The Jigsaw Man Read Online Free PDF Page A

research related innovations. The man's a genius,
    no doubt about it, Mike. His work on brain stem inju
    ries and spinal column nerve regeneration is second
    to none. ,
    "Dr. Marshall has made a fortune on his medic#f
    patents, not to mention the private and government
    grants that came pouring in after all his success, but
    he was filthy rich before his career even started. His
    family had money coming out of their wazoos from
    way back. He never needed a nickel right from day one,
    which is why, when he became furious with the medical
    community and fed up with their restrictive rules and
    regulations, he simply dropped completely out of the
    public eye to devote his time and vast wealth into his
    own private research.
    "He's one of a kind, Mike, you'll like him, I know
    you will. What's not to like? He's got the four G's."
    "The four G's?" I asked.
    "Yeah, he's good-looking, he's a genius, he's gener
    ous with his money, and he's got gazillions of it to
    toss around. The four G's, man. He's Bill Gates, with
    a scalpel!"
    It was obviously a line Drake used often, but he still
    managed to laugh at his own joke. Personally, I didn't
    find it very funny, but I chuckled anyway to play along.
    When Drake settled, I decided to get down to business.
    "And. what does this rich and famous doctor want
    with a broken-down bum like me?"
    Drake's smile disappeared immediately, as if it had
    never existed, replaced with a condescending scowl.
    "Now, Mike," wagging his finger, in my face, "that's
    not a nice way to describe yourself, is it? You're for
    getting I've been following you around and I know
    you better than you think. You're not a bum. I don't
    think so anyway, and I don't think you believe it either.
    You're a guy who's down on his luck, that's all. A guy
    who knows there's more to life than living in a Dump-
    ster. Even though you were getting ready to kiss the
    front grille of that freight train, I dunk you still want
    to get back up on your feet and live again. Not this
    pointless existence you're so sick of, I mean really live.
    Am I right?"
    Drake had no idea about my plan for helping out Ar-
    lene, but what the big brute said-did stir me a little.
    Then again, words were cheap. It was way too early to
    answer his question and sometimes my mouth gets me
    in more trouble than I'd like to admit, so I decided to
    just shut up and listen to what my host had to say. He
    apparently took my silence as an affirmative and car
    ried on.
    "I knew it, I just knew you were the right guy, Mike.
    That's why Pm here today, to help you get back on your
    feet. On my recommendation, Dr. Marshall is prepared
    to offer you a great deal of money for helping him con
    tinue his research. What he wants you to do is perfectly
    legal and no one is going to get in trouble. Everything
    you've lost, you can get back, and more. Everything
    you've ever dreamed of or desired, you can have it. It's
    simple, Mike* If you're willing to give Dr. Marshall what
    he wants, he's willing to make you rich."
    I     amount of money would get me my wife and son back,
    which is what tdesired most, but this big steroid mon
    key would never understand that. Money was the only
    tiling that mattered to guys like him. Speaking of money,
    they knew I was homeless and didn't have a nickel-*-
    making me rich probably meant forking over two or
    three thousand bucks. That wouldn't do me any good.
    Wouldn't do my daughter any good, either. Sure, I
    could live it up for a few months, but then it would be
    right back to where I was now. And what about that
    helping the doctor out with his research part? What
    the hell did that mean? Did they want to sign me on as
    a human guinea pig? Maybe inject my balls with radio
    active soap bubbles to see how big testicles can swell
    before exploding? N o , I didn't like the way this was
    shaping up one bit but I'd come this far. I may as well
    hear the rest.
    "And what does Dr. Marshall want