Chapter 38

After passing through a car and a personal belongings search, Stone and Murphy were parked in the National Institute of Health lot, outside of the clinical center building. They had to walk to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Center building, a short distance away. As they walked, Stone’s trained eyes saw nothing unusual—the activity seemed normal and no one looked out of place. Security cameras were scattered about and probably could be hacked, but Stone thought that there was little chance McGowan was doing so. Still, they were cautious.

The institute director had no knowledge that they were coming or what he was about to receive.

Murphy impulsively, playfully, grabbed Stone’s hand as they walked, but he pulled it away.

“Wrong time and place,” he told her.

“Oh relax, will you? McGowan doesn’t know we’re here. As far as anyone knows, we’re two people in love.”

“In love after one night together having sex?”

“Yes.”

“You’re far ahead of me. I don’t know if”

“Well catch up!”

“You know what I mean. We have a meeting to go to.”

Mark Lofredo, PhD, was the director of the institute. He of furrowed brow, sandy hair, green eyes, was on the phone with the Director of the National Institute of Health discussing possibilities of improving stimulation of muscles in locked-in syndrome patients when his secretary interrupted him.

“A Mr. Stone and Ms. Murphy to see you, sir.”

Lofredo glanced in the secretary’s direction and pointed to the phone.

She knew that he was irritated because she interrupted him, especially with his boss on the line, but she continued.

“They say they have a gift for the institute unlike any it has received.”

Taxpayers fund the National Institutes of Health; the secretary knew that. And she knew that Lofredo’s interest would be piqued.

Lofredo asked his boss if he could call back.

“Why?”

“Some people here want to give the Institute a gift. Might be something, or nothing at all. I’ll let you know.”

Lofredo rose to shake hands with his guests. Murphy reminded him of someone famous, but he couldn’t think whom.

“Please, have a seat,” he offered, pointing to the padded chairs in front of his desk. “Ms. Markham mentioned that you come bearing gifts. We get few of them, so naturally I’m curious to hear what you have.”

Lofredo, like all other directors at the National Institutes of Health, was aware that research into the capture of thoughts was being done in several countries, but he had no idea how far along the research had progressed. Listening to Stone’s explanation, he beamed with delight. Now there was a chance to improve the condition of lives affected by this pernicious condition.

When Stone had him put a contact lens in his eye, and he saw Stone’s and Murphy’s thoughts, he wept with joy.

“Do you have any idea what this can mean to those afflicted, their families and caregivers?” he blubbered.

“We do,” a smiling Stone answered.

He and Murphy gave Lofredo the invention package and taught him how to use it. Stone also told him who else had it, much to Lofredo’s amusement. He especially enjoyed having the same toy as the Department of Defense.

“Mr. Stone, how can I get my hands on more, many more, of these?” Lofredo asked, knowing that Stone was not going to be offended by thinking he was greedy.

“During development, we did not think of all the issues this invention would encompass, partly because we were hard at work. Now that we’ve finished and have been paid two trillion dollars for it, doing the right thing with it has become our main concern. Which is why, hypocrisy aside, we will be building a factory where our eyeglass version of the contact lens will be made and further developed. We will deliver them to you as quickly as possible.”

“I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing, Mr. Stone, and Ms. Murphy. I see how it has become a moral issue for you.”

“Yes, it has. Ms. Murphy was concerned about that aspect before any of the rest of us who worked on it. I give her credit for speaking up.”

Murphy smiled and grabbed Stone’s hand and squeezed it. This time he didn’t pull his away.

“Do you think McGowan is still after us?” Murphy asked Stone as they walked back to the car.

“Yes. We can’t get complacent. We’re going back to Connecticut. But first I have to talk to Danders and see how they are doing.”