, and occasionally flippant; Josh was everything that she would never be. Other than the occasional home repair, there was nothing Josh took seriously.

  Once her sophomore y
ear of college was well underway and he noticed how self-reliant Sarah had become, Josh left his full time day job. He started jumping from one menial job to the next, keeping a job just long enough to save up the cash to support his carefree beach life style for a few months. Then he’d quit and spend his days and nights swimming, surfing, and camping out. Josh never worried about where the next meal would come from. But during that time of self-discovery, a day had never passed that he didn’t stop by the house to exchange stories over a morning cup of brew.

  Mornings became Sarah’s favorite time of day. She always had breakfast and a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her brother. He’d come bouncing in with the newspaper in one hand and a backpack filled with dirty clothes in the other. He’d drop off his dirty clothes during breakfast. She’d wash them after her classes and have them waiting the next morning. Their routine was comfortable. Secure.

  During one of his regular overnighters on the beach, his new found buddies had teased him. They’d labeled him a bum and joked around that he’d never grow up or be able to handle real responsibilities. They’d bet him a twelve pack of beer that he couldn’t keep the same job for a year. Josh had upped the ante to include a fifth of Jack Daniels, then accepted the challenge with zealous fervor. Not being one to back down from a bet, Josh had joined the Marine Corp. Sarah had been livid when he’d enlisted. Over the course of several weeks, she’d come to terms with it, assuming it was just another passing fancy. He’d serve his time and be done.

  While Josh was away at boot camp, he had written every chance he’d gotten. He always asked about her studies and checked to make sure that she had everything she needed. On more than one occasion, Sarah had jokingly accused her sibling of having empty nest syndrome, because of the serious way he tended to dote on her.

  To pass the time while Josh was away, Sarah had submerged herself even deeper into her studies. She continued to make a full pot of coffee with her breakfast every morning. Sometimes she’d even caught herself pulling two cups down from the cupboard. She’d never found the nerve to tell him that she came home after class every day and sat by the phone, waiting for him to call. Those thirteen weeks of boot camp had been the longest weeks of her life.

  The day after boot camp graduation, Sarah had driven him home. They’d had ten days of leave to catch up and hang out. Boot camp had only slightly changed her brother. Josh carried himself with an aura of dignity and decorum that she’d never seen before then. Other than that, he’d still been the fun- loving guy that she’d always known. He’d told funny stories about boot camp life, and she’d filled him in on the local gossip and news. They’d immediately fallen back into their easy breakfast routine. After their morning coffee she’d head off to school. It was as if he’d never been gone. Their ten days hadn’t seemed long enough.

  When Josh left to spend the next fifty-nine days at the School of Infantry, she resumed a life of solitude, waiting to hear from him. Every day held the hope of a phone call or letter. It might have seemed bizarre to some, but he was the only person she had left in the world, and she was having a difficult time letting him go.

  After Josh finished Infantry school, his battalion was deployed to the Middle East. At first, the letters and phone calls came regularly. During that time Sarah noticed that Josh’s ready laughter became a rare occurrence. His need to share new experiences came to a complete stop. Although he’d quietly listen to her ramble, he never offered up information about his life as a Marine. He became a closed book. Eventually the regular phone calls became non-existent.

  After serving a year in Afghanistan, Josh had come home a changed man. The mischievousness that once lit up his blue eyes had been replaced by the horrors of war. He’d never discussed what he’d seen or done and she’d never asked.

  While he was on R & R, they resumed their familiar morning routine, but it was never quite the same. Josh was a changed man. Though she never mentioned it, she missed her crazy, carefree brother.

  During his brief time home, Josh had collected on his whiskey and beer debt and then returned to base.

  Three weeks later he phoned to tell her that he was being deployed for another tour. This time voluntarily. Hours on the phone and painful tears later, Sarah had grudgingly accepted that her brother was leaving again and there was nothing she could do or say to stop him. He’d made up his mind.

  A heart wrenching four months later, Josh finally came home to stay. His new residence, the Arlington Cemetery, a place far removed from the ocean and beaches that he’d loved.

  The twenty-one gun salute during the funeral had triggered painful tightening in her nerves, causing the veins in her temples to throb in violent protest. She had tried listening to the Chaplain drone on and on about the great sacrifice Josh had made for his country, about how much he loved his fellow Americans, blah…blah…blah. The Chaplain didn’t know the first thing about her brother.

  A young Marine, bit back tears as he’d handed her the folded American flag that had covered Josh’s coffin. Sarah had numbly accepted the flag, thinking that it was a sorry replacement for her brother’s life. Did anyone really care that he’d died for his country? She didn’t think so. He was just another statistic to everyone but her. Screw patriotism. Screw politics. Screw everyone. Her brother was dead. The thought of never sharing morning coffee, of never having him tease her, of never being able to ask for his advice again—it was over. Nothing else mattered now.

