Jack also learned that Rose had specialized in the therapeutic properties of marine toxins. After having bagged some Solakandjis, she had chemical assays done on the toxin and found that the compound demonstrated beneficial properties on the neurological system. When Moy decided to start researching these neurological properties, Rose went to work with him as a partner. They apparently became lovers. And when she became pregnant with Jack, she insisted that he either marry her or provide financially for Jack’s upbringing. Moy refused. They fought, and she was killed. Moy and his people went on to develop an FDA application of the compound for the treatment of dementia. But Rose Sarkisian was the prime mover. She had identified the agent and its therapeutic properties with lab mice.
Mookie. Where’s Mookie?
And that stuffed animal was what she had made for her little boy.
Jack looked out over the water to Skull Rock and the glittering azure expanse beyond. And for a moment he thought he heard thunder.
“I didn’t know that Nick knew your mother. He never said anything.”
“Except he must have suspected when he saw me on his MRI patient list. Then he did some name and date checks.”
“He must have suspected foul play all along, since she had identified the toxin’s benefits, then mysteriously disappeared.”
“My guess. And then Moy appropriated the discovery and slapped his name on the patents.”
“Which is why Nick kept pressing to discover whether you remembered anything.”
“He even sent you after me. Kind of glad he did.”
She smiled. “Me, too.” He felt a flush of warmth as she took his hand.
Because there was no statute of limitations in Massachusetts, Gavin Moy had been indicted for murder, the evidence being his own confession on tape. Likewise, Jordan Carr and Teddy Moy were also indicted for the murder of Nick Mavros. After the discovery of Nick’s body, the film in his camera had been developed. At first it had meant nothing in the investigation of the accident. But when the police heard the tape of the exchange recorded in Moy’s office, they went back to the film to discover on the last frame a face staring out from a clutch of dark bushes. When blown up, the face in the dark looking directly at the camera was Jordan Carr’s.
But that was not the only evidence for the prosecution undercutting Carr’s insistence that he had not been at Bryce Canyon. Teddy Moy had decided not to go down alone. He confessed that Jordan had been complicit with him and Gavin Moy, although Teddy had done the actual dirty work of pushing Nick off the cliff. There was suspicion that Teddy was also responsible for Peter Habib’s death, now being investigated as a possible homicide.
“How’s Louis doing?”
“Fine. I was out to their place the other day. He sends his regards.”
“He was a real hero.”
“Yes. He really was. No, is.”
As René had explained it, that night at Moy’s estate Louis had apparently experienced a memory-induced hallucination, believing he was engaged in a long-anticipated assault on North Korean military high command including individuals who had participated in the torture and execution of members of his platoon. And although he had experienced no more such hallucinations since, he could not be taken off the drug, of course. But he was being more closely monitored and treated with different doses of medications that would block his flashbacks and possible hallucinations without sending him into a stupor. His short-term memory continued to improve, and he was living almost a normal life again.
But understanding why some patients like Louis Martinetti were susceptible to flashbacks clearly required more research. The problem was that after four to six months of regular dosing, sixty percent of the patients showed cognitive and functional improvement; yet, for some reason, nearly half of those experienced disturbing flashbacks. As a result, the Memorine’s FDA application was withdrawn. Those trial patients already on the compound would be continued and closely monitored and properly treated for flashback seizures. Meanwhile, the FDA had mandated that GEM Tech scientists in conjunction with outside research groups make aggressive efforts to determine what genetic, chemical, or demographic factors might account for the phenomena before reapplication of Memorine or any refashioned compound for approval.
Understandably, thousands of AD patients, caregivers, and health-care workers were disappointed at the news. But Orman-Witt, the director of the FDA, said that this was medical progress. “This initiative is going to push drug companies to be more thoughtful when testing their products and not rush them to market or cover up damaging evidence.” The hope was for a safe and efficacious treatment within two years.
Alas, the world would have to wait. And when some safe variation of Memorine eventually reached the market, Rose Sarkisian would share credit for its discovery.
Jack’s own flashbacks and related nightmares had also faded, as if on some deep level a ghost had been laid to rest. He was back at the gym with Vince and pumping chrome once again. And next month he’d be back in the classroom at Carleton Prep and helping Vince out hosting Yesterdays on weekends.
Jack got up and took René’s hand as they walked to the water’s edge.
Fifty yards out, Skull Rock sat glistening in the golden sun. And hanging over the sea like a pale ghost was a crescent moon that smiled down on them.
“You know, for all the jelly I took in, I still don’t remember what it’s like to kiss a woman.”
“I bet it’ll come back to you.”
“Well, you can’t tell.”
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him.
“I never told you, but I was always a slow learner.”
“You goof,” she laughed, and kissed him again.
He closed his eyes real hard. “Getting warm.”
She kissed him again.
“Warmer still.”
“This could go on all day.”
“I hope so, and into the night.”
OTHER NOVELS BY GARY BRAVER
Gray Matter
Elixir
WRITTEN AS GARY GOSHGARIAN
The Stone Circle
Rough Beast
Atlantis Fire