Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller (Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Medical Thrillers) Read online

  Advance praise for

  ILL INTENT

  by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 4

  “In this fourth series installment, the author again presents a first-person mystery in a style that’s reminiscent of classic noir, and its conversational, moderately sarcastic tone makes Brad a relatable narrator…a whodunit that effortlessly navigates a complex plot and deepens its narrator’s characterization.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Ill Intent is as suspenseful as it is satisfying. It will hook you from start to finish with every juicy twist. This medical thriller is likely to convert you to a fan of this genre.”

  —San Francisco Book Review

  “Ill Intent’s focus on moral and ethical conundrums, its dash of romance, and its ability to keep the action on track and varying creates a medical thriller that is firmly rooted in psychological interactions and unexpected developments. Medical thriller readers can expect a treat with the depth and many surprises in Ill Intent.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “[I]t’s very easy to get caught up in the story and hard to put the book down until it’s resolved. An intriguing and engaging mystery mingling science, crime, and academic backstabbing, Geoffrey M Cooper’s Ill Intent has enough twists and turns to keep readers turning pages until the very end.”

  —IndieReader

  “[A] fascinating medical suspense tale that is sure to keep readers turning the pages from cover to cover…I would highly recommend Ill Intent to fans of cleverly plotted medical mysteries, engaging series with solid standalone adventures, and for readers of exciting conspiracy fiction everywhere.”

  —Readers’ Favorite

  “Another captivating read by author Geoffrey M. Cooper. A fast-moving whodunit investigation with plenty of action, deceit, and suspense.”

  —Seattle Book Review

  Praise for Nondisclosure by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 1

  IndieReader Discovery Award

  “Nondisclosure is one of the year’s best mysteries by a Maine writer…a gritty mystery, well-crafted with a complex intriguing plot, tense suspense, vivid action, and wholly believable characters.”

  —Central Maine Sentinel

  “This book manages to accomplish, in a short space, what few books are capable of with far more pages. It is at once a compelling mystery, a fascinating peek into the politics of academia, and a nuanced look at the Me Too movement.”

  —Manhattan Book Review

  “Geoffrey M. Cooper crafts a riveting saga of mystery, discovery, and redemption…Readers interested in medical thrillers will relish the turns taken in an engrossing story that’s hard to put down.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “A fast-paced medical thriller with a cast full of brilliant characters. Engaging and suspenseful to the very end!”

  —San Francisco Book Review

  “Nondisclosure is a highly recommended read for fans of politically charged murder mysteries, thrilling suspense novels, and current social issues.”

  —Readers’ Favorite

  “[A]n intriguing and meticulously plotted medical thriller that involves the inner workings at a top research university where scandal threatens to taint its important new discovery.”

  —IndieReader

  “Nondisclosure successfully continues in the same vein as The Prize as a story of murder and deceit in the world of scientific research and academia…Nondisclosure is an outstanding murder mystery, one that should help Geoffrey M. Cooper continue to make a name for himself as an intelligent, thoroughly entertaining writer.”

  —Colorado Book Review

  Praise for Forever by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 2

  Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal

  IndieReader Discovery Award

  National Indie Excellence Award

  “Complete with science, espionage, and action, Forever is a book that will keep you on your toes. This is a page-turner from start to finish.”

  —San Francisco Book Review

  “[A] gripping, science-based story that revolves around manipulation, mutants, and murky situations. Forever is designed to keep readers on edge to its satisfying conclusion.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “Espionage, perilous international affairs, and cynicism can all be found in the chilling novel Forever. Cooper has delivered another riveting novel to keep you on the edge of your seat!”

  —Manhattan Book Review

  “A persuasive tale of scientific intrigue.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Cooper continues to impress with his suspenseful plotting and sharp, uncluttered prose. In Forever, he has skillfully given us a double whammy of scientific subversion and deceit intertwined with foreign espionage.”

  —Colorado Book Review

  “Geoffrey M. Cooper has written a chilling page-turner in Forever: A Medical Thriller. This gripping tale has many unexpected twists and turns, and the ending is unforeseen. It is a captivating read!”

  —Readers’ Favorite

  “[A] tight, edge-of-the-seat whodunit recommended for fans of meticulously researched science-based thrillers.”

