The River Killers Read Online Free PDF Page B

how such a simple relationship could be so pleasurable. My train of thought was going in the direction of “simple relationships for simple people.” Fortunately she handed me a drink before the train reached its destination. “What’s on your mind?”
    I sipped carefully as I pondered the best way to approach it. I didn’t want to presume her loyalty, and I didn’t want her to become collateral damage in my dirty war with Griffith.
    â€œCouple of things,” I said eventually. “When you and the data group were setting up the Fourth Reich, you spent a lot of time figuring out data-tracking and verification protocols. You probably understand that process better than anyone. So why is it that when I’m mining the database for my project on fish health, I can stumble across an anomalous file that has zero cross-referencing, nothing to show where it came from, nothing about the author, and nothing how the data entered the system? And when I repeat the links that got me there, the file has disappeared?”
    She sipped her drink. “System deficiencies, also known as fuck-ups. There was a whole bunch of data, lots of different files, that had come out of a project at the West Vancouver lab, and they wanted to get rid of it. Mostly I did it without even opening the files. The only tricky part was that the database hadn’t been debugged at that point, and sometimes their information wasn’t ‘filed properly.’ Lost, in other words. I had a hard time tracking everything down so I could erase it. I assume that whatever you saw was just some lost file that escaped the purge. It’s just floating around in there and you stumbled across it.”
    I hesitated about the next part. I didn’t want to reveal too much because I didn’t think it would be good for either of us. “When you guys were liaising with Science to get all their stuff into a usable format, there were reams of data coming out of the West Vancouver lab. They had all kinds of projects going on. Did you ever come across anything, or even hear about anything to do with hybrid or transgenic fish?”
    There. I’d said it, and she looked at me appraisingly. “Transgenic?” The naughty word not usually pronounced in polite company. Canada was bound by international convention not to mess around with that stuff, but half the science types in DFO slobbered with adolescent lust over the possibilities.
    â€œI don’t know how you got onto this, Danny. We’ve had to kill three people to keep it quiet. At least I got a memo about studying the feasibility of killing three people. But seriously, I heard all the rumors, just like you, but I never actually saw anything scary. Mind you, I wasn’t allowed to open some of the files. I was brought in because I was the queen geek, and they needed me to delete—and I mean deeply delete—a whole bunch of files that had become ‘corrupted.’ I didn’t really buy that, but I knew I wasn’t going to get any answers so I didn’t ask any questions.” She looked at me speculatively. “The project name was kind was kind of interesting, though. Chimera. Project Chimera.”
    I nodded, carefully avoiding her eyes. I knew I was being uncharacteristically intense, and she was aware of it. But she wasn’t going to pry. “I guess that explains it. So, how’s life in Policy Central? I’m jealous of all the exciting things you must be involved in.”
    â€œYeah right. I just finished a two-week symposium on enumeration methodology, and tomorrow I have to write a briefing note on consultation requirements of the new Oceans Act. Still jealous?”
    â€œI think I can overcome it.” We clinked glasses and sat for a while in comfortable silence.
    When we joined the others at the table, I could see that the mood had loosened up considerably. Even federal civil servants are susceptible to the effects