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CHAPTER 023

Josh Winkler was staring out his office window that overlooked the reception area at BioGen. Things were up in the air. Josh’s assistant, Tom Weller, had taken the week off because his father had died in a car crash in Long Beach. And now there was a problem with his health insurance, as well. Which meant Josh had to work with another assistant, who didn’t know the routines. Outside, repair crews were fixing the surveillance cameras in the parking lot. At the reception desk below, Brad Gordon was again chatting up the beautiful Lisa. Josh sighed. What kind of juice did Brad have, that he could do whatever he wanted, including chasing the boss’s trim? Because Brad was clearly never going to be fired.

Lisa had beautiful breasts.

“Josh? Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Is something on your mind?”

“No, Mom.”

From above, he could look down at Lisa’s scoop-neck blouse, which revealed the smooth contours of her firm breasts. Undoubtedly too firm, but that didn’t bother Josh. Everybody and everything was surgically enhanced these days. Including guys. Even guys in their twenties were getting face-lifts and penile implants.

“Then what about it?” his mother said.

“What? Sorry, Mom. What were you saying?”

“About the Levines. My cousins.”

“I don’t know. Where do they live again?”

“Scarsdale, dear.”

He remembered now. The Levine family had parents that spent too much. “Mom, this is not legal.”

“You went and did it to Lois’s boy. You did it yourself.”

“That’s true.” But he had only done it because he thought nobody would ever catch him.

“And now that boy has quit drugs and is working.At a bank, Josh. Abank. ”

“As what?”

“I don’t know, a teller or something.”

“That’s great, Mom.”

“It’s more than great,” his mother said. “This spray of yours could be a real moneymaker, Josh. It’s the drug everybody wants. You could finally make something of yourself.”

“Nice, Mom.”

“You know what I mean. The spray could be great.” She paused. “But you need to know how it affects older people, don’t you.”

He sighed. It was true. “Yes…”

“That’s why the Levines might work out for you.”

“Okay,” he said, “I’ll try to get a canister.”

“For both parents?”

“Yes, Mom. For both.”

He flipped the phone shut. He was contemplating what, exactly, he should do about this-and deciding to do something else entirely-when he heard the sound of sirens. A moment later two black-and-white police cars pulled up in front of the building. Four cops piled out of the cars, entered the building, and walked right up to Brad, who still leaned on the counter talking to Lisa.

“Are you Bradley A. Gordon?”

A moment later, one spun him around, pulled his arms back, and handcuffed him.

Holy shit, Josh thought.

Brad was bellowing.“What the hell is this? What the hell is this!”

“Mr. Gordon, you are under arrest for aggravated assault and rape of a minor.”

“What?”

“You have the right to remain silent-”

“What?” He was shouting. “What minor? Goddamn it, I don’t know any fucking minor.”

The cop stared at him.

“Okay, wait-wrong word! I don’t know any minor!”

“I think you do, sir.”

“You guys are making one big-ass mistake!” Brad said, as they started to lead him away.

“Just come with us, sir.”

“I’m going to sue your freaking asses off!”

“This way, sir,” they said.

And he went through the doors to the sunlight outside.

When Bradhad gone, Josh looked over at the other people standing at the railing. Half the office was looking down, talking, whispering. And at the far end of the balcony, he saw Rick Diehl, the head of the company.

Just standing there, with his hands in his pockets. Watching the whole thing play out.

If Diehl was upset, he certainly didn’t show it.