Silent Epidemic (Book 1 - Carol Freeman Series)

by Jill Province

  Everyone nodded in agreement.  

  “Fine," he concluded.  “I have work to do."  

  The group watched him walk out the door.

  “I thought you said he was losing his backbone," Jeff said looking towards the door. 

  “That wasn’t exactly backbone," Paul interjected. 

  “More like a soft spot for a pretty blonde," Sam added. 

  “Yeah," Jeff agreed, “with a tiger’s eye." 

  “Can you continue tailing them?" Sam said to the AJC plant. 

  “Already in the works," the reporter assured him. 

  “We will know a lot more about what we’re dealing with after you have watched them for a few days.  In the meantime, we just go back to work."  

  Everyone stood to go.

  “Oh, Doc," Sam said.  “Thanks for doing such a great job with the Terry Sanders investigation.” 

  “The chart was polished and ready for pick up Saturday morning.  And the rest of the charts are cleaned up as well." 

  “Great," Sam concluded.  “From this point on, give the remaining volunteers anything they want.  We’ll cover the cost." 

  The meeting was adjourned and only Sam and Jeff remained.  “What are you going to do about the two trashed offices?" Jeff inquired. 

  “Must have been a robbery attempt." 

  “In only two offices with nothing missing?" Jeff said questioningly. 

  “We trashed a few others and removed some computers," Sam explained.  

  “Did you get the list of volunteers from Sheila’s office?” Jeff asked. 

  “Both copies," Sam stated. 

  “Then you thought of everything." 

  “Let’s hope," Sam added, patting Jeff on the back. 

  “Now I need to go to Sheila’s office and act surprised.  We better get them some help with the cleanup," he added.  “It was pretty trashed."

   

  Sam walked down the hall to Sheila’s office and stopped in the doorway.  He found her picking files up off the floor.  “Looks like they got you too," he said. 

  “Who else got hit?" she asked. 

  “Jerry, Marty and Grace, in accounting," he said. 

  “What’d they get?" Sheila inquired. 

  “Just a few computers," Sam answered.  “This just hasn’t been our week.  We’ll get you some help with this mess."  Sam turned to go. 

  “Sam?" she interjected.  “Why did they hit only four offices?"  

  Sam just shook his head. 

  “You got me.  Lately, nothing is making any sense." 

  Sheila continued to pick the rest of the debris up off the floor.  Lately, everything has been making a lot of sense.  She hadn’t given Dominex enough credit. They had stayed only one step behind her because she had been too confident.  That would end today. 

  Sheila went through every file thoroughly before laying them on top of the cabinet. Both copies of the volunteer list had been removed from her office.  Yeah, they hadn’t been given near enough credit.  She dialed the number to Jerry’s office.  “Hey, are you alone?" she said. 

  “Why?" he countered.  “Are you planning to say something inappropriate in an office?" 

  “I’ll take that as a yes." 

  “Do we need to use code?" Jerry said, using his best conspirator’s tone.

  “Stop playing around," she directed.  “Tell me again about the phone conversation you had with the volunteer that knew about the vitamin scam."  

  Jerry thought for a moment.  He hadn’t had access to the information since he had turned it over to Sheila.  In fact, now that he thought about it, the information was no longer in their possession.  They had sent it off to Sheila’s friend in Newark. 

  “We played phone tag that day," Jerry began, trying to jog his memory.  “Carol, someone," he said under his breath. 

  “That won’t get us anywhere," Sheila said, beginning to get annoyed at her own clumsiness. 

  “Why?" Jerry asked innocently. “Don’t you still have the files from the study?" 

  “They got everything," Sheila said.  She sat at her desk, tapping a pencil, and feeling very overwhelmed for the first time.  “I gave them way too much latitude.” 

  “Okay, let’s not get carried away here," Jerry said soothingly.  “We sent the information to your friend through Fed Ex.  She should have it by now." 

