Free Ogrodnik Interior 2.0c by Gary Page A

failure of Isotin?”
    “That would be an exaggeration, but I will say that the future we envision for Biovonix is certainly contingent on its success.”
    “How much money does Biovonix stand to gain once Isotin goes into production?”
    “Biovonix’s primary concern is the health and welfare of the people who will benefit from the drug. Isotin can make a difference, and we think that it could one day be compared to the discovery of penicillin or the polio vaccine.”
    “That may be, Dr. Banik, but if you were to put a price tag on it, what do you think it could be?”
    “The worldwide cost for cancer treatment drugs is now over $100 billion annually,” he replied. “Our treatment would target the most common cancers at the beginning and gradually be modified to treat most other cancers.”
    “So there are many billions of dollars at stake,” Elliot mused as he checked his watch.
    “I see I’ve taken more of your time than I should have, so I’ll let you get on with your day.”
    “I hope I’ve cleared things up for you, Elliot.”
    Not really , he thought.
     
    Banik walked Elliot to the door threshold where two stuffed suits were waiting.
    “Ah, you’ve met Anton when he brought you up here,” said Banik as he motioned toward Head & Shoulders, “but let me introduce my chief of security, Enver Yilmaz,” Banik said with a sense of flair as if Elliot should recognize the name.
    Yilmaz looked on from a dozen feet away. He made no effort to acknowledge or greet Elliot but watched him like a hawk on a mouse. The man had an air of authority about him that the other soldiers did not possess. There was no doubt that this man was in charge. His narrow face seemed to pull out forward from the middle, centered on a hawkish nose that hooked downward from the middle of the nose bridge. The only indication that Yilmaz was even aware of his surroundings was the fidget like movements that were transmitted to the toothpick sticking out the side of his mouth.
    An almost imperceptible nod from Yilmaz sent Head and Shoulders down the hall with Elliot in tow. Elliot was led through the same maze of hallways without saying a word and wondered why a legit business man like Banik would need to staff military types for escort duties. Maybe it was a show put on just for him, but he doubted it.
    Elliot decided not to go back to the office and instead went home. He needed to plan his activities for the upcoming days and run some errands.
     

Chapter 21   
     
    “What did he want?” questioned Yilmaz after Elliot left.
    “He wanted to know why I met with his father shortly before his unfortunate demise.”
    “How did he know you met with him?”
    “He found an appointment scribbled on a calendar on the kitchen wall,” Banik said in an accusatory tone looking directly at Yilmaz.
    Yilmaz shrugged it off. “What did you tell him?“
    “I told him the truth; the old man came in asking about Isotin.”
    “Was that wise?”
    “The old man didn’t have anything. I thought it was safest to play it straight.”
    “Do you think the son knows anything?”
    “I don’t know. I couldn’t get a read on him. He’s a smart biscuit though. We need to keep an eye on him.”
     

Chapter 22   
     
    Elliot was woken by a chirp from his cell phone. Rivka had news on the vehicle search and would meet him at the office. He read the text and lay in bed for a few moments trying to remember the last time he wasn’t woken up by a bad dream; he couldn’t. It was 7:00 a.m. and things were already shaping up to be a good day.
    On the drive over to the office, Elliot thought about his partner, Rivka, and how he had lucked into her. Two years ago, Rivka knocked on the JFK door looking for an opportunity. She told him how she had been a Montreal cop for a dozen years before deciding to leave for personal reasons. She seemed too good to be true so he called his buddy Yves Renaud and asked if he knew of her. Yves validated that she was on the