  —IndieReader

  Praise for Bad Medicine by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 3

  Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal

  National Indie Excellence Award

  “Written in a clear, captivating voice, Cooper draws you in from the very beginning…This is thriller writing at its best; you won’t be disappointed.”

  —Manhattan Book Review

  “A noteworthy whodunit with unexpected plot twists.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Bad Medicine adds another new medical thriller to Geoffrey M. Cooper’s arsenal of hard-hitting novels…a compelling read, worthy of acclaim and recommendation.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “With every book he pens, Cooper consistently proves that he is an author of novels you simply can’t put down. It is easy to get sucked in to one with the intention of reading just a chapter or two, only to look up as you close the book and realize you’ve read the whole thing in one sitting. But Geoffrey M. Cooper is that good. And so is Bad Medicine.”

  —Colorado Book Review

  “Cooper outdoes himself in his latest medical thriller…Realistic, non-stop action, Bad Medicine is the ultimate in science suspense novels.”

  —Seattle Book Review

  “[A] taut ride of suspense that won’t let you go. Cooper is a master at the medical thriller, cleverly weaving medicine into a dramatic conspiracy plot. Fans of Robin Cook medical thrillers will love Bad Medicine.”

  —Readers’ Favorite

  “Bold storytelling, a sensitive portrayal of relationship problems, and a taut whodunit makes Bad Medicine: A Medical Thriller another winner.”

  —IndieReader

  Praise for The Prize by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  National Indie Excellence Award

  Readers’ Favorite Book Award

  “Fans of Robin Cook-style medical thrillers will relish the interpersonal relationships, drama, and contrast between lab and scientific research special interests…the result is a thoroughly engrossing science odyssey that touches upon social and research issues alike.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “An intense story about ruthlessness in the scientific community.”

/>   —Kirkus Reviews

  “A fast-paced science thriller that would rival Michael Crichton or Patricia Cornwell.”

  —Manhattan Book Review

  “Geoffrey M. Cooper creates stunning antagonists in The Prize, while peeling back the curtain of the scientific community to reveal its humanity. A great read for science lovers and anyone who enjoys a big, juicy scandal.”

  —IndieReader

  “The Prize is a clever, suspenseful page-turner for seasoned lab-coat wearers and novice geeks alike.”

  —Colorado Book Review

  “A medical thriller at its best…a page-turner that is intelligently plotted and accomplished with unusual finesse and mastery.”

  —Readers’ Favorite

  “[A] serious account of how scientific investigation can be sidetracked by chicanery…The end spirals to a climax that is only partially predictable.”

  —San Francisco Book Review

  Ill Intent

  Copyright 2021 Geoffrey M. Cooper

  ISBN: 978-1-63381-290-1

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-63381-291-8

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Designed and produced by:

  Maine Authors Publishing

  12 High Street, Thomaston, Maine

  www.maineauthorspublishing.com

  Ill Intent

  A Medical Thriller

  Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 4

  Geoffrey M. Cooper

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Geoffrey M. Cooper

  PROLOGUE

  She was fighting to keep her eyes open by the time she got off the Maine Turnpike in Wells. It had been a long day, and the ninety-minute drive home from Boston felt like it was taking forever. At least the days were longer after last month’s change to daylight saving time. Otherwise, she’d be driving home in the dark. But still, even though it was just a little after five thirty, she was looking forward to collapsing in bed as soon as she made it back to the cottage.

  Her uncle’s funeral had been nice, at least as nice as those things could be. Many of his colleagues from the university had joined family and friends in paying a final tribute. She’d been glad to see that her aunt had chosen a group of speakers who knew him well, including Tim Garland, the chair of his department at Harvard. Garland was a good speaker, especially for an occasion like this. Without getting bogged down in technical details, he had made clear the extent of Uncle John’s many contributions to modern science. John Lowell had started as a student fifty years ago, when the basics of molecular biology were still being established. He’d then gone on to become one of the scientific pioneers who’d made seminal contributions to contemporary animal virology.

