Robin Cook - Acceptable Risk

The sound of the outer door closing got everyone’s attention since the lab got few visitors. All eyes turned to the door to the reception area. It opened and in walked Stanton.

A spontaneous triple cheer arose from the researchers. A confused Stanton stopped in his tracks. “What on earth is going on here?” he questioned. “Nobody working today?”

Eleanor rushed him a beaker of champagne.

“A little toast,” Edward said, lifting his drink. “We’d like to drink to your heckling nature that motivated us to start taking Ultra. We’re reaping the benefits on a daily basis.”

Amid giggles everyone took a drink including Stanton.

“It really has been a boon,” Edward said. “We’ve been drawing blood on each other and saving urine to test.”

“All of us except François,” Gloria said, teasing the Frenchman. “He forgets more than half the time.”

“We did have a slight problem with compliance in that regard,” Edward admitted. “But we solved it by taping the toilet seats down and putting up a sign saying hold it.”

They all laughed again. Gloria and David had to put their drinks down for fear of spilling them.

“You certainly are a happy group,” Stanton commented.

“We have reason to be,” Edward said. He then told Stanton the good news about discovering the structure of the binding protein. He gave partial credit to Ultra for sharpening everyone’s mental acuity.

“This is marvelous news indeed!” Stanton exclaimed. He made it a point to walk around and shake Gloria’s, Eleanor’s, and François’s hands individually. Then he told Edward he wanted to talk with him.

Using Stanton’s arrival as an opportunity to excuse herself, Kim left. She felt good about her visit to the lab; she had the feeling she’d accomplished something by suggesting violence and short-term-memory loss should be included in the clinical evaluation of Ultra.

Kim headed back toward the castle. The first thing she wanted to do was put Thomas Goodman’s letter into the Bible box with the other memorabilia pertaining to Elizabeth. As she neared the mansion she saw a Salem police car emerge from the trees. Evidently the driver saw her, because the cruiser immediately turned onto the road to the castle, heading in her direction.

Kim stopped and waited. The car pulled to a stop, and the same two officers who’d responded to the call about Buffer got out.

Billy touched the rim of his visored hat in a kind of salute while he and Kim exchanged greetings.

“I hope we’re not bothering you,” Billy said.

“Is something wrong?” Kim questioned.

“We wanted to ask if you’d had any more trouble since the death of the dog,” Billy said. “There’s been a rash of vandalism in the immediate area, as if Halloween had come a month early.”

“Halloween’s big here in Salem,” Harry said. “It’s the time of year we law-enforcement officers have learned to hate.”

“What kind of vandalism?” Kim questioned.

“The usual nonsense,” Billy said. “Trash cans turned over, garbage spread around. Also more pets have disappeared and some of the carcasses have turned up across the road in the Greenlawn Cemetery.”

“We’re still concerned about the possibility of a rabid animal in the neighborhood,” Harry said. “You’d better keep that cat of yours indoors, especially considering the size of your property and all its wooded areas.”

“We think some local kids have joined the fray, so to speak,” Billy said. “They’re imitating what the animal has been doing. There’s been too much for one animal. I mean, how many trash cans can a raccoon do in a night?” He snickered.

“I appreciate your coming by to warn me,” Kim said. “We haven’t had any trouble since the dog’s death, but I’ll be sure to continue to keep my cat close to home.”

“If you have any problems please give us a call,” Harry said. “We’d like to get to the bottom of this before it gets out of hand.”

Kim watched while the police car made a U-turn and headed out of the compound. She was about to enter the castle when she heard Stanton call. Turning, she saw him coming from the lab.

“What the devil were the police doing here?” he asked as soon as he was within talking distance.

Kim told him about the concern of there being a rabid animal in the area.

“It’s always something,” Stanton said. “Listen, I want to talk to you about Edward. Do you have a minute?”

“Of course,” Kim said, wondering what this could be about. “Where would you like to talk?”

“Here’s fine,” Stanton said. “Where to start?” He stared off for a minute then looked Kim in the eye. “I’m a bit bewildered by Edward lately and the others as well. Every time I pop into the lab I feel like the odd man out. A couple of weeks ago it was like a morgue in there. Now it’s eerie the way they are enjoying themselves. It’s become like a vacation retreat only they’re working as hard or harder than they did before. Their repartee is difficult to follow since they are all so damn smart and witty. In fact, it makes me feel dumb to hang around.” Stanton laughed wryly before continuing. “Edward has become so outgoing and pushy that he reminds me of me!”

Kim put her hand to her mouth but laughed through her fingers at Stanton’s self-deprecating insightfulness.

“It’s not funny,” Stanton complained, but he was laughing himself. “The next thing that Edward will want to be is a venture capitalist. He’s gotten carried away with the business stuff, and unfortunately we don’t see eye to eye. Now we’re at loggerheads over how to raise more capital. The good doctor has become so greedy he will not sacrifice any equity. He’s metamorphosed overnight from an avowed ascetic academician to an insatiable capitalist.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Kim questioned. “I have nothing to do with Omni nor do I want to have.”

“I was just hoping that you could talk to Edward,” Stanton said. “I cannot in good conscience condone borrowing money from dirty sources through foreign banks, and I’m even sorry that I mentioned the possibility. There’s just too much risk, and I’m not talking about financial risk. I’m talking about risk to life and limb. It just ain’t worth it. I mean, the financial aspect of this venture should be left up to me, just like the scientific stuff should be left up to Edward.”

“Does Edward seem forgetful to you?” Kim asked.

“Hell, no!” Stanton said. “He’s as sharp as a tack. He’s just innocent when it comes to the ways of the financial world.”

“He’s been forgetful around me,” Kim said. “Just little everyday things. And most of the other researchers have admitted to being just as absentminded.”

“I haven’t noticed any absentmindedness with Edward,” Stanton said. “But he did seem a little paranoid. Just a few minutes ago we had to go outside to talk so we wouldn’t be overheard.”

“Overheard by whom?” Kim asked.

Stanton shrugged. “The other researchers, I assume. He didn’t say and I didn’t ask.”

“This morning he came all the way to the house to make a call so that he wouldn’t be overheard,” Kim said. “He was afraid to use the phone in the reception area because he thought someone would listen through the walls.”

“Now that sounds even more paranoid,” Stanton said. “But in his defense I’ve drilled it into him that secrecy is important at this stage.”

“Stanton, I’m getting worried,” Kim said.

“Don’t say that,” Stanton complained. “I came to you to relieve my anxieties not increase them.”

“I’m concerned that the forgetfulness and paranoia are side effects from the Ultra,” Kim said.