THE ADJUSTMENT CLINIC

She touched his hand. “You’re right, Brim. Wilson is doing well even without any of our clandestine dealings.” She smiled at Dowel’s choice of words to reference their use of clinical conferences and medical courses to influence downturns for their competitive drug companies.

“Let’s back-off on Quintos. Whoever AC is, they’re armor-plating Legg Pharmaceuticals. I don’t want any of this to go public.”

“What about the body in the dumpster?”

“Don’t worry dear; I’ve arranged for the disposal people to do the discovery and reporting. The group we hired to get Quintos is insistent on trying again but I paid them more for forgetting the whole situation.”

“It still makes me mad.” She sat back, pulling her hand away from his. “I checked with one of our security heads about how the body might have gotten on our grounds. Wicket didn’t have a clue but thinks they came in with a supply truck, FedEx truck, food services vehicle etc.”

“Consider it a reality check. Some organization called AC is capitalizing on industrial espionage by making a business out of counter-espionage. We’ve other things in the fire and Wilson is still the number one drug business in the country.”

Murphy’s phone buzzed.

“Yes, what is it? I’m in conference with Dr. Dowel.”

“Dr. Dowel’s office sent something for him to look at. It’s urgent.”

“Very well, bring it in.”

The middle aged admin handed Dowel a yellow plastic-wrapped round package.

He opened it after the admin left. “It’s today’s newspaper.” He unfurled the paper and spread it out on Murphy’s desk. They both stared at the headlines. Brasher read the headline aloud. “Federal Agencies called in to investigate sabotage and murder involving Wilson Medical Products.”

Murphy grabbed the paper from him. “How did they know about the dumpster killing? I thought you took care of it.”

“Come on Mary. Read on. It doesn’t mention anything about our hit man’s body. It’s still about the hijacked truck, DeCarlo and the truck driver getting murdered.” Dowel took the paper back from her shaking hands. “Look here. Wilson Medical is still the victim. It’s natural for the Feds to be called in. We should expect more visits by the police and the Federal agencies. The more we cooperate the more we deflect their focus on us as being involved.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “And we weren’t the bad guys here. Wilson Medical Products was attacked–by bad guys.”

She slumped wearily to her plush desk chair her left hand touching his hand still on her shoulder. “You’re right, Brim. We need to unwind. Well, I need to unwind.” She touched the newspaper now lying on her desk. “It’s not this that’s getting to me. It’s that damned fucking AC. AC–fuck.” She pounded a fist on her desk.