Chase wrapped both hands around his iced vanilla cold brew as Helen drove them to the sprawling, storm-colored building Chase hadn’t visited since he was a kid. He couldn’t believe Helen had convinced him to go back to DarkWinds. Chase used to roll down the long, smooth hallways on his skateboard and learn titrations from acclaimed scientists. As the facility bruised the horizon, the memories of Darren Sheppard’s takeover came back to him. He would never forget his Dad yelling as they dragged him into the dark night.
Chase slurped the cold brew, and the cool buzz of coffee cleared his mind and made him feel ten times better. Helen was blasting her favorite rock music and talking about seeing the band live with Sam. Chase couldn’t listen, he was too lost in his thoughts. Were Liam and the Garland Grove kids in danger? Did Sebastian deserve to go to jail? How would Chase investigate Sebastian if he was wanted by Chief Dart for breaking the law? What was Braya up to?
As they approached DarkWinds, Chase flipped open his badge, aiming it at the security camera. They were let into the lobby, and Helen sweet-talked the secretary into scheduling a meeting with one of the scientists. Then she asked to use the bathroom, and the secretary said it was near the stairwell.
Chase was content to sit next to the fireplace in the entry lounge, but Helen dragged him with her to the bathroom. “We’re taking a tour,” she hissed, opening the door. It wasn’t the bathroom. It was the stairwell, which led to the second and third floor laboratories.
“If we get caught, my badge is on the line,” Chase said.
“Your badge is already on the line, cowboy,” Helen replied, her hair bouncing as she took the stairs two at a time.
They swung open the third-floor door and discovered and came face-to-face with a fit, elderly woman in a lab coat. They stood frozen, and then the woman smiled, her silver hair glowing against the white sleeves of her jacket. “Hello!”
“We’re just taking a tour of the facility,” Helen said.
“Wonderful.” The woman’s smile didn’t slip. “I was just about to meet two detectives in the lobby. Would you happen to be those detectives?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Chase said, trying to do as much damage control as possible. He was used to the curt, irritated tone of the Corver City police officers. This woman’s cheerfulness was uncanny.
The woman introduced herself as Matilda and shook both of their hands. “I’m sure you weren’t about to explore DarkWinds unsupervised. That could be dangerous.”
“Don’t mind me, I was just reliving my youth,” Chase said. “My father was Blake Chalmers.”
“Chalmers,” said Matilda, tilting her head to the side. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
The trio took the stairs down to the second level, where Matilda led them into a sterile office, not much different than the room in Helen’s clinic. Chase had been to a therapist once before, and Matilda had that same serious, motherly tone that lured you into a false sense of security, and before you knew it, you had spilled all of your deepest, darkest secrets.
“What can I do for you?” Matilda asked.
Chase told her that he had been investigating a shoplifting accusation against Liam Landon, when he found out about a mystery malady affecting kids in Garland Grove. Then Helen jumped in. She explained every treatment she had tried with her five patients, including sleeping and headache medications, and asked about the new drug coming from DarkWinds. “Is Panodipine on the market? I think it would help.”
Matilda smiled. “Panodipine is part beta blocker, part pain reliever, part antidepressant. It helps with everything. Anxiety, high blood pressure, insomnia, fatigue. I’m happy to add the Garland Grove clinic to initial shipments, but I have to be honest, Dr. Wiseland. It’s an expensive drug, probably too expensive for your clientele.”
The alarm bells went off in Chase’s head. “How much?”
“Thousands.” Matilda steepled her fingers. “That’s the price of genius.”
Chase and Helen exchanged a look. Of course this was the problem they were running into. The head scientists at DarkWinds didn’t actually care about improving people’s lives, they just wanted to make a profit.
Helen stood up. “If Panodipine isn’t an option, I want to treat the root cause. I’m scared more kids are gonna pass out, or worse, develop chronic illnesses. Can you help me?”
“You should schedule an appointment with Dr. Kent. He’s a busy man, but he might be able to fit you in next year.”
Chase couldn’t believe his ears. “Next year? We don’t have until next year!”
Matilda’s smile turned grim. “Well, I can’t help you. You’re awfully lucky I had time to meet. Please leave.”
She motioned for Chase and Helen to exit the door, and slammed it in their faces.