Toxin by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online

through this before. Ginger likes your company.”
    â€œI just want to be with you, not your receptionist,” Becky complained.
    â€œBut you will be with me,” Kim said. “We’ll all be together. And Ginger is more than my receptionist.”
    â€œI don’t want to eat at that stuffy old restaurant either,” Becky said with emotion. “I hate it.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” Kim said, struggling to control himself. “How about we go to the Onion Ring on Prairie Highway. Just you and me. It’s just up the road.”
    â€œFabulous!” Becky perked up, and despite her seat belt, she managed to lean over and give Kim a peck on the cheek.
    Kim marveled at how adroitly his daughter could manipulate him. He felt better now that she had reverted to her normal, vivacious self, but after a few miles Becky’s comment began to gnaw at him again. “For the life of me,” Kim said, “I don’t understand why you have this thing against Ginger.”
    â€œBecause she made you and Mom break up,” Becky commented.
    â€œGood gravy,” Kim snapped. “Is that what your mother says?”
    â€œNo,” Becky said. “She says it was only part of it. But I think it was Ginger’s fault. You guys hardly ever argued until Ginger.”
    Kim went back to drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. Despite what Becky had said, he was certain Tracy had to have put the thought in her mind.
    As he turned into the Onion Ring parking lot, Kim shot a glance in Becky’s direction. Her face was awash in color from the huge Onion Ring sign. She was smiling in anticipation of their fast-food dinner.
    â€œThe reason your mother and I got divorced was very complicated,” Kim began, “and Ginger had very little . . .”
    â€œLook out!” Becky cried.
    Kim redirected his gaze through the windshield and saw the blurry image of a preteen on a skateboard off the right front fender. Kim jammed on the brakes and threwthe steering wheel over to the left. The car lurched to a stop but not before colliding with the rear of a parked car. There was the unmistakable sound of breaking glass.
    â€œYou smashed the car!” Becky shouted as if it were a question.
    â€œI know I smashed the car!” Kim shouted back.
    â€œWell, it’s not my fault,” Becky said indignantly. “Don’t yell at me!”
    The skateboarder, who’d momentarily stopped, now passed in front of the car. Kim looked at the child, and the boy irreverently mouthed: “Asshole.” Kim closed his eyes for a moment to control himself.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said to Becky. “Of course it wasn’t your fault. I should have been paying more attention. And I certainly shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Becky said. Her eyes anxiously scanned the parking area. She was terrified lest she see one of her schoolmates.
    â€œI’m going to see what happened,” Kim said as he opened his door and got out. He was back in seconds and asked Becky to hand him the registration packet from the glove compartment.
    â€œWhat broke?” Becky asked as she handed over the papers.
    â€œOur headlight and their tail light,” Kim said. “I’ll leave a note.”
    Once inside the restaurant, Becky immediately forgot the mishap. It being Friday night, the Onion Ring was mobbed. Most of the crowd were young teenagers in a ridiculous collection of oversized clothing and punk hairstyles. But there were also a number of families with lots of small children and even infants. The noise level was considerable thanks to fussy babies and competing ghetto blasters.
    The Onion Ring restaurants were particularly popular with children mainly because the kids could doctor their own “gourmet” burgers with a bewildering display of condiments. They could also make their own sundaes with an equivalent number of