“Most companies or agencies use contracted laboratories. That means they work on formulas and outsource the rest of the steps. We do everything in-house, from the developmental stages all the way through completion. Everything we create is done so within our own company’s walls.”
“Really cuts down on cost,” the other man stated. “Also lessens the chance for one of your formulas to get leaked to a competitor.”
Kat nodded. “Exactly.”
“How competitive is this sort of thing?” Zade asked.
“Biomeds is a highly competitive field, world-wide. If someone discovered one of our formulas, they could take it out from under us. They could then sell it at a lower cost, but still make millions. Possibly more. It would ruin us.”
“Which brings us to why Kat needs our help.” With a nod, Jake gave her the go-ahead to share the incredible, terrifying story.
“Everything started four days ago when I received a strange text on my work phone.”
Kole frowned. “What made it seem strange?”
“For one, it was sent after midnight.” Her eyes skittered in Matt’s direction and back again. “I pretty much live at work, so I don’t have much of a social life. I certainly don’t have any friends who would text me that late at night. Plus, it was from a number I didn’t recognize, and there was nothing in the text to indicate who the sender was.”
“What did it say?” Zade’s focused gaze found hers.
“The only things on it were instructions to be sure to ‘include all the notes along with the formula’ and an email to send the information to. But the thing that really struck me as odd was what was at the end of the text.”
Gabe tipped his head a bit. “Which was?”
“An order typed in all caps to delete the texts after the email was sent.”
The room was silent for a moment before Zade asked, “Any idea what formula they were talking about?”
Kat shook her head. “Not at the time. We sometimes work on multiple projects simultaneously. Anyway, I wrote back as soon as I read it, asking who it was. I got no response. I tried calling the number, but all I got was a recording saying it was invalid. I finally brushed it off as a wrong number and went on with the rest of my night.”
“I’ll admit that was a bit strange”—Kole looked at Jake—“but random texts really aren’t our thing, Boss.” His head swung back around to her. “No offense.”
A corner of Kat’s mouth turned upward. “None taken. Believe me, I wouldn’t waste your time if that was all it was.”
“So there’s more,” Zade commented.
Kat looked over at him. “The day after I got that text, there was an explosion in our lab.” She drew in a shaky breath, hating that she had to revisit that nightmarish day. “Three members on my team were killed. Two instantly, and another…Amy suffered severe burns over forty percent of her body. She’s been in the ICU, but the hospital called early this morning…” her voice cracked. Clearing her throat she said, “Amy didn’t make it.”
“Damn.” Kole’s face filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
Forcing a smile, Kat offered a low, “Thanks.”
With an expression matching Kole’s, Zade asked, “Were you there when it happened?”
She nodded, the memories from that day still raw and painful. “I’d just walked out to use the restroom seconds before it happened. I, um…” Swallowing against the knot in her throat, she forced herself to push on. “The force of the blast threw me to the ground. When I realized what had happened, I rushed back in, trying to help. I knew right away that Evan and Todd were dead. I was able to drag Amy into the hallway, away from the flames and smoke, but that was all I could do for her.” Kat cleared her throat. “Other than calling 911.”
“That took a lot of guts to go back in like that,” Jake said sincerely.
Didn’t seem like it to her. All she’d felt was helpless.
“Were you injured?” Gabe asked sounding concerned.
Kat shook her head. “Just some bruises.”
She fought the urge to touch the tender spot under her hairline. Thankfully, it was on the same side where her hair naturally lay. Not that she was vain. Kat just didn’t want to make a big deal out of a few stitches. Especially when the others had gone through far worse.
“Do you know what caused the explosion?”
“Yes.” Though part of her wished she didn’t. “Due to the nature of my work, I was able to assist the authorities in testing the residue found at the ignition sight. It was a mixture of various chemicals frequently used by our lab. Individually, each of the substances are relatively harmless, but put them together, and—”
