BLIND TRIAL Brian Deer (best novels for beginners TXT) 📖

“Asked about that, and they haven’t got a smartphone.”

“For God’s sake, they can read it me then.”

“She said it wasn’t appropriate. Said we could be anybody. Patient confidentiality. Deep State. All that, you know?”

“Mr. Louviere, nobody’s driving two hundred miles. Not for any reason. You can give me her number before you leave, and I’ll get the certificate online next week if we need it, which I doubt.”

“It’s only Dr. Honda thinks we should review it before you sign off on the data verification dialogue. For completeness. She’s very professional, you know, and I think she might be coming round to your thinking.”

Doc Mayr sighed like she was coming round herself.

He pulled up a leg of his shorts. “Place called Garberville. I’ve got the number here, see? But I’m not sure about me leaving. I mean, with respect, I’m really not. I think I’d better check with Mr. Hoffman.”

“Listen, you’re here to help me. That’s the only reason you’re here at all. You have no business consorting with those people. First, it’s Murayama, and now it’s that girl. Young man, if you think I’m seeing this situation we have here jeopardized by such behavior, then you’re badly mistaken.”

This was looking tricky. She was out of the loop. It wasn’t as if he lacked authorization. He was expressly instructed by BerneWerner’s general counsel to fuck the complainant and/or buy her dinner. “Well, with respect ma’am, I did tell Mr. Hoffman on the phone how I was getting friendly with her. He thought that might be extremely useful to the company at a time like this.”

“Now look, damn it. Just how long have you been with us?”

“Fifty-four days, including weekends.”

“And you’re so far out of your depth you’ll drown us all here. It’s not your concern. You’ve no business fooling around with someone complaining about clinical trial procedures.”

“But, with respect, ma’am, don’t you see? Think about it. We know Murayama’s in town. Right? She hasn’t told him about anything at the center, or what you’re doing here, she says. Yet. So, we best keep her away from him. Am I wrong? Best way to do that is what I was doing. Maybe everything depends on it.”

“Well, what I want to know is why that Sanomo snake’s in town, and what you were doing with him at all.”

“He invited me to lunch. I was trying to find out myself, for Mr. Hoffman. You can check. He wanted to know that too. He told me to go to lunch. Approved it, officially from the Legal Department. But some of it’s got to do with Sumiko, Dr. Honda. You’re not gonna believe this, but I’ve found out something that could be pretty big.”

“What?”

“It’s confidential.”

“What is?”

“What I found out.”

“What did you find out?”

“Says he’s asked her to go live with him in Japan.”

The vaccine chief dropped the cigarette. “What?”

“Asked her to live with him, she says. In Nagoya. Working for Sanomo.”

“Good grief.”

“And she’s thinking about it, too. Like today. Serious consideration. Probably right this minute.” He retrieved the Doral from where it lay melting the carpet. “But look, we can handle this. Honestly. She hasn’t told him anything, she says. Yet. And she’s doing clinic all day today. I know that for a fact. So, he’s not gonna be sniffing around till this evening.”

“Give me that.”

“So then—and this is the good part—when she finishes, I’ll be back from Garberville. See? And I can drop off the info from the Glinski sister, and I guess Dr. Honda will want to talk and be sociable and everything. Bound to.”

Doc Mayr rubbed the Doral’s filter against her dress. “It’s plain enough to me what you’re up to, and it’s that kind of thing that leads to serious indiscretion. I’ve seen this before.”

“With respect, ma’am, I think that’s a little unfair. I’m making quite a sacrifice here. I was busy with a special project for Dr. Crampton, and I definitely didn’t want to come all the way to San Francisco. I’m actually making quite a sacrifice here to try and avoid any embarrassments.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. It’s true.”

She paused. She was thinking. The room stank of smoke.

“Mmm. Well. You have a point, I suppose.”

“Thank you. Thanks a lot. I’m doing my best here, honestly.”

“Mmm. I see. Yes. I apologize then, I suppose.”

“Don’t worry, really. It’s all under control. Everything’s cool. But only if I’m here. See? If I go back today, she’s gonna be free as a bird after work, meet up with Murayama, maybe accept his proposition. Says he’s got a really cool house in Nagoya. And maybe she’ll tell him about all the forms and Doctorjee stuff you found.”

The vaccine chief’s mouth opened, as if she intended to speak. Then it closed. She was thinking he was right. True, she could talk with the sister on the phone. True, from the conversation he’d had with the sister, she probably couldn’t find the death certificate. But if he wasn’t around tonight—right here in San Fran—they’d be giving the Sanomo guy a clear run.

She tossed the cigarette into the bathroom sink. “In that case, you can drive me to this sister myself. Can’t be worse than Frank’s damned database.”

Thirty-four

THEODORE HOFFMAN stirred his legs and a cloud of bath oil creamed around his knees like the juice of the succulence tree. He scooped up a palmful of Keri Shower and Bath Moisture and massaged its fruity fragrance under his chin.

If Armageddon was averted, he’d fly to Colorado for a weekend with Jesse, his youngest. He could snag the boy, say, Rollerblades on Amazon this morning and have them delivered to the hospital this afternoon.

San Francisco to Denver. DC for Monday. Atlanta Monday night. Polish the Firebird.

The situation at Wilson’s center was getting damn serious. But the Jap was dealt with, which might head it off. And after Skeet’s report that Ben had taken Dr. Honda out to dinner, there were still grounds to hope for better things.

He toweled his fingers and reached for a duffel