Kathleen Long - A Necessary Risk

The man was obviously out to blast New Horizon in his paper. The less one-on-one time she provided him with, the better.

“So you know all there is to know about your clinical trial participants?”

Jess nodded, turning to face him. “What I don’t know, I have access to. Their participation is randomized and coded for anonymity. Similarly, they’re paid in cash. But I’m well versed with our results to date.”

“Which are?”

“Stellar.” She beamed. “This drug is going to save millions of lives.”

“Even if it kills a few trial participants along the way?”

Every ounce of enthusiasm drained from Jess’s body. Van Cleef had warned her about media reps being out for a sensational story. How sad that this man had chosen that tack and not a focus on how revolutionary the drug would be.

“I’m afraid I’m not interested in providing you with tomorrow’s headline, Mr. Levenson.” She turned back toward the group, now moving out of sight.

But Levenson’s fingers brushed against her elbow as she moved away. The momentary touch sent a jolt rocketing through her system.

“I’m not out for a headline.”

When Jess spun to face the man again, the intensity of his expression stopped her cold.

“Are you aware of how many trial participants have died?” he asked.

Jess squinted at him. Was he insane?

“None. The safety results are spectacular.” She jerked her head toward the group. “Shall we?”

“What about Jim Thomas, Ms. Parker? He jumped from a balcony after taking Whitman’s drug. Did you log that side effect?”

Suicide?

Ice raced through Jess’s veins, a sense of dread suddenly enveloping her and squeezing tight.

She’d heard of suicides during the trial periods for existing Hepatitis C medications, but HC0815? No. She’d certainly remember that detail.

“You must be mistaken. I don’t remember a participant by that name—and I’ve reviewed every application and case report form completed to date.”

Levenson stepped close. So close Jess was afraid he might hear how rapidly her heart beat in response to his allegation.

“I’d suggest you do a little digging.” He dropped his voice so low she had to strain to hear him. “You might want to go back to the first trial for HC0815.”

She frowned, shaking her head. “This is the first.”

Levenson pursed his lips and gave her a wry grin. “For Hepatitis C, but rumor has it the same drug failed to gain approval for another usage.”

Myriad thoughts whirled through Jess’s brain. Surely Van Cleef would have told her if there had been an earlier failed attempt for FDA approval. He certainly would have brought her up to speed on any suicide during the current trial.

She shook her head. “You’ve gotten bad information from somewhere, Mr. Levenson. You might want to check your source.”

He hesitated momentarily, and Jess thought she might finally have him backed into a corner. His next words shattered that illusion into countless pieces.

“I buried my brother last month, Ms. Parker. That particular suicide I can vouch for firsthand.”

She shook her head again. “I don’t remember a candidate with your surname.”

“Thomas.” The emotional strain in his voice had become evident. “Jim Thomas.”

“I thought your name was Levenson?” Jess frowned.

The man pulled a business card from his pocket, handed it to her, then turned toward the exit. “I lied. Use the cell number when you’re ready to talk.”

Zach headed across the New Horizon parking lot toward his restored Karmann Ghia, mentally berating himself as he walked. So much for keeping his cover intact. He’d told the blonde his true identity five minutes into their conversation—and he used the term conversation loosely.

He’d expected her to be more open to what he had to say, but she’d done nothing except tout the company lines about HC0815.

Revolutionary.

Lifesaving.

Risk-free.

He knew she was wrong, knew it just as strongly as he knew he needed air to breathe. No clinical trial company should be allowed to get away with changing study results, and apparently that was exactly what New Horizon had become involved with. If the company was doing whatever it took to keep their multimillion-dollar-accounts and keep their pharmaceutical company clients happy, they had to be stopped.

And Zach was just the man to do so.

The Little Brother consumer watchdog group had contacted him at Jim’s funeral. Zach had thought their timing left a lot to be desired, but everything they’d said jibed with what his gut had been screaming.

HC0815 was the reason his brother was dead. The drug caused psychosis in a number of otherwise healthy clinical trial participants, and now one had died. Jim.

Zach’s heart squeezed as he dropped into the driver’s seat.

His brother deserved better than what he’d gotten. Far better.

Their parents had been killed in a multivehicle car accident when Jim was only thirteen and Zach twenty-six. Zach had spent the past seven years trying to be the mother and father Jim had lost. They’d mourned together, moved forward together and embraced life together.

They’d celebrated—and how—when Jim graduated from high school and got accepted by New Jersey College. They’d found student loans and Zach had scrimped and saved. He’d done whatever he could to ensure Jim got the education he deserved.

The New Horizon HC0815 trial had seemed too good to be true. High pay for taking a revolutionary and safe drug. Animal testing had shown no side effects. The same was expected in humans.

Zach had actually encouraged Jim’s participation, delighted the kid was so proud of what he was doing.

What a fool he’d been.

If he could spare one other family the loss he’d suffered—save one other kid from a drug-induced suicide—he would.

And Jessica Parker would help. Whether she wanted to or not.

He’d gotten over his surprise at her initial reaction. Of course she’d been defensive. She wouldn’t be a loyal employee if she hadn’t been. But once she dug into the New Horizon database and found out he was telling the truth, she’d come around. She had a light in her eyes that hinted at ethics, and ethics were exactly what he needed right now.

He’d tipped his hand by offering the information on the previous trial—a withdrawn application by Whitman Pharma for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The law protected the company, allowing them to claim whatever information the trial had provided as a trade secret.

Yet, even if there had been a cover-up, the data must exist somewhere.

Finding that data was Zach’s next step.

If he could provide concrete evidence Jim’s suicide hadn’t been the only one linked to taking the drug, he’d be on his way to putting an end to the testing.

He pulled out of the New Horizon parking lot and into the midday Princeton traffic.

Jessica Parker.

Her image flashed across Zach’s mind. All buttoned up and drop-dead gorgeous.

Something stirred deep inside him, but he tamped down the sensation, shoving it far, far away.

He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned his head, but he wasn’t about to let Jessica Parker do so now.

He had to focus on Jim, on clearing Jim’s name and on shutting down HC0815. For that, he needed Jessica Parker the scientist.

Zach had to ignore any unwanted thoughts about Jessica Parker, the woman.

And he would.

JESS DROPPED HER FOCUS to the name on the card.

Detective Zachary Thomas.

She lifted her attention to the man’s retreating back, dread dancing up and down her spine.

Suicide?

During the current HC0815 trial?