Murder by Prescription

by Breakell Richard

  “Nope … You have to be patient.”

  “I hate you”

  “Noooo … you love me more than ever. See you in a few,” he clicked off before she could whine any more.

  He opened the garage door to be greeted by Myra holding 2 spiffs of champagne. He grabbed her and twirled her in the air, spilling champagne all over the floor. She shrieked in laughter and howled… “Tell me… tell me… tell me.”

  He held up the file, “We are going to learn together. I only know that I have been offered something way beyond what I could have hoped for.”

  Breathlessly, Myra said, “Let’s go sit in the living room.”

  “I’d rather tear your clothes off and ravish you.”

  “Later, macho man.”

  Settling on the sofa together, Marty gingerly opened the file as if it would shatter. They both scanned the first page. The opening paragraph explained that Marty would be forming his own company – Cooper Consulting Company and confidential ‘startup financing’ and credit lines, if needed, had been arranged. Just as Marty had seen, his suggested annual salary was $200,000.

  They looked at each other in disbelief. This was double his current income. Nervously, Marty turned the page. Following was an itemized list of additional points.

  Marty held his breath, Please, God, let there be no ‘deal breakers.’

  ’50% ownership.

  Total autonomy in annual increases.

  Five-member Board of Directors.

  Marty, plus one of his choice, as a Board Member.’

  The rest was just ‘boiler plate’ that he would go over later. They both sat alternating between looking at the page and looking at each other. Neither one could speak. Finally, they both let out their breath.

  “Marty,” whispered Myra, “how did you do this?”

  “My, I swear, I didn’t do anything. I walked in and before I could even start to talk, he handed me these papers and, basically, that was it. I am to get together with him tomorrow and move ‘the venture’ forward.”

  “Do you believe this! It’s almost too good to be true. What’s the catch?”

  “Honestly, My, I don’t know if there is one. I will know tomorrow when I go back.”

  ***

  Marty’s eyes snapped open from the alarm. Damn it! It was such a great dream. He reached over to touch My, but the pillow was empty. Then he smelled the coffee. He quickly threw on a shirt and wandered downstairs.

  There she was, looking as radiant as ever, and just out of bed. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “Please, tell me that I am not still in my dream and last night was real,” he murmured.

  “No… it was not real. It was unreal. You have to warn me when you are going to be an animal.”

  “I beg your pardon. Who was the animal…? A second bottle of champagne? How risqué!”

  Myra blushed, “…and you… On the bathroom counter? You must learn to control your libido.”

  “Me…? And dancing nude is your idea of control,” Myra waved her hands in surrender. “Enough… enough! You told Derek last night when he called, that you would be at the office at 10. Now stop molesting me and get ready. I laid out your suit and tie. I’ll make some breakfast. Hurry… hurry!”

  Could anything be better, thought Marty. He could visualize their future rolling out like a magic carpet

  ***

  He pulled into the underground parking. The attendant looked at him and then the picture on his desk and the gate rose. “Good Morning, Mr. Cooper,” he said. Marty was dumbfounded. They already had him in the system? “Your parking space is number 242, just straight ahead, on your right.”

  Marty couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was all too good to be true. So, it was with apprehension that he followed the receptionist to Kelly’s desk, who looked up with a happy smile.

  “Hello, Mr. Cooper. Nice to see you again. Your meeting is in Mr. Chiles’ office,” she said as she pushed the intercom. “Mr. Cooper is here… Thank you… Just follow me” she said, rising from the desk. “Mr. Chiles and Mr. Maurrel are waiting for you.”

  They started up a wide, semicircular stairway which opened to a lavishly furnished waiting area with flanking hallways down both sides. In the center, behind the reception desk, were mahogany double doors manned by Pam Styles,

  “Pam Styles,” said Kelly, “meet Mr. Marty Cooper.”

  Marty nodded.

  “Thank you, Kelly,” said Pam, dismissing Kelly with a wave.

