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“Save it, Graham. I was just explaining to Damon that the data from the last round of trials for Cytoxine had been altered. The data that was given to me was completely falsified. I found the real data and the death rate of Cytoxine isn’t two percent, it’s seventeen percent.”
Damon stared at her, looked at Graham and Connie and then back to her. His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I found a file by accident when I was digging around in the backup files for something I’d accidentally deleted. I’m sure you can get the tech guys to dig it out again and find out who put it there but I have a copy of it here.” She pulled out the USB stick from her leggings' pocket. “You have to pull it before the announcement or NoVoGlobal will go down in flames.”
“She’s mad,” Graham said. “Maybe she banged her head in the accident. We need to get her to a doctor.”
She spoke through clenched teeth. “My head is fine. And that plane crash wasn’t an accident. The co-pilot brought the airplane down on purpose. He wanted to kill me so I couldn’t tell Damon about Cytoxine’s false data.”
“That’s quite an allegation.” Damon looked at Connie. “I think we need to discuss this in private, Allegra.”
Connie nodded. “This conversation has legal ramifications.” He turned to Xavier. “I’m sorry, Mr.…”
“I’m not leaving,” Xavier said bluntly. “Consider me Allegra’s personal protection.”
Her heart melted slightly at those words. He was sticking with her. She gave him a smile.
“She doesn’t need personal protection,” Damon said. He looked bewildered. “She is among friends.”
Allegra had had enough of the bullshit. “Am I? Why don’t you ask Graham why he didn’t say how shocked he was that I am still alive? He asked how I got here. Different thing all altogether isn’t it, Graham.”
“I- I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered. “Damon, she’s crazy.”
“It’s true,” Damon muttered. “That’s exactly what you said. Did you know she was alive all this time?”
Graham stared. “It was just a slip, I mean… I meant how could she be alive? She’s twisting my words.”
“Ask Graham how much stock he owns in his mother-in-law’s name?” It was just a hunch but on the train ride she’d remembered a conversation she’d overheard with Graham going on about how his mother-in-law was gullible and how she loved him so much she would do anything he asked.
“Graham, is that true?”
His mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Um, no. Yes. It doesn’t matter.”
Damon frowned. “Still,” he said turning back to Allegra, “that’s just insider trading at worst.”
“Not if he knew the data was going to sink the drug and he had it falsified. Then it’s a whole lot more.” She glared at Graham. She wanted him to suffer after what he’d put her through.
“How would he be able to do that?” Connie asked. “Graham doesn’t have a background in medicine. But you do. Maybe you falsified the data.”
She turned. Connie’s expression was bland, but a muscle tweaked in his jaw. Why was he saying this stuff? Was he trying to play devil’s advocate? It was hardly the time.
“Seriously? And I what? Decided to crash my own plane? There’s no logic in that idea, Connie.” She turned back to Damon. “Get your laptop. I’ll show you the real numbers and the timeline of what happened with Cytoxine.”
Damon gestured to Connie who brought his laptop. He took the flash drive and inserted it. Then he opened the file. “What am I looking at?”
Allegra highlighted the falsified data and explained her discovery.
Damon remained silent but his face was ashen. “Oh my God,” he mumbled finally. “And you think Graham did this? But how?” Graham started to argue but Damon held up his hand. “Let. Her. Speak.”
“The lead scientist died of a heart attack just after the trial concluded. The second in command died in a car accident within days of her boss dying. Only one person was left, a lab tech who knew what the real data looked like. He was the only person who could’ve altered the records without raising suspicion. He mysteriously disappeared. You’d have to ask Graham where he is.”
Damon stared at Graham. “Is this true? Did you do this?”
Graham stared daggers at her and then his phone went off. He turned and strode toward the door.
Xavier’s posture went ramrod stiff.
“Graham!” Damon barked but his VP ignored him. They heard the sound of the door opening and then Graham came back. The door closed again and two men entered. They were wearing white parkas.
