Toxin by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

toppings.
    â€œIsn’t this an awesome place?” Becky commented as she and Kim got into one of the order lines.
    â€œJust delightful,” Kim teased. “Especially with the quiet classical music in the background.”
    â€œOh, Dad!” Becky moaned and rolled her eyes.
    â€œDid you ever come here with Carl?” Kim asked. He really didn’t want to hear the answer because he had an inkling she had.
    â€œSure,” Becky offered. “He took Mom and me here a couple of times. It was cool. He owns the place.”
    â€œNot quite,” Kim said with a certain satisfaction. “Actually the Onion Ring is a publicly owned company. Do you know what that means?”
    â€œSort of,” Becky said.
    â€œIt means a lot of people own stock,” Kim said. “Even I own stock, so I’m one of the owners too.”
    â€œYeah, well, when I was here with Carl we didn’t have to stand in line,” Becky said.
    Kim took a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s talk about something else. Have you thought any more about skating in the Nationals? I know the entry deadline is coming up.”
    â€œI’m not going to enter,” Becky said without hesitation.
    â€œReally?” Kim questioned. “Why not, dear? You are such a natural. And you won the state junior championship last year so easily.”
    â€œI like skating,” Becky said. “I don’t want to ruin it.”
    â€œBut you could be the best.”
    â€œI don’t want to be the best in competition,” Becky said.
    â€œGosh, Becky,” Kim said. “I can’t help but be a little disappointed. I’d be so proud of you.”
    â€œMom said you would say something like that,” Becky said.
    â€œOh, great!” Kim exclaimed. “Your know-it-all therapist mother.”
    â€œShe also said that I should do what I think is best for me.”
    Kim and Becky found themselves at the front of the line. A bored teenage cashier gazed at them with glassy eyes and asked them what they wanted.
    Becky looked up at the menu mounted over the bank of cash registers. She screwed up her mouth and stuck a finger in her cheek. “Hmmm . . . I don’t know what I want.”
    â€œHave a burger,” Kim said. “I thought that was your favorite.”
    â€œOkay,” Becky said. “I’ll have a burger, fries, and a vanilla shake.”
    â€œRegular or jumbo?” the cashier asked in a tired voice.
    â€œRegular,” Becky said.
    â€œAnd you, sir?” the cashier asked.
    â€œOh, hell, let me see,” Kim said. He too looked up at the menu. “Soup du jour and salad, I guess. And an iced tea.”
    â€œComes to seven ninety,” the cashier said.
    Kim paid, and the cashier handed him a receipt. “Your number is twenty-seven.”
    Kim and Becky turned around and left the order area. It took some hunting, but they found a couple of empty seats at one of the picnic-style tables near the window. Becky squeezed in, but not Kim. He handed her thereceipt and told her he had to use the men’s room. Becky nodded absently; she had her eye on one of the cute boys from her school who happened to be sitting at the next table.
    It was like a broken-field run for Kim to make his way across the restaurant to the anteroom leading to the restrooms. There were two phones, but both were tied up by teenage girls. Behind each was a line. Kim reached into his jacket pocket and extracted his cell phone. He punched in the numbers, leaned back against the wall, and held it to his ear.
    â€œGinger, it’s me,” Kim said.
    â€œWhere the devil are you?” Ginger complained. “Have you forgotten our reservations at Chez Jean were for seven-thirty?”
    â€œWe’re not going,” Kim said. “I’ve had to change the plans. Becky and I are grabbing a bite at the Onion Ring on Prairie Highway.”
    Ginger didn’t