  “Hello, Mr. Cooper. Nice to meet you.”

  Marty had never seen such magnificent furnishings, both furniture and human. Pam, rising from behind her desk, opened one of the opulent doors to see Derek striding toward them. “Marty… glad you could make it on such short notice.”

  “No problem, sir… ah… Derek.”

  Derek guffawed, “Now you’ve got it!”

  As they entered the office, Marty was once again overwhelmed. The office was larger than his house. In one corner, with floor to ceiling glass walls, overlooking the Dallas skyline, was a living room, complete with a fireplace and an obviously well-stocked bar.

  A second corner featured a round table with plush chairs for eight. Feeling as though he were in a quiz show, Marty glanced to corner number three which featured some obviously expensive original art pieces overlooking a cozy den-like nook, with two plush leather chairs facing each other over a small and rare teak coffee table.

  In front of the center glass wall, commanding all of this, was a strangely small, but stylish, glass-topped desk almost completely bare except for the Intercom and phone. Emerging from behind the desk was a tall, tanned, and obviously fit Tom Chiles. His stylish, long grey hair and expensive suit made Marty feel that he was meeting the President.

  With his hand outstretched, Tom said, “Marty… Tom Chiles. Nice to finally meet you. Derek has told me so much about you, I feel as though we have already met.”

  “Mr. Chiles. A pleasure.”

  “Marty,” said Derek, “Tom has been brought totally up to date on your research and, of course, is privy to your vetting. I don’t think I am overstating that Tom is more than impressed with your academic history and your subsequent patience in ’earning your chops,’ as they say in the music business.”

  “Absolutely,” chimed Tom, “when Derek brought you to my attention, I couldn’t help but wonder, why no one else had seen this diamond in the rough.”

  “Thank you, sir,” mumbled Marty.

  “But enough chitchat,” chided Tom, “let’s get down to cases,” he said as he walked over to the living room setting in the corner. “Have you digested the opportunity.”

  “I have and I must say that in light of my limited experience, I was surprised at your generosity.”

  Tom laughed, “Derek and I both understand. We knew there were more experienced candidates but, in all candor, your potential was your selling point. Specifically, your insightfulness gave us a glimpse into the nature of ’Big Data’3 and how to keep ahead of these individuals and groups that fight us with such ferocity. We need that kind of talent, tempered with pragmatism, in order for Derek and I to continue to satisfy entities like the FDA, NIH, AMA, CDC and congress.”

  “Plain and simple, Marty,” Derek added, “we need you in the ‘front lines,’ feeding us and using your research to soften, if not remove, the resistance.”

  Marty swallowed, “Gentleman, first let me say this. I accept, with gratitude, the opportunity and I can promise you that you will not be disappointed. I understand the risk you are taking and your confidence is not misplaced.”

  Tom rose, “Fabulous. You and Derek can work out the details.”

  “Marty,” said Derek as they walked to the door, “I am going to have Kelly take you down to the 14th floor so you can start planning your next physical steps. I need to speak with Tom for a moment and then I’ll be down.”

  “OK,” replied Marty.

  Pam rose as the door opened. �
�Just go down the stairs, Mr. Cooper, and Kelly will show you to the 14th floor.”

  Back in Tom’s office, Tom paced, “Now what about Dr. Kenmore. Has he been prepped?” asked Tom.

  “Yes. As you already know, he is a full-fledged, bought and paid supporter. His pragmatic view is that a few deaths on the road to world health is more than acceptable. He’s the perfect ’egg head’ degreed academic. He not only believes that our products will save thousands of lives, but I think he may have his eyes on a Nobel,” snickered Derek.

  Tom pointed at Derek, “As we discussed, to maintain his neutrality, we don’t want him attached to us in any way, nor the money supporting his rise to stardom.”

