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Wilson. I’m going to have one of the assistants move the “missing patient” downstairs for some tests. By the time they figure it out, I’ll have had the time I need.” He stared at me blankly. “Can you do that?” I pressed.
    He nodded supportively. “Yes, Sir.”
    After that, I made a phone call to order my newest patient moved for brain and bone scans. Then I hurried to the interrogation room.
    The sergeant major was sitting on the table, staring down at Wes, who looked terrible. Who looked drugged. Still shirtless, with soaked hair, he was beyond pale and his eyes were rolling toward the back of his head. He was either really drugged or a very good actor.
    John was standing behind him, holding his head up and forcing him to look at the sergeant major.
    I cleared my throat, causing my fellow comrades to look my way. “I’ll take it from here. Thank you.”
    Without a word, John let go of his head and Wes lazily let it tilt to the right. “Thirty minutes,” the sergeant major ordered.
    There was no telling who was listening or watching, so I had to be careful with my next move.
    Walking over to him, I leaned in closely, blocking his face from the camera. “Before I sit down, I’d like to know if you feel okay.” I hoped he would get my hint.
    Acknowledging my hidden message, his eyes focused immediately, and an enormous sense of relief washed over me. He still let his head fall to the side lazily, mimicking the effects of the un-administered drug, but there was no doubt he was completely coherent.
    “Alright, I’m going to ask you some questions. All you need to do is answer them and we’ll get you out of here.”
    His eyes still watched me with a desperation that spoke of an undeserved trust. With one final blink, I nodded and stood up straight, letting the show begin. His gaze smoothly shifted out of focus, falling back into a daze.
    “Okay, Mr. Wilson!” I said loudly, hoping to give the impression that I was searching for his attention. “Now, there are some things we talked about earlier, and it’s important that we finish. I want to know what new, innovative discoveries you have going on at the California Blood Research Lab.”
    Groggily, he played the part, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
    Reluctantly, I knew I needed to change my tone. “Yes, you are. Now search your mind. Think about what you are developing there that can help us.”
    “I, I . . . “ His head swayed back and forth as his gaze traveled lazily around the room concealed behind half-closed eyelids.
    I let my gaze travel away from his face, down to his chest, which was still oddly pale, and then noticed the hard lines of his arms in the bright lights. The veins were standing out more against the pale skin.
The same veins I couldn’t insert a needle into.
Why couldn’t I insert the needle? I’d almost forgotten.
    Snapping out of my pit of confusion, I pressed on for the sake of our listeners. “Weston. Tell me what I need to know. You have the answer don’t you?”
    Still not focusing on me, he slowly shook his head, and suddenly fear overtook me, because no matter how good of a performance he was putting on, we weren’t going to get anywhere. He wasn’t going to tell me enough to get the sergeant major off my back.
    Speaking the truth out loud, I whispered half to him and half to myself, “This isn’t working. It isn’t going to work.”
    I put my head down, fearing the worse. I was a doctor, not a showman. I couldn’t turn this into a success for anyone other than those calling the shots. As if reading my mind, Weston looked at me, still with a drugged gaze, “I may know . . . something.”
    I looked up in shock. His eyes still appeared to have a lot of trouble focusing, knowing he needed to give up something to get out of here, he slurred more teasingly appealing information.
    “There is something my doctors have discovered about the body’s natural defense against . . . against . . . “ he paused, and began