  The funeral had been followed by a lavish reception at the large garrison colonial near Harvard Square that had been her uncle and aunt’s home. Being a scientist herself, she had gravitated toward her uncle’s former colleagues and enjoyed listening to their anecdotes about some of the more personal aspects of his scientific life. She wasn’t surprised to learn that he was revered by several of his former students, who credited him with making their careers a success. He’d been a brilliant and generous man, much loved and admired by those who had known him.

  Then Garland gave her the letter that shattered the peace of her afternoon. It was in an ordinary envelope, marked “Personal and Confidential,” and addressed to her. Garland explained that her uncle had given it to him when he knew he was dying of cancer, with instructions to deliver it to her after his death. He didn’t know what it contained but commented that it must be something that had been of great importance to John.

  She’d gone upstairs to one of her aunt’s guest bedrooms to open it. The cover letter, neatly written in her uncle’s hand, made her gasp in shock.

  Dear Ellen-

  I owe the whole world, but especially Frank Carlisle, profound apologies for what I’ve done. I believe he has retired from NYU and is now living somewhere in Maine.

  It was many years ago that this happened, and I could plead youth as an excuse. But I can’t rid myself of the guilt. Nor do I have the courage to admit my sin. Yes, that’s what it was. A sin against science and truth.

  You’ll understand when you read the letter. And I pray you honor my last request to find Carlisle and make it right. The world should know what really happened.

  Your loving uncle,

  John

  The contents of the letter made her sick. What had possessed her uncle to do something like this? It had been forty years ago and perhaps he hadn’t realized the consequences of his actions.

  But he should have.

  And what was she supposed to do with this now? Revealing the truth would shake the foundations of their field. It would unleash a chain reaction that would destroy careers, not just of the guilty, but also of innocent bystanders. But she had to honor her uncle’s last request.

  Her head was pounding, and she needed to get away to think. She told her aunt that she wasn’t feeling well and had to get back home. Then she took off for the return trip to Maine, unable to get her mind off the letter on the seat next to her.

  By the time she crossed the Massachusetts border into New Hampshire, a plan had begun to form. Not really a plan, but at least a way to get some help and advice. She pulled off at a rest stop and used her phone to send an email to her mentor, Carolyn Gelman. She’d been working as a postdoctoral researcher in Carolyn’s lab at the Maine Translational Research Institute for almost a year, and she and Carolyn had hit it off immediately. Carolyn was empathetic as well as smart. If anyone could advise her sensibly, it would be Carolyn. She’d just send a heads-up and ask to meet with her first thing in the morning.

  Carolyn-

  Something very strange has happened concerning my uncle, John Lowell. I just learned about it at his funeral today and can’t go into details now. But I would really appreciate your advice. Can we meet tomorrow morning to discuss? It will be easier when you can read his letter. It’s an apology for something that happened forty years ago, but I’m afraid it could really disrupt our field, and I need your help to decide how to deal with it.

  Ellen

  Carolyn had r
esponded quickly, confirming her availability. That left Ellen feeling a little better, so she went ahead and Googled Frank Carlisle. Uncle John was right. He had retired from NYU three years ago. He was now listed as affiliated faculty at the University of Maine in Orono. She went to his faculty web page and saw that he had no recent publications and wasn’t listed as teaching anything. Meaning that this was probably just a courtesy appointment for his retirement. On a whim, she tried the phone number listed for him at the university. It would be interesting to see if he even remembered Uncle John. But there was no answer; it just went to voice mail. She left a brief message, identifying herself and asking for a return call.

  Just as well that he hadn’t answered. This way, she could decide what to say to him after talking to Carolyn. In the meantime, the notion that she had at least figured out a way to proceed left her feeling better by the time she reached her house in Wells. Nothing fancy, but it was a comfortable two-bedroom cottage with a rent that she could afford on a postdoc’s salary. Maybe she’d have a glass of wine to relax and then see if she could get some sleep. Carolyn would know what to do.

  She saw him as soon as she entered her cottage and turned on the lights. An enormous mountain of a man sitting on the couch in her living room. His massive round head was shaved bald, and he just sat there staring at her through beady eyes.

  It took a moment to register the scene before she whirled around to run back out the door, a scream bursting from her. But strong arms grabbed her from behind. With a sinking sensation, she realized there must have been a second intruder waiting behind the door when she came in.