Mira was looking at a spreadsheet when the mail clerk dropped a thick envelope on her desk. It took a moment for her to reach a place where she could stop. She saw her name and company address on the label, then ripped the envelope open. Inside: flight, hotel, itinerary. What’s all this? she wondered. The note was curt. Your Presence is Requested. You will not need luggage; all is provided. You will be met at the airport....

Mira, along with the point man Mira had nicknamed Sunglasses, and Mira’s companions Rick, Xavier, and Xavier’s wife Reina, went into the lobby, disdain on the staff’s faces. Sunglasses drew the concierge to the registration desk, where they whispered. Sunglasses muttered to the concierge. He handed the man a credit card; Mira’s eyes narrowed as she saw the L and DNA emblem. She fished her cell phone out and started Googli...

The sedan wound around the island. Reina was silent, intent on her phone. Mira looked out the window, watching the scenery go by. The sign on the building read “Kaʻena Research.” Mira entered the squat, all-glass building. A beautiful blonde in a linen wrap dress was behind the reception desk. “Mira Lyric? Welcome to Kaʻena Research.” She handed a clipboard to Mira. “Please sign in.” Mira filled out the log sheet. She had...

Mira arrived at 7 am. She was offered a continental breakfast and nibbled on some grapes and water. Finished, she was taken to the same testing room she was in on the first day. Indeed, it was a repeat of her first day, with the same IQ testing. Halfway, she stopped, squirming. She was on fire, her nipples shooting electricity with the contact with the thin T-shirt she wore. In her privates, she felt like she was on fire,...

“Do you love him?” Mira glared at her father. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Walter held her gaze. “You didn’t answer the question.” “No, I didn’t.” Mira folded her arms and looked away. “Right now, I’m more interested in why your company treated me like a fucking lab rat.” Walter stared at her. “Lab rat?” “Oh, don’t give me that.” She came forward again. “The God-Almighty Walter Basehart doesn’t know...