Free The Killing Code by Craig Hurren Page B

unproductive. Good luck with your case and if you see Jim Benson, please give him my deepest condolences.”
    “ I’ll do that. Thanks for your time and good luck with your patient.”
    Alan w as frustrated with his interview with Adler but he felt a faint glimmer of hope. Dr. Tinsley had mentioned the experimental treatment they were going to test on Bryan Adler and Alan hoped that this might provide some kind of thread for him to follow. He needed to speak with Helen’s colleagues at Blue Sky Biotech and see if he could pick up any leads there. He retrieved his gun and belongings from the check points, got in his car to drive home and focused his mind on how to approach the interviews with Helen’s fellow scientists.

 
    Chapter 5
     
    “I’m telling you Senator Davies, if someone doesn’t stop this guy, he’ll completely monopolize the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in the U.S! We’ve got to form an antitrust task force to investigate Devlin Industries and block this takeover before it’s too late.” Matt Lewis’ face was tense with anxiety as he paced back and forth in front of the senator’s desk.
    “You need to calm down son - you’ll give yourself a heart attack. I understand your concern but Alex Devlin is the most wealthy and powerful man in the country. We have to consider the possible repercussions of such a confrontational action.” the aging Senator from New Jersey tried to sooth Lewis’ angst.
    The long time consumer rights advocate turned to gaze at the elder statesman and sighed heavily. His years of experience belied his relative youth. At only thirty six years of age, he had been highly successful in his field for almost fifteen years and this particular case had his hackles up.
    “With respect s enator, this situation calls for more than simple concern. Do you understand the level of influence this one man can have over the cost of healthcare if his latest acquisition goes ahead? He’s already a multibillionaire, how much does one man need! Is there no end to his greed and lust for power?”
    “I hear you son but we must proceed with caution. There are a lot of ducks we need to get in a row before we can make a move against Devlin. We also have to tread carefully to avoid tipping off his allies in Congress before we’re fully prepared. If he gets wind of what we’re doing before we’re ready to fight, he could wipe us out and I have to think about my campaign for reelection.”
    “I get it. But please; can’t I ask Congressman Taylor to at least get the wheels in motion? I’ve got a meeting with him tomorrow and I don’t want to waste any more time.”
    “OK Matt, go ahead but make sure he clearly understands the need for discretion. That man is prone to loud and visible crusading. It’s how he keeps getting reelected. If Taylor agrees, get him to call me so we can devise our strategy together. We need to weight the task force with allies if we want to win this battle.”
    “That’s great Senator - thank you!” Lewis’ eyes lit up and his furrowed brow relaxed.
    “Call me when you’ve had your meeting so I can keep abreast of Taylor’s movements on the matter.”
    “Will do. Thanks again.” he called over his shoulder as he hastened out the door then left the building to catch a taxi back to his office.
    It was a living, breathing shambles of papers, folders, documents and photos covering the desk, chairs, tables, walls and floor. He had been investigating Devlin Industries for the past three years, and his drive to stop Alex Devlin’s rapidly creeping stranglehold on the healthcare industry bordered on obsession. Aside from the obvious potential for an all powerful monopoly in healthcare through the latest takeover Devlin was attempting, Lewis’ very competent digging had turned up evidence of a network of companies which separately held significant interests in some of the country’s major food manufacturers. When these companies’ holdings were combined,