Page 235 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Mr. Barrett, are you sure?” came her hesitant voice.

“Positive,” he barked, sitting back down.

Maddox could tell he had the man’s undivided attention.

“What do you know about PZT?” Brent asked, the interest in his voice outweighing the anger.

“Enough to know it could be worth billions,” Maddox said.

“If it works,” Brent countered.

“Believe me, it works,” Addie inserted. “I’ve seen the proof.”

Brent cocked his head. “What sort of proof?”

“That’s not important,” Maddox said.

“A video of an Alzheimer’s patient who was given PZT,” Addie blurted. “She was as lucid as me and you.”

Maddox tugged at Addie’s arm and leaned close to her. “Let me do the talking,” he warned in a low tone.

She rolled her eyes. “What difference does it make what we tell him? Mr. Barrett already knows PZT works or he wouldn’t have killed Jordan and stolen the hard drive.”

Maddox felt like punching through a brick wall. Really? She was doing this now? Making this a power struggle over their failed relationship. Addie was beyond a doubt the most exasperating woman he’d ever met.

“I did not kill Jordan Phelps, nor did I steal a hard drive,” Brent asserted.

The man was determined to deny his crimes till the bitter end. Not uncommon. Maddox switched gears in the hope of tripping him up. “What about your VP, Blanche Richey?” He watched as Brent’s nostrils flared. Yep, Maddox had hit a nerve. “Call Blanche in right now. Let’s get her take on the situation. You and Blanche were in collusion. She had an affair with Jordan and tried to persuade him to sell Barrett Medical the formula for PZT. When that didn’t work, you resorted to more drastic measures, had Jordan killed and eventually stole the hard drive containing the formula.”

Brent’s face turned blood red as he let out a disbelieving laugh. “These allegations are preposterous. I know nothing about an affair between Blanche and Jordan. Furthermore, Blanche no longer works here. I let her go when I learned she was embezzling company funds.”

Maddox held Brent’s eyes, not backing down an inch. “And yet, there’s no mention of a police investigation or report.”

“In the interest of the company, I kept it quiet and handled it privately,” Brent countered, breaking eye contact.

“Where’s Blanche now?”

“I have no idea.” Brent shrugged. “Nor do I care,” he added dourly. He spread his hands, letting out a sigh. “Look, the only reason I haven’t thrown you out on your ear is because I have an interest in PZT.” He looked at Addie, eagerness lighting his eyes. “If it does, indeed, work.” He sat back, rubbing his jaw. “For decades, we’ve been trying to find something that would stopAlzheimer’s progression. Reversing it is a whole new ball game. The possibilities are endless.”

Maddox could almost see the dollar signs turning in the man’s eyes. “Do you deny that you were trying to steal the formula?” Maddox pressed.

“Absolutely.” Brent gave Maddox a withering look. “I resent your assertion that I would stoop so low as to try to steal a drug formula from a colleague. I have nothing but the highest respect for Jordan Phelps. His death was not only a blow to me personally, but to the medical community as a whole.” His voice shook with righteous indignation.

The guy was good, Maddox had to give him that. Even he was starting to believe Brent’s performance.

“What was your affiliation with Jordan?” Addie asked.

Maddox had to admit, it was a decent question. He waited, interested in what Brent had to say.

Brent’s jaw worked like he was trying to contain his emotion. “He was my friend.”

“Your competitor,” Maddox fired back.

“Yes,” Brent admitted. “That too.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “When I first got wind of PZT and its potential, I met with Jordan, tried to form an alliance between our companies to fast-track the drug to the market. Jordan, however, was territorial and determined to maintain complete control of his creation.” He spread his hands in defeat. “At the end of the day, we were unable to come to terms.”

“And you left it at that?” Maddox smirked. Somehow, he didn’t believe it was that simple.

Brent nodded. He propped his elbows on his desk, his fingers forming a triangle. “Yes.”

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