  “We will introduce him to Marty ASAP so that Marty can speak with more authority and reference the Dr. in his releases”

  Tom nodded his head, “Good. Are we continuing the campaign to push him as the world expert”?

  “Yes, and that will be enhanced as soon as Marty fleshes out his program,” replied Derek

  “The thing I am most excited about is the reception the Dr. is receiving within his peer groups. I noticed in Marty’s report that he is being quoted on a much more frequent basis. Good work on that.”

  “Thanks, Tom. After we finish with Marty, let’s’ talk about the long-view plans. I have some thoughts.”

  “I’m meeting our lobbyist tonight, so let’s wait for another time.”

  “Nothing serious, I hope?”

  Tom frowned, “I don’t think so. Just some loose ends with the FDA that need to be addressed. One of the new Congressmen is asking too many questions.”

  * * *

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Analytica

  https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/what-is-big-data.html↩︎

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rZn1xccrig&feature= youtube↩︎

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Analytica

  https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/what-is-big-data.html↩︎

  Chapter 2

  Kelly and Marty stepped out on the 14th floor. He had expected to have to do a ‘build out’ from a former office. Instead, it was like someone had said, ‘OK… everyone out’ and they took their personal effects and left.

  It was a completely functional, ready-for-business, facility. Marty crossed to the inside door and pushed it open to behold at least 4000 sq. ft. area comprised of one major office of maybe 500 sq. ft., five more offices of approximately 300 sq. ft. each, secretarial desks, a lunch room, two bathrooms, and a room he couldn’t see.

  “Shocking, huh,” said Kelly.

  “That doesn’t cover it. What is all this?”

  Kelly laughed, “It’s your domain!”

  “Ok, wrong question. What was it?”

  “It was a company that went under and Tom knew that someday he would expand, so he worked out a great deal and it’s been sitting here for six months.”

  “…and you are saying this is my domain.”

  “Yes… Officially, this is Cooper Research and Development.”

  “But, Kelly, I will not, in a million years, use this space.”

  “Oh, yes, you will, if what I have been seeing and hearing happens,” Kelly said quietly.

  Marty turned and looked at her, “What do you mean?”

  “Marty… I’m sorry… Mr. Cooper…”

  “No… No, please call me Marty.”

  “Marty, I hope I am not being too presumptuous, but this is going to become a huge operation. You are not going to be consulting only with Chiles, Arken, and Associates, but thanks to Mr. Chiles and Mr. Maurel’s contacts with other major Pharmaceutical companies, they will be ‘pounding on your door.’ You will impact the entire Pharmaceutical Industry. I should have told you… I read your research. It’s brilliant.”

  Marty didn’t know whether to be angry or flattered and muttered, “You realize that it was supposed to be confidential.”

  “I’m sorry again. Mr. Maurrel left it on my desk by mistake. Please, don’t say anything to him.” She looked like she was going to cry.

  “Your secret is safe with me,” sympathized Marty, “…and I thank you for your comments.”

  Just then, Derek came rushing into the offices. “Well,” he said, spreading his arms wide, “what do you think? Can you function here?”

  “Function! …are you kidding. I could move in here with my family,” gushed Marty.

  Kelly said, “I’ll leave you gentlemen”

  Derek started toward the big office, “OK, Kelly. See you upstairs.”

  Marty said, “Thank you, Kelly.”

  She turned, and as she passed Marty, she leaned into him and whispered, “Thank you… be careful.”

  ***

  Kelly was still blushing as she sat down at her desk. She was so embarrassed. What the hell was that about. She hardly knew the man and here she was, trying to warn him. Typical Kelly, she thought, always trying to be the caretaker. Her mother’s words rang in her ears, Kelly, you can’t fix everybody.

  Maybe that was why she was still single at twenty-seven years old. She had certainly had opportunities. She knew she was attractive and had no problem initiating interest from men. But it always seemed that when it came down to commitment, he just wasn’t quite right.

