Kernel of Doubt: A Neela Durante Mystery

by Hillary Avis

  It was obvious Cassie had remembered why she disliked Neela. No point in pushing it further. “Can I borrow the shoes?” Neela asked.

  Cassie handed them to her without a word. They were a little too big, still warm and damp from Cassie’s workout. Neela shuddered. Chalk’s phobias must be rubbing off on me, she thought. I hope I don’t get a foot fungus.

  ART CAME INTO NEELA’S office without knocking while she was at her desk comparing the new 13X to her memory of the file.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” he asked.

  “Yes?” She didn’t know what she’d forgotten, but figured he wouldn’t ask the question otherwise.

  “Perhaps you don’t think R&D meetings are as important as”—he paused and looked over her shoulder to see what she was doing—“an old case that is no longer your purview?”

  “No, Art, sorry, I just forgot about the meeting. Long night.”

  “I heard,” he said, and stalked out.

  Neela grabbed her files and followed him. “You heard? What did you hear?”

  “That you spent the night in the office entertaining a gentleman friend. I’d suggest, as your supervisor, that you avoid mixing business with pleasure in the future. It doesn’t reflect well on your department.”

  It was too late to protest the charges; the door to the R&D lab was already open, and eight pairs of eyes were watching them. Neela sat at a lab bench behind the rest of the scientists, who were looking over their shoulders at her, sizing up their new director.

  She had to admit that she was sizing them up, too. The team was made up of four research associates and a handful of lab assistants. Neela had encountered most of the research associates at one point or another in her employment at Broad Earth, but remembered the names of only three: Malachi, who once gave her truck a jump in the parking lot; Leesburg, who smelled like pickles; and Singh, whose notes in the case files were the best by far, detailed and insightful. The fourth was the new hire. A redhead, tall and skinny as a runner bean. Art introduced him as Kenneth Kennedy, which made Neela snort inadvertently, earning her a glare from Ken-Ken. Making friends in the new department already.

  Art then introduced her as the new director, and she stood up to say a few words about her background. They seemed skeptical, so she kept her remarks short. She planned to take the time later to chat with each of them individually about their projects and hopefully make a connection that way instead. Pick them off, one by one.

  Chalk was in her office when the meeting ended. “Find anything in the new file that seems weird?”

  “Nothing, so far. I’ve only been through the R&D files though, getting to my stuff next. You can look over my shoulder if you want.”

  Chalk leaned over her to get the right angle on the laptop screen. “Spy anything different yet?”

  “Nope. So far it’s identical, except for a couple of small changes, dates and times,” Neela said. “I don’t feel like a spy, either. Nothing that glamorous. I feel like a bathmat. Maybe it’s the shoes. They’re...moist.”

  Chalk recoiled. “I don’t want to know. Please, I really don’t.”

  “Fine.”

  They were silent as Neela scrutinized the file, her pen poised to jot notes whenever she noticed the file differed from the old version. It took long enough that Chalk slouched in the chair by her desk instead of hanging over her shoulder, and Neela’s stomach started growling.

  “The trait files are essentially the same. I don’t see anything significant changed except my approval.”

  “What’s the point of that?” asked Chalk. “Wouldn’t the next QA director just approve the project, anyway?”

  “Well, the next director is Cassie. And Cassie is the one who did the original blots. Maybe they didn’t want her scrutinizing the file and seeing that my blots didn’t look the same. I mean, they did look the same, but now they don’t. Someone is trying to hide that mystery protein, whatever it is.”

  “But if 375 got approved with that protein, why wouldn’t 13X? Seems like it doesn’t matter if 13X has the same protein.”

  “It matters to someone, mattered enough that they put it into the production pipeline before we were done testing it,” said Neela, biting her thumbnail. “It calls all our supposed test results into question. The ruminant deaths in the animal trials for 375, the funny disappearing results from the 13X blots, all of it. Someone has been doing a lot more than using my account to copy files.”

  ART CALLED THEM BOTH into his office.

