Free Longevity by S. J. Hunter

really hate to say this because of what it implies about how well we're doing with the Laws, but I think Josephson... I think he just likes to tinker with people. He's been out there still doing research and clinical work for decades, and until now we haven't had a lead on anything irregular in his work. Maybe he's been clean, or maybe we just haven't had a whiff because he's learned more discretion."
    Meg stood up. "We'd better get back. You'll want to meet McGregor in the motor pool so you can go from there."
    As they were walking back, Meg was still looking thoughtful. "Look, there are things about LLE work the Chief can't actually tell you and McGregor won't. If you do have questions, feel free to come to me."
    "I appreciate that. I'm not complaining, but my new partner... not a training officer."
    Meg smiled briefly. "You know, he's never been a training officer."
    "Been said."

 
    Chp. 5 Engagement (Tuesday)
     
    "Hey, McGregor!"
    Chris spun around. He'd just gotten off the Paceway coming from the clinic and was heading for the LLE swift-el. It was Livvy leaning against a car door, and when he spotted her and started to walk over, she tossed a ball straight up, grabbed it out of the air, and then threw it into the depths of an underground corridor.
    Louie, who'd been sitting at her feet, intensely focused on the ball, gave her a brief "That's all you've got?" look and bounded after it.
    "What's this?" Chris asked.
    "He needs exercise," she said. "I think we're going to find that chasing a ball is a bit simplistic for him, but there must be some canine Olympics or something."
    "No good. They'd test him. No, I mean why are you here waiting for me?"
    "Saving time. We have a missing doctor. The Chief told me how to find you, and I've already arranged an interview with the girlfriend."
    "Fill me in while you drive. Louie!" Chris said.
    The tennis ball came bouncing back towards them, with Louie in full pursuit. He made an exaggerated leap and caught it out of the air just as it reached the car.
    "Good boy," Livvy said as he climbed into the backseat. "You see, I think he's going to be a wiz at this stuff. I'll bet he's a shark with a Frisbee."
    "A what?"
    "Now you're joking, right?" Livvy looked at him across the top of the car.
    Chris ducked to slide into the passenger seat, so she couldn't catch his expression, although she thought she'd heard some amusement in his voice.
    "732 MacPherson Circle, Potomac Falls. Normal speed," Livvy said.
    "Okay. Give me the long version," Chris said.
    Livvy cleared her throat. "The missing man, Dr. Milo Josephson, was last seen entering his home last Thursday evening at about 8 pm. The neighbor who saw him says this was typically the time he got home, although he frequently spent the night at his girlfriend's."
    She'd expected some initial reaction at the name, but there wasn't any that she could see, and she wondered if Chris could have forgotten. Fifty-five years was a long time.
    "He called his clinic Friday morning to ask that his appointments for the day be cancelled. Then he didn't show up again on Monday, and one of his clients came in for an appointment for an enhancement and got upset because he wasn't there. Absolutely heartwarming, how the staff missed him. Apparently he's quite the charmer."
    Chris was staring straight ahead, looking thoughtful. In the lengthening silence in the car, Livvy found herself wishing she could turn off the automatic drive just to have something to do.
    "Josephson," Chris said finally. "I've always wondered when he'd bob back to the surface."
    "Meg Dalton filled me in on the history."
    "So we have a doctor who is brilliant, in a sick way, and he has all of the skills needed to do both Longevity and other molebiol procedures. And he's apparently missing," Chris said.
    "Someone with the moral laxity to prove useful in someone else's perverse plan," Livvy said. "You don't think he was actually kidnapped?"
    "That's doubtful. His history... if Meg filled