Last Days (Last Days Trilogy #1) Read Free

to work.”
    “You said that, and I have to go.”
    “Reg, I’m talking to you.”
    “Dad,” Reggie whined, as she approached the front door. “I have to go.”
    “I know. May I finish?”
    She exhaled deliberately, stood straight and looked at her father. “Finish.”
    “Thank you.” He walked over to the couch and slowly sat down.
    “Dad.”
    “I’m settling. All right.” Kyle sipped his coffee. “This is really bad coffee.” After one more sip, he set the cup on the coffee table. “I can’t take him today. I have a new guy starting. Your age. Nice guy. Not married. Never been...”
    “Bye.” Reggie opened the door.
    “Reg. Seth’s getting older. He needs a man around here.”
    “He has you.” Reggie paused in the doorway. “Dad? Turn on the television this morning. Watch Marcus.”
    “Reg. I like the guy and all but...”
    “Marcus needs our support. Now more than ever.”
    “All right. Will you stop by the shop and meet the new guy, Herbie?”
    “Herbie?” Reggie rolled her eyes. “Oh, my God. Goodbye.”

 
    Kyle shrugged when he heard the door shut. He reached for his coffee, cringing all the while, not only at the prospect of drinking it, but at the thought of watching Marcus deliver news the world would rather not hear.
     

 
Westing Biogenetic Institute - London, England
     
    “Is that really what you’re wearing today?” Dr. Conrad Bennet, head of Westing followed Marcus around the main lab.
    “What’s wrong with it?” Marcus stopped, and ran a hand down the burgundy print tie he wore.
    “This isn’t just the Discovery Channel, Marcus. You know that, right? Half an hour after the broadcast, every news show in the world will have that story. And your life will have changed forever.”
    Marcus nodded, exhaled and continued to gather his things. “This pleases you?”
    “Yes. Yes, it does. Not often does our institute shine. Thanks to you, we are going to shine today.”
    “I’ll remember those words when I’m burning in hell.”
    Dr. Bennet chuckled. “You don’t believe that.”
    “No. I don’t.” Marcus closed his briefcase and looked at Dr. Bennet. “I think I have everything. I want to go to the prep lab just to double check before we....” Marcus snapped his fingers. “Almost forgot. Be right back.” He jogged into his office and returned with a small slip of paper. “I wrote a note to leave on your desk, but I forgot to leave it so here this is for you to handle. We had a slight problem.”
    Dr. Bennet reached for the paper with a baffled expression. “Why not just tell me?”
    “You may want to know this,” Marcus said with a grin.
    “Oh my goodness.” Dr. Bennet said. “Directly?”
    “Excuse me?” Marcus asked.
    “He called you directly ?”
    “Yes.” Marcus said, mildly annoyed. “And I was busy. I barely understood him. He speaks... fragile.”
    “The Pope calls you and all you can say is… ‘he speaks fragile’?”
    “Yes.”
    Dr. Bennet shook his head. “So what is the problem you mentioned?” He waved the note.
    Marcus stopped pacing and faced Dr. Bennet. “He got held up at the switchboard. They wouldn’t put him through. You need to speak to the woman down there about the way she directs these calls. He got Leslie in Botany.”
    “That’s the problem? Nothing about today?”
    “That was the problem, yes.”
    “Why did he call, Marcus?” Dr. Bennet spoke agitated.
    “Same ole. Same ole. He was making a personal plea.”
    “Tell me.” Dr. Bennet’s voice softened. “Tell me you were respectful.”
    “Please.” Marcus rolled his eyes. “Of course I was respectful. He appealed to my deep religious upbringing. For a minute I thought he was going to threaten to call my mother.”
    Dr. Bennet laughed.
    “I’m not joking.” Marcus picked up his briefcase. “And I really must go, I have a car waiting downstairs. Stop at the lab with me?”
    “Sure.” Dr. Bennet shrugged and dropped the note on the lab table.