Michael Ridpath - Final Venture

'So you think Lisa's concerns were nothing more than that?'

'Yes. Lisa had tremendous intuition for picking up on a possible line of research. But sometimes she forgot she was a scientist. If you test the hypothesis, and find the scientific data doesn't substantiate it, then it's nothing more than speculation.'

I had had this lecture before, from Lisa herself, many times. It was ironic that she was the subject of the criticism this time.

'And the data didn't support her hypothesis, whatever it was?' I asked.

'Not in my opinion, no,' said Henry.

I wasn't a scientist, I trusted Lisa's intuition.

'Simon, I'd love to have Lisa here working with me now,' Henry continued. 'But things are different than they were when Boston Peptides was independent. I don't think Lisa would ever have gotten used to that. She's gone to an excellent post with Mettler in Stanford. I'm convinced she'll be much happier there. In many ways I'd like to join her. But I have to see Boston Peptides through. And with BioOne's resources I can do that.'

I stood up to go. 'Lisa had a lot of respect for you, Henry,' I said. 'It was just another one of those little hunches of hers that turned out to be wrong. Goodbye.'

Henry's eyes blinked behind his large glasses in surprise and dismay as I left him. I was probably being a bit harsh on him, but I didn't care. Lisa had needed all the support she could get. Henry should have given it to her.

As I walked back past Lisa's old lab, I pushed open the door and looked in. I recognized the jumble of benches, mysterious shaped glass containers, paper and boxes of electronics, none of which I understood. Half a dozen scientists were working in there.

One of them, a tall red-haired woman, glanced up as I came in. Kelly. She rushed up to me.

'Simon, will you get out of here! If someone recognizes you we'll be in big trouble.'

'OK, OK,' I said as I was hustled out of the lab. 'Kelly, can I talk to you?'

'No way. Now get out!' She propelled me down the corridor.

'Do you know where Lisa's staying?'

'Yes.'

'Where?'

'I'm not telling you.'

We were in the reception area. 'Is she OK?'

'No,' Kelly answered. 'I'd say she's not OK.'

'Kelly, I've got to talk to you.'

'No you don't,' she said. 'Now please go.'

So I went.

I waited for her on Mass Ave, near the deli where I knew Lisa usually bought her lunch. It was a bit of a long shot. I had no idea whether Kelly frequented the same place, or even when she went for lunch. I staked out the corner of Mass Ave and Boston Peptides' street at twelve, and read the Globe. Then I read the Wall Street Journal. Then a three-day-old Daily Mirror. Chelsea had won the previous Saturday, and there was speculation that they might topple Aston Villa at the top of the Premier League. It was past two, and I was just debating whether to buy Business Week or a National Inquirer when I saw her.

I buried my head in the Journal, which was the biggest of my newspaper collection. I decided to let her buy her sandwich and to catch her on the way back, hoping she wouldn't have any other lunch-time errands to run.

She didn't. I fell into step next to her.

'Kelly!'

'Simon! I thought I told you to beat it.'

'You did. But I want to talk to you.'

'Simon, you are very bad news. Someone might see us.'

'OK,' I said, and grabbed hold of her arm. I steered her down a narrow alley to the left, and dragged her ten yards or so away from the busier street. 'They won't see us now.'

Kelly leaned back against a brick wall. She fumbled for a cigarette. 'I told you. I can't talk to you.'

'At least tell me how Lisa is,' I said. 'You said she wasn't good. I'm worried.'

'You should be.' Kelly's eyes were hard. 'Her dad's dead. She thinks her husband killed him. She's lost her job. The poor woman's a mess. And from what I hear, you made her that way'

Anger and frustration flooded through me. I turned and kicked an empty garbage can. 'Kelly, I didn't kill her father. I didn't get her fired.'

Kelly took a drag of her cigarette, ignoring my denial.

I tried to regain my composure. 'Kelly, you're Lisa's friend, and you have to take her side in this. I appreciate that. I'm glad she was staying with you. But you have to understand my point of view. She's got it all wrong. And I have to show her that, for her sake as much as mine.'

Kelly was listening, just, watching me suspiciously out of half-closed eyes.

'I think her father's death had something to do with BioOne,' I continued. 'Maybe something to do with whatever Lisa was asking questions about. I need to find out what that something was. Henry Chan didn't tell me anything. You have to help me.'

'No way,' said Kelly. She dropped her cigarette and stepped on the butt. 'I'm not going to talk to you about BioOne. You're not getting me into trouble too.'

She turned and walked out of the alleyway.

'Kelly. It's for Lisa's sake, too.'

'Bullshit. You're just trying to save your own ass. And I'm not going to help you.'

We were in the road leading to Boston Peptides, Kelly walking fast, me keeping pace with her.

'At least tell me where Lisa is staying.'

Kelly stopped. 'If she wants you to know where she's living, she'll tell you. Now beat it or I'll scream. And I can scream real loud.'

Kelly was serious. I gave up, and trudged back up the road to the 'T' at Central.

I returned to the office to find Daniel recovered and ready to gossip.

'Hey, Simon, what's up?' he said as I entered the room.

'Hi, Daniel.'

'God, can you believe what happened to John?'

'No. It was terrible, wasn't it?'

'Did you know he was a fag?'

I felt a rush of irritation. 'No, Daniel, I didn't. He's dead, OK? It doesn't matter.'

I glanced over at John's desk. Empty. It looked strangely tidy.

Daniel followed my glance. 'The cops have been all over it. They took a ton of documents away. They're going to be very bored, I promise you.'

I walked over to the desk, and had a quick look through it. There was nothing of any personal value left. All his working files had been taken too.

Daniel was watching me. 'The cops were asking all kinds of weird questions this morning. Like did I know he and Frank were doing each other. Frank! Can you believe it?'

I sighed. 'Daniel, the guy we worked with for two years has been killed. It doesn't matter what he did with his personal life.'

'No, of course not,' said Daniel. 'But Frank Cook! I mean, did you suspect anything? He was your father-in-law.'

'No I didn't suspect anything,' I answered, letting my irritation show.

'I heard you spent the evening in the police station? I guess they thought you'd killed John because you were the one who found him?'

'Something like that,' I said. 'But they had no evidence, so they let me go. Eventually'

'It must have been rough.'

'I wouldn't recommend it.'

'There's been pandemonium here,' Daniel said. 'Gil is furious. I think he's just as angry about John and Frank having an affair as about John getting killed. Luckily the press hasn't got hold of that angle yet. Art went off for lunch and hasn't been seen since, and Ravi looks like a scared rabbit. Only Diane is keeping cool. And me of course.'

'Of course.'

'I mean, people are frightened. First Frank, then John. It could be any one of us next. Actually, it will probably be you.'

'Thanks a lot, Daniel. That possibility hadn't escaped me.'

'Be careful, Simon.' Daniel's tone was serious, for once.

'There's not a lot I can do,' I said. 'But can you do me a favour?'

'Sure,' he replied.

'Can you find out some stuff about BioOne for me?'