I Love Trouble Page #5

Oh, hi.

You got out early.

One of the advantages

of being chairperson.

You get to adjourn the meetings.

- How'd that school board thing work out?

- On, nothing to worry about.

- These are friends of mine from Chicago.

- Oh, hi. Gayle Robbins.

- Peter Brackett from the Chronicle.

- Yes.

- And this is Sabrina, uh...

- Peterson.

Of the Globe.

Sorry.

Yes. it's nice to meet you. Sam,

are we having a press conference?

No, no, no. They're just doing

some research on LDF, that's all.

- Really?

- Yep.

What do you think?

We were just gonna ask you that same

question, being the head of the committee.

Uh, it really doesn't behoove the Senator

to render an opinion on that matter...

- Sam!

- All right, go ahead and render.

Give me a buzz after the FDA completes

its review. We'll talk then.

- Ready, Senator?

- Sam.

I know, Pete. You got like a thousand

questions, right? Okay, okay.

Look, I got a, an hour here. Okay? What do

you say I take both of you to dinner, huh?

On the house?

Two New Yorks, rare.

And one steamed vegetable plate,

no salt, no oil, no butter.

Thank you.

So, you started to say that during

Vietnam, Chess manufactured...

Oh, you know, just things like

napalm, Agent Orange, you know?

All that wonderful stuff.

And then the war ended and

their profits really dried up.

For a while, it looked like the

company was on its last legs.

And then, along comes

the genetic revolution.

And boy, things really heated up for them.

LDF could put them right back on top.

- What's the Chess family like?

- Oh, boy.

Well, the old man's a real zealot, you know?

He's kinda like a Ross Perot wannabe.

His kid, Willy, kind of runs things now.

I don't know too much about him.

I think he went to Yale,

and then straight to work for Daddy.

- Did you know him at Yale?

- Uh-uh, uh-uh.

No, I think he's younger than me. How

did you remember that I went to Yale?

That is incredible.

You've got such an amazing memory.

I can't remember my own name.

It's possible that I met him at school, but I doubt it.

I don't even think he graduated.

What year would he have been

if he had graduated?

I don't know.

Let me think. Uh...

- What year did you graduate?

- Me? '73. No, '74.

So that would make him class of

'76, '77, something like that.

You know, Gayle's met him a few times.

He's supposed to be a nice guy.

Not exactly a rocket scientist,

but he...

What's going on here exactly, guys? I mean,

why are you so interested in LDF, huh?

Oh, Peterson here is

a big milk drinker. That's all.

Oh, well, it d...

It does a body good.

Sorry. C'mon, you're not

gonna tell me?

It's gotta be big if both the Globe and

the Chronicle are in bed together on it.

I wouldn't say we're exactly

in bed together.

Check, please.

Oh. Okay, now.

In case you have any more questions...

or if you finally decide to tell me

what you've actually got up your sleeve...

- here's my card. it's got my direct dial on it.

- Oh, thanks, Sam.

- Where are you parked?

- In the lot over there.

Oh, perfect.

We're gonna pass by...

the best frozen yogurt joint

in the entire state.

- Yeah?

- it's on Peterson.

- Look out!

- Sam!

Move!

Sam, are you okay?

What the hell

was that all about?

Medwick, it's me.

Just checking in.

Listen, I've put together a

just the facts, ma'am kind of thing...

and wanted to

run it by you, okay?

- They know you're there?

- Uh, no.

- I guess so far they don't know we're here.

- You're lucky.

Yeah, real lucky.

So, here's what we know:

Beekman was the head researcher

on LDF.

He retires mysteriously,

then dies a week later.

His son boards a train with something

in his briefcase that his dad sent him.

The train crashes, the son dies,

and the briefcase is stolen.

The kid who stole it is murdered

but before he dies

he writes the initials LD on his palm.

LD means LDF, and LDF means

a billion dollars a year.

So you tell me.

All this adds up to...

Good morning, everyone,

and welcome to Chess Chemical.

Our first stop on today's tour will be the

Chess Family Science Discovery Center.

Now, as we walk in pairs

down the Biology of Tomorrow corridor...

I'd like to point out some of the

everyday products created here at Chess.

For example, the cold medicine

that I forgot to take this morning...

as well as the disposable diapers

I used for my little one last night.

Now, as we continue on...

Extension 307 is a 72-year-old

cafeteria worker named Sadie.

Hair net, orthopedic shoes.

Are you sure?

Maybe it was 3-O-something else.

No, no, no. I'm positive.

Here, look.

You wanna get out of here, or take a stroll

down the Biology of Tomorrow corridor?

Rule number one of investigative reporting,

Peterson, is find out what you're up against.

- Let's stroll.

- What's rule number two?

Stay clear of all surveillance cameras

when visiting the lair of the enemy.

Thanks.

- Thank you.

- No problem.

- Wilson Chess.

- Sabrina Peterson.

- And Mr. Peterson?

- Actually, the name's Brackett.

Peter Brackett, the writer.

Of course. Well, what brings you

to this neck of the woods?

I'm doin' e little research

on e new novel, Wilson.

You're kidding?

What, here at Chess?

- Mm-hmm.

- What's the new one about?

It's a murder mystery set against

the backdrop of a chemical company.

Sounds intriguing, but I'm always

a sucker for a good murder yarn.

Aren't you, Miss Peterson?

As long as the bad guy gets it

in the end, I'm happy.

W-Well, have fun. And don't forget to

change the names to protect the innocent.

So much for rule number three:

Avoid insulting...

the men who may be trying

to kill you.

- I was just looking for you, sir. Look at this.

- Hello.

- it's fine.

- You look very nice today.

- Thank you.

- We missed you for lunch. It was...

right through to

the research farm behind me...

where scientists are fine-tuning

Mother Nature with such innovative...

products for the future as the

Livestock Development Factor, LDF.

Now, if you'll Come with me,

I'd like to show you a film...

that highlights some of the exciting

things we're doing here at Chess.

Don't worry, parents.

it's G-rated.

- Hey, where'd you guys go on your break?

- We looked for you.

- We did.

- Oh, I had to go to the lab.

Rule number four: Get close to someone

who's close to the enemy.

How am I supposed to calm down?

You promised me this was going

to be taken care of...

and now they are here

in my building.

Ernesto, I can't

handle this anymore.

Just make it happen.

- Want us to pick you up at Ruby's tonight?

- Oh, I'll meet you there.

It's better if we take our own cars,

in case one of us gets lucky.

You mean, in case

there's a miracle, right?

You never know.

Well, what do you know?

Huh.

Evans, this is great. This is good.

You got any leads on him?

Pete, I'm looking

for some more information on...

Come in.

- Hello? Mr. Brackett?

- Hi.

Mr. Brackett, we haven 't come up

with anything yet, but when we do...

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