  “So,” he said, licking the corners of his mustache into his mouth and frowning slightly, “I have heard an unpleasant rumor involving the two of you, and I must say I am surprised. Especially at you, Neela. I don’t expect this kind of thing from you.”

  “You expect it from Chalk, though?” Neela tried to keep the sass out of her voice, but she had spent a year sassing Art, and it was a hard habit to break.

  Art looked at her sternly, like she was a misbehaving puppy. “Is it true that you two spent the night fraternizing on company property?”

  “We were working, and I accidentally fell asleep in the basement,” said Neela.

  Chalk added, “Dr. Durante needed my technical help because she left her laptop at home.”

  Art visibly relaxed at their explanation. “Glad to hear you weren’t running around the building, cuddling up in the elevators, and so on.”

  “Sir, I never cuddle,” said Chalk. “Or run.”

  Art laughed his best laugh. “I fear for your sake that you are telling the truth.”

  “He is,” said Neela, not at all interested in perpetuating the idea that she and Chalk were a couple. “Chalk is the last person on earth I would cuddle with.”

  “I’m hurt. I thought we had something special last night,” said Chalk, deadpan.

  “He’s kidding,” Neela said to Art. “Just so we’re clear.”

  Art was suddenly very serious. “Just so we’re clear, if this happens again, I will have to suspend you both for inappropriate behavior.”

  “Since when is working late inappropriate behavior?” asked Neela.

  “It’s not working late, it’s the manner in which you—”

  “So collaborating after five p.m. is not allowed? Only solo overtime?”

  “Neela, of course collaborating in off-hours is permitted. However, sleeping all night in the office of another employee, after a romantic night out on the town...we can all agree that is in violation of the employee code of conduct.”

  “Falling asleep was an accident! And who said anything about a romantic night out?”

  “I didn’t fall asleep. And it was my office,” added Chalk.

  “You’ve both been warned, so I am positive it won’t happen again,” said Art, smooth but cold, like ice. “You can go, Chalk. Neela, I’d like to speak with you alone.”

  Chalk left without a word, and when the door closed behind him, Neela exploded.

  “Who told you about last night? How can you think that I’d do something so...so...basic as to sleep with someone at work?! You know me, Art. And you threaten to suspend me? It’s my first week back after my leave of absence, my first week in R&D. If you suspend me, my career here is over.”

  “It wasn’t my decision, Neela. Lisa is putting pressure on us to produce results, and that means the whole team needs to stay focused. She’s the dragon—don’t shoot the messenger, now. Anyway, all this is for your own good.”

  “What’s for my own good? Reprimanding me for working late? Believing rumors circulated by other people who have no idea what is going on? Who told you?”

  Art was silent for a minute, waiting for her chest to stop heaving and the flush to fade from her collarbones. “I can’t discuss who came to me with the information. I asked to talk to you alone because I wanted to tell you something that I probably shouldn’t, for those same reasons of confidentiality. I only want to protect you.”

  Neela waited. This was the Art she knew, and she took his advice and opinions
more seriously than she let on.

  “I understand you are friends with Ted Chalk, but I would caution you not to get too close to him. His past is...unsavory. I’m afraid that’s all I can share without breaching his contract.”

  “Chalk?! I find that hard to imagine. He’s so harmless.” She wondered if An-Yi had been right about Art having a crush on her. Maybe this was all about Art’s feelings being hurt when he saw her spend time with another man. Could this all be about his simple jealousy? Or was he telling the truth, and Chalk was more sinister than he appeared?

  “Book, cover, et cetera,” Art said, smile curtained by his impressive mustache. “Just be careful. And please don’t discuss this with anyone, or I might be suspended right along with you.”

  Neela nodded. She knew he was trying to protect her, whatever his motives, just as she was protecting him by keeping him out of the 13X investigation. She wanted to tell him about it so badly, to ask his advice, to turn the whole thing over to him and absolve herself of responsibility. But he’d already threatened her with suspension if she stayed overnight at work again. Imagine what he’d do if he knew what they’d really been up to.

