No Show (36 page)

“I’m glad for you, buddy.” Oscar smiled. “Let’s blow this game and do something else. Whaddya say?”

“Okay.”

“Good man,” Oscar said and headed for the arcade.

In the arcade, Oscar handed Terry a drink, and they sat at the same table where they’d first met. Oscar pushed his drink to one side.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know at the moment. There’s still some insurance stuff and other of Sarah’s affairs I need to sort out. My family and friends have asked me to come back to England. I suppose I should.”

“You’re not going to stay and find another biotech job?”

Terry shook his head. Genavax was finished. The FDA was all over the company. Evidence was being gathered and charges and arrests would be announced soon. There were rumors that one of the international drug conglomerates was waiting in the wings to buy Genavax for pennies on the dollar and absorb it into its operations. He hoped the rumor was true. He didn’t want to see his innocent coworkers lose their jobs. Out of respect, he’d resigned.

“I’m finished in the biotech industry in this country. I’m a corporate leper. No one will want to employ a whistle-blower.”

“I suppose you’re right. But dammit, buddy, I don’t want to see you go. I’m just getting used to having you around.”

“I don’t really have a choice. What else could I do?”

“I guess…” Oscar stopped himself midsentence to flash a naughty-boy grin. “I know what we need and I know what you could do.”

Terry was puzzled. “What?”

“We need a new sheriff.” Oscar could barely contain his excitement. “Are you up for it?”

The End

T
he city of Edenville and the county of Santa Rita are wholly fictional. Those familiar with the I-80 corridor between the Bay Area and Sacramento might recognize some of the locations stolen for this book.

Photo by Barry Evans Studio, 2003

A
former racecar driver, licensed pilot, animal rescuer, endurance cyclist, and occasional private eye, Simon Wood is also an accomplished author with more than 150 published stories and articles under his belt. His mystery fiction, which has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, has earned him both the prestigious Anthony Award and a CWA Dagger Award nomination. In addition to
No Show
, his books include
Accidents Waiting to Happen, Working Stiffs, Asking for Trouble, Paying the Piper, We All Fall Down
, and
Terminated
. Originally from England, he lives in California with his wife, Julie.