Part 40 (1/2)

”You don't look so bad yourself.”

”G.o.d, it seems like a lifetime ago when we went to our separate corners,” he said after another long, contemplative pause. Then he stepped in and she closed the door. He didn't try to peck her cheek, for which she looked relieved. ”Tell me how you're doing, really.”

”You really want to know? Okay, this afternoon I had a heavy-duty heart checkup. n.o.body wants to put odds on this thing, but my condition is getting worse.” She led him through to the living room.

”Then we should talk,” he said looking around. ”I love your loft, by the way. You make me envy you. You should see the makes.h.i.+ft quarters I live in. I'm sort of waiting for my s.h.i.+p to come in.”

”The truth is, Stone, that I no longer know the first thing about you or your life. And I think I'd like to.”

” 'Had we but world enough, and time.'” He smiled ”We'll get around to the catching up, but I don't flatter myself that you asked me down at this hour to reminisce about our respective pasts.”

”You've already got me figured out.” She made a face. ”I don't know whether I like that or not. By the way, would you care for something?

You used to like scotch, right?”

”The operative part of that statement is 'used to.' These days I try to avoid anything harder than beer. I was starting to have an ethanol dependency problem. I think it's a common occupational hazard for a reporter.”

”I don't keep beer around. It's fattening. How about some diet cranberry juice?”

”Maybe I'll have that scotch after all.” He laughed. ”I have a feeling it might be more suited to the occasion.”

”Know what, I think I'll join you.” She walked into the kitchen and started making the drinks. ”On the rocks, right?”

”Good memory.”

”Stone, I asked you down because I've got to make a big decision.” She was bringing the drinks into the living room. ”Tonight. You're the closest thing I've got to a knowledgeable sounding board. You have some idea of the risks and rewards here. So do I check into the Dorian Inst.i.tute and let them start injecting doctored-up stem cells into me or not? Turns out that's what Van de Vliet wants to do.”

”We're in worse trouble than we thought.” He took a scotch. ”You've at least seen the place. I don't have a shred of actual physical evidence that those clinical trials are producing results. I can make inferences from what I see on the Web site, but it's nothing you can take to the bank.” He ventured a sip, then looked up. ”By the way, did you get a chance to ask about the patient who got dropped?”

”Oh s.h.i.+t, I forgot.” She sighed. ”There was so much going on, with Mom and all the rest, that it completely slipped my--”

”Don't worry about it,” he said with a sigh.

Come on, Ally, she thought, this could be really important. You've got to get focused.

”I'll try to remember tomorrow.”

”I do think it's kind of vital. But be careful not to mention my name.

I've ... I've just acquired some problems of my own with the Gerex Corporation.”

”What kind of 'problems'?”

”Let me take a rain check on answering that. Suffice to say, they're not thrilled about the idea that I'm doing a book in which they're prominently featured.” He paused. ”Look, Ally, there's a lot going on here. Including that patient who was dropped for some reason that n.o.body wants to disclose. But if you do decide to do it you couldn't have a better physician. Karl Van de Vliet is quite possibly the world's leading researcher in stem cell technology. On the other hand, this is the first time there've been actual human trials. If anybody tells you there's no risk, then they're not behaving ethically.”

”Well, the way things stand now, I'm due out there at the inst.i.tute at ten A.M. tomorrow. If I want to, I can be formally entered into the clinical trials on the spot. I've pa.s.sed my qualifying exam.”

”You know the trials are almost over. It's like they're taking you at the last minute.”

”That's what he said. I'm going to be the last ... whatever. My friend Jennifer just called me a guinea pig. Van de Vliet also said I'd have to stay out there for at least a couple of weeks, probably longer.