The Genesis Code by Christopher Forrest Read Free Book Online Page B

thin and frail under the starched white sheets of a hospital bed. A tangle of tubes and wires crisscrossed his chest, connecting his dying body with IV bags, monitors, and machines.
    The monotonous beep of a heart monitor ticked off the passage of seconds. Christian Madison sat at his bedside, gently holding Justin’s hand.
    Madison realized that Giovanni was speaking.
    “It’s my understanding that Dr. Ambergris had made significant discoveries that he planned to announce at the Biogenetics Conference. Can you tell me what Dr. Ambergris was working on?” asked Giovanni.
    “I feel sick,” said Madison. His face was pale and his knees felt weak.
    Giovanni grasped Madison’s shoulder. Tightly.
    “Dr. Madison, focus for a minute. This is very important.”
    Cold beads of sweat ran down the back of Madison’s shirt. His hands were damp and clammy.
    “I have to know what Joshua was working on,” said Giovanni.
    “I wasn’t involved in Dr. Ambergris’ current research project. I have no idea what he planned to present at the conference. Why? Do you think his research has something to do with his murder?”
    “I don’t know,” said Giovanni, “but it’s a possibility. Triad Genomics has been the target of corporate espionage before. Theft. Blackmail. But never this. Never murder.”
    Madison looked around. “Where are the police?”
    “We’ll alert the authorities in due course,” said Giovanni. “But first I need to get a handle on what we’re dealing with.”
    Madison was stunned. “You haven’t called the police?”
    “Listen to me,” said Giovanni. “The death of our senior geneticist could send our stock price plunging. Rumors of corporate espionage and murder could be disastrous if not handled carefully.”
    “I don’t believe this,” said Madison. “Dr. Ambergris was murdered, in his office, and your first priority is the company’s stock price?”
    Giovanni grabbed his shoulder.
    “I need to obtain as much control over this situation as possible before I allow it to become public knowledge. With all due respect to the NYPD, I need some answers before I invite a bull into the china shop.”
    Crowe folded his arms across his massive chest, straining the fabric of his blazer.
    “Dr. Madison, when was the last time you spoke with Dr. Ambergris?” asked Crowe.
    Madison stared at Crowe for a moment, then turned to Giovanni.
    “What is this, an interrogation?”
    “No, of course not,” said Giovanni. He buttoned the middle button of his suit jacket and straightened his cuffs. “But we do need your help. I’d like for you to assist Crowe in his investigation.”
    “With all due respect, I don’t want to get involved,” said Madison. “If you want to delay informing the police, that’s your choice. But I want nothing to do with it.”
    “Dr. Madison, this is important. Ambergris was your mentor. He recruited you, brought you to Triad Genomics. For God’s sake, working with Dr. Ambergris got you on the cover of Time magazine. Don’t you think you owe it to him to help investigate his murder?”
    Madison’s face flushed with emotion.
    “Owe it to him?”
    His voice rose.
    “All Ambergris ever did for me was lead me down the primrose path. Genetic research with absolutely no practical application. Did those years of research accomplish anything worthwhile? I wasted years of my life in the lab with Dr. Ambergris. Nights. Weekends. Time I should have spent with my family…”
    His voice cracked.
    “…time I should have spent with my son.”
    Madison locked eyes with Dante Giovanni.
    “Did our research save any lives? Did we stop even one child from dying of cancer? Of leukemia?”
    Giovanni held up a hand.
    “That’s enough, Dr. Madison. I know you’re upset. But this is helping no one. Take a few minutes. Go back to your office. Cool off. Think things through. Rationally. Then we’ll talk.”
    Madison took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
    “Look, all I know is that