Liquid Fear by Scott Nicholson Page A

senator, when the wrinkles in his forehead miraculously vanished and the gray in his hair had been reduced to two distinguished patches near his temples.
    “He’s been fast-tracking a lot of experimental drugs, leaning on the Food and Drug Administration to discreetly lift a few bans. That could be good for us, but it could also be good for our competitors. When we’re gambling with supply and demand, one jackass like Burchfield can cut us out of the game while the cards are being dealt.”
    “You’ll have him eating out of your hand before the weekend’s over.”
    “I’d rather be eating out of your hand,” he said. “And other places.”
    Mark Morgan, junior vice president of CRO Pharmaceuticals, was a smooth talker who had come up through the marketing department, and his science background was limited to a few undergrad biology classes in which he’d eked out a C. Luckily, he’d met his future bride there, the straight-A grad student.
    That was all fine with Alexis. She battled wits with enough eggheads as a researcher and professor at the University of North Carolina, so after hours she preferred the company of a guy whose interests included sex, swimming, and televised sports, though not necessarily always in that order.
    And he looked dynamite both in and out of a suit.
    “Maybe you’ll get your chance,” she said. “I have a whole hour for lunch.”
    “Quickie?” He kissed beneath her earlobe and blew against the moistness, causing her to shiver. “How’s the meeting going?”
    Adopting a Southern accent, she mocked, “Dr. Forsyth thinks I’m the darlin’ little flag-bearer for the Antichrist.”
    “He’s a close friend of the president. Even though he got smeared in the election, he’s still got clout. I told you, that’s just the way this town works.”
    “I can’t wait to get back to Chapel Hill myself.”
    The elevator dinged open, and Mark took her briefcase, leading her down the hall. “I’m afraid I’ll have to stay over.”
    Alexis gave a fake pout. “I thought we were flying back tonight.”
    “ You are. The council should wrap up by dinner. I’m going to be tied up lobbying the health committee. They’re working on some make-or-break bills for the next session, and we’ve got to whisper in their ears the whole time or the idiots will forget who put them in office.”
    “You make it sound so noble.”
    Alexis swiped the room key in the slot, and Mark brushed past her and went into the bathroom. As his urine drilled into the toilet bowl, he raised his voice and said, “There are two bottom lines, honey. One is helping people, and the other is helping the company. If we can’t get our drugs out there, then people will suffer.”
    “Please. I’ve heard enough of that from the council.”
    Mark sat beside her on the bed. He’d left his fly unzipped. “Poor baby. Want me to get you a tranquilizer?”
    “Hell, no. With CRO’s markup, it would probably run me ten bucks.”
    “I know a guy with the company,” he said, kicking off his shoes and crawling behind her to rub her shoulders. She relaxed and let her head hang forward, wishing she could let down her hair and undress.
    Mark’s strong hands kneaded the back of her neck, eliciting a sigh. They hadn’t made love since the previous weekend, and though statistically it was considered normal for ardor to decline during the early thirties, Alexis considered sex a foundation of good mental health.
    The Centers for Disease Control should set a recommended minimum daily adult requirement of at least one orgasm.
    “Hmm, if you gave Senator Botox this kind of treatment, he’d hand you the pen and let you write your own legislation,” Alexis said with a purr.
    He scooted against her until the hard heat between his legs pressed against her back through her blouse. “Yeah, but think of the rumors. People already believe Congress is in bed with the pharmaceutical companies.”
    “If they only knew,” she said, yielding as