“And there is that,” Shelly said. “You really think these hundred companies will give you ten million dollars apiece?”
“Yes, I do. And so does Poppa Sal here.” Nick smiled. “He knows every one of them. And the great thing is, they’re not giving us the money. They are pledging ten million dollars. They sit back and wait until something is found. When we prove it works, bang, they pay up. They only have an upside.”
“You’re going to need someone to act as a clearinghouse,” Shelly
noted.
“That’s where you come in,” said Sal.
She felt like a fish being reeled in. A fish that wanted more to be on their boat than on the hook. “I guess I could base the project through the Foundation,” she said. “I could even ask Barry to help.”
“Barry?” asked Sal.
“College buddy of mine I was telling Nick about. He runs the
pharmacology school and is the Dean of Bio-Research at UF.” “Can he be trusted?” Sal asked.
“He is a brilliant man. I would trust him with my life.”
“So, will you give this idea some consideration?” Nick asked.
The pitch was complete. She wanted to believe, but she had a hard time believing in much. But who was she to allow her beliefs to squash a passionate idea about killing cancer? There were plenty over her head that could do that. Besides, this was Nick, a guy who had some kind of hold on her. Again, she sighed. “You guys really think this will work?”
“It’s worth a shot, Doc,” Nick said.
“I need to sell Dr. Wall on this because he’ll think it’s plain nuts.
I know him. He can be a tough old bird.” “But a man of reason, I imagine,” Sal said.
“A man of reason, but a man of ethics, so if he thinks this will make the hospital, him, or anyone associated with the Foundation look bad, he won’t go for it. You’re going to have to put everything on the table.”
“I think we can do that,” Nick said.
“I would love to sit in when you make your pitch,” said Shelly. “I would love to be there too, son, but I already have plans
Friday afternoon. I got a date.” “A date? In the afternoon?”