"Okay, Mom, time to stretch your legs." Ally held her hand and together they headed across the oval brick driveway. Birds were chirping around them and she could smell the scent of the lake, borne up the hill by a fresh wind. Then, through the trees, she saw two women walking up the trail that led down to the lake. They were, she assumed some of the patients. They both looked to be in their early sixties, but also athletic and nimble. One was wearing Nikes and a pale green pantsuit. The other had on a blue dress and a white cap and Ally realized she must be a nurse. She'd been taking the other woman out for a stroll. They were engrossed in conversation, but as they approached, the woman Ally had decided was on staff looked up and smiled a greeting. "Can I help you?" She introduced herself and Nina and Maria. The woman smiled again but didn't introduce herself in turn. "We're here to see Dr. Van de Vliet," Ally went on, "about the trials. But we're a couple of minutes early and I was wondering if we could look around a bit first? I'm trying to understand what the institute is really like." "Well, dear," the woman said, "even those of us who work here aren't allowed everywhere. You know, into the research lab in the basement. Some places here have to be completely hygienic. Of course, for patients who are in the recovery phase, strolling around outside is definitely recommended, as long as they're able. But that's getting way ahead of ourselves. First we'll have to check you in. There's a lot of paperwork for the clinical trials." She seemed puzzled. "They're almost over, you know. But come along and I'll let him know you're here. He's always down in the lab at this time of the morning. It's well after his rounds. They're so busy now." Then she turned to the other woman. "Sophie, do you think you can find your way back to your room? It's number two-eighteen, on the second floor, remember?" Sophie appeared to be pondering the question for a long moment before she huffed "Don't be silly. I know exactly where it is." As she strode on ahead, the nurse watched her carefully, as though unsure what she might do next. She pushed a buzzer at the door and then a man in a white uniform opened it and let her in. Only after Sophie had disappeared through the doorway did the nurse turn back. "I'm Elise Baker. Please forgive Sophie if she seems a little ... confused. Her procedure is still under way." "Her 'procedure'? What--" "She was diagnosed with Parkinson's before she came here. She's improved an enormous amount, but we're not allowed to say so." "Why is that?" "We're in clinical trials. No one is allowed to discuss our results. Everyone here had to sign a secrecy agreement." Now Maria was helping Nina up the steps. The porch, with its soaring white Doric columns, was definitely magisterial. The front door, however, was not wooden or decorative. It was solid steel, albeit painted white to blend in.