“I’ve been shut down for something I didn’t do.” Chastain grimaced and let out a harsh exhale. “Only a handful of my employeesaren’tunder suspicion.”
Lucky had approved the supply chain security himself. Someone deliberately planned to sabotage Chastain’s operation. “Do you mind if I ask if you were working on something important? Something a competitor might like to ensure never saw the light of day?”
All expression dropped from the man’s face. After a moment he closed his eyes and sighed. “We tried to keep it a secret until we received FDA approval, but we’ve developed a new oral insulin. Works like the long acting insulins, but no injections and half the blood sugar monitoring. It’ll revolutionize diabetes treatment.”
Holy shit! Lucky didn’t have Bo’s pharmaceutical knowledge, but even a narcotics agent specializing in diversion prevention recognized the importance of such a breakthrough.
“FDA assigned the prototype breakthrough drug status to speed up the approval process, which is why we asked you in to ensure we’d meet requirements. If all went well, it’d be on the market in less than a year.”
Lucky whistled. “You’ll make a fortune.”
Chastain gave a rueful laugh and opened his eyes, meeting Lucky’s gaze. “Maybe. But my father is diabetic. I’ve seen him jab himself every day, sometimes three or four times. The pain, the bruising, the nausea... I’m doing this for him.”
He wasn’t simply chasing the money? “Can you think of anyone who’d want to stand in your way?”
Chastain snorted. “Any manufacturer currently making diabetic drugs or supplies. This product will take a lot of dollars out of competitors’ pockets. Or add to them, if they could get their hands on it.”
“Who?”
“Let me show you.” Chastain picked up a tablet computer off the coffee table, punched a few buttons, and turned the screen toward Lucky.
Lucky let out a low whistle. Daaaaaaaamn! Billion-dollar corporations likely shook in their collective boots because of a family-run organization without the aid of outside stockholders. They were right to be afraid.
Two in particular caught his eye: a big fish, and a really big fish, or rather, a shark.
Chastain returned the computer to the table, propped his elbows on his knees, and laced his fingers in front of his face. “While I want this mostly for my father, the company sank so much into developing this drug, we’re in serious trouble if we can’t finish what we started.”
“How far are you in development?” If only he’d brought Bo. Bo would know far more what the new drug meant for Chastain—and the competitors.
“We’re doing human testing.”
Wow! “That close?”
Chastain let out a bitter laugh. “Close, but not close enough.”
Pieces started falling into place. “Let me ask you something. Have any large pharmaceutical companies tried to buy your company?”
“We’ve been fighting off hostile takeover attempts for years, one of the reasons we’ve steered clear of becoming a publicly traded company. We’re a family-run business. Some of our employees are second and third generation. We want to stay a place where sons and daughters work the same jobs as their parents and make a decent living.”
Built-in loyalty. A noble goal, but not very practical. “Thank you. You’ve given me a lot to work with.”
“Are you going to get our doors open again?” Had anyone ever spoken to Lucky before with such hope?
Lucky couldn’t promise anything at this point. “I wish I could. For the moment I’d settle for proving you were set up. Any number of folks have a lot to gain by putting you out of business.”
Chastain nodded, rubbing a hand over his chin stubble. “I appreciate your helping me, but why? Are you trying to save face since the DEA pretty much said you didn’t know what you were talking about when you cleared us?”
Ouch! Direct hit! “Mr. Chastain. I’m not altruistic, never have been, never will be.” Was that the right word? “But I know right from wrong.” Walter wouldn’t stand for this man and his company suffering. Without a doubt, even though he’d downplayed the incident, Walter must have been asking questions. He had quite a long reach.
While Lucky saw part of the folder’s contents, he hadn’t seen it all. Someone had wanted to keep him from it badly enough to steal, and take Walter out of the picture—maybe permanently.
Walter must’ve asked all the right questions to all the wrong people. If Lucky had read the rest of the report instead of just the beginning would he now be lying in a hospital bed too? Or worse?
“I’ll let you know if I find anything out. Right now, there’s something I need to do.”
***
Lucky had only driven two miles before he picked up a tail. He hoped they didn’t mind boredom. The hospital parking lot was quite full when he got there, Sunday being a high visitation day.
