Blood Loss

himself.’

‘What did you do?’ said Ren.

‘I went crazy. I confronted him when he got home, and then I walked out.’

‘What did he say when you confronted him?’ said Ren.

‘Well, he couldn’t deny it,’ said Valerie. ‘He pleaded with me, he told me again that he had been under huge pressure from his bosses to deliver. But I know Nolan. His ambition is quite something. It’s like a force all of its own. When he’s in a room with people who are senior to him or more powerful than he is, his ambition is palpable. I used to find it attractive at the start. And I was foolish enough to think that I was separate from that, that our marriage was ultimately the most important thing to him, and that his career success was something I could watch unfold, something I could be proud of. And then this happened. I couldn’t forgive him for his lack of concern for all the patients taking these drugs, I couldn’t forgive him for using me, no matter what pressure he was under. It was too late. I’m a very private person, and that was so public. I knew I would never trust him again.’

‘So,’ said Ren, ‘do you believe your ex-husband would go to great lengths to protect his career?’

‘Absolutely,’ said Valerie.

‘Knowing what you know, would you ever do anything about Nolan or Lang/MeesterBrandt?’ said Ren.

‘No,’ said Valerie. ‘I wouldn’t do that.’

Ren nodded. ‘I understand.’

‘Oh, not because Nolan is my ex-husband,’ said Valerie. ‘But because he has covered his tracks so well.’

‘So, you didn’t keep any of the documents you saw?’ said Ren.

‘I wish I had, but, no. I threw them in his face.’ After a moment, she went on, ‘Do you want to know what’s even more screwed up? When Cerxus’ patent was set to expire, Lang applied for pediatric exclusivity with the FDA. That meant, if they could prove that it was an effective treatment for depression in children, then they could get an extension of six months or so on their patent, which was still worth a lot of money to them — over half a billion, at least. It was trialed on kids and the results were positive, so the patent was extended. Doctors began prescribing it to kids … but gradually, it became clear that the side effects were devastating — kids were committing suicide, harming themselves, lashing out. The drug was banned in Europe.

‘There’s a law firm in Denver currently working on putting together a class action suit, but I know for a fact that they are having a hard time gathering enough evidence that Lang Pharmaceuticals knew of the dangers of Cerxus. There are question marks right the way back to the original trial results. They skewed the negative side effects by slotting them under different categories or using “milder” words to describe them. Also, how the trials were carried out in the first place was likely flawed. For antidepressants and antipsychotics, doctors use a scoring system, and you need to reach a certain score to be eligible to take part in the trial. And if I’m a doctor, getting paid five to ten thousand dollars for every patient I enroll, I might just say you’re a little more depressed than you really are. And then when your symptoms improve, I can attribute that to the medication. Lang are not the only company to do this-’

‘But that’s ultimately unprovable, right?’ said Ren.

‘Unless you find an email or a memo from a pharmaceutical company or CRO to a doctor spelling that out, yes — it’s unprovable. And that kind of document just does not exist. No-one would be that dumb. It’s understood. There are also concerns that Lang illegally marketed Cerxus for treating childhood depression well before they even went for patent extension.’

‘So what happens if lawyers do find evidence on Lang?’ said Ren.

‘Well, MeesterBrandt Pharmaceuticals, because they bought Lang, will have to shell out a lot of money in fines and settlements. Other companies have paid billions of dollars to make these things go away. Lang was one of the few firms to have so far escaped a lawsuit. Worse than that for MeesterBrandt, though, Cerxus could actually be withdrawn-’

‘Even after all these years?’ said Ren.

‘Absolutely,’ said Valerie.

‘If the evidence is there …’

Valerie nodded. ‘Basically, what these lawyers need is someone who knows where the bodies are buried.’

Maybe they already found that someone.

Misty Bryce looked up at Ren with an expression that Ren was trying hard not to read as “dejected”. Ren leaned down and gave her a rub.

‘I’m sorry if you’ve been feeling lonesome,’ she said.

Misty pressed her body against Ren as they walked up the path to Melissa Grace’s house. Ren rang the doorbell and crouched down for hugs from Misty as they waited.

‘Hi,’ said Melissa.

‘Hi,’ said Ren, standing up.

Melissa glanced down at Misty with the look of a non-dog-lover.

‘I can tie her to the …’ Ren glanced around.

TJ came down the stairs. ‘Hey,’ he said. His face lit up when he saw Misty.

Result.

‘TJ, if your mom doesn’t mind, maybe you could take Misty for a walk? She’s been in the house quite a lot recently because of my work, and I’m afraid she’s going to end up the dog equivalent of those people who have to be removed from their house by a crane through their second-floor window.’

TJ laughed. He looked at his mom. ‘Can I?’

‘Sure,’ she said. ‘OK. Don’t go too far.’

TJ rolled his eyes.

‘Thank you so much,’ said Ren.

TJ went down the hallway to grab his coat.

‘Melissa, why don’t you wait in the living room in the heat? Close over the door. I’ll stay here with Misty.’

TJ came out onto the step with a bright red jacket on.

‘No-one’s going to miss you in that,’ said Ren. She walked down the path with him, and pretended to show him how to operate a leash that was an old-school leash with no fancy system.

‘TJ, I need you to do me a very important favor,’ said Ren. ‘I know your father wouldn’t go anywhere without keeping in touch with you.’

TJ said nothing.

‘Can you pass on a message for me, please?’ said Ren. ‘If he responds, you call my number, the one on my card, OK? If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.’

TJ still didn’t commit.

‘Can you tell your father to check out the rapper Too Short?’

TJ frowned. ‘My dad’s into rap?’

‘He might be into one of his tracks, yes,’ said Ren.

The one called Blow the Whistle.

TJ Grace called Ren that night. His father told him to tell her that was a good track, and that he’d meet her the following morning at ten. TJ gave Ren the address. And he thanked her for Misty. He actually said ‘Thank you for Misty.’

Bless his heart.

61

Taber Grace sat in his brother’s living room, staring at the family photos lined up along the wall. It felt strange being in a warm, feelgood home, drowning in other people’s shit. The doorbell rang. He went to the door and Special Agent Ren Bryce was standing there … the BuBabe he saw behind the Summit County Sheriff at the press conference.

‘Hello,’ she said. She reached out and shook his hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’