Page 73 of Shielding Instinct

“Mom and Dad were both laid back, kind of laissez-faire. It was just another day in the life rather than a time imbued with deep meaning. There should have been something buzzing under the surface, right? Like an undertone of bittersweetness. When the children were playing, and the mother was looking on, there should have been the sense that she was soaking it all in, imprinting her children and this event deep into her psyche to take out and remember on difficult days. There was none of that.”

“These are mother observations, not father?” Rowan asked.

“Dads don’t have ‘fetal microchimerism.’” Petra said. “Fair or not, I expect more from a biological mom.”

“And you’re going to explain all that to me so I can follow.”

“Fetal microchimerism is the phenomenon that happens when a baby is being born; part of their DNA passes through the placenta into the mother’s body. It’s stored in the mom’s organs, usually the brain, liver, and skin, and persists there. That’s the hard science supported by the scientific method and replications.”

“Now, the soft science and speculation?” Rowan asked.

“There’s the possibility that this connection is the source of mother’s intuition.”

“That research will never get funded,” Rowan said.

“True. But in this case, I would think that if microchimerism did connect mother and child, it would be blasting this woman, lighting her system up like a Christmas tree.”

“A chimerism tree?”

“You want me to laugh, but I’m too tired,” Petra said.

“Okay, Petra, as a former FBI profiler turned researcher of state-sponsored mind security, offer me your theory.”

“First, I have to talk to Avery when I get off from talking to you. I told Jenny about Holly Smokes. I need her to pass on a warning not to engage.”

“Yeah, that’s probably good. I’ll—hey, Avery, Petra needs to talk to you when we’re done.”

“Okay, I’m just running next door for a second to check on Mrs. Glasser before the ice storm. Should I wait?” Avery called. “I wanted to ask Petra what she knew about all the rescues today in St. Croix and see if everyone’s okay.”

“I think you have time,” Rowan called. He was back on the phone. “She has time?”

“I’m not in any kind of hurry,” Petra said. “This is vacation.”

Petra heard a door shut.

“What rescue today?” Rowan asked.

Petra briefly explained the situation on the island. “Avery saw that on the news? Must be a slow news day. And with a winter storm blowing in D.C.? Seems odd.” And since Rowan had an association with Iniquus, she added, “I am worried about Ash. All I know is that he was having respiratory issues after the boat fire. I’ll text you and let you know how he is.”

“Grateful for the information,” Rowan said. “The guy you pulled out of the blow hole is okay?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. Broken limbs at a minimum.”

“Shit, that’s brutal. How old?” Rowan asked.

“Twenty-seven. The untouchable age.”

“Not anymore.” There was a clink of the ice cubes in Rowan’s drink. “That fallacy’s been blown. I’m going to help you focus. I’d like you to share the story you’re telling yourself about the Johnsons.”

“I imagine that the judge understood the stakes for this family. If they were to flee, they could try to get to a country without extradition.”

“Could,” Rowan conceded. “But surely they had their passports confiscated.”

“Mmm. I was wondering if maybe someone should check on that.”

“The judge?” Rowan asked.

“No. Could the Johnsons, knowing they might lose their passports, have reported them stolen at some point? Asked to have them reissued? That way, they’d have nothing to hand over to a judge.”

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