Amoeba (The Experiments) Read Online Free PDF Page A

reconsider?”
    “Nope. Are you?”
    “Nope,” Cal said.
    “Look, you have your reasons for wanting to be Aldo’s friend , and I have my reasons not to. As cold as it is, and as much as I appreciate all that he has done, he’s a skeleton in my closet I don’t need when I go to the Pentagon.”
    Cal nodded slowly. “I understand that. It’s a dick thing to say , but . . .”
    “Cal.”
    “All right.” She shook her head. “I’ll keep him away from you.”
    “Thank you. And I’ll try not to interfere in your Ma Barker role. Now.” He laid his hand on hers. “Are we done fighting?”
    “I don’t think we’ll ever be done fighting. And that worries me.”
    “We don’t really fight.”
    “Yes we do,” Cal said.
    “O kay, we do, but we’ll get passed it.” Jake softened his voice.
    “Do you really believe that? Jake, we fought so much up there. We’re still fighting. I think we’ll always fight. Tell me we should be doing this.”
    “Absolutely. I love you Cal. You are the first woman I have ever loved, ever gave my heart to. I’m not letting you go. And so what that we fight. When did you or I ever walk away from any challenge?”
    Cal tilted her head with a look of agreement. “You got a point.”
    Jake kissed her hand. “Just bear with me, okay? I’m still new with this relationship thing, but I’ll get it right, I promise. Hey, if I can wade through your adjustment time, you can wade through mine, right?”
    Cal pulled her hand from his. “What adjustment time of mine are you wading through ?”
    “Adjusting to the move here. Living with me. You know.”
    “No. Why do you think I have an adjustment period?”
    “Chuck told me.”
    “Chuck’s full of shit. I lived with you for seven months. Living with you isn’t going to take adjustment. Living in this house will.”
    “We’re getting another one. I got the paper today.”
    “That’s not what I meant. I mean your marking the counter so your toaster is geometrically placed.” She snickered. “And what is your obsession with this house buying?”
    “I have to ,” Jake explained. “I get my promotion tomorrow. I will officially become the Ex-O. I’m getting married. I can’t live in base housing anymore. It’s not right. It was okaywhen I didn’t have a life, but I have a life now. I have you.”
    Cal took in a deep breath and moved to Jake , placing her arms around him. Jake closed his eyes as he held her.
    “See , Cal. This hug thing is really good. I like this.”
    Softly , Cal kissed him on the lips. “Jake, you really need to lighten up in this relationship. . . Now.” Cal pulled back. “Let’s go give Chuck that beer.” She moved to the patio doors and pulled the drapes open. When she did, Chuck was kneeling at the glass doors, pretending he was weakly trying to get in. “Jake?” Cal’s eyes went from Chuck to Jake. “Is he all right.”
    “He’s an asshole.” Jake quickly slid open the doors taking Chuck by surprise and causing him to fall forward in the house. Jake gave a single laugh. “Beer ’s in the fridge.” He stepped over Chuck and went onto the patio.

Las Vegas, Nevada
March 6 th - 7:30 p.m. PST
     
    Aldo Connilucci sat behind his desk, sounds of gambling from the casino below seeping into his quiet office. He ran his thick fingers down the mustache that seemed to bury his top lip. He was a darker, complicated man, not too tall, and on the pudgy side. Thick black hair not only covered his head, but all exposed parts of his body.
    Aldo held between his steady hands a check for five million, three hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars. He stared at it for a minute, then , after laying it flat on his desk, he picked up a remote control that sat by his phone.
    Slowly , he turned his black leather chair and faced a lager brown cabinet. He pointed the remote at it and the doors to the cabinet opened exposing a television. Another press and the set came on. He watched the picture, black and