  “That’s right," Sheila conceded.  She was usually on top of her game, but this new relationship was a real distraction.  Good thing it came with one perk: another person’s insight.  “Okay," she said.  “I’ll just give her a call and get the information." 

  “Don’t call her from your office," Jerry warned.  “If you do, there’s a good chance her office will be trashed next." 

  “You’re right," she said in alarm. 

  “In fact, this was not the best place to have this conversation," he added.    

  “Are you sure you want to stay connected with me?" Sheila said in frustration. 

  “Are you kidding?" Jerry countered.  “This is the most interesting my life has ever been." 

  “Interesting," Sheila repeated.  “That’s an understatement.  We’ll finish this later." 

  “Ten four," Jerry said, hanging up the phone.

  He doesn’t realize how dangerous this could get, she thought, placing the receiver down.  He is all caught up in ‘new love,’ flutters, and he thinks this is a game.  She was getting very worried for both of them.  Jerry could walk away from this anytime he wanted.  In fact, at this point, any other choice would be insane.  It was different for her.  She had waited years for this opportunity and there was no way she was going to stop here.  She would see this through.  They would have a very serious talk later.  She had to make him understand exactly what it was he was dealing with.  

   

   

   

   

   

  Chapter 20

   

  Charles sat at his desk and stared out the window.  Things had gotten totally out of hand ever since they had tried to get Suprame on the market.  This study had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the medication could not be taken longer than a few weeks without becoming seriously addictive.  They could have agreed to put specific warnings and prescription parameters on the labels, but that would substantially cut into future profit.

  It had been predicted that once Suprame was available, it would be the sedative of choice because of the price comparison to the name brands.  Estimated revenues were staggering.  But this estimate was based on current prescribing practices.  If doctors and patients were warned about guaranteed addiction, those numbers would drop considerably.

  Now he had a study that proved how dangerous sedatives were and they were continuing to navigate its successful completion to the FDA.  That did not bother Charles as much as the idea that they could consider permanently putting Sheila away.  She was harmless.  The only hidden agenda she had ever had was to climb her way to the top, using any means to get there.  He had seen it a thousand times before and he had no problem complying with that desire.  She had been such a bright spot in his life.  He had even entertained thoughts of resuming their relationship once this study was over.  He had not liked hearing that she was involved with someone else.

  Now, Jerry Owens was another matter.  Not only did he have no recollection of ever meeting the man, but also he was sure that, under the circumstances, he probably wouldn’t like him.  If he was out of the picture, that might solve two problems.  Sheila would get the message and Jerry would be history. 

  We will make an example of Jerry Owens, the CEO decided.  A smile came to his face as he envisioned a distraught Sheila, in need of comfort.  He would be happy to console her.  The details of the plan were something for someone else to work out.  He had done the real work: he had made the decision. 
 Charles got up and went down the hall to find Sam. 

   

  It was close to the end of the workday.  Sam was seated at his desk, patiently listening to his secretary deliver the reader’s digest version of “phone war.”  “Sam, they have all but threatened me personally.  You have to figure out a different way of dealing with these people.  They want to speak to someone connected with this study, not a secretary.  These people are sick and upset, and I can’t contain this mess any longer."

  “Okay, Margie," he said.  “We will do something.  Give me until the end of the week to come up with a different plan." 

  “Thanks," she said and left the room.

   Sam could hear her just outside the door.  “Oh, Mr. Roman, go right on in." 

  “Nice girl," Charles said, as he closed the door behind him. 

  “Over-worked girl.  I think she is due for a promotion."

  “Great," Charles said.  “You can give her Jerry Owens’s job."  

  Sam did not like the direction this conversation was taking already.

  “What does that mean?" he asked tentatively. 

  “I have decided that we should make an example of Jerry Owens."  

  “And how did we come to that interesting conclusion?" Sam interjected.   

  “He has had his nose too far into our business, and he’s expendable.  Simple as that."  

