“You’re right, Matthew,” nodded Eric. “It’s what you and Mama Irene have always told us. I’m sorry I forgot that for a moment. I don’t have to understand it. I don’t have to agree with it. I just need to respect their decision and be kind.”
“That’s it, baby,” smiled Irene. “Right, Luke?” He gave her a big smile and a hug.
“Right, Grandma.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Carl, Nathan, Keith, and Remy pulled the boat alongside the levee. The water was high, the winter snow and ice further north filling the Mississippi to her brim. They all prayed she wouldn’t overflow into the city or crowded communities.
Remy jumped from the boat, grabbing the rope and securing it to an iron ring in the concrete. As they walked up the levee, they could see the faint security lights on the side of the building. It was almost laughable. The lights weren’t enough to offer any form of security.
Although, looking at the building they all agreed that no one would suspect that it held anything of value.
Keith moved so quietly, they often wondered if he’d taken personal lessons from Trak. As a deaf man, you would think he would be louder, unable to hear himself. It was the opposite. Even as big as he was, he walked softly, quietly entering spaces often unseen.
He picked the lock on the door and then looked at the security alarm, nodding at Carl.
Again, they were surprised at how cheap and flimsy the security system was. Once it was off, they were inside without any issues at all.
The door they entered led them into the packaging area where Ginnie Granger had worked. It contained simple work stations where filled bottles were sent down a line, labeled with one of two different labels and then boxed and placed inside a larger box for shipping.
“What are the two different labels for?” asked Nathan.
“I’m not sure,” said Remy. “It’s the same as what they found at the gym. D-173 and D-174. Maybe one is for men and one for women?”
“Could be,” nodded Nathan. “You and Keith get these out to the boat. We’ll get to the actual formulating and manufacturing side and see if we can take something from over there.”
Remy and Keith took the cases of packed product out, three at a time. Both men were more than capable of carrying large loads. It was odd to them that three was no dock door where product could be carried out to boats or trucks.
“Were they just planning on taking all this shit out like we are?” signed Remy to Keith. The other man shrugged, shaking his head.
On the other side of the warehouse, Nathan and Carl couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Vats of raw ingredients littered the manufacturing floor, exposed to dust, foul air, rodents, flies, and other unthinkable hazards.
“Holy shit,” muttered Carl. “This is disgusting.”
“What is all this?” asked Nathan.
“I’m not sure,” said Carl. He tapped his comms device. “I think we need better eyes on this shit. Is Suzette or Erin available?”
“I’m right here, sweetie,” said Erin. “We’re getting a clear picture, I just need you to be low enough to show me the labels. It looks like raw ingredients in drug manufacturing. Sometimes they’re used for therapeutic effects, along with inactive ingredients like fillers, binders, coatings, solvents, like that one!”
“This one?” asked Carl.
“Yes. That’s acetone. Oh, the one next to it is ethanol. Very toxic chemicals at high levels. Do you boys have your masks on?” she asked.
“Yes, we do,” smirked Nathan.
“Good, good. I’m not seeing anything alarming yet. I need to see what their active ingredients are. The things they’re using to make these changes,” said Erin staring at the screen.
“Did you hear that?” asked Carl. Nathan nodded, pulling his weapon as they walked further into the room.
“Oh, shit,” muttered Nathan. “What the hell is that?”
“Lab animals,” said Erin. “Oh, wow. It’s fish. I mean, most of them are fish.”
“What the hell? He’s into fish?” asked Carl.
“No. No, Carl, many animals, primarily fish, can change sex. It’s something called sequential hermaphroditism. It’s a natural, adaptive, and sometimes reversible process driven by social structure, size, or environmental factors.”