Page 98 of Borrowed Pain
"How did you know that?" Victoria asked, her voice cooling by degrees.
"That's precisely what they'd tell you to get federal protection. You're not guarding breakthrough research—you're providing security for human experimentation disguised as legitimate therapy."
"That's a serious accusation, Rowan. You're suggesting federal agents are—"
"I'm suggesting federal agents are doing their jobs based on falsified intelligence. Someone fed you a story about protecting vital PTSD research from terrorist threats. Someone with impressive credentials, institutional backing, and bulletproof documentation."
I heard a keyboard clicking through the phone. "Multiple federal agencies have reviewed Dr. Celeste Harrow's research. National Institutes of Health funding, Institutional Review Board approval, oversight from Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, and UCLA trauma centers. This isn't some back-alley operation."
Something Miles said before he left came back to me. "The Johns Hopkins connection—did a Dr. Gwendoline Humphries provide a testimonial?"
More keyboard sounds. "Dr. Humphries submitted a comprehensive evaluation supporting the research protocols. Highly enthusiastic about the breakthrough potential."
Matthew caught my attention, pointing toward Dorian's workstation, where multiple screens showed incoming calls. Unknown numbers and blocked caller IDs, communication patterns that suggested someone was desperately trying to reach us.
"Victoria, I need you to do something for me. Call Dr. Humphries directly and ask her to repeat that endorsement in real time. Don't use any contact information from your case file—look up her direct line through Johns Hopkins."
"Why would I—"
"Because I think you'll discover that Dr. Humphries has been trying to contact someone about this research all afternoon. Someone who might help her correct a terrible mistake."
Dorian gestured frantically. He'd answered one of the incoming calls, and his expression suggested the conversation was urgent.
"Victoria, I have to go. But please—make that call. Find out what Dr. Humphries really thinks about Celeste Harrow's research."
I ended the call and moved toward Dorian, who was scribbling notes while speaking rapidly into his headset.
"Yes, Dr. Humphries, he's right here." Dorian looked up at me. "It's Dr. Gwendoline Humphries from Johns Hopkins. She's been trying to reach Miles all afternoon."
I grabbed the headset. "Dr. Humphries, this is Rowan Ashcroft. Dr. McCabe is currently—"
"Mr. Ashcroft, thank God. I saw reports that federal agents were guarding a trauma study at Harborview. When I realized it was Celeste's facility…" Her voice bordered on panic. "Dr. McCabe contacted me yesterday about collaborative research. I thought it was routine professional networking. Then I saw armed federal agents protecting breakthrough trauma therapy research, and I knew."
"Knew what?"
"That she was finally implementing the protocols. The ones I helped legitimize through my testimonial." Her breath caught. "Mr. Ashcroft, I've been a coward. A collaborator. But I can't let another researcher walk into what I helped create."
She explained that her testimonial recording session lasted three hours. They distilled her words into a two-minute clip that made it sound like she'd personally implemented the protocols with remarkable success.
"Mr. Ashcroft, I never treated a single patient using Harrow's methods. The edited testimonial suggests I've transformed hundreds of lives."
"Why didn't you correct the record?"
"I tried. My department chair received a call from Meridian's legal team, suggesting that retracting my testimonial could impact Johns Hopkins' federal research funding. They had documentation of my voluntary participation in the testimonial process." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Mr. Ashcroft, they threatened my entire department."
"Dr. Humphries," I said, "we believe Dr. McCabe is currently undergoing whatever protocols you helped legitimize. Time is critical."
"No." Her voice cracked. "How long has he been in their facility?"
"Two hours."
"Mr. Ashcroft, based on the pharmaceutical documentation I reviewed, neurological changes become irreversible after four to five hours of continuous intervention. You need to get him out of there immediately."
Matthew looked up from his medical supplies. "Can the process be reversed?"
"If caught early, yes. Benzodiazepine antagonists, antipsychotics, and intensive supportive care. Still, the window closes rapidly." Dr. Humphries's academic composure finally shattered completely. "I helped create a torture protocol disguised as breakthrough therapy. Now someone you care about is experiencing it firsthand."
The warehouse door chimed. Michael strode through carrying a tactical bag. Alex followed with Luna on a tight leash.
