Робин Кук - Cell

They ate inside and the conversation was very relaxed. The atmosphere gave them both a chance to think over and address in detail everything that had surfaced during the bizarre meeting with Thorn, Langley, and Clayton. Both agreed it would be to society’s detriment if iDoc’s adoption was held up. And with the help of the wine, they relived the scary abduction episode. To their surprise they were able to laugh about aspects of it now that they were safe and sound, even though they were still indignant and angry over being victimized.

After dinner they started to talk about medical costs and how it was probably the biggest problem facing health care. Those costs had to come down if there was ever going to be an equitable distribution of service. They knew iDoc would help tremendously. George said the Affordable Care Act was more about improving access than lowering costs, and an unintended consequence, in his opinion, was that it would inflate costs more than anyone expected. That discussion brought them back to the need for rationing in the last months of life.

“I realize now that rationing will have to be considered,” Paula said. “Do you agree?”

“I’m not so sure,” George replied.

“The more I think about it, the more I understand Amalgamated’s position as voiced by Thorn,” she admitted.

“Exactly what do you mean?” George said, eyeing her over a bite of salad.

“I feel better about the glitch as long as it only collects data that might be helpful in the future.”

George listened but didn’t respond.

Paula became aware that he had gone quiet. She studied him. “Is our thinking in sync?”

George shook his head.

“What’s changed?”

“I took out Kasey’s cell phone when I was back in my apartment. It made me wish I could have had a bit more time with her to tell her how much she meant to me. It made me question what she would have chosen.”

“George, the killing has stopped.”

“For now,” he replied. “If the glitch had been completely removed, I probably would feel differently. The fact that the application that killed Kasey is still functioning and that government-appointed officials are considering iDoc makes me feel extremely uneasy.” He swirled the wine in his glass. “There has to be an open debate to let people know what iDoc is capable of.”

Paula nodded slowly.

“Paula, can you really live with covering up a series of what most people would agree were murders?”

“I don’t know, George, when you put it in those terms.” She sat still for a moment, staring down at the table. Finally she looked up at him. “If you can’t live with it, I can’t, either.”

George was impressed and even flattered by her reaction. “I appreciate that.”

She smiled and picked up his empty wineglass. “Let me refill these and we’ll have a toast!”

“Sounds like a plan.”

George watched Paula go over to the kitchen counter, where the wine bottle stood. He exhaled forcibly, closing his eyes. He was exhausted after no sleep whatsoever Saturday night and very interrupted sleep Sunday night, but he was glad he had voiced his concerns. Having done so made him even more certain how he felt. The decision had been building all afternoon and had come to a head when he had held Kasey’s cell phone. He didn’t fully realize it at the time, but he did now.

Paula came back with full glasses and handed one to George. They clinked glasses and Paula said, “To our current decision.”

“To our decision,” George corrected. “I am not going to change my mind.”

“Okay, then, to our current final decision.” She smiled.

George nodded and they drank.

“When do you think we should tell Thorn?” Paula asked.

“Not for a while. If he calls, we’ll just say we are still debating the pros and the cons. We can certainly get away with that for the rest of the week.”

“And then what?”

“Eventually we’ll have to come clean. But I don’t want to do it until we have our backs covered.”

“What do you mean?”

“We can’t allow ourselves to be so vulnerable again. Simple as that.”

“You’re right.” She held her glass up. “By the way, what do you think of this wine?”

The wine was a deep ruby color. George nodded appreciatively. “I think it’s fine. But I’m not much of an authority.”

“You don’t have to be an authority to recognize this is rather exceptional. It’s called Cheval Blanc. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”

George smiled appreciatively. “It is delicious.” He took another mouthful, holding it in his mouth. He was hardly a wine connoisseur, but it tasted great. They continued making small talk until Paula asked exactly how they should “cover their backs.”

“I have some ideas,” George said. He looked at her. “How about you? What do you think we should do?”

“I imagine that between the two of us we can come up with something.”

George nodded in agreement as he tried to suppress a yawn.

“Tired?”

“Yes. Exhausted.”

“Do you know where you want to sleep?”

“I think tonight the guest room would be best. There is no way I’d be very entertaining.”

“No pressure. Especially since I’m tired, too, despite my nap.”

George let out another yawn.

“Why don’t you head into the guest room while I put the kitchen in some sort of order.”

“I can help.”

“Fine, but let’s finish our wine first. It would be a crime to waste it.”

She emptied the bottle into their glasses, and they finished it off. George struggled to his feet as Paula collected their plates. He helped carry some dishes into the kitchen, wobbling in the process. Paula noticed.

“Perhaps you should sit down while I finish. I’m not going to do much, I just want the place to look decent in the morning when we come in for breakfast.”

George nodded as he barely made it to the couch. A moment later his head was resting against the sofa’s back, and his mouth was slack and ajar. His legs were splayed out in front of him. He was breathing deeply, snoring slightly.

Paula finished with the kitchen and approached him, giving George’s shoulder a shake. She said, “Wouldn’t you rather lie down on your bed? It’s more comfortable than being sprawled on the sofa.”

But George didn’t move. He was out.

Paula tried again. Same result. She shrugged and walked down the hall to the study.

She picked up her landline and dialed out. “Bradley? It’s me. I hope I’m not calling too late.”

Thorn’s voice was thick with sleep. “I didn’t expect to hear from you for a few days.”

“I didn’t think I would be calling so soon, either, but unfortunately George won’t go along. Your whole complicated ruse didn’t work.”

“Are you certain?”

“Of course I’m certain. What a waste, the whole damn charade. The break-in, the smoke machine, the police sirens! Let’s end it now. George is intent on covering his back, as he put it.”

“What does that mean?”

“I think he wants to tell the world what happened. Have Gauthier pick him up. Tonight.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Will there be any trouble?”

“No.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Rohypnol. Double dose in his wine. He’s going to be out of it for a while, but I want Gauthier to pick him up now. I’m feeling guilty.”

“Guilty? That was not part of the plan.”

“I know, but he’s actually a terrific guy, maybe too idealistic for me in the long run. Now, don’t get jealous or anything! There’s no way he could come between you and me. But tell Gauthier to be careful and handle him with kid gloves.”