"Mission" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tilley Patrick)

'The answer to your first question is a qualified "Yes". And I'll have some of that Jack Daniels. On the rocks.'
Miriam went into the kitchen to get the ~e.
I put my back between Fowler and the bottle and poured out three thick fingers ofSippin' Whisky. 'That really surprises me. I thought it might be chicken blood. Or maybe pig.'
'No, it's human,' said Fowler. 'Only more so. That's why I want to know who you got this from.'
Miriam returned from the kitchen. I took the ice and sent her in to bat. '\Vhat exactly do you mean, Jell?'
'Just what I've said,' replied Fowler. 'The blood is human hut it Jiffers from any other sample I've seen in two important respects. First, it appears to have been subjected to a heavy~ dose of radia:ion -'Not unreasonable.' I handed over the glass ofbourhon in the hope hat it might sap his zeal for the truth. 'My client had been receiving :oha It therapy for cancer of the stomach.'
M iriani eyed me and did her best to look as if she knew all about it. And the second thing?'
'1'he red cell structure is abnormal,' said Fowler. He didn't seem to have noticed that the ice cubes didn't touch the bottom of his glass.
'In what way?' I asked.
'Do you know anything about blood?'
I shrugged. 'I know it retails at ten dollars a pint.'
Fowler gave up on me. 'It's too complicated to explain in detail. What I really need is a bigger sample to run more tests but if the abnormality I found was reproduced throughout the body, it would arrest the ageing process.'
'I wish I knew the secret,' said Miriam.
'I'm not kidding,' said Fowler. 'This is dynamite. Whose blood is

I put on my blandest expression. 'It, uhh - belongs to a gentleman who paid several visits to a centre for psychic healing in the Philippines. As Miriam had probably explained, I'm a lawyer. My client's family had reason to believe that the treatment was fraudulent and we were preparing a law suit against the people involved.'
'Got it,' nodded Fowler. 'Some of those guys are pretty smooth operators.'
'Exactly,' I said. 'It took months of planning and skullduggery to obtain a sample of the blood that allegedly came from the stomach of my client af~er one of the 'operations'. The last thing I expected was that it would be human.'
'Group 0,' said Fowler.
1 grimaced disappointedly at Miriam. 'My client's blood type. .
'Where is he?' asked Fowler. 'Can we run some more tests?'
'I wish it were possible,' I said. 'lie died last Friday. I'm acting for the family.'
It was Fowler's turn to look disappointed. 'I see. Has he, uhh -been buried yet?'
'No, cremated,' I replied. 'But if the blood cells were transformed in the way you suggest, it would seem to imply that some of these people actually do have paranormal powers. If the word got around it might weaken our case. Apart from which, it could be embarrassing for you.'
'I low do you mean?' said howler.
'Well - ' I shot a sideways glance at Miriam. 'You want to come out in public for faith healing? Even ifit worked? Isn't your research program funded by one uI the big multi-national drug companies?' I sat hack and let the poison do its work.
Fowler's eyeballs bounced off the rims of his glasses as he figured out the implications. 'You're right,' he mused.
I shrugged. 'No point in rocking the gravy boat.'
'No,' said Fowler. 'And anyway, why should I help line the pockets of those dinks. Screw 'em.'
'Good thinking,' I said. Then added helpfully, 'Jeff, why don't we play it like this? You keep the samples. Junk them or work on them all you want, but let's agree to keep this whole thing under wraps. It's going to make life a lot simpler. Okay?'
Fowler looked at each of us then nodded. 'Okay. But don't be surprised if you hear from me again. I'm going to stick with this until I come up with a satisfactory explanation.'
I threw up my hands and quoted the Bard. 'There are more things in heaven and earth, left Let me give you a refill.' I gave my fellow-conspirator a loaded look.
Miriam smiled sweetly. 'Leo, why don't you call Carol and see if she can make up a four for dinner?'
Carol was my friendly neighbourhood nymphomaniac. If she got on Fowler's case he would soon forget about abnormal blood samples. In fiuct, by the time she was through, he wouldn't even remember the difference between red and white corpuscles.
Luck was certainly on our side on.that particular night. Or so I thought. Now, of course, I know better. But don't let's jump the gun. Not only was Carol free, she was bowled over by Fowler's blend of academic diffidence and Old World courtesy that he probably picked up from watching Upstairs, Downstairs on Channel Thirteen. Frankly, I found Fowler to be something of an asshole but with the aid of some spurious goodwill we managed to pass an agreeable evening over some Szechuan specialities then sent them both ofT in a taxi to finish what they had started under the tablecloth.
Miriam and I went back to my place with similiar intentions but I made the mistake of first seeking praise for the way I'd handled Fowler's questions about the blood.
'Yes, it was scrv good, she said flatly.
'Very good? It was a goddamn stroke of genius,' I crowed. 'All we have to do now is to keep him sedated with heavy doses ui stunned
nii rat ion.'
''ics,' said Miriam. 'I 'itfortunately, Fowler isn't our only problem.'
I stopped nibbling her ear. 'flow do von nicahl?'
'Well,' she began. 'I meant to tell you earlier but then Jeff arrived
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and - etcetera. The thing is, I was having coffee this morning with some of the hospital administrators and just by chance somebody mentioned the ambulance.'
I felt my lustful passions wilt. 'What ambulance?' As if I didn't know.
'The ambulance that answered the NYPD call and brought the body to the Manhattan General. Instead of taking it to the city morgue.'
My eyes were riveted on hers. 'Go on . . .'
'It was stolen from the Gouverneur Hospital.' she said. 'The two paramedics who drove away with the body did all the right things but nobody knows who they are. It certainly wasn't any of the regular crews. I asked Lazzarotti about them. All he can remember is that they were both tall slim guys. Like basketball players.'
'How about the police?' I asked.
'You mean the squad car that escorted them to the hospital? They don't know more than we do.' Then added with a shrug. 'Listen, an ambulance is an ambulance. When one answers a ten fifty-four, who asks questions?'