of this have a commercial application, outside the military?” “Oh yes. Take the

cell mutation. They can be engineered so you can live off your fat more

efficiently. You do that, the forty-billiondollar weight loss industry

disappears. With regeneration you can heal faster, have a better immune system.

We can take on Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Old people can potentially have

the energy, physical, and cognitive levels of the young. Pain blockers that last

up to a month. The health care industry is a three-trilliondollar beast. Some of

this stuff could make people wealthy. I mean Bill Gates wealthy.” “But not

Atalanta Group?” asked Puller. “Well, we’re a military support contractor. And

you know the military isn’t really permitted to pursue commercialization of

products.” “But you do undertake this sort of research?” “Well, yes, we have to

in order to do the work we’re contracted to do. But it stops with the military

applications.” “But someone could commercialize it?” said Puller. “It would have

to do with who controls the patents. The IP rules my world. You control that,

you control everything.” “And you don’t know about that? The ownership of it?”

“You’d have to talk to legal about that.” “Right,” said Puller, tapping his

spoon against his cup. “Is someone stealing technology? Is that what this is

about?” Puller fixed his gaze on her. “I don’t know. Can you steal from

yourself?” Shepard never had a chance to answer.

 

Puller had grabbed her arm and thrown her under the table.

 

The bullet hit right where Anne Shepard had been a second before.

 

Chapter 59