Page 54 of Protected from Malice
Despite my anxiety about this meeting, I’m filled with a sudden burst of gratitude. The prosthetic I helped Indy get reallyisthe best.
“I’ll try,” Tyler replies. “I’ve got the intruder’s phone, and I’m going to see if he accessed the website on his phone’s browser. If he did, it might give us something to go on. And I’ll try to remote-access the guy’s computer at home. Depending on how careful the person who posted the ad was, we may be able to ID him that way.”
“And if hewascareful?” Rafe asks.
“It’s possible. The smart criminals are using multiple VPNs, burner phones, even hacking into stranger’s computers to do their dirty work. But. Even if we can’t find the guy that way, we have other options.”
“Like investigating Eden’s background,” Ace says. “Coworkers. Friends. Family—” He winces and flashes a quick look of apology at me and Indy. “I know that’s not a pleasant thing to think about.”
“It’s just our mom,” I tell him. “And a few distant cousins. My mom would never?—”
“What about your work?” Indy asks. “The research you’re working on. You said if it passes the trials, it could eliminate the need for chronic treatments. And pharmaceuticals are big money. Someone could have heard about it. A competitor. And they don’t want to see it happen.”
“Maybe.” A tiny shudder ripples through me. “Of course I’ve thought about it. But even if I were eliminated?—”
Rafe makes a low, angry sound.
Indy’s expression goes dark.
“I’m not the only one on the project,” I continue. “Someone else on my team could pick up where I left off.”
“Eden.” Rafe turns to me. A mixture of pride and worry reflects in his eyes. “You say that. But do you really think the other people on your team could do whatyoudo? Really?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” After a moment’s thought, I admit softly, “Probably not. Not if any changes need to be made to the formulation.”
“What kind of treatment are we talking about?” Webb asks.
Turning my attention to him, I reply, “It’s a drug that would treat amyloidosis. That’s a buildup of irregular proteins in the body that can cause cardiomyopathy. There are other drugs that treat the symptoms of cardiomyopathy, but this drug… it wouldbe curative. So… Yes. In theory, a company that produces one of those treatmentscouldwant my research stopped.”
Tyler’s fingers fly across his keyboard. “I’ll start researching competing companies right away. And I’ll pull in Leo, Matt, and Beth on this, too.”
Indy’s expression grows even more grim. “What about boyfriends?”
My stomach squinches. “No boyfriends. Not for years. You know that.”
“Or someone you’ve dated. Even if it’s just one date. Some guys—” His jaw clenches. “Some guys… They get obsessive. Violent. If you knew some of the stories…”
“Maybe we don’t get intothosestories,” Rafe suggests. His tone is carefully calm, but with an undercurrent of strain running through it.
My body feels hot. Then cold. Then hot again.
This.
Thisis the part I’ve been dreading.
“It could be someone you don’t know,” Ace offers. “A jealous coworker. A neighbor.”
“Eden.” My brother leans forward. “You can’t tell me you haven’t datedanyone. I know I’m your brother and all, but we’re both adults. It’s not like you have to keep it a secret from me.”
My hands start to shake. My palms go clammy.
“There hasn’t been anyone,” I whisper. “No dates. Nothing.”
“I remember you telling me about someone at work trying to set you up,” he persists. “If some asshole got pissed that you weren’t interested, wanted you to… Shit. Men can be fucking assholes, Eden.”
The room feels like it’s shrinking.
The air feels thick. Noxious. Suffocating.
