Read Online Seizure by Robin Cook - Free Book Online

Daniel rode in silence while staring out their respective windows.
    â€œI’d say that hearing was about as bad as it could have been,” Daniel complained at length.
    â€œIt was worse,” Stephanie responded.
    â€œThere’s no doubt the bastard Butler will vote out his bill, and when that happens, I’ve been assured by the Biotechnology Industry Organization that it will pass the full committee and the Senate itself.”
    â€œSo goodbye to CURE, Inc.”
    â€œIt’s a shame that in this country medical research is being held hostage by demagogic politics,” Daniel snapped. “I shouldn’t have even bothered coming down here to Washington.”
    â€œWell, maybe you shouldn’t have. Maybe it would have been better if I’d come alone. You certainly didn’t help things by telling Ashley he was grandstanding and didn’t have an open mind.”
    Daniel turned and stared at the back of Stephanie’s head. “Come again?” he sputtered.
    â€œYou shouldn’t have lost control.”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” Daniel marveled. “Are you trying to imply that this crappy outcome is my fault?”
    Stephanie turned to face Daniel. “Being sensitive about other people’s feelings is not one of your strong points. And this hearing is a case in point. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t lost your cool. Attacking him like you did was inappropriate because it stopped whatever dialogue you might have been able to maintain. That’s all I’m saying.”
    Daniel’s pale face turned crimson. “That hearing was a goddamn farce!”
    â€œMaybe so, but that doesn’t justify your saying as much to Butler’s face, because it nipped in the bud any chance of success we might have had, however small. I think his goal was to get you mad so you’d look bad, and it worked. It was his way of discrediting you as a witness.”
    â€œYou’re pissing me off.”
    â€œDaniel, I’m as irritated about this outcome as you are.”
    â€œYeah, but you’re saying it’s my fault.”
    â€œNo, I’m saying that your behavior didn’t help things. There’s a difference.”
    â€œWell, your behavior didn’t help things either. How come you never told me about your brother being indicted for racketeering? All you told me was that he was a qualified investor.Some qualifications! It was a fine time for me to learn about that little sordid tidbit.”
    â€œIt was after he was an investor, and it was in the Boston papers. So it’s not as if it was a secret, but it was something I felt I’d rather not talk about, at least at the time. I thought the reason you didn’t bring it up was that you were being considerate. But I should have known better.”
    â€œYou didn’t feel like talking about it?” Daniel questioned with exaggerated astonishment. “You know I don’t bother reading the stupid Boston rags. So how else would I have learned about it? And I would have had to know about it eventually because Butler was right. If we’d gone for an IPO, it would have had to be disclosed that we had a felon for an investor, and it would have held things up.”
    â€œHe has been indicted,” Stephanie said. “He’s not been convicted. Remember, in our system of justice you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
    â€œThat’s a rather lame excuse for not mentioning it to me,” Daniel snapped. “Is he going to be convicted?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Stephanie’s voice had lost its edge as she coped with a tinge of guilt at not having been more forthright with Daniel about her brother. She’d thought about mentioning the indictment on occasion but had always put it off until a tomorrow that had never arrived.
    â€œYou have no idea whatsoever? That’s a little hard for me to