  During the Chaplain’s never ending words, she’d found herself recalling their life together. The two of them running on the beach, flying kites, dunking each other in the water, it seemed like just yesterday. They had lived a good life.

  One time, Josh had pulled the one and only boy that she’d ever tried to date, from his car. He had threatened to kill him if he laid a hand on her. Even now, the thought sent shivers down her spine. He had been such a protective brother—a good brother.

  With the Chaplain’s words still burning in her ears and her vision distorted with unshed tears, Sarah was faced with a cold, hard, reality. Josh did die for something. He died doing what he believed in. He’d died trying to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. It was the same as he’d always done for his friends, the same he’d always done for her.

  He hadn’t been able to protect mom and dad from the house fire, but he’d saved her. Josh had made a hard choice even then. It wasn’t that much different from the choice that had landed him in his coffin. Her brother had chosen to live his final years in the servitude of others. He’d never forgiven himself for not being able to save their parents, so he’d dedicated himself to saving the people he could. That’s just who he was, who he’d always been.

  The anger and hurt she’d felt towards Josh for leaving her, had fed her just enough strength to deal with his death, but now she was left with the truth. He did what he had to do in order to extract the demons that had chewed away at his consciousness. Josh didn’t choose to die, he’d chosen to live. He had given the very best of himself to her. When he felt she’d no longer needed his protection, he gave it to those that did.

  Tears had ravaged her body as she’d fallen to her knees and buried her head in the flag he’d fought so hard to protect. To Sarah, the flag symbolized the demons that Josh had finally laid to rest. She’d prayed that her brother had finally found peace.

  It seemed a lifetime ago.

  Nearby laughter pulled her back to the present. Turning to locate the source, Sarah spotted a couple chasing each other in the surf. With a small amount of regret, she realized that she had never been close to any man aside from her brother. Life with him had been so fulfilling. She’d never found a reason to spend time away from him or her school work. No need for complicated relationships. Her life had been so easy.

  No longer able to focus, Sarah had left school, convinced that she’d go back when she got it together—if that was possible.

  The red fleece blanket that she pulled around her body had been a gift from Josh years bef
ore. Unsure if the change of seasons or her memories were to blame for the goose bumps that coated her body, Sarah gathered her things to leave. On this stretch of beach, she felt closer to Josh than anywhere else. It was the place where they’d often sat and discussed their grandiose ideas and young dreams.

  This was the one year anniversary of his death and she was still waiting for time to heal her pain. Isn’t that what people kept telling her? That only time can heal the suffering? Well she’d about had it with time. As far as she was concerned, time wasn’t fixing shit! Josh was gone and she was alone.

  Sarah wanted to run away from the memories he’d left behind. Everything in this place reminded her of him, keeping her in a constant state of depression. Every day she expected him to call, or to run into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Every morning she walked past his room, sometimes stopping to listen, hoping that this had been a horrible dream and that she’d wake up any minute. But it wasn’t a bad dream. It was real. Josh wasn’t coming back. She knew it was time to leave this world behind and create a new one of her own. It’s what her parents would have wanted. It’s what Josh would have wanted.

  It was then that she made the decision to answer a classified ad she’d seen in the paper earlier that week. A scientific study was being conducted by a well-known lab up north. They were seeking women interested in becoming mothers through artificial insemination. She’d never be able to replace her brother, but she craved to fill the huge gap his absence had left behind. This would be perfect. She could have a child of her own, without the drama of searching for or dealing with another person or ugly custody issues.

  She could rent out her family home to earn extra income, plus she’d have the fee promised by the lab. Money wasn’t really an issue. Josh had named her as beneficiary on his military life insurance, and there was still some money left from mom and dad’s insurance. No, money wasn’t the issue; being lonely was.

  Room and board would be provided during the pregnancy, along with free medical care. There were only a few stipulations. You had to be at least 21, in good health, and drug free. Since she’d never tried drugs and was 22, she qualified. There was another stipulation, but Sarah didn’t give it much thought, figuring it was an essential part of the research. She’d deal with that when the time came, if it came. Not that it bothered her. She met that criterion as well. Anyway, chances that she’d be chosen for the study were probably slim, but it was an opportunity she’d given serious thought to. Enough thought in fact, that she’d researched the lab’s credentials, board members, stock holdings, and every other aspect she could think of, in order to convince herself that it wasn’t a scam. Everything she’d found, proved the company to be a world leader in innovative scientific research and experimentation. Sarah was lonely, not stupid. It was time to answer the ad and get the ball rolling.