“Our new medication, Ovaxin, is designed for patients with stage four ovarian cancer. The Center will be participating in Phase II of the trial. This is the first time patients with the disease will receive the drug. Phase I is finishing up, and we expect the independent review board for the Louisiana Department of Health and the FDA to pass the drug with flying colors,” Beverly gushed.
“What were the side effects and any other negative consequences?” Harper asked.
Colvin opened his briefcase and pulled out four binders. He gave two to Lourdes, one to Harper, and the last to Jerrold. “Here are all the reports on the drug, from dosages to side effects, adverse reactions and chemical composition. Also included is a copy of the medical record of each patient who received the drug, all by numerical identifiers. This is proprietary information and cannot leave the office.”
Harper chewed her lip. “Um, if Phase I is incomplete, how can you start Phase II?”
Beverly flashed Harper a patronizing grin. She knew that grin from growing up with other plastic girls. “It’s a formality. The FDA moves very slowly. We received a verbal confirmation to continue.”
Harper swiveled in her seat and looked at Lourdes. “Dr. Sommerstone, I don’t think I will be comfortable administering a new drug without that written go-ahead.”
“My sweet girl, that’s another reason I asked you to be part of my team. I love your integrity.” Lourdes patted her hand. “Colvin, I need that written approval.”
Chapter 8
“Boss on deck,” Josh called out.
Kip laughed. “Stone, I appreciate your excitement. I’m not going to change my mind about you being my XO. Relax.”
“Yes, sir.” Josh sat tentatively.
He shook his head. “Call me Kip when we’re alone.”
“Yes, sir,” Josh said.
Kip would have to break him and the other newly promoted of the sir habit.
His masculine office space, in moss, browns and beiges, was stunning. A large red bow was secured on the middle of the three bleached walnut bookcases that filled an entire wall. Lining the shelves were precise models of the twenty-five airplanes used during World War II. What was above them made Kip’s hands shake as he unfurled the clear wrapping. It was afirst edition set by Winston S. Churchill:The Second World War: Triumph and Tragedy in Six Volumes, includinga thank you card signed by Churchill after he received the set himself.
As Kip was a WWII buff, these were an incredible and personal gift. He pulled the card free. “The trophy wasn’t enough. Thank you for all you do. Best of luck. Embrace the suck. Julian and Troy,” he read the card aloud. The trophy his friends referenced featured a statue swinging a bat at the symbol for CSI. The plaque readBest Pinch Hitter.
An enormous boardroom table was sheltered in a separate glass enclosure.Glass cage?
He walked to the left side of the bookcases, where there was a panel carved in the same walnut. Close up, he waved his hand in front of a small eye in one of the scrolls.
The panel popped. The safe held room for his handgun, a Sig P226, which he deposited inside, and it already held his rifle of choice, a Heckler & Koch’s G28. Even though it was picked up by the Army, and he was Navy, he liked the feel of it. Also inside were a pair of handcuffs, a taser, a six-inch tactical knife, and, sitting in a sealed box with a gold bow, was a Ruger SR40c. The weapon was deadly but small and easily concealable.
Kip closed the gun safe door. “It seems Goldilocks was in my office.”
Kyle sat in the chair opposite the desk. With a deep breath, Kip joined his friend and sat behind his immense desk, placing his hand on the leather desktop. A workstation and a separate new desktop computer filled one side, a blue bow and card attached to it reading,You’ve got this, Ian.
He explored his drawers. Besides all the amenities a desk should have sat a wrapped box with no visible card. Carefully, he unwrapped it to find a pair of Sportsman 23K gold Concorde shaped military sunglasses. He opened them and tried them on. In the lower corner of the left lens was a pinhole camera and microphone. Next to those glasses were a pair of clear lenses in Tom Ford tortoise frames.
Folded beneath the glasses was a piece of blue stationery.Acrobat—I’d rather call you Kip, but you get nervous when I do. This is your baby. You are the man in charge of both Chase Security International-New Orleans and Chase Care Louisiana. Even if you do, I have no doubts you will succeed. Godspeed, Kieran.
Kip swallowed hard. “Where are we at?” he asked Kyle.
Kyle crunched his brows. “You okay?”
“Fine. The glasses are from Kieran. He called me Kip.” He kept the contents of the letter to himself.
“Ugh, will you stop? He likes you.” Kyle laughed. “You sound like Wes.” Wes “Alamo” Crockett, Executive in Charge of Training, had a paranoid fear Kieran disliked him, especially when he called him by his first name.
“Okay, we lucked out on a couple of things. Wes is sending three firearms and security trainers, who just became Louisiana-certified, for any new hires who have not made it through our center in Virginia. The range in Slidell should be certified soon.”
“Can I join the fun?” Rich walked in, looking grim. “All security personnel watched the video orientation you made. Our supervisors are going over additional storm preparation issues, including communication systems.”
“My team is making headway in hiring and background checks for all non-medical personnel,” Kyle advised.