  It wasn’t that she was interested in Mr. Cooper, although it had crossed her mind, but he seemed so vulnerable, which was not a good quality to take into a relationship with Derek Maurrel or Tom Chiles. She had been sitting at Derek’s door for three years and one thing she knew for sure. You did not exit his office without some ‘skin’ missing. The worst part was that usually the victim didn’t know until it was too late.

  She had prepared all the documents and she knew anything that Mr. Cooper did from hereon was independent of and completely deniable by Chiles, Arken, and Associates. In other words, he would be manipulated by the company in all his activities and yet, totally liable for any results. It was the perfect set up.

  Maurrel and Chiles always had a plan and she had heard and seen enough to know that Mr. Cooper was part of a ‘plan’ and could be and, probably would be, tossed to the’wolves’ when the time was right.

  Kelly knew that she worked in an amoral environment and rationalized the decisions that were being enacted for the greater good… at the expense of her conscience.

  Like everyone else that was associated with Chiles, Arken, and Associates the remuneration exceeded the going market, which maintained loyalty, not to mention that it enabled a standard of living beyond her means. She knew it was economic slavery, but she needed the money.

  These decisions affected millions of lives and that knowledge, with its accompanying guilt, had to be quelled! The more than comfortable lifestyle usually did the job… Most of the time!

  But this time, something was different. It was personal! She didn’t know why, but there it was! She was passively participating in allowing another new drug, with very questionable pedigree, to enter the marketplace. Notwithstanding that she was now abetting the destruction of a good man and his family.

  She was not a martyr or a dreamer, but something unfamiliar was stirring in her. Maybe it was time to challenge her amoral existence. Maybe it was time to take a stand!

  ***

  The rest of Marty’s day was taken up with contracts and other administrative necessities. In reviewing the documents, he confirmed that he was a major shareholder of his own research company. Marty looked up from the documents with a questioning look,

  “Derek, what is the purpose of my own company? Why am I not just a department of the company?”

  “Very simple, Marty. When we quote ‘research’ in our press releases from our’sources,’ yours is an independent viewpoint. No bias! Your company officially will have no connection with ours except as a consulting service. The startup financing for your company will be private and anonymous and your revenue stream will come from consulting contracts with other pharmaceutical companies and industry organizati
ons. Should the jackals from the media start attacking, we don’t want you to be vulnerable. Your research needs to be unquestionably neutral.”

  “Excellent,” acknowledged Marty.

  When Kelly finished drafting the necessary consulting documents for Marty, Derek asked Kelly to leave the office and, after the door closed, he turned to Marty.

  “Marty, the reason we wanted the agreements ‘roughed out’ here is so that we are in agreement on where we are going, but I’m sure you understand that these have to go to an attorney for finalization.”

  “Of course,” said Marty.

  Derek stared intently at Marty, “Just to maintain our separation, I think it would be wise if you be the only one involved in the preparation of the final documents. I hope you understand.”

  Marty nodded, “I understand.”

  Derek continued, “Because of their knowledge of our industry, I would recommend the law firm of Johnson, Lavin, and Bales. They handle a lot of clients in the pharmaceutical industry. Understand?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “…and lawyers being lawyers, I think you should advise them you would like the documents to be basically untouched, other than what little technical changes they may wish to do. We, of course, would not be privy to the incorporation, unless you choose to allow it, and we need to make sure that the consulting documents are dated after the formation of the company.”

  “Yes… yes,” agreed Marty.

  “All right then,” nodded Derek, “now when will you be able to take occupancy and begin your new career?”

  “Well, I don’t want to burn any bridges, but I suspect that once I give notice, they will want me out immediately.”

  “Yes. That would be the prudent thing. All right, just keep me posted. From now on, any contact with us will be from Cooper Consulting. You have the contacts for the investors’ law firm and you can make financial arrangement with them for immediate funding.”

  “Yes… Derek, I don’t know what to say except ‘thank you’ for this opportunity.”