Kathy Reichs: Code

Chance considered the new information. Iglehart knew nothing about his connection to the project, or his role in the events surrounding Karsten’s death. Chance intended to keep it that way.

Karsten’s secret research. Tory and her obnoxious friends.

Was there a link? How? What kind?

He thought back to his talks with Madison. To his own odd experiences with those four.

The wine cellar three stories below him.

A deserted beach.

The basement of The Citadel.

Something is amiss .

“Ah … Mr. Claybourne?” Iglehart fidgeted. “Is there anything else?”

Chance shook his head tightly. “Dismissed. Keep your eyes open.”

Chance felt anger radiate from the man. Resentment that he, an accomplished scientist, was forced to run and fetch for a boy barely eighteen.

Chance smiled coldly. Money talks .

When the door closed, Chance opened a drawer and removed a large key ring. Then he rose and crossed to an ancient bureau against the far wall.

His father’s private cabinet.

He’d never seen inside it before the old man went away.

Chance unlocked the door, removed a stack of files, and returned to the desk.

For a long moment he stared at the folders.

His father had never mentioned their existence. He’d found them only a few weeks earlier.

One finger traced the lettering stamped onto each one.

Candela Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Marcus Karsten—Research Notes.

Top Secret.

“I will get answers,” Chance whispered.

He began reading for the hundredth time.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Code would not have been possible without the patient-yet-prodding efforts of our super-editor Arianne Lewin at G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Thank you for your tireless work in shaping this story, and for providing solid direction for the Virals series going forward. We are in your debt. Thanks also to Ben Schrank and Anne Hetzel for their thoughtful contributions to both this manuscript and the series. We appreciate you all.

More thanks to Don Weisberg at Penguin and Susan Sandon at Random House UK, who have backed these crazy Virals from the beginning, a fact for which we are eternally grateful. We also must thank Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, and the entire staff at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, for everything that they do. You keep the electricity humming.

Last, but certainly not least, a hearty thank-you to our loyal readers. We are at your service.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9781446440957

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Published by Young Arrow in 2013

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Copyright © Kathy Reichs, 2012

Kathy Reichs has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published by arrangement with the original publisher, G. P. Putnam’s Sons,

an imprint of Penguin Inc.

Arrow

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Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

HB ISBN 9780099543855

TPB ISBN 9780099543862