A couple of hours? She hated the thought of waiting that long, but she didn’t know who else she could trust with it right now.
Okay.
Chapter38
After Ash had swepther office for bugs—there hadn’t been any, thankfully—he’d laid out his research for Portia. This particular lab worked on anti-rejection drugs, which was not damning in and of itself. There were always a few labs with those types of projects. Ash had also uncovered a slow financial drain in this particular lab, as well as inconsistencies with certain supply orders. The types of supplies that you might need to make an illegal drug.
In addition to identifying the primary lab on one of the lower levels of Tremaine headquarters, he and the Jack had gone a step further and located the single Vyne cookery in the city. Portia’s blood buzzed with anticipation. If everything went as planned, they would soon be shutting down the Vyne pipeline before it got too big to stop.
The moment Portia entered the main lab, three things would happen. The lab would be coded for her entry only. The external lab would lock everyone in and communication with the outside world would be blocked. And Tremaine Security would be summoned to both the lab and the cookery.
Portia had no idea how Ash was going to manage the second. The man’s hacking skills terrified her and she was glad that he was mostly on her side now.
She pressed her hand against the scanner outside the lab. There was a slow whir as the computer registered her palm print. The scanner turned green and the lock hissed open.
Showtime.
Pulling the door open, Portia stepped into a near-blinding white room. She hadn’t realized the lab was this big. Lab tables sat in the center of the room, topped with a mix of modern technology and classic glassware. Desks with monitors and computer terminals lined the periphery.
It was quieter than she’d expected, given the number of scientists and technicians working in the space. Most were so focused on their work that they didn’t notice her entry.
She stood near the door, hands on her hips, and watched them work. She’d always tried to understand the details of each project she’d been assigned to as she worked her way up in the company. Science fascinated her, but her brain was wired for business. Portia would never be the one curing cancer or discovering the secrets of the universe, but maybe she’d be the one funding it.
It took several minutes for her presence to be noted. She sighed. These people might be geniuses, but observant they were not.
“Mm-m-Ms. Tremaine, what are you doing here?” The first technician brave enough to speak looked so alarmed she worried he was going to pass out.
The fear intrigued her. Was it because of her reputation? Or because he was doing something wrong, like making Vyne?
“I thought I’d pop by for a visit,” she said. They’d know her reasons soon enough, but she was curious about what they were working on right now.
The room went quiet, but it was a different quiet. Not the studious, highly energized one of before. No, this silence was scared.
“Which teams work on anti-rejection medications?” Those were big sellers for Tremaine Corporation. The corporation was always striving to make better products, especially ones that worked together. Creating drugs specially formulated for Tremaine implants would not only help the bottom line, but also benefit patients.
Portia honestly believed that. Her father apparently hadn’t.
Murmurs filled the room before a dozen scientists tentatively raised their hands. They looked at each other, unease clearly visible on their faces.
Portia asked a handful of questions about the process and the drugs. She generally understood their answers and by the time she moved on to the next group, most of the scientists and techs had stopped cowering.
“Who’s working on experimental drugs?” About half raised their hands. She asked about their projects before repeating the process with the scientists who had reached the active testing stage.
Once she’d set them at ease discussing their projects, she turned to the matter at hand. “How many of you worked on Vyne?”
Most of them looked at each other in confusion, although she could tell by their expressions that at least some of them had heard of the street drug. “Oh, come on. I know you’ve heard of it.”
Whispers traveled through the group quickly. They were too low for Portia to hear, but she’d gotten them talking. “What about compound 60648?” That was the project number, according to the documentation Ash had provided.
The murmurs increased in volume, with most of the scientists looking confused. She studied the group more closely.
There. In the back. A couple of scientists looked nervous and seemed to be edging toward the rear exit.
“You two, in the back of the room.” Everyone turned to look at them. They froze. Unfortunately for them, the lab was locked down and the only way in—or out—was through the door behind her.
Portia gestured for them to come to the front.
Both squared their shoulders and stood straighter, trying to look important as they approached. She scoffed. She’d faced down bigger assholes in her life.
