The Tenth Justice - Brad Meltzer [109]
Ben read the label on the vial. “Prynadolol?”
“It works,” Nathan said. “You’re supposed to take one pill as soon as you wake up in the morning, and if your test is after three o’clock in the afternoon, you should take another pill at lunch.”
“How did you get these?” Ben asked, pulling off the cap to see five pills inside.
“I told the technicians that my younger brother had to take a lie detector test for his job in the mall. When they heard that, they just offered the pills to me.”
“How do they work?”
“They’re supposed to moderate your heart rate and blood pressure,” Nathan explained. “Doctors usually give them to people who have recurring heart attacks, and politicians use them to beat stagefright, but the military realized that they could put them to much better use.”
“Are these experimental or are they FDA approved?”
“If they were approved, everyone would have access,” Nathan said.
“So they’re experimental,” Ben said.
“They’re fine,” Nathan said. “Do you really think they’d give me something that was potentially dangerous?”
“I think it’d be cool if they were dangerous,” Ober said. “Then you’d grow an extra nostril in your forehead and we could sue the government for billions.”
“Or maybe it’d cause me to grow a brain,” Ben said. Looking back to Nathan, he continued, “Now tell me how this helps me pass the test.”
“It doesn’t guarantee you’ll pass,” Nathan said. “It significantly increases your chances, but it’s still primarily up to you. While you’re in the room, you have to be as calm as possible. Don’t fidget and don’t get nervous. The technicians said that if you’re a good liar, you should do fine. If you’re a bozo, you’ll probably freak out and fail regardless.”
“Oh, man, you’re dead,” Ober said to Ben.
Ben put the vial in his pocket and stood up from the couch. “I’m going to make some pasta,” he said coldly. “Anyone else want some?”
“Hey, you’re welcome,” Nathan said, making a face.
“I’ll say thank you if I pass the test,” Ben said, heading to the kitchen.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with you anyway?”
“I just want to be sure I can trust you about these,” Ben said. He turned around and looked directly at Nathan. “I mean, they’re not placebos, are they?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ben, don’t accuse—” Ober began.
“No, let him finish,” Nathan said, standing from his seat. “Accuse me of what?”
“Well, today I got a phone call from Rick, who said that he no longer needs my help. Apparently, he already got a Court decision from someone else.”
“And you think I’m the one that gave it to him?” Nathan asked, his voice rising with anger. “Have you thought about your little friend Lisa, or is all the blood that was once in your brain still being used by your dick?”
“I actually did think it was Lisa,” Ben shot back as he returned to the living room. “And when I called you so that we could talk about her, I had an enlightening conversation with one of your office mates, named Andrew. He was telling me all about the briefcase microphone that we were supposed to use during our first meeting with Rick. He told me how great they work, and how wonderful they are, and how they pick up everything. So you can imagine my surprise when I realized that I hadn’t heard a single word about this marvel of technology.”
“And now you think I’m the one who’s in on it with Rick?” Nathan asked, laughing.
“I’m not joking,” Ben said. “Look at the facts.”
“The facts show nothing!” Nathan yelled. “And beyond that, have you even thought about actually asking me why we didn’t use the briefcase mike?”
“And I suppose there’s a perfectly logical explanation.”
“Of course there is. The briefcase mike is a prototype, and regardless of what Andrew said, it works like crap. The leather muffles the sound, and you can’t hear a thing. The only reason we have it around is because everyone likes the idea. I just figured that we might as well go with equipment that works—I’m crazy like that.”
“And I’m supposed to believe