Page 68 of Wild Fever
Kara nodded.
I pulled it open.
With a swift move, I angled my barrel inside to see Dr. Malcolm lording over Chivo. The thug's body lay limp on the floor, blood pooling around the remains. Smoke wafted from his face, which sizzled with hydrofluoric acid. The distraction of our gunfight allowed Dr. Malcolm to throw a beaker of it into Chivo's face. He’d been able to wrestle the weapon away and turn it on him.
Dr. Malcolm trembled, flush with adrenaline. I think it was the first time he had killed anybody—at least, up close and personal.
He didn't look any worse for the wear.
"Seems like you've got some explaining to do," I said.
"I don't have to explain anything to anyone, least of all you," he replied.
I moved across the room to the black duffel bags in the corner and opened one. Inside, packages of the familiar red pills that had been hitting the streets lately. My face tightened with frustration. "So you're the man behind Silk?”
Vernon said nothing.
"You've been selling to the cartel to fund this operation," I said.
"I will ask you once again, do you want my help, or don't you? You're sticking your nose into an area where it doesn't belong. Do yourself a favor, take my help, and forget everything you’ve seen here.”I scoffed. "How am I supposed to forget this?”
"That was part of our arrangement, remember?”
My jaw tightened.
"Silk, or whatever you want to call it, is not illegal,” he continued. “It's not an analog of any currently scheduled narcotic. It has no side effects, does not create dependency, and gives the user a pleasant euphoric sensation. I designed it specifically to reduce harm. The world would be a much better place if people shifted from using other hard narcotics to Silk. As the name implies, it is smooth and has no comedown or hangover. Tell me how that is not a benefit for society? People die every day from fentanyl overdoses. This could change that. It’s revolutionary. People arenever going to stop doing drugs. As long as there is demand, there will be supply. I have fixed the supply.”
"You're selling to the cartel," I said.
"I’m not selling to anyone. I'm just a chemist. I'm just the cook."
My eyes narrowed at him as I put the pieces together. "The real estate investment trust that owns this island... That's a front.”
"Now you're starting to catch on.”
"This is a Company operation. They sell Silk to the cartels, who distribute it on the streets. The Company uses the proceeds to fund black ops."
"Same old song and dance. The game stays the same. Only the players change. Now, is this really something you want to stick your nose in? Or do you want to get back to saving your friend's life?”
41
The choice was obvious. In fact, it wasn’t much of a choice at all. Go up against the machine, or save Kara. I figured I could go up against the machine any day. It didn't have to be today.
"This is not a generation two version of Velotraxin,” Dr. Malcolm said, getting back on track. "This is an attempt to copy it, made with substandard components. Whoever designed this used a different enzyme for activation. This compound is unstable. It was likely produced in a lab in Iran, judging by some of the ingredients used that are readily available in the region.”
"So you're saying the CIA did not make this version of the toxin?” I said.
Vernon shook his head. "No. Absolutely not. It’s substandard. Corners and costs were cut. This was likely purchased on the black market. A cheap analog.”
“Unless the Company purposely bought it on the black market to throw off the trail,” I said, always the skeptic.
"Great," Kara snarked. "I got injected with a budget toxin.”
"It's a good thing,” Dr. Malcolm said. “There's a potential way to neutralize the enzyme and halt the mechanism of action.”
Kara's eyes perked up with optimism. "Tell me more."
"There is a drug currently in clinical trials. It's not FDA-approved yet. It's showing positive results in the treatment of certain blood cancers. I consulted with the biotech firm on its development. It's a potent enzyme inhibitor, and by my estimation, would work to neutralize this analog of the toxin.”
