Free Under the Microscope by Jessica Andersen

toxicity report. The words blurred. “This is impossible!”
    Agent Bryce didn’t even blink. “This record and ten others like it were found in your clinical-trial database, Ms. Montgomery.”
    “No, you’re wrong! No adverse effects were reported during the clinical trials. There weren’t any toxicities in the database besides dry mouth and headaches.” Aware that she was close to shouting, close to tears, Raine turned to Jeff. “Tell him how we went back through the databases right after we heard about the first death, just to make sure.”
    He nodded quickly. “I double checked myself. There weren’t any cardiac toxicities in the database.”
    Bryce’s expression flattened. “That’s because they were deleted on Ms. Montgomery’s authorization. You’re looking at a data ghost my people pulled off the server.”
    Raine surged to her feet. “That’s a lie!” She felt Max move up behind her. She shrugged him off when he touched her shoulder, but she took the hint. Vibrating with indignation, she sank back to her seat and hissed, “I’ve never seen those reports before in my life. If I had, I would have backed off on the clinical trials while we investigated the toxicities. There’s no way I would’ve sent Thriller to market without checking into something that big.”
    Bryce made a noncommittal noise. “Yet your pass code was used to delete the records.” He glanced over at Detective Marcus, then back to Raine. “You stood to make a ton of money in the first few weeks your drug was on the market. Maybe you figured you’d get away with it for a few days or weeks, even a month before the cardiac toxicities started popping up. When the death reorts started coming in, you figured you could grab the money and run.”
    Raine felt a scream building in her throat, in her soul. She stood again, this time with deliberate slowness. She pressed her palms to the surface of her desk and leaned forward to glare at Bryce. “I never—” she paused “— ever deleted a toxicity report. I didn’t call 911 from the neighbor’s vacant apartment, then set my ownhouse on fire and accidentally knock myself unconscious in the burning building. I didn’t buy the damn plane ticket, and this isn’t all part of some big plan on my part.”
    This time she quieted when Max touched her shoulder. His voice was deep when he said, “I don’t know about you three, but it looks to me as though someone is setting Ms. Montgomery up for a very long fall.”
    A shimmer of surprised relief washed through Raine at his support. But before she could respond, Detective Marcus challenged, “Based on what evidence?”
    Max’s fingers tightened on Raine’s shoulder, holding her quiet as he said, “For one, your hypothesis has a big hole in it. This isn’t a cash business. The invoices from the initial drug purchases won’t come due for thirty days at the earliest, and it’ll take sales a while to peak. There won’t be any money in the first few weeks for her to run with.”
    “Profits from licensing agreements, then, or presales,” Bryce insisted. He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be following the money trail, you can bet on that.”
    Raine matched his glare, drawing strength from the man behind her. “Be my guest, but make it quick because you won’t find a damn thing, and while you’re doing that, the real arsonist is going to be out there, doing…” She trailed off, not liking the options.
    Max overrode her. “More importantly, if this is a setup, then we’ve got a murderer out there.”
    She glanced up at him. “Murderer? What do you mean… Oh.” She swallowed hard, her stomach free-falling at the realization. “Oh, God. You think someone killed those four women to make it look like Thriller has a problem?”
    Max said, “It’s a possibility that Vasek and Caine will be investigating as our top priority.”
    Bryce shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ve already got my suspect and the electronic evidence to back me