Page 169 of The Bone Code
I disconnected from Ryan and answered the incoming call.
“Bonsoir,détective.”
Claudel wasted no time on pleasantries.
“I went to InovoVax and found an employee who had been with the company since the gray dawn of history. A man quite aggrieved at having been passed over for the position of director. A man very free with his views concerning the boss.”
A huskiness in Claudel’s voice attested to the exhaustion Ryan had mentioned.
“It is a long and decidedly tedious story, the bottom line beingthis: the man confirmed that around 2000, Dr. Aubrey Sullivan Huger arranged for the hiring of Dr. Arlo Murray and Mademoiselle Mélanie Chalamet.”
“How?” I asked. “Why?”
“The gentleman was vague on those points. Apparently, Huger knew someone at InovoVax. And it helped that Chalamet spoke French.”
I briefed Claudel as I had Ryan. He listened without interrupting, then, “I must be off.”
And he was.
I sat frozen, brain integrating new bytes. Particles whipping like electrons circling a nucleus.
Ten minutes, then I snapped to and dialed Vislosky. Doubted she’d pick up after hours.
I was wrong.
“You’re like a hound on a T-bone.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I shared everything I’d told Ryan and everything he and Claudel had told me since Vislosky and I had last talked, ending with Ryan’s suggestion about Huger’s financials.
“Dig into his personal finances and those of his online companies?”
“Yes.”
“That would require a warrant. Andthatwould require probable cause.”
“You’re creative.”
“Not that creative.”
“I know Huger’s involved in all this.”
“All what?”
“This whole cock-up.”
“Based on what?”
“My gut.”
“Problem solved. That should sway any judge.”
“Can you at least try?”
“Not without something more than your innards.”
Silence hummed across the line.
