Pandora's Daughters (William Bernhardt's Shine Series Book 3)

By WILLIAM BERNHARDT

After her horrifying discovery of the underground cellblock where many Shine prisoners—and her mother—were held and experimented on, Aura resolved to escape from the TYL "rehab." Unaware of the government and scientific conspiracies swirling around her, she developed a plan with the other Shines utilizing their special abilities and, most importantly, teamwork. They blew a hole in the electrified wall surrounding TYL, but soon after they were apprehended by Dr. Coutant and her associates, who appeared to have advance knowledge of the escape attempt. Now she must somehow survive cruel retaliation and successfully find some way off the island--before it's too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Babylon Books
• Release date: Jan 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948263092

WILLIAM BERNHARDT

William Bernhardt (b. 1960), a former attorney, is a bestselling thriller author. Born in Oklahoma, he began writing as a child, submitting a poem about the Oklahoma Land Run to Highlights—and receiving his first rejection letter—when he was eleven years old. Twenty years later, he had his first success, with the publication of Primary Justice (1991), the first novel in the long-running Ben Kincaid series. The success of Primary Justice marked Bernhardt as a promising young talent, and he followed the book with seventeen more mysteries starring the idealistic defense attorney, including Murder One (2001) and Hate Crime (2004). Bernhardt’s other novels include Double Jeopardy (1995) and The Midnight Before Christmas (1998), a holiday-themed thriller. In 1999, Bernhardt founded Bernhardt Books (formerly HAWK Publishing Group) as a way to help boost the careers of struggling young writers. In addition to writing and publishing, Bernhardt teaches writing workshops around the country. He currently lives with his family in Oklahoma. 

Book preview

PANDORA’S DAUGHTERS

by William Bernhardt

Copyright © 2015 William Bernhardt

All rights reserved.

Published by Babylon Books

Distributed by Smashwords

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Other Books by William Bernhardt

The Ben Kincaid Novels:

Primary Justice

Blind Justice

Deadly Justice

Perfect Justice

Cruel Justice

Naked Justice

Extreme Justice

Dark Justice

Silent Justice

Murder One

Criminal Intent

Death Row

Hate Crime

Capitol Murder

Capitol Threat

Capitol Conspiracy

Capitol Offense

Capitol Betrayal

Other novels:

Challengers of the Dust

The Game Master

Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness

Dark Eye

Strip Search

Double Jeopardy

The Midnight Before Christmas

The Code of Buddyhood

Final Round

Nonfiction:

Story Structure: The Key to Successful Fiction

Creating Character: Bringing Your Story to Life

Perfecting Plot: Charting the Hero’s Journey

Dynamic Dialogue: Letting Your Story Speak

Sizzling Style: Every Word Matters

Excellent Editing: The Writing Process

Powerful Premise: Writing the Irresistible

The Fundamentals of Fiction Video Series

Poetry:

The White Bird

The Ocean’s Edge

For young readers:

Shine

The Black Sentry

Princess Alice and the Dreadful Dragon

Equal Justice: The Courage of Ada Sipuel

Edited by William Bernhardt

Legal Briefs: Stories by Today’s Best Thriller Writers

Natural Suspect: A Collaborative Novel of Suspense

For Alice, Beth, Kadey, and Madeline

You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same.

Jonathan Davis

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Note from the Author

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Chapter 1

Pasadena, California

Bristow Genetics

Six Years Before

Long before he was known as the Chief, Ralph strode through the sliding titanium-reinforced doors leading to the third-floor research lab at Bristow Genetics. He did not run. He never ran. Running could be interpreted as the sign of a desperate man or a poor planner. Someone who needed something. In his line of work, that kind of impression could be fatal. He simply moved at a steady rate that made it clear he had no time to waste, that he would not tolerate delay, and that everyone else worked for him, not the other way around.

So there was no pretense, no nicety, no small talk. What do you have for me?

Dr. Simon Estes pulled his face from the electron microscope. Do you know what the Big Bang was?

Of course I do. I’ve been assigned to Scientific Oversight for more than a decade.

Did you see it?

"Did I see it? Was the man completely addled? He had always suspected as much. They kept telling him Estes was decades ahead of the rest, but all he ever saw was the crazy. Of course I didn’t. It occurred billions of years ago."

Well then, you’re in luck, Estes said, brushing his hands against his lab coat. It’s about to happen again. And this time, you’ll have a front row seat.

He pulled a chair from the acrylic lab table and sat. Contrary to what some people thought, being seated while others stood put you in a superior position. You could appear relaxed while they stood awkwardly before you fiddling with their hands. Is your data in the BG cloud, Doctor?

Of course.

He touched a button on his watch, then made a horizontal sweep with his hand, bringing up transparent three-dimensional files. In this lab, so long as the transponders remained active, the desktop could be anywhere.

He only needed a minute to absorb the contents of the file. He had always been a quick study. You’re saying the universe is about to be reborn? Again?

Not the universe. Life. A new strand of life. And no, I don’t mean a variant species, or phylum, or even genus. I’m not talking about evolution or mutations. I mean new life.

When?

It’s already happening.

Spontaneously?

Estes looked away. I don’t know what’s causing it. I haven’t discovered the trigger.

He swept his hands through the air a few more times, bringing up several subfolders and files. And photographs. Explain.

I’m talking about something completely unprecedented. A giant leap for mankind. Except for real, this time.

Just at the exact moment you need a breakthrough to insure your continued funding. Interesting.

I didn’t make this happen. But I think you will be able to see the potential. Just as I do.

A useful potential, I’m hoping.

Estes proceeded as if he had not heard. For decades now, scientists have babbled about the God particle, the Higgs boson, the so-called building blocks of life—as if all the secrets of creation could be contained in a subatomic particle. He punched a few buttons on a wall panel. A large overhead plasma screen flickered to life. The secret of life is not in physics. It’s in genetics. It’s not about particles, but chromosomes. That which defines what we are. And what we have the power to become. Genetics is our most valuable commodity.

"Forgive me, Dr. Estes, but you’re wasting my most valuable commodity—time. He really wasn’t, but he knew the importance of keeping these people on edge. Estes acted far too comfortable around him. He normally made sure everyone understood that they were his tools, cogs in his all-encompassing machinery. Estes didn’t seem to get it. Almost as if the man had plans of his own. I’ve heard all this before. Give me something new."

I’ve given you more than you ever asked for.

And yet never as much as I needed. We’re still financing your research—

And harassing me incessantly for practical applications.

Charming euphemism. Have you got something for me or not?

Estes