Free The Dolomite Solution by Trevor Scott Page A

on their progress. There was no doubt in either of their minds that what he and the Austrian had discovered would change history. It was that important. Scala envisioned himself in Stockholm accepting his Nobel Prize, and even thought hard on what he would do with his share of the money. Money was something that he knew he would never have and it didn’t bother him a bit. Yet he also knew that the money would give him more freedom in his next research project. More importantly, though, would be the prestige of winning the coveted Nobel. That would give him even more freedom. More control over his own destiny.
    Giovanni Scala closed his briefcase, locked the combination, and headed out of the lab.
    After walking slowing down the corridor, he entered a cloister with a tall arched ceiling and open arches and columns to his left. He acknowledged a young man and woman, past students of his, who were lazing in the sun and should have probably been in class. But who could blame them, he thought. It was such a fine day. Sometimes scholarly pursuit had to wait for everyday pleasures. A truth for all but Scala himself.
    Professor Scala had nearly reached the end of the columns when he first noticed the two men approaching. They looked like Ferrari salesmen, he thought, with their black leather coats, their hair slicked back. And they might have been.
    He had his briefcase dangling from his left hand. He gripped it harder as he got closer to them. He hadn’t even thought of safeguarding his project. Until now.
    When the men were within a few feet of him, they stopped.
    Giovanni Scala stopped also. “May I help you find something?”
    The larger of the two men, the one with the left eye that seemed to shift sideways uncontrollably, twisted his thick jaw to his left. “Professor Scala?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou must come with us.” He pulled a black wallet from inside his coat, flipped it open quickly, and then returned it.
    Scala had recognized the symbol for Interpol, but could not believe his eyes. What did they want with him? “I’m sorry. I don’t have time for this.” He tried to scoot around the smaller of the two, but the man grabbed his left arm and he nearly lost his grip on the briefcase.
    â€œI’m also sorry, but you don’t have a choice,” lazy eye said. He took the professor’s right arm, and together the men hauled him off down the pathway.
    For the first time in his life, Professor Giovanni Scala was frightened.
    â—
    When Toni saw the three of them, her heart started pounding out of control. The two men in leather coats were escorting the professor down the sidewalk toward the BMW. The leather men looked around nervously.
    She got out slowly and walked directly toward the BMW, keeping the car between her and the men, her hand down inside the purse.
    By now the three men were just a few feet from the front of the BMW. She was across the hood of the car.
    Toni pulled the gun, aimed it at the largest man, and yelled, “Let him go.”
    The three men startled. The smaller leather man reached for something, and Toni let one round fly just above his head. He froze and then put his hand at his side angrily.
    â€œWho the hell is this bitch?” the little guy asked his partner.
    Lazy eye didn’t answer. He was staring right at Toni, as if trying to memorize every feature on her.
    â€œI said let him go.” Toni steadied her position against the car.
    â€œYou’re making a big mistake, bitch,” lazy eye said. “Do you know who we are?”
    â€œYeah. You’re in my sights. Now get the fuck out of my sight or I’ll see if that thick skull of yours can handle hollow points.” She shifted her head for them to return the way they had come.
    The professor had this confused expression on his face, as though an experiment had gone terribly wrong and he had no clue why.
    The men let up on their grip. “You don’t know