“Looks like they’re doing pretty well,” Cooper observed.

“It feels a little forced.” Doc replied, then looked at Turner with a raised eyebrow.

“Give them time.” Turner the report he was typing. “They will get into their roles fairly fast now that Marie is recording.”

“They’re not very cheerful.” Doc observed as he continued to watch Turner.

“Would you be chipper after a couple hundred-mile drive to this place? Let them loosen up.”

“The beer might be a bad idea.”

Closing his laptop computer, Turner faced the psychologist with a neutral expression. “Why are you raising so many objections?”

“It’s my job.”

“I thought your job was to give technical support, not subject me to chronic worry.” Turner toyed with his sunglasses for a moment, then favored the doctor with a shrewd glance. “If you want to leave here, say so and I will get you to Superior and a nice hotel room.”

“No.”

“Then stop bothering me.” Turner looked at Cooper. “When are Lynch and Goldfelt supposed to arrive?”

Jim Lynch was to be ‘the spoiled’ younger son of the MacDonal’s. His wife, Barb, was to be no better than her husband with no the social graces. Pampered children of the computer age.

The two actors had left the house after Turner’s speech and drove half a mile down the road to await the signal to arrive for the family festivities.

“Well,” the technician switched the camera view to an exterior shot of the house showing the cars parked next to the driveway. “Right now, they are sitting in their car until we give them the go ahead. If we follow the schedule, they will approach the door in another fifteen minutes.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Did the heavy equipment depart on time?”

“The convoy took off about an hour ago,” Cooper smirked at the delayed departure. “Something about fixing something broken on the crane before leaving. The clearing is empty now. Good enough for government work.”

“What are you going to do with the actors when we’re done here?” The doctor asked abruptly.

“Send them home.” Turner faced the doctor with a new understanding. “You’re worried that we might want to silence them.”

“And me.”

“As far as this project is concerned, they go home. We have no reason to hold them in isolation, and they do not know enough to be dangerous. Besides, they will do better for the project if they show up after the broadcast and claim it was all a hoax.” Turner gave a cruel smile. “As for you, Doc, if you don’t get with the program, there might be an alternate ending for you.”

The Doc blinked. “What about Cooper?”

“He’s not giving me any grief, is he?”

“So, this is your personal kingdom. You can do anything you please.”

“Are you telling me you want me to remove you from this project? Is that what you want?”

“No.” Doc stared at the Turner.

“What is the real reason for these questions and your attempts to distract me?” Turner watched the man, though he saw Cooper edge away from the doctor.

The doctor remained silent, his focus moving between the computer and Turner, an internal struggle plain on his face.

“Come on,” Turner tried reason. “Answer the question.”

“I can’t.” Doc replied, tight-lipped, gripping the armrests of his chair in a furious hold.

“Ah,” Turner touched a finger to his nose. “You were told to watch me. I suppose they think I am a danger to the operation.”

“It was your idea.” His face flushed with anger; the Doc tried to relax.

“It was such a crazy idea they watched me.” Turner nodded, then looked to his computer.

“Something like that,” Doc confirmed, then turned his back on the project leader, trying to focus his attention on Marie’s work.

“Of course, it would be a crazy idea to fake an abduction,” Turner spoke so softly Cooper could not hear the comment, but the words raised the hair on the back of the doctor’s neck. “It would be crazy if I had not thought of it. Think of a better excuse, Doc, or the next time I may not be so forgiving.”

“Mmmm, look fresh bread,” Marie was zooming the camera in and out on a loaf of bread sitting on the kitchen table.

“Does she have to do that?” The Doc waved at the screen; his voice was weak.

“She’s a natural.” Cooper watched the video feed for a moment. “I like her. She has an honest energy.”