Gone by Francine Pascal Page B

pressure was rising. Even his driving was erratic. He’d already run two red lights in his Mercedes, and he’d nearly sideswiped a taxi, pounding angrily on his horn like the most low-class of New Yorkers. It was downright embarrassing to be so frazzled.
    The general had demanded an immediate meeting, but he wouldn’t say why. All he’d said was for Rodke to meet him on the corner of Rector Street and Broadway and to be there within fifteen minutes. Rodke had barely used his brakes for the entire drive downtown. He’d prayed the whole way that he wouldn’t have any run-ins with the NYPD.
    What could have gone wrong? It had to be about that missing contract. Rodke was sure Chris had stolen it, and he’d had his people out searching for Chris all day with no luck. But what could Chris have possibly done with that classified information? What could a seventeen-year-old boy possibly do to screw up this deal? Rodke couldn’t think of a thing, and thatwas what was panicking him the most. Not knowing.
    He finally made it down to Rector Street, and he could see the general’s limo parked on the corner. Rodke pulled up right behind the general and got out of his car. He activated the alarm and then trotted toward the limo as the back door swung open, a signal for him to get in. He leaned down and peered into the car’s dimly lit interior. A lone shaft of light illuminated the general’s icy expression. He was sitting on the black leather seat, alone and impatient.
    â€œGet in,” Colter ordered.
    Rodke had never been one to take orders, but in this case he had to make an exception. He gathered himself and climbed into the seat opposite the general.
    â€œAll right, what’s the problem?” Rodke demanded.
    â€œClose the door,” Colter ordered.
    Rodke was so frazzled, he hadn’t even remembered the door. He leaned forward and slammed it closed, sitting back in his seat and staring expectantly at Colter in the near darkness. “So… ?”
    Colter fixed his cold stare on Rodke. It was a punishing stare. A “shame-on-you” stare. The kind of look Rodke had given Chris a thousand times before. It was offensive as hell.
    â€œThe deal is off,” Colter declared.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Rodke forced a half smile, as if the general were possibly joking. “We’ve already signed the contracts.”
    â€œThat contract is null and void.”
    â€œNull and void?” He let out another puff of nervous laughter. “I don’t see what could possibly—”
    â€œYou’re a liar, Rodke.”
    â€œ
Excuse
me?”
    â€œYou heard what I said. That contract is a bunch of lies. One
hundred
percent free of side effects? One
hundred
percent safe? That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard. That stuff is a goddamn nightmare. That stuff turns men into animals. You wanted to put
my
soldiers on that stuff? What kind of sicko are you?”
    â€œI’m sorry, I—I—” Rodke was stammering with confusion. Where the hell was all this coming from? “General, we haven’t even completed the prototype for the drug. How could you possibly—?”
    â€œYour son Chris was kind enough to set up a little demonstration for me. He showed me what that drug does to people. He opened my eyes, and thank God he did, Rodke. That’s all I can say for you. Thank God he did.”
    Chris. I knew it.
    Rodke was suddenly so livid, he could hardly breathe. He’d been blindsided by his own son. Chris had gotten to the general somehow. And he’d obviously set up some sort of dog-and-pony show using his drug-addict test subjects for his “demonstration.” That petty, vengeful little… Chris had finally taken his jealousy and his resentment too far. He was using Invince to try to blow the deal when he didn’t evenknow the real details of the operation. For a moment Rodke honestly