Red Blooded Murder by Laura Caldwell

Author:Laura Caldwell [Caldwell, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: thriller

42

O n Wednesday morning, two days after Jane’s death, I sat in the studio’s interview area.

“This morning for our Coffee Break,” I read from the prompter, “we’re discussing a recent ruling on behalf of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against King Pharmaceuticals. King is the target of a class action suit filed by famed Chicago lawyer Jackson Prince on behalf of patients he claims were injured or killed by the arthritis drug Ladera. Yesterday, a U.S. District Court denied a request by King to dismiss the suit.”

I glanced down at the written script and squeezed my knees together tight, just like C.J. told me. I heard her other instructions in my head-shift a little toward your guest then turn your torso slightly back to the camera. I did so, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her giving me a thumbs-up.

I looked up at the prompter. “Joining us today is Jackson Prince himself. Good morning, Mr. Prince.”

I turned my body farther to face Prince, whose slate-gray suit complemented the blue leather of the chair behind him. He looked both casual and elegant, both scholarly and handsome. “Good morning. Thanks for having me, Isabel.” He beamed a megawatt smile full of perfect, white teeth.

“Can you tell us the impact of the judge’s ruling?”

Prince gave a nod of his head. “Judge Wainright’s ruling will finally put an end to the stalling tactics employed by King Pharmaceuticals, so that the many patients who died or were harmed by their drug can be compensated.” Prince went on, describing the lawsuit and the conduct of King Pharmaceuticals in more detail.

I nodded and smiled and occasionally furrowed my brows at the alleged wrongdoing of King Pharmaceuticals, but really I was thinking about Jane.

If Prince had been anxious and on guard when she had interviewed him two days ago, he certainly wasn’t now.

“He’s ready,” I heard in my ISB. “Go to satellite.”

“Joining us via satellite,” I read from the script, “is Howard Lemmon, attorney for King Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Lemmon, how does King respond to these allegations?” I looked at the monitor, trying not to squint at the sharp lines of light that beamed across the set, and watched as the attorney gave the standard corporation-being-sued statements, similar to those I used to give when defending Pickett Enterprises. “Thanks, Isabel. Although we believe the motion to dismiss should have been granted, we look forward to a trial on the merits…” Blah, blah, blah…“We want to show America and our stockholders that we have nothing to hide…” More blah. “We are proud of our research and the drugs that help to save millions of lives.”

I asked each lawyer a few more questions, then read, “Stay tuned to Trial TV, where we’ll be closely following the King Pharmaceuticals lawsuit. Thanks to our guests for joining us.” I turned to a different camera. “Coming up…” I read from the list of stories that would follow.

The monitors showing the King Pharmaceuticals attorney went blank. The lights over the leather chair grouping went dark.

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