  “And how is that going to resolve the problem we are having with Sheila?" Sam asked.  

  Charles was getting tired of all the paranoia surrounding Sheila and was here to put an end to it once and for all. 

  “What has she done to make us all so worried about her" Charles demanded. “besides ask a lot of questions?  She was practically put in charge of organizing this study, and then got a little curious when you added components to it without telling her anything.  Don’t you think that would raise a question or two?" 

  “Not the smoothest plan in the world," Sam conceded. 

  “No, it wasn’t.  And since we sent her off to New Jersey, she has stayed completely out of the picture.  Now this Owens guy picks up where she leaves off.  As far as I can see, he’s the current problem." 

  Sam looked at the CEO and thought, I have never known anyone in my entire life more hormonally driven than Charles Roman.  He just shook his head and sighed.  “You don’t see any connection between the fact that Jerry Owens – an employee in her department I might add – did not begin having contact with the volunteers until her immediate departure?" 

  “I thought the volunteer contacted us, and this Owens guy intercepted the call," Charles interjected.

  “The volunteer named both of them as contacts when she called the newspaper," Sam said in exasperation.  “And now they go out to breakfast together?  Come on, man. Wake up.  They have been working together on this since she left for Newark."  

  Charles hated to admit it, but Sam was right.  The truth had been staring him right in the face, and because he had wanted to continue his affair with her, he had been blind to the whole scenario.

  “So, what do you think we should do?" Charles asked, defeated. 

  “I say we watch them very carefully. The newsperson we hired to work at the AJC has been keeping pretty close tabs on them.”  

  Charles nodded in agreement. 

  “If they got the message from the little office cleaning we gave them and decide to stay the hell out of our way until this research project is over, then there will be no need to turn up the heat.  But… if we get even an inkling that they are continuing to sabotage us, they are gone.”

  “What I don’t understand," Charles said, “is why would they do anything to hurt the company that employs them." 

  “Who knows," Sam said. “But people do it all the time.  We just can’t afford for anything to go wrong with the Suprame market date.  We are too close and we will not tolerate any interference." 

  “I agree," Charles added.  “Keep me informed of everything."

   Sam watched him leave.  He had no choice about Charles being informed of the plant at the AJC.  The CEO himself had been involved in the hire and the placement of that individual.  He had decided it would be better not to inform him of the phone taps.  Sam did not trust Charles’s current judgment.  If Sheila knew about the phone taps because a clumsy CEO had inadvertently warned her, they would have no way of knowing what was really going on.  He checked his watch. Her home phone had been taken care of while she was at work, and the office phone would be taken care of tonight.  Sam felt confident that he had covered all the bases.  He was tired.  Making a quick check around the office, he was satisfied that everything was locked and secure.  It was time to go home.   

   

  Sheila sat waiting for Jerry to show up at the Wendy’s.  She checked her watch.  It was well after five-thirty.  Where the hell was he?  She was beginning to get worried when he finally came through the door at five minutes to six.  

  “Sorry I’m late," he said. 

  “Where were you?" she demanded.  “I was getting worried." 

  “Thanks," he said, smiling. 

  “Jerry, this is serious.  I don’t think you realize who you are dealing with." 

  “You mean the kind of people who would be putting phone taps on our office extensions?" 

  “Why do I get the feeling that you are trying to tell me something?"  

  “Maybe because the ’handyman’ didn’t know who I was, especially since I was busy working in another cubicle.” 

  “What?" Sheila exclaimed. 

  “Yeah, the building cleared out and I decided to hang around for just a little while.  Did you know that some really interesting things go on there after five o’clock?" 

  “You saw them putting a wiretap on your phone?"  

  “Not just mine," he responded. 

  “Those guys are such crapheads," she said under her breath. 

  “Yeah," Jerry agreed, “but so predictable." 

  “How did you get to be so sharp?" she said suspiciously.  “You told me you didn’t even know how to lie when all this first started. 

  “I’m a fast learner," he said. 

