Enter the Hound: The Origin of Inu

 

Chapter 2: Telephone Line

 

            “You are coming home for Thanksgiving, right?”

            Ashley smiled.  “Yes, mom,” she said, addressing the speaker-phone on the dresser.  “I’m packing right now.”

            “Okay, just wanted to make sure since you mentioned having plans.”

            “No, that’s after Thanksgiving.  Nadine wants to go to the paid clinical thing, and Austin and I want to be there in case it turns out to be a scam.  Show support, you know?”  She folded a sweatshirt and stuffed it into her duffel bag.  “I’ll come home for Thanksgiving weekend, then drive back to campus for the screening.  No big deal.  Besides, winter quarter doesn’t start until January, and I just don’t feel right leaving my dorm empty for two months.”

            “Where’s this clinical thing taking place?”

            “You’ve probably never heard of it.  It’s a place called ‘Genome.’  They do genetic research.”

            Things suddenly became very quiet on the other end of the phone line.  Ashley stopped packing and picked up the handset -- a custom two-piece deal that resembled the can-phones she had made as a kid.  “Mom?  Mom, what’s wrong?  What is it?”

            On the other end of the line, Tawnie Boyce was shaking.  Ashley could tell by the way her mom was breathing that something wasn’t right.

            “Sweetie, I don’t think you should go to Genome,” Tawnie finally said.

            “Why?  What’s wrong with Genome?”

            “Let me put your dad on the phone...”

            Ashley frowned.  What the hell was going on?

            In the background, Ashley could her mom telling dad everything that had just happened.  They were trying to be quiet, knowing that their daughter was trying to listen, but Ashley still managed to catch bits of the conversation.  Her parents were afraid, and it all had something to do with Genome and “that meeting with Dr. Pembroke,” whoever he was.

            Finally, Joe picked up the phone.

            “Hey, kid, I hear you’re planning on visiting Genome.”

            “Yes,” Ashley said.  “What’s going on, dad?  Why are guys so worried?”

            “Kid, there’s something you should know about that place,” her dad replied, his voice low and steady.  “You know we’ve always been open with you about your being adopted...”

            “Yes, and for that I’m grateful.”

            “...and we told you that we met your biological father, and that both of your biological parents had a genetic condition that prevented them from being able to care for you...”

            “Yes, and...?”

            “...and that they apparently passed that condition on to you...”

            “Dad, what are you getting at?”

            “Your biological parents worked for Genome.”

            Ashley almost fell over from shock.  “Are...are you serious?”

            Joe told Ashley everything that happened during the meeting with Dr. Pembroke on that rainy day in May twenty-two years ago.  Ashley listened carefully, storing every detail away for later reflection.  She could still hear her mom fretting in the background, but her dad remained calm and told the story to completion.

            “Your mom would like for you to stay away from Genome,” Joe said at last, “but somehow I don’t think you will.  You wouldn’t abandon your friend like that, and there’s a hunger for knowledge in you that just won’t be satisfied until you’ve investigated things for yourself.”

            Ashley smiled.  He knew her so well.  “I’ll try to be careful, dad.”

            “I know you will, kid.  See you tomorrow night.  Drive safely.”

            Ashley promised she would, and with a parting “I love you,” hung up the phone.  She sat down on the bed beside her duffel bag and replayed the whole conversation in her mind.  There was a lot to take in.  Ashley had always wondered about her biological parents, and now she had the opportunity not only to learn more about her condition, but perhaps find out about her roots, too.  She considered telling Nadine and Austin, but decided against it.  If Genome was as dangerous as Dr. Pembroke had told her dad, then Austin and Nadine were already in enough peril just going to the screening.  Of course, that had all been twenty-two years ago.  Wasn’t it possible that things had changed?

            Ashley shook her head to clear her mind and resumed packing.  She’d sleep on it tonight and make decisions in the morning.