Free Race by Mobashar Qureshi Page A

where?”
    “Southeast Asia,” Nemdharry said.
    “What’s the name of the company?”
    “LLPM Imports & Exports.”
    “What does LLPM stand for?”
    “Don’t know.”
    I caught Terries staring at me.   Her cheeks flushed.   I turned back to Nemdharry as if it happened all the time.
    “You think it could be RACE?” Beadsworth asked.
    Terries spoke, “I paid the company a visit. I told them I was looking for some cheap space to rent.   I was willing to share space with someone, maybe a quarter of the portion.   The receptionist was very polite but said they needed all the space.”   As Terries spoke I realized I was staring at her.    Her long hair slid down her back, her tiny nose moved up and down while she spoke, her eyes, full of excitement…I blinked and then blinked again… focus, Jon ...She was saying, “The floor space is huge about—two thousand square feet. But there’s a large divider in the middle.”
    “How do they operate?” Beadsworth said.
    “They purchase used clothes in bulk from places like the Goodwill and the Salvation Army and they sell it to countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.”
    That didn’t make sense so I interrupted.   “Don’t we import clothes from these countries because it’s cheaper to produce there?”
    “That’s what doesn’t make sense,” she said with admiration.
    I felt smart.
    “What could be behind the divider?” Beadsworth asked.
    Terries replied, “It could be a production lab for Nex .”
    We all thought about it.
    “Can’t be a clandestine lab,” Nemdharry said.   “Too risky.”
    “Too many people,” Beadsworth concurred.   
    “Should we go in?” Nemdharry said.
    Beadsworth shook his head, “No. Let’s not jump the gun.   It could be something or it could be nothing.”
               
    ***
     
    He walked out of Mount Sinai Hospital with a heavy bandage wrapped around his head.   He was well over six-feet-four and close to three hundred pounds.   He made his way to the parking lot.    With his fat fingers he rummaged through his pockets searching for the keys.   He pulled out the set, but being on medication he was unsteady and uncoordinated. The keys fell to the ground.
    He cursed.
    Huffing and puffing, he knelt down on one knee and retrieved them.
    “Mr. Burrows,” said a voice from behind.
    He turned.
    A man in a nice suit stood holding a briefcase.   “My name is Martin.   My last name is not important, but I am a representative and business advisor to someone who is interested in you.”
    Ed Burrows was not interested in anyone right now.   He was getting a massive headache and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep.   “Buzz off,” he said.
    “Sir, if you hear me out I promise you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”
    “I said buzz off.”   Burrows was on his feet now.    He was gigantic but that didn’t bother Martin.   Someone sitting in a car not far away was much bigger and more menacing than Burrows.
    “You used to work for Bantam Pharmaceuticals.”
    “Those rat bastards,” Burrows cursed.
    “You were working on a painkiller, model P147, until your unfortunate departure.”
    “I got fired.   Plain as that.”
    “Yes, we’re interested in what you know about this painkiller.”
    “It was months ago,” he said, finding the right key.   “Whatever I worked on, Bantam owns it.”
    “We have the design.”
    He stopped.   “You’re…” His eyes narrowed. “You’re not supposed to have that.”
    “We do and we need you to work on it.”
    “You’re not from Bantam, are you?”
    “No.”
    “Then what you want me to do is illegal?”   Burrows scratched the growth of hair under his chin.
    “That’s right.”
    “No, thank you.   I’ve got my own troubles”
    “Yes, we know.   What do you say to ten thousand?”
    “Dollars?”
    “Yes.   That would clear up your immediate troubles, no?”
    Burrows touched the heavy bandage above his eye.