Mindbend

“I’d heard good things about it before I went with Cheryl. And I must admit I was impressed with the staff’s caring attitude.”

“That’s one of the reasons I’m going there. The doctors aren’t involved with any of the competitive nonsense associate with private practice.”

Je

“Are you going to be all right now?” asked Dr. Vandermer.

“I think so,” said Je

“The second thing I wanted to discuss with you is the possibility of doing amniocentesis.”

Je

“That is true,” said Dr. Vandermer. “Initially, I was convinced that your brother’s problem had been congenital, meaning a chromosomal change after conception. But I got the slides from the hospital where your brother died, and the lab thinks the problem may be hereditary. Given that possibility, it would be a mistake not to take advantage of all the technology at our disposal.”

“Would the test show if my child had the same problem?” asked Je

“Absolutely,” said Dr. Vandermer. “But we should do it soon, since it takes several weeks to get the results. If we wait too long, it will be difficult to do anything if the result is positive.”

“By ‘doing anything’ you mean an abortion?” said Je

“Yes,” said Dr. Vandermer. “The chances of a problem are very small, but with the ambivalence you’ve voiced, I think that you would be able to handle such an eventuality.”

“I’ll have to talk with my husband and my parents,” said Je

She left the office nervous about the prospect of amniocentesis but glad she had a doctor as caring as Vandermer. She’d have to tell Adam that she’d totally reversed her original impression of the man.

Adam never quite lost consciousness. He was vaguely aware of being dragged into Percy’s living room and unceremoniously dumped onto the couch. He felt his wallet being removed, and then replaced. That little sequence didn’t jibe with his expectations, and puzzling it over, he shook off his stupor.

The first thing he did was search for his glasses, which were suddenly thrust into his hand. He put them on and the room came into focus. Sitting in front of him was a heavyset man in a blue suit and a white shirt open at the collar.

“Good morning,” said the man. “Welcome back.”

Adam moved. Nothing hurt, which was surprising.

“Unless you want to ride down to the police station, Mr. Schonberg, you’d better tell me what you were doing in this apartment.”

“Nothing,” croaked Adam. He cleared his throat.

“You’re going to have to do better than that,” said the man, lighting a cigarette and blowing smoke toward the ceiling.

“I could say the same for you,” said Adam.

The stranger reached over and grabbed Adam’s shirt front, almost lifting him off the couch. “I’m not in the mood for wisecracks,” he snarled.

Adam nodded.

As suddenly as he’d grabbed him, the man let him go. “OK,” said the stranger. “Let’s start again. What were you doing in this apartment?”

“I am a friend of Percy Harmon,” said Adam quickly. “Well, sort of a friend. I was starting work for Arolen Pharmaceuticals and he took me around to teach me the routine.”

The man nodded slightly, as if he accepted the story so far.

“Percy was supposed to call me,” Adam said. “He never did and he never answered his phone. So I came over to see if he was here.”

“That doesn’t explain why you broke into the apartment,” said the stranger.

“It was an impulse,” said Adam meekly. “I wanted to see if he was all right.”

The man didn’t say anything. The silence and the tension quickly began to wear on Adam. “I liked Percy,” he said. “I was worried about him. He was supposed to go to Puerto Rico for a training course, but he never got there.”

The man remained silent.

“That’s all I know,” said Adam. “I never saw him again.”

“I believe you,” said the man, after a pause.

“Thank you,” said Adam, relieved to the point he could have cried.

The man stubbed out his cigarette. Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out a card and extended it to Adam. It said “Robert Marlow, Private Investigator.” In the lower right-hand corner was a telephone number.

“About six weeks ago Percy Harmon left a Japanese restaurant in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He never got home. I’ve been hired by the family to see what I can find out. I’ve been watching the apartment. Aside from a couple of young ladies, you’re the only one to show up.”

“Do you have any idea of what could have happened to him?” asked Adam.

“Not the foggiest,” said Mr. Marlow. “But if you happen to hear anything, I’d appreciate a call.”

Adam still felt shell-shocked when he got back to his empty apartment. Je

The next thing Adam knew, he heard the front door close and for a moment thought he was back in Harmon’s apartment.

“Well, well,” teased Je

Adam didn’t answer.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“I suppose you’ve been to Englewood,” Adam snapped unreasonably.

Je

“I guessed as much,” said Adam, turning to the television.

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Je

“Nothing in particular,” said Adam.

“Look,” said Je

“That’s nice,” said Adam sarcastically. “You discuss it with your parents even though it is our child.”

“I knew I couldn’t get hold of you during the day,” explained Je

“I still think the decision is ours alone,” said Adam.

He rolled over and put his feet on the floor, knowing he was being unfair. “Besides, I thought Vandermer said you didn’t need amniocentesis.”

“That’s true,” said Je

Adam got to his feet and stretched. From the little he knew about genetics, he didn’t think that Je

Je

“What do you mean?” asked Adam.

“Since he returned from his medical conference, he seems to have more time and interest,” said Je

Adam forgot his anger. “Has he changed in any other way?” he asked.

“He says he’s tired of private practice,” said Je

Adam slowly sank back on the bed.

“I never thought I’d go back to the Julian after Cheryl died,” Je