Time trial, p.16
Time Trial,
p.16
Remo scanned the seats around him. Indeed, almost half the audience seemed to be fast asleep. He craned his neck to see into the orchestra section. A thousand heads bobbed up and down rhythmically as the air welled with the sound of deep snoring.
“Everybody’s conked out,” Remo whispered.
“What do you expect? Even unconsciousness is preferable to watching those legs.”
“Something weird’s going on here,” Remo said.
At intermission, the curtain came down to a smattering of applause. The house lights came up, and a few people straggled into the aisles. Most of the audience remained sprawled in their seats.
“Let’s find Smitty,” Remo said.
Smith was standing by the refreshments counter on the first tier. Remo and Chiun had a hard time getting to him because the other patrons kept staggering in front of them.
“Out of my way,” Chiun commanded as a young couple slammed into him on either flank.
“Sorry,” the young man said with extreme slowness. His mouth worked further, but only drool came out.
“Slovenly creatures. White, naturally.”
“He’s not the only one,” Remo said. Near Smith stood a fashionable middle-aged woman in green taffeta. As Smith purchased something from the bar, the woman melted to the floor. A few feet away, another patron, an elderly gentleman holding a styrofoam cup in his hand, slid slowly down the wall to the carpet.
“What’s wrong with all these people?” Remo asked. “They’re falling like boll weevils at first frost.”
Smith walked over to them, a styrofoam container in his hand. His face was grave. “Can you see what’s happening?” he asked.
“I see it, but I don’t believe it,” Remo said. “Is it like this all over New York?”
“All over the country,” Smith said. “The first reports came from Miami, but within hours I’d heard from every city in the United States. The hospitals are full with accident cases, from people falling asleep at the wheel. Suicides are quadruple their usual rate.”
“Maybe it’s something in the water,” Remo offered.
Smith shook his head. “Unfortunately, we know what it is. There’ve been enough autopsies to prove it beyond a doubt.”
“And?”
Smith looked around him. “Heroin,” he said.
“Heroin?” Remo repeated unbelievingly. “The whole country?”
“Somehow, a huge quantity of heroin has been introduced to the American public. The epidemic has crossed all social and ethnic barriers. There’s no pattern.” Smith took a sip of his coffee. “I’m afraid there’s just no way of stopping it at present, since we don’t know the source. That’s your job. Find out who’s behind this scheme, and how he’s operating. And then stop him.”
Remo waffled. “There’s just one thing—”
“I recommend you start with known drug contacts in the Miami area, then work your way up to the main distributors.”
“Yeah, but…”
“But what?”
“See, I’d like to catch this bum as much as you, but I’ve come to a decision. About my life. That is, about the way I spend my life. It’s the killing, Smitty…Smitty?”
Smith stood weaving in his spot, staring glassily at Remo.
“Are you all right?”
He didn’t answer. Remo waved a hand in front of Smith’s face. He didn’t blink. Then slowly, his arm dropped and his coffee spilled in little rivulets down the side of his trousers.
“Smitty!”
With a muffled sound, Smith careened backwards and lay unconscious on the floor.
Remo scooped him up in his arms. “It’s got Smitty, too,” he said. He listened to Smith’s heart. “I think he’s okay. We’ve got to get him home.”
He put Smith in a taxi, gave the driver a roll of hundred-dollar bills, and sent the cab off to upstate New York.
“What now?” Chiun said in the light of a street lamp.
“We’ll start in Miami.”
“I thought you were not going to work again.”
“I said I wasn’t going to kill.”
They traveled to the airport in silence. Why, Remo wondered, would anyone want to drug the entire population of the United States? Whatever the reason, Remo had the sickening feeling that things had just started.
About the Authors
WARREN MURPHY was born in Jersey City, where he worked in journalism and politics until launching the Destroyer series with Richard Sapir in 1971. A screenwriter (Lethal Weapon II, The Eiger Sanction) as well as a novelist, Murphy’s work has won a dozen national awards, including multiple Edgars and Shamuses. He has lectured at many colleges and universities, and is currently offering writing lessons at his website, warrenmurphy.com. A Korean War veteran, some of Murphy’s hobbies include golf, mathematics, opera, and investing. He has served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and has been a member of the Screenwriters Guild, the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, and the American Crime Writers League. He has five children: Deirdre, Megan, Brian, Ardath, and Devin.
RICHARD BEN SAPIR was a New York native who worked as an editor and in public relations before creating the Destroyer series with Warren Murphy. Before his untimely death in 1987, Sapir had also penned a number of thriller and historical mainstream novels, best known of which were The Far Arena, Quest and The Body, the last of which was made into a film. The book review section of the New York Times called him “a brilliant professional.”
Also by Warren Murphy
The Day Remo Died (a prequel)
The Destroyer Series (#1-25)
Created, The Destroyer
Death Check
Chinese Puzzle
Mafia Fix
Dr. Quake
Death Therapy
Union Bust
Summit Chase
Murder’s Shield
Terror Squad
Kill or Cure
Slave Safari
Acid Rock
Judgment Day
Murder Ward
Oil Slick
Last War Dance
Funny Money
Holy Terror
Assassin’s Playoff
Deadly Seeds
Brain Drain
Child’s Play
King’s Curse
Sweet Dreams
The Destroyer Series (#26-50)
In Enemy Hands
The Last Temple
Ships of Death
The Final Death
Mugger Blood
The Head Men
Killer Chromosomes
Voodoo Die
Chained Reaction
Last Call
Power Play
Bottom Line
Bay City Blast
Missing Link
Dangerous Games
Firing Line
Timber Line
Midnight Man
Balance of Power
Spoils of War
Next of Kin
Dying Space
Profit Motive
Skin Deep
Killing Time
The Destroyer Series (#51-75)
Shock Value
Fool’s Gold
Time Trial
Last Drop
Master’s Challenge
Encounter Group
Date with Death
Total Recall
The Arms of Kali
The End of the Game
Lords of the Earth
The Seventh Stone
The Sky is Falling
The Last Alchemist
Lost Yesterday
Sue Me
Look Into My Eyes
Old Fashioned War
Blood Ties
Eleventh Hour
Return Engagement
Sole Survivor
Line of Succession
Walking Wounded
Rain of Terror
The Trace Series
Trace
And 47 Miles of Rope
When Elephants Forget
Pigs Get Fat
Once a Mutt
Too Old a Cat
Getting up with Fleas
Copyright
This digital edition was published in 2023 by Head of Zeus, Ltd.
If you downloaded this book from a filesharing network, either individually or as part of a larger torrent, the author has received no compensation. Please consider purchasing a legitimate copy—they are reasonably priced, and available from all major outlets. And if you enjoy it, leave a positive review. Your author thanks you.
Copyright © 2023 by Warren Murphy
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons—living or dead—events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Warren Murphy, Time Trial
