Page 91 of Glass Spinner
Kathleen smiled at that. Eve Wainright was a no-nonsense, small woman, a brilliant biomedical researcher in her own right and the force behind her more out-going husband. Praise coming from her was to be savoured. "Tell her thank you. That means a great deal."
"I will. In fact, Eve insisted we celebrate this properly," George said. "Which brings me to the real reason I asked you up here. I’ve decided to host a cocktail party at our home tomorrow evening. Nothing too grand—a few key figures from the scientificand academic community and your family and friends of course. I'd like to celebrate your success properly."
Kathleen blinked. "That’s… very kind of you."
"You’ve earned it. And it’ll be good for our image as well—for all of us," he said, leaning back slightly. "The world is watching now. We want to show them that the Institute supports innovation, and the brilliant minds behind it."
He reached into a folder beside him and handed her a formal invitation. "Six thirty. It’ll be a relaxed evening."
Kathleen took the card, turning it over once in her hands. "Thank you," she said. "I’ll be there. My father and mother would be thrilled to attend too."
"Excellent," George said, standing again to walk her to the door. "We look forward to it. And Kathleen—congratulations again. You’ve done something remarkable."
As she left the boardroom, invitation in hand, Kathleen felt a flutter of nerves. She preferred to shun visibility, but with the world watching, she had to own her work.
That evening, Kathleen took a cab across the city and let herself into Veronica’s apartment using the spare key she had pressed into her palm two nights earlier. The place was dimly lit, soft jazz playing through the speakers, a bottle of red already breathing on the counter.
Veronica appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Hey. Dinner’s almost ready. Pour us a drink?"
Kathleen nodded and reached for the wine, filling two glasses and handing one to Veronica as they settled into the living room.
They sat quietly at first, the intimacy of the moment needing no rush. But eventually, Kathleen turned slightly toward her. "So? What did you find out?"
Veronica took a slow sip. "You’re not going to like it."
Kathleen’s stomach twisted. "Try me."
"I followed up with Com Co. I posed as a workplace safety officer and asked if any of the cleaners gave anyone access to get into your lab."
Kathleen leaned forward. "And?"
"The woman in charge contacted the cleaner who does your lab, and she swore she let no one in. The firm has an excellent reputation which they can’t afford to lose. I believed them.”
Kathleen bit her lip. "Then someone in the building bypassed security. That narrows it down."
Veronica fiddled with her glass. "Kathleen... it was Darlene. She’s the one who stole your work."
Kathleen’s fingers tightened around the stem of hers. "Darlene Hunt is the one?”
Veronica nodded. "Lapwing traced her to a site on the dark web. Your research is being auctioned—all your data. And the funds are being routed through an offshore account tied to Darlene Hunt."
Kathleen sat back, stunned. "But how?" she whispered. "She’s not a scientist. How could she even access the data?"
"We don’t know yet," Veronica replied. "The theft wasn’t about the science or the threat to someone big in the oil industry. The patent—filing under EW Enterprises—was a smokescreen. It gave her time to line up buyers."
"Buyers for my life’s work," Kathleen muttered. "Dear God, the woman doesn’t possess an ounce of integrity or morality. "
“No, she doesn’t. For all her airs, she’s a common fucking thief.”
They sat in silence until Veronica leaned forward. "We need to go to the feds. They’re the only ones who have the power to close the auction down."
Kathleen nodded slowly. "Yes. We do. Tomorrow morning. I’ll take the files and show them what’s happening."
Veronica hesitated, then said quietly, "I think you should go alone."
Kathleen blinked. "What? Why?"
"Because I can’t risk exposure. I’ve spent most of my adult life off the grid, Kathleen. There are things in my past that wouldn’t stand up to official scrutiny. If I show up with you, it compromises everything—not only this, but my safety too."