  In the quiet of her office, Neela’s mind roamed where she had been keeping it from with jokes and busywork: to explore the why. Someone at Broad Earth, likely her colleague and possibly a friend, was making things happen that shouldn’t be happening. Or making her think that things were happening, at least on paper. And—it was looking more and more likely—that person killed Miles.

  Chapter Six

  Neela’s phone buzzed in her pocket, jolting her from her thoughts. Teo’s number flashed on the screen, and she sighed. Probably reminding me about the divorce paperwork. She let it go to voicemail. A minute or two later, and a text message pinged in.

  Teo: Molly misses you. Wanna visit her? I have time today if you do.

  Ugh, he knew exactly which button to push. She swallowed the lump in her throat and texted back.

  Neela: Sawtooth Lake around noon?

  He sent a thumbs-up and a smiley face. Whatever else he wanted, it’d be worth giving up her lunch hour to hug Molly and feel that warm doggy breath on her cheek. Neela gathered up her bag to go, wishing she had a couple of dog biscuits to take. As she passed through the lab on the way to the hall, the seed elevator door opened and Demetrius stepped out, his bright smile a little more guarded than usual.

  “Lot easier to remind you about lunch now that you’re in the east wing,” he said. “I came to make sure you weren’t skipping meals.”

  “Nah. I have a lunch meeting today, though.” Even Neela could hear the lie in her own voice.

  “I guess you didn’t waste any time.”

  “What? What did you hear?” He must have heard that she slept with Chalk. Of course An-Yi blabbed her big mouth.

  “I noticed your truck isn’t in the parking lot, so you must have found someone else to carpool with.”

  Neela’s breath rushed out of her lungs in relief. Maybe he hadn’t heard the rumors. “Oh, right. Chalk drove me. Carpool buddies.”

  “Glad you found someone new,” said Demetrius. “Annie has been driving me but your place is kind of out of the way for her. I’ve been doing my morning run from my place to hers and getting ready there. I hope it’s okay if we sort of disband our carpool arrangements?”

  Neela nodded. “You call her Annie? That’s cute. You come up with sweet nicknames.”

  He smiled but not at her, at some place in the distance. She was wistful, then, for the many hours she spent with Demetrius driving to and from work. She realized she would probably never spend time alone with him again like that, with him so relaxed and cracking jokes, grinning at her across the bench seat. His smiles weren’t for her anymore, but for An-Yi.

  Ugh. Her car wasn’t in the parking lot. The realization that she didn’t have any way to meet Teo hit her. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Course.”

  “Do you think there’s any chance An-Yi would drive me to Sawtooth Lake right now? I have a ride back. Just need to make it out there.”

  “I don’t think so,” said Demetrius. “In a few minutes, I’m going with her to a doctor’s appointment. Why don’t you ask Chalk?”

  Probably not the best idea to be palling around with Chalk right after Art’s reprimand. “Not his favorite thing, doing favors.”

  Demetrius shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to mind doing them for you.”

  “Neither do you, so try not to read too much into it.”

  “I only read what I see, and what I see is a nerd in shining armor,” he said. “Hey. I’m sorry if my relationship with Annie came as a surprise. I didn’t want to tell you about it until I was sure, and then with your separation, I figured—”

  “The last thing I’d want to hear about is a happy couple, mating for life?” finished Neela. “You were right. It’s my fault anyway. I was stupid, thinking that—hoping that—” She shook her head to clear it and stuck a smile on. “Never mind. It was all in my head.”

  “I know what you mean,” he said. “We have a connection. We get each other.”

  Neela nodded. “That’s a fair way to put it.”

  As soon as Demetrius left to meet An-Yi, Neela texted Teo to cancel their plans.

  Neela: I don’t have a ride. Maybe tomorrow?

  Teo: I’m not far. I can pick you up.

  When Teo pulled up to Broad Earth, Neela swung into the front seat of his SUV, grateful to get out of the parking lot and away from the memory of Miles’s feet sticking out of the test field. The corn was twice as tall now, but the image was burned into her memory.

