Read Online Alchemist by Peter James - Free Book Online Page B

should have been ready for you today, but there was a cockup. You
have
to keep that car clean. The Thought Police patrol the car park. They see a dirty car belonging to a staff member, they take it away and they return it a week later with an eighty-nine pound bill for valeting. Docked from salary.’
    Conor stared at him. ‘You’re not serious?’
    â€˜I’m serious. You want the honour of working for Bendix Schere, you play by their rules. Everyone who works for BS knows there’s a long queue pressing up against their back, waiting for their job. They pay the best, they have the finest equipment and some of the finest people. Their gameplan is to become the largest pharmaceutical company in the world and that’s where they’re heading. I’ve met a lot of folks who are actually shit scared of this company.’
    â€˜Employees?’
    Rowley glanced around the kitchen, sizing it up. ‘Yah. And outsiders in related industries. BS has long tentacles and they’re spreading all the time.’
    â€˜A lot of subsidiaries, right?’
    â€˜You can’t believe what they own. In a couple of years they’ll control the world baby-food market. They own half the over-the-counter pharmaceutical companies in this country, in Europe and in the States, and they’re buying up generics companies around the world in a kind of feeding frenzy.’
    â€˜I heard,’ Conor said.
    â€˜Did you also hear about their retail operations?’ Rowley said, his voice dropping a fraction.
    â€˜Retail?’
    He nodded. ‘Retail pharmacy. They own PriceSave DrugSmart, one of the largest pharmacist chains in Britain.’
    Conor frowned; PriceSave DrugSmart were also one of the largest mall pharmacist chains in the States, but his research into Bendix Schere had not revealed any connection to them. ‘I didn’t know that,’ he said.
    â€˜You’re not meant to.’ Rowley unscrewed the cap from a jar of Nescafé, as the kettle hissed. ‘You’re also not meant to know that they fund the United States Herpes Association, the World Psoriasis Group and the International Arthritic Association – among other leading charities.’
    â€˜A lot of pharmaceutical companies give charitable donations, surely?’
    â€˜Sure –
donations
. With BS it’s more than just donations. They actually fund them.
They
control them and
they
appoint the trustees.’
    â€˜So these charities all recommend Bendix Schere drugs in their newsletters?’
    â€˜Exclusively. And they trash all the competitors’ products.’
    â€˜Even if they’re better?’
    â€˜Especially if they’re better.’
    Conor began to wonder how much more about the company his research had failed to show up.
    Rowley raised his eyebrows, and added, a trifle defensively, ‘They’re not doing anything different from their competitors –except perhaps doing it better.’ He held up the coffee jar. ‘One spoon or two?’
    â€˜Two, thanks.’ Conor tapped ash off his cigarette, his mind working hard. The kettle rumbled as it came to the boil then switched itself off, and he poured the water into their cups.
    â€˜Best thing to do, Conor, is not get too stressed about it. They pay well and there are a few OK people amongst the dross. Just keep your head down and get on with it, and before you know it you’ll be sixty-five and collecting your pension!’
    Conor blinked slowly.
You might be
, he thought.
But not me, baby
.
    With that, Charley Rowley stubbed out his cigarette, took two gulps of coffee, tugged on his battered Barbour and shook Conor’s hand. Wishing him luck, he told him he looked forward to seeing him on Monday.
    â€˜Oh – by the way,’ he said. ‘When we meet in the office I’m
Mr
Rowley and you’re
Mr
Molloy, OK?’
    â€˜Sure,’ Conor said, a little surprised.
    â€˜Another