F Paul Wilson - Novel 02 Read Free

house.
With one of its chief sponsors gone, the bill died in committee." Gin
nodded.
                 "But
earlier this year the president stepped in. Yes, he personally asked Senator
Marsden to revive the McCready committee. But he wanted the legislation to
include not only practice guidelines, but mandates on medical ethics as well."
                "And that's why you need me,
" Gin said, rushing in before Blair could drone on further with his
recitation. "I'm a board-eligible internist who came through the medicine
and public policy residency at Tulane. I'm a fully trained physician who's well
versed in public health issues. You're going to be collecting reams of
testimony, much of it conflicting. You'll need someone like me to sift through
it and septate the wheat from the chaff. If Senator Marsden, "
                "Quite frankly, I don't share
the senator's enthusiasm for having a doctor on board, " Blair said,
staring at her. "I think it could cause too much confusion, maybe even
dissension. So, what can you say or do that will change my mind? " Gin's
skin crawled at the way he looked at her when he said that. She decided to
ignore it.
                 "I
think you need all points of view to draw up a well balanced plan. I can
provide the senator with a valuable perspective, one he's not seeing now, one
he has little access to. The best generals always keep abreast of the conditions
in the trenches. I can offer,"    Blair
glanced at his watch. "Look at the time We've already carried this over
the limit I'd set for it." He closed her file and stood up.
                 "Well,
thank you, Dr. Panzella" He walked to the door and opened it for her.
"I'll discuss your application with the senator. We'll be in touch if he
decides to hire you." His expression was perfectly flat, his eyes empty.
"Can you find your way out?"
                "Of course, " Gin said,
forcing a smile.
                 Her
heart sank as the message came through loud and clean Don't call us, we'll call
you.
                 Gin
let the smile fade as she wound past the cubicles and out through the reception
area. What a nightmare of an interview. She couldn't imagine how it could have
gone worse. What was Blair's problem? Was he threatened by her? Or was he
looking for something from her? What can you say or do that will change my
mind? What was that all about?
                 What
had he expected her to do, lift her skirt?
                 She
felt her jaw muscles bunch in anger. A little man with a little power equaled a
big problem. Was this the way it was going to be?
                 She
had the elevator down all to herself. She leaned against a side wall and fought
the disappointment. Okay, so she probably wasn't going to get on the chairman's
staff. She'd been prepared for that, not for a screw up like this, but for the
real possibility that the senator wouldn't think he'd need her. There were six
other members, no, check that, Congressman Lane had died in that car accident a while back.
So at the moment there were five other legislators who were members of the
Guidelines committee. As the ranking House member, Congressman Allard was the
next obvious choice. Gin had set up a fail-safe appointment with him on
Wednesday morning. Looked like she'd be keeping it.
                 She
left the elevator and rounded the corner into the atrium. That was when she
heard a man's voice from her left.
                 "Excuse
me, but does the word ‘Pasta’ hold any special significance for you?" She
froze. It was a name she hadn't heard since high school. A name she'd never
wanted to hear again.
                 Gin
turned. Him again. Or still. The blond guy in the suit. She now saw some fine
linear scars across his forehead and down his right cheek that she hadn't
noticed before. He was edging closer, staring at her face like the kids