Forbidden Cure Part One: Duplicity

By William Rubin

In the wake of his beloved wife’s death, Detective Chris Ravello’s life is in shambles. Overwhelmed by grief and dogged by an unrelenting, devastating disease, Chris abruptly resigns as the NYPD’s Chief of the Division of Medical Crimes.

But his hopes for a healthier, less-troubled life are short-lived.

A harrowing near-death experience forces Chris to submit to a series of risky, ill-advised, and experimental treatments that will either cure him or kill him.

As Chris’ best friend, NYPD Detective Kevin Kennedy, investigates a series of perplexing and appalling deaths, he uncovers a disturbing truth – Ravello’s cure has already killed four other patients.

Just when all seems lost, hope comes from the unlikeliest of sources – an old nemesis making incredible claims:
Michelle Ravello is alive and he can lead the detectives to her and their killer.

But can Kennedy and Ravello trust one sociopath to catch another? And what is the terrible price they must pay for his cooperation?

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Rubin
• Release date: Jul 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9780997594942

William Rubin

William Rubin is a practicing physician who enjoys weaving tales of medical/scientific intrigue. Writing for him is equal parts catharsis, creativity, and escape from the rigors of a busy medical practice and the joys and challenges of raising a family. The works of James Patterson, Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, and Patricia Cornwell inspired Dr. Rubin to create the Christopher Ravello Series. Challenges and tragedies in Dr. Rubin’s life, particularly the untimely death of his mother, provided some of the underlying drama, conflict, and turmoil for the series’ lead character. When he isn't busy practicing medicine or crafting his next medical thriller, Dr. Rubin enjoys time with his family and friends, running, playing piano, and travel. He values your thoughts, insights, and feelings on this book so please leave a review on your favorite website(s)

Book preview

BY WILLIAM RUBIN

FORBIDDEN BEGINNINGS: JACQUELINE’S TRAGEDY

FORBIDDEN BIRTH

FORBIDDEN CURE

MICHELLE’S CAPTIVITY

Forbidden Cure is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author. You can contact William Rubin at [e-mail].

This book is also available in print.

ISBN: 978-0-9975949-4-2

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2018 William Rubin

Published by Crystal Vision Publishing

Cover design by Carl Graves – Extended Imagery

Formatted by Christine Keleny – CKBooks Publishing

All a man’s affairs become diseased when he wishes to cure evils by evils.

- Sophocles

FORBIDDEN CURE 1

DUPLICITY

WILLIAM RUBIN

A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller

Crystal Vision

Publishing

PROLOGUE

I barrel down the street, a blur racing through the crowd. Arms and legs pumping as fast as they can.

Can’t be late—too much at stake.

Heart pounding. Gasping for breath. But no time to rest. Gotta get there before they do the unthinkable.

Before they kill him.

Out of nowhere they slam into me, knocking me to the ground. My head smashes into the pavement. Disoriented, I stumble to my feet and ready myself to fight.

But they’re already gone.

Head is throbbing and bloody. Legs wobbly, vision doubled. I press on, hoping I get there in time to save him.

Chapter 1

Manhattan, June 2015

Dr. Jerome Gorelick leers at the young Jamaican woman. Join me in my office, Ms. St. James. We have a pressing matter to discuss.

Kerline St. James smiles nervously, trying to mask the sensation of her skin crawling, as the anger flares inside her. Always de same; men dinking dey can take ’vantage a me. Gorelick started out pleasant, even fatherly when she joined the practice a few months earlier. But compliments on her hair and sense of fashion quickly morphed into crude, inappropriate remarks about her breasts and her ass. What will it be dis time? she wonders. How can she stop his advances and still keep her job?

She follows him down the long hallway, a tightness growing in her chest, dread building as each step brings her closer to his office. He waves her across the threshold and quickly closes the door behind her. Smiling, he extends a hand toward a chair opposite his desk. As he walks past the other side of the desk, the hand disappears from view. A chill runs down her spine as her eyes shoot toward the sound of the door locking. Her heart pounds as he makes his way across the tightly woven, gray carpet, to a small bar in the corner where he pours them both a drink. His back shields her view. Is he slipping something into one of the drinks? Anger and dread turn to fear and revulsion as he comes up to her and leans his fat ass against his desk. He extends one of the drinks to her. She takes it hesitantly, her mind racing, desperate to