Love Story: In The Web of Life by Ken Renshaw (snow like ashes TXT) 📕

science argument first when the jury is fresh, so they canabsorb it as we go along. Colson has commissioned a video thatexplains the theory in a way a lay jury can understand. Theirconsultant, Dr. Montgomery is also an excellent witness.

"The Sodastroms will make good witnesses. Theylook very tragic. I will put them up late in the trial."

"I visited with the psychic, Steve Manteo, andhe will also make an excellent witness. I will arrange for him tomake some sort of demonstration."

"I will present this differently from a logicalpatent case. Instead of a 'you must logically find....' type ofcase, I'll appeal to the jurors' feelings. As part of that, I willrent a place up there and try to develop the idea that I am kind ofa local. Maybe, I'll even go to some local softballgames."

Phil picked up a piece of paper and handed itto me. He showed some concern in his eyes.

"Dore sent me this email that shouldn't go outof this office, about her security concerns. Apparently, some manhas been stalking you, and might try to intimidate you and some ofyour witnesses. Her security consultants have found that the personis on the FBI's radar. The suspect is Special Forces trained, withexperience in explosives. He is linked to bombings in other states,and is considered very dangerous. He seems to be associated with agroup that makes it their duty to prevent acceptance of what theyconsider unscientific theories, which will lead the world back intosuperstition and fear.

"Dore gave me the link to their website. Here,I will put it on the flat screen TV."

The website opened with a montage of heroicmedieval figures, knights wearing white tunics with red crossesemblazoned on the front, carrying shields similarly decorated,barbaric figures marching with firebrands, riding in fierce groups.The montage ended with a heraldic crest with the same hieroglyph wehad seen drawn on Candice's windshield and into the dirt near mysailplane trailer. The montage looked as though it had been liftedfrom a Discovery Channel program, or similar special on the KnightsTemplar.

The voiceover described how the group,Skeptemos, was carrying on the ancient tradition of fighting theforces of evil, this time the fake-scientific people, agents ofevil, who were destroying pure science with the impure theoriesthat promoted superstition and fear. Destroying pure science wouldplunge us back into the chaos of the Dark Ages. The montage showedviolent scenes, probably from TV coverage of unrest in the MiddleEast. It included 'villainous' clips of the bearded faces ofturbaned Iranian and Arab leaders.

"That is kind of scary," I said.

Phil responded, "The good news is the so-calledmovement consists of only a few nuts, true–believer types. Someoneis adept at making a website. We are not dealing with an al–Qaedahere. Skeptemos is probably only a few loners, at least one withexplosive training, probably addicted to medieval videogames.

"Colson has retained a high-end security firmto develop a plan to protect you and your witnesses, the kind offirm that might be hired to protect a visiting head ofstate.

"Vince Colson told me he had some Pentagon jobsthat brushed against the classified world. He probably has somefriends who advise him about spooky matters. He has weightyconcerns about industrial espionage. We can be confident hissecurity consultants will know their job.

Phil looked concerned as he said, "Are you OKwith this kind of scenario?"

"As you know, our high-tech patent work hasmade us the target of some professional industrial espionageorganizations, including some from foreign countries. If thesecurity firm can keep the bombers away. I can live withit."

Phil seemed relieved as he said, "Good, I'lltell Dore you are comfortable with the situation."

****

Back at my office, I texted Tina. "I am backfrom the mountains. Dinner Saturday?"

I check my email and there was a message fromCandice saying she would have the first cut of the movie on a DVDon Friday and wanted to get it to me.

I replied that I had to be at UCLA Friday atnoon. I could stop by Cal State in the afternoon and pick itup.

Candice emailed back, 'I am going home at noonon Friday because I have a light day. Why don't you come visit usat home in the afternoon-Altadena isn't that much farther thanUCLA- and you can meet Tom. He is very interested in what you aredoing. He can give you some ideas about the space-time travel hedoes with his clients.'

I replied that I could be there abouttwo-to-three, depending on the Friday afternoon traffic.

She texted me the car GPS navigationinformation to get me to her house.

Tina texted me a message: "Dinner sounds great.Pick me up at 7:00? Let's go to Hernando's formargaritas."

I replied. ":-)"

She responded, ":-x"

****

I worked for a while and then Zaza came in andannounced,

"Bob Bennet who is working on that big new drugpatent case wants you to join him in the conference room. He wantsto introduce you to someone from his clients' company. You aresupposed to brag about the settlement of Genstem."

I walked into the conference room, and Bobintroduced me to Sam Perris, the Chief Scientist at ChralMed, hisnew client. Sam was about six-feet six, weighed over two hundredfifty pounds, with silver hair, and had piercing stern grey eyes.He was dressed in a well-tailored blue suit. I was intimidated ashe towered over me, shook my hand with threatening eye contact anda grip worthy of a dockworker. He said with a stern deep voice,"Pleased to meet you."

As we sat down on at the conference table, Bobsaid, "Dave, outline your Gensten case, the one where we won theclient a huge settlement."

"I already know about that one," InterruptedSam before I could open my mouth. "We encourage you to do as wellor better for us. Our case should be worth many times the Genstensettlement."

Bob started to say, "Bracken and Stevens hasevery confidence..."

Sam interrupted in a big voice, "We expectnothing but the best. The scientific issues of our case arecomplicated but clearly in our favor. We want your best minds. Areyou going to be helping Bob? Dave? Was it?"

I replied, "Bob will have whatever resources hewishes to call on at Bracken