  “Uh huh," she said moving closer to him, “and what else?" 

  “I am also highly motivated," Jerry said putting his arm around her and kissing her thoroughly.  After a moment, he pulled back and said, “Any questions?" 

  Sheila’s head was spinning.  She had never experienced a genuine kiss before.  When she finally found her voice she said, “No, I think you explained everything pretty well."

  “Good," he said.  “Then let’s go home.”

  The newsperson watched them leave the Wendy’s.  So, we’re escalating the friendship.  Maybe that will keep them busy and out of trouble.  

  The reporter pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number.  “They appear to be heading home."  

  “Everything is ready,” said a voice on the other end.  

  “Good work," the reporter said and pressed a button to end the call.

   

   Sheila and Jerry were coming out of the elevator, so engrossed in conversation that they did not notice the fact that Sheila’s front door was unlocked until they were practically inside her apartment.  

  “My God," Sheila exclaimed, looking around the ruins of a frantic search.  It had received the same treatment as her office.  There didn’t appear to be one surface or drawer that hadn’t been completely overturned.  “Can’t they look for files without turning everything upside down?" she whined. 

  “This is turning into a pretty regular thing," Jerry said.  “I guess I can assume that my apartment looks just like this." 

  “The only thing left for them to do to us is cavity searches," Sheila said in disgust.  “And I’m hoping that they would take us to dinner first."  

  “And dancing" Jerry added. 

  She
ila picked up the sofa cushions off the floor and placed them back on the sofa.  She sat down and let out a long breath.  “I just don’t have the energy to clean this up.” 

  “Maybe we should call Sam and invite him over to help," Jerry said sarcastically.  

  Sheila picked up the phone to call security. 

  “This is Sheila Montgomery in ten-fifteen.  Can you tell me if anyone was given access to my apartment today? Really?" she said, after hearing an explanation. “No, no problem, thanks." 

  “What did he say?" 

  “He said that the only one that had access today was a furniture deliveryman and his assistant." 

  “So, where’s the new furniture?" Jerry inquired. 

  “Must have vaporized between the lobby and the tenth floor," she concluded.  “Oh, and another thing I found interesting during my phone conversation.  Is my phone supposed to click every five seconds?" 

  “It is if it’s tapped," Jerry said, reaching for the receiver.  He unscrewed the mouthpiece and held it up for her to see.  “This little clip right here," he said, pointing to the inside of the receiver. “It probably was not there this morning."

  “How stupid do they think we are?" Sheila said, getting up to check the rest of the apartment.  Jerry followed her from room to room.  When she was satisfied that nothing was missing, she turned to look at him. 

  “I don’t think it is their assessment of our intelligence that is in question.  I think the problem is the size of their egos,” he speculated.  “You know," he continued, “we can actually use this to our advantage."  

  Sheila looked at him for a moment, trying to make sense of what he had just said.  Slowly a smile came to her face. 

  “You are a fast learner.  First, I have to clean this up.  I won’t be able to sleep until everything is back where it should be." 

  “Well, pace yourself," Jerry warned.  “After this, I’m guessing we will have one more apartment to deal with."  

  Sheila groaned. 

  “Not if you don’t know about it until tomorrow." 

  “That sounds like a proposition," Jerry said. 

  “It is."

     

  * * * * * * * * * * * *

   

  Jason Sample was reaching a dead-end in his investigation.  Everything had checked out at the doctor’s office.  The police had found nothing suspicious and had already closed the file.  Terry Sanders was determined to have been a distraught man who would have most likely ended up committing suicide, whether or not he had chosen to do it in front of a drug company’s building.  Jason had argued with the detective that was in charge of the case.  He insisted that there had been a lot of problems associated with the study those people were doing and a lot of nighttime activity following the shooting.  The detective told him that there was no tangible evidence to justify continuing the investigation.  If Mr. Sample wished to provide them with some, they would be glad to consider re-opening the case.