The Methuselah Gene Read Online Free Page A

lately.”   Darryl finished off his beer mechanically, shaking his head.   “Better living through chemistry,” he concluded under his breath.   Then he stared at a spot on the floor.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNothing.”   After a moment of unfathomably deep thought he looked up.   “So they canceled your project early because they suspected you’d be screwed with the FDA, is that what you’re telling me?   That they knew your results before you laid them out, maybe from your assistant?”
    â€œI didn’t say that, but I suppose it’s possible.   Still, it wasn’t Jim’s place to—”
    â€œGod knows they don’t like negative publicity, with our stock so volatile.”   Darryl cracked a knuckle, then another.   “Putting two and two together, it looks like a coverup to me, and the theft a diversion to keep anyone from finding out how the formulation killed your lab assistant.   That’s why you’re under wraps not to talk.”
    I coughed instead of what I wanted to do—which was to cry.   Or to break something.   Finally, I said, “Yeah, well, that’s your theory.”
    â€œNot possible?”
    I shook my head.   “It’s criminal, is what it is.”
    Darryl started working the computer, using a CD from a file next to the external drive.
    â€œWhat are you doing now?” I asked, still a bit surprised by the depth of his cynicism.
    â€œYou’re on AOL, right?   I’ll reinstall it.”
    â€œWhy?   You wanna e-mail Winsdon , save your own ass while you can?”
    Darryl stopped for a second, then dismissed the idea.   “I think we’re safe for the time being.   I’m curious about who did this, if it’s not Tactar .”
    I watched from behind his shoulder as both the system software and then the AOL program were reinstalled.   “You thinking your two and two might equal five, Einstein?”
    â€œShut up and give me your password.”
    â€œGoing Bald.”
    â€œThat’s you, not me, buddy.”
    â€œNo, that’s the passcode .”
    â€œWhy not ‘Dumb Ass?’”
    â€œCute.”
    Darryl entered the passcode , and got online at last.   “Now what’s this girl’s screen name?”
    â€œ Cindyboo .”
    â€œ Cindyboo ?   As in Boo, I got you?”   Darryl clucked his tongue, grunted, and then entered the name to prompt a profile.   There was none.   Next, he tried sending an e-mail to Cindyboo , and a pop-up now read:   This is not an AOL member.   He turned to me and shrugged.   “Too late, she’s gone.   You’re screwed, buddy.”
    â€œGreat.”   Stretching, I laced my hands behind my head, and stared up at the low ceiling, which seemed even lower now.   I thought about the fame and fortune I might have come close to achieving, including possibly a red Porsche 911 Targa , the ultimate babe magnet.   Then I gave a long sigh, back so soon to blaming of my luckless fate, the same old game.   “So that’s it, huh.   Now I’ll always wonder?”
    â€œYup.   Unless we hack into AOL records.   Pentagon would be easier, though.”
    â€œThat right?   Figures.”
    â€œI may know someone who can help, though.”
    â€œWho?   You mean a hacker?”
    Darryl reached forward to touch the screen with his index finger.   He nodded to himself.   Then he turned and winked at me.   “I need a reason, though, bud.   If you know what I mean.”
    â€œHow about I’m a friend down on his luck.”
    â€œA lonely, luckless loser, yeah, but are you willing to pay?”
    â€œA hundred bucks.”
    â€œMake it two, plus two.   That’s four, in case you’re wondering.   And give me some time.”
    He got up to leave.   I stared at him through a mind fog as he