Expelled Read Free Page A

the racism in his remarks. Old men were the worst. And they always thought they were being funny.
    â€œMr. Almstead,” she asked, “if I come to work for you, I get to continue my research—”
    â€œHeck yeah, why do you think I sent in the SWAT team?”
    â€œOn human subjects?”
    â€œWe have volunteers, at our lab. They’re paid very, very well,” Mr. Phillips interjected.
    â€œAnd they know how to keep their mouths shut,” Almstead said from the screen.
    â€œWhen the time comes … could my new name be Elise?” Li Jing asked.
    â€œHa!” he barked. Then, “Girls. Can be one of the top scientists in all the world, and still got a pretty name in mind. Sure thing. Why Elise?”
    She shrugged.
    There had been another Chinese girl in Li Jing’s kindergarten class named Elise. She had been the darling of the class, while Li Jing had remained friendless week after week.
    â€œWant a Chinese last name or a regular one?” Almstead said.
    â€œZhang,” Li Jing decided. “It is a very common Chinese last name.”
    â€œElise Zhang. Sounds like a scientist not to screw around with. I like it.”
    â€œExcuse me, sir,” Mr. Phillips said. “We also need to ask Ms. Wu how many people know about the research.”
    â€œWell, almost no one,” Li Jing answered. “My project advisor, and the head of the department, they both knew. And my roommate, Penelope Lindstrom. She’s the one who got me expelled.”
    â€œOh, believe me,” said Almstead, “all our best scientists got kicked out of school for one thing or another.”
    â€œIs that all?” Phillips asked. “You’re quite certain?”
    â€œI guess it’s possible that Penny could have told some of her friends, but I don’t know. Oh, and Carolann, of course. My test subject. She knows.”
    Mr. Phillips nodded.
    â€œI see. Well, Phillips, that manageable?” Almstead crowed.
    â€œYes, sir. Perfectly so.”
    Li Jing got goose bumps all up and down her arms and legs. What did that mean, manageable?
    Phillips crooked his arm up and rapped on the dividing glass twice. The driver reversed the car and drove backward, out toward the parking lot.
    â€œWhat should we do about the test subject, Mr. Almstead?” Phillips asked. “She’s quite unstable. She assaulted Ms. Wu right as we arrived.”
    â€œWhat do you think we should do about her, Li Jing?” Almstead asked.
    Li Jing thought for a moment. “Her rapid weight loss and her growing aggression would be consistent with someone suffering from meth addiction,” she volunteered. “Maybe we could find a place where addicts are and … give her some and leave her there.”
    â€œThatta girl! You’re one of us, I can tell already! We’ll give her … rather too much meth, if I’m catching onto your idea.”
    Li Jing nodded. It had never been a good experiment. No blinds. Only one subject. The dosage hadn’t been monitored as it should have been, she could admit that now. And it had been hard to keep up with Carolann’s increasing demand. Some of the product had not been as pure as it should have been. It had been a sloppy experiment.
    The SUV had to make a three-point turn right in front of her father’s banged-up white delivery van.
    Li Jing’s breath caught in her throat.
    â€œHe can’t see you, through the glass,” Mr. Phillips said.
    Her father was leaning on the van and smoking a cigarette, watching for her. She could tell, just from his posture, by the tension in his body and the way he was jiggling one foot, how angry he was. How ready he was to lay into her, as soon as she rounded the corner.
    â€œBut we should talk about him,” Mr. Phillips said, as the SUV finished the turn and pulled away. “Would he believe it if you ran away?”
    His eyes darted to her arm. Unintentionally,