Page 107 of Stone Coast

"No. I'm out on bail. I spoke with the police just yesterday about another situation.”

"Oh,” she said in a judgmental tone.

"Keira, I didn't kill those people.”

“Oh, no. Of course, you didn't. I never thought you did.” She was lying through her teeth.

"I think the drug company is responsible for Grayson’s death.”

After another pause, she admitted, "It was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled test. Patients received either 200mg a day of the drug or a placebo. The target endpoint was to cut transfusion dependence, improve bone marrow function, and track adverse effects like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, etc. Our role here at the clinic was to screen patients, flag abnormalities, and report findings through an electronic case report portal. A few months into the trial, things started going wrong. Grayson started noticing more serious adverse effects and reporting them. It became clear that the drug was accelerating, and in some instances, causing oncogenic effects.”

"Sounds like a bad drug," I said.

“Grayson was diligent about his reporting through theeCRP. Yet somehow the official results didn't match his inputs.”

"Someone was changing the numbers."

"It looked that way.” She sighed. “Grayson told me they kept telling him there was some kind of clerical error or glitch in the data. That it would all be sorted out. But he didn't buy it. An independent company was handling the reporting portal. It turns out they were a subsidiary of Phaxelon Therapeutics. Of course, the ownership was hidden through multiple shell companies. The CEO, Alec Stratton, has been touting the positive aspects of the drug on all the financial networks. The stock has gone through the roof. I’m not going to lie—I bought some. Sold it after Grayson was killed. He did a lot of digging. Grayson was about to go public with all of this before he was killed.”

"And you never said anything?”

"I'm saying something to you now," she said in an annoyed tone that betrayed her fear. “Look, I sleep with a gun under my pillow now. I left town. I don’t go out by myself. My anxiety is so high right now I’m about to have a meltdown.”

“Why didn't you go to the police?”

She laughed. "With what? I don't know if you're aware, but the night Grayson was killed, there was a break-in at the office. All the computers and files were stolen. Everything related to the clinical trial. Gone. Cops didn’t do shit. I don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with current events, but the Pineapple Bay Police Department leaves a little to be desired.”

“I’m aware,” I said. “Where are you now?”

She laughed again. "You think I'm going to give that information out over the phone? You're out of your mind. I'm somewhere far, far away from Pineapple Bay. I don't know if I'm ever coming back.”

I didn't blame her. If I was smart, I’d get out of Pineapple Bay at the first opportunity.

“How much do you know about Sierra?”

Kiera was silent another moment. “I know she’s a drug rep. She was instrumental in recruiting Grayson into the study. All the study doctors got a lavish vacation in Europe out of the deal.”

“Did you know about the affair?”

Keira hesitated again. "It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out. I’m sorry.”

“I suppose you know she was killed.”

"I saw that. It only confirmed that I made the right decision to get out of town.”

“I need proof. Where can I find that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, if you can hack the eCRP, the original data might be in there somewhere. But I can’t imagine Phaxelon Therapeutics is dumb enough to keep incriminating evidence on the server.”

I took a moment to process everything. "I really appreciate you speaking to me. Take care of yourself, and I may be in touch again.”

"Is this number that you called me from registered in your name?"

"No. It's a burner. You should be safe.”

She paused. "Look, I hope you