“Once again, it’s too neat. I will agree.”
“Is the Council aware that a burner was found in an area that thirteen staff have access to, including Robyn? One of them could have planted it,” I say, almost to myself.
“We don’t know that,” Reed says. “Everything points to Dr. Keller being dirty. You can’t go making unsubstantiated claims.”
“Agreed, but it needs to be investigated.”
“I’m giving you the facts as we have them, Ridge.” Her voice is even. “I’m not telling you what to think about them. I’m telling you what’s there.”
I rub a hand over my jaw. “What about the documents in the bathroom?”
“There are two sets of prints on those. Dr. Keller’s as well as her PA, Carla Andrews.”
“Carla handled them, too?”
“It stands to reason Dr. Keller would have asked her PA to fetch the printouts at some point. That’s what a PA does.” Reed shrugs. “The printouts were found in Dr. Keller’s private bathroom, and therefore, they are strongly linked to Keller.”
I plant both hands on the back of the chair opposite hers and lean forward.
“Listen, Councilor. Dr. Keller doesn’t lock her office during the day. She is in and out of the room. Anyone with access to her floor could have planted that pouch. This feels like the same setup as Magma. It’s the same MO. The whole thing feels manufactured. It stinks to high heaven, if you ask me.”
Reed’s mouth flattens.
“Vector wants me to arrest Dr. Keller on suspicion of treason. The Council has signed off on it. It’s too risky to leave her in that role. She can do too much damage if she is an asset, and right now everything is pointing in that direction.”
There it is.
My chest constricts.
“I might be able to prove her innocence.” I keep my voice level. “Please. I need a little more time. I’m waiting for some important evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“I would rather not say. Not yet,” I quickly add.
“Ridge.” Her tone sharpens. “If we’re going to stall, I will need to take Vector something. I’ll need hard evidence.”
“Give me five minutes,” I say. “I need to make a quick call.”
She looks at me for a long beat. Whatever is on my face must tip the scale, because she gives me a short nod.
“You have it.”
“Thank you.”
She moves to the door. “If you come back with nothing, I’m getting a team together to bring Dr. Keller in. We can’t sit on this. There’s too much at stake.”
“Understood.”
She steps out and pulls the door shut behind her. I’m dialing before it closes.
“Please tell me you have something,” I say as soon as Flint picks up.
“I do.”
The relief drops through me. I drag the air back into my lungs and brace a hand on the edge of the table.
“Thank fuck.”
