Mindbend

Adam abruptly stood up and started for the door.

“Wait,” called Dr. Schonberg. “Come back here for a minute.”

Adam hesitated, wondering if his father would relent.

Dr. Schonberg tilted back his chair. “Let’s say for the sake of discussion that there is something to your story.”

“That’s gracious of you,” said Adam.

“What would you have me do? I’m the director of new products for the FDA and I can’t espouse a wild theory like yours. But seeing you are so upset, perhaps I should go on one of these cruises and see for myself.”

“No,” interrupted Adam. “Don’t go on the cruise. Please.”

“Well, what would you like me to do?”

“I guess I want you to start an investigation.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” said Dr. Schonberg. “If you agree to see a psychiatrist and explore the possibility that you may be experiencing some sort of paranoid reaction, I’ll make further explorations into Arolen.”

Adam took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. If one more person suggested that he see a shrink, he’d scream.

“Thanks, Dad,” he said. “I’ll give your offer some serious thought.”

As he rode back to the airport, Adam wondered just what kind of treatment Arolen had given Pete Davenport of the AMA and how much of the medical profession was under MTIC’s control.

• • •

Adam landed at LaGuardia around nine and took a cab back to the city. The thought of returning to his empty apartment was depressing, and he was very concerned about Jennifer.

Although he dreaded having to drive out to Englewood and brave the Carsons’ anger, he didn’t feel he had much choice.

He had to talk to Jennifer.

There were no lights on at the Carson house when he pulled into the drive. Cautiously, he walked up the front steps and pressed the doorbell. He was surprised when the door opened almost immediately.

“Your headlights shone right into our bedroom,” Mr. Carson said angrily. “What on earth do you want at this hour?”

“I’m sorry if I woke you,” said Adam, “but I need to speak to Jennifer.”

Mr. Carson folded his sizable arms across his chest.

“Well, you have some nerve. I’ll give you credit for that, but my daughter refuses to speak to you. Maybe she’ll change her mind after a few days, but for the moment . . .”

“I’m afraid that I must insist,” said Adam. “You see, I don’t believe she needs an abortion . . .”

Mr. Carson grabbed Adam’s shirt and shouted, “You will insist on nothing!” He shoved Adam back from the doorway.

Adam regained his balance, cupped his hands over his mouth, and began calling, “Jennifer! Jennifer!”

“That’s enough,” yelled Mr. Carson. He grabbed Adam again, intending to march him to his car. But Adam sidestepped his father-in-law and ran inside. At the foot of the steps he shouted again for his wife. Jennifer appeared in her nightgown in the upstairs hall. She looked down at her husband with dismay.

“Listen to me,” shouted Adam again, but before Jennifer could speak, Mr. Carson had grabbed Adam from behind and carried him back out the door. Unwilling to fight back, Adam tripped when he was shoved toward his car and fell off the porch into the bushes. He heard the door slam before he could scramble to his feet. He was beginning to get the message that Mr. Carson would never let him speak to Jennifer that night.

Climbing into his car, Adam tried to figure out what he could do to keep Jennifer from having the abortion, at least until she got a second opinion. He only had three days to persuade her.

He was halfway back across the George Washington Bridge before he knew what he had to do. Everyone wanted proof.

Well, he’d go to Puerto Rico to get proof. He was certain everything he’d seen on the cruise would be replicated there in spades.

CHAPTER

15

Bill Shelly rose from his desk and clasped Adam’s hand.

“Congratulations,” he said. “You’ve probably just made the best decision of your life.”

“I’m not saying I’ll definitely take the position,”

cautioned Adam. “But I’ve been giving Puerto Rico a lot of thought, and I’d like to take you up on the offer to go down there and see the facility firsthand. Jennifer’s not happy about the idea, but if I really want to go, she’ll support me in the decision.”

“That reminds me; Clarence left a message that he’d gotten a rather strange call from your wife. She thought you were away on Arolen business.”

“In-law problems,” said Adam with a wave of his hand. “She and my father have never gotten along.”

Even Adam wasn’t sure what he meant, but fortunately Shelly nodded understandingly and said, “Getting back to the matter at hand, I’m certain you will be thrilled with the Arolen research center. When would you like to go?”

“Immediately,” said Adam brightly. “My bag is packed and in the car.”

Mr. Shelly chuckled. “Your attitude has always been refreshing. Let me see if the Arolen plane is available.”

While Shelly waited for his secretary to check, he asked Adam what had changed his mind about the management training program. “I was afraid I hadn’t been convincing enough,” he said.