The Antidote by Michael J. McLaughlin

Henry mops his forehead with a white coat sleeve as the phone rings. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon.” 

A woman’s voice answers, “Securities and Exchange Commission.” 

Words spewing through saliva. “My company makes Longev, the anti-aging pill.” He rummages through the desk for anything to eat. 

“The one on the news?” 

Heart racing, twinges of chest pain. “Yes. But listen. They weren’t trying to prevent aging. They wanted to cure hunger by slowing cellular metabolism. In third world countries, not Park Avenue anti-aging clinics. Children on Longev thrived despite very little food. It worked! The aging stuff was a lucky side effect.” 

“Okay.” 

Every damn body part gnawing, tightening. “Not okay. Starving kids won’t get this treatment because the company is covering up the data. I’m reporting them.” 

“Oh, you want our whistleblowing unit. I’ll find that extension.” 

Back hunching. “Wait. Not enough time. Can’t repeat everything. Company’s testing an antidote for Longev. Jump-starts everything. Metabolism. Hunger. Aging.” 

“Fascinating.” 

Suffocating gasps. “They gave me. The antidote.” 

“You took Longev?” 

“What? No. I’ve been…” The word poisoned eludes him. The antidote is aging him, killing him. 

“Ah, here we go. Please hold. I’ll put you through.” 

Hand hairs whitening. Knuckles bulging, skewing. 

A male voice says, “Hello. S.E.C. Whistleblowing Unit. You’re on a recorded line.” 

Barely hearing himself. “Please help.” 

“What’s your name?” 

Henry has no idea what it is. Where he is. Why he called. 

Everything fades with the last words he will ever hear. 

“Hello? Wrong number, I guess.”

Michael J. McLaughlin, MD, is a writer, entrepreneur, and former surgeon. Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, he received degrees from Harvard College and Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. His suspense novels include Extinction, Fugue, The Satin Strangler Blogs, and Woods.