  “You’ll have to move, old girl.” Teo reached to heft Molly into the back seat.

  “No, let her sit on my lap,” Neela said, burying her face in the beagle’s fur. Molly squirmed and licked her face.

  Teo chuckled, and the deep rumble of his laugh sent tingles down Neela’s spine. Damn, he could push all kinds of buttons.

  “She’s been miserable without you. It’s nice to see her so happy.” Teo looked at her out of the corner of his eye as he drove down the highway.

  She pushed Molly’s face away so she could speak without getting dog tongue in her mouth. “That’s how she is when you’re not around, too. I think she’ll get used to it in time.” And maybe I’ll get used to it in time.

  They parked on the gravel road near the lake and Neela opened the door to let Molly out. The dog shot toward the bushes and flushed a pair of ducks, and then ran around the small lake barking her head off. The lake was as blue as the sky, and the reflection of clouds sailed across it.

  They walked in silence around the edge of the lake, both watching Molly’s antics.

  “Thanks for this,” Neela said. “I needed it. It’s been so stressful with Miles’s death and Papa’s illness and everything. It’s nice to just hug my dog, you know?”

  Teo nodded. “I have a confession to make. I didn’t just ask to meet you because of Molly. I wanted to talk to you about the case, actually, but now I feel bad about it.”

  Neela laughed, but it was short and sharp and bitter. “I should have known it wasn’t out of the goodness of your heart.”

  “We can talk another time, then.” Teo stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked a rock along the path. “When do you need to get back to the office?”

  “I have a little while. I don’t have any projects right now because I just moved to R&D, and I’m still getting to know the team and brushing up their work.”

  He stopped in his tracks. “Hey, congrats. That’s what you always wanted. I guess your hard work paid off.”

  Neela shrugged. “It doesn’t seem important now. I sit in Miles’s old office all day, so I think a lot about his death. No matter our personal problems, I will help you in any way I can if it means figuring out what happened that night. So go ahead and ask whatever it is.”

  “OK, then.” Teo nudged her affectionately with his elbow as they continued walking. “H
ow well do you know Demetrius?”

  This time she stopped cold. “You don’t think he had anything to do with it!”

  “I can’t tell you, you know that. I just wonder what you think of him.”

  “He’s a good guy. We carpooled to work for about a year. Usually I picked him up. He doesn’t have a car, just a scooter.”

  “Why’d you stop carpooling? I noticed the past tense.”

  Neela flushed and was glad for the distraction when Molly ran up and shook, spraying them both with lake water. “Um, he started driving with his girlfriend instead.”

  “Does she also work in the greenhouse?”

  “No, she works in data analysis. An-Yi Ming. They just got engaged, actually.”

  At the mention of An-Yi’s name, Teo’s head swiveled to look at her. “Funny, they didn’t mention they were dating in their interviews. Hm, this is interesting, really interesting.”

  “What is?”

  “I should get back to the office. I need to file a report. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t mention this conversation to anyone at Broad Earth. Molly, here girl!” Teo didn’t answer her question, but she figured he wouldn’t. He patted both his knees, but Molly looked over her shoulder with a doggy grin and plunged into the lake after the ducks.

  Neela smirked, and Teo pretended to glower at her.

  “My women never listen to me.”

  “This time, you need to listen to me. I know for a fact Demetrius didn’t have anything to do with this. He was with me when we found Miles’s body, for goodness sake!”

  “He was?”

  She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. I wasn’t supposed to say that. Well, it doesn’t matter. He’s not involved. If he knew he was a suspect, I’m sure he could clear everything up.”

  Teo gripped her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. “Do not tell him. You need to take this seriously—he could be a danger to you. We know Miles left the building through the greenhouses, and Demetrius has keycard access to the whole greenhouse complex. He had the means and opportunity to meet with Miles there. We just couldn’t figure out why he’d be seeking proprietary data, but knowing he and An-Yi are so closely tied—well. You’re not stupid. You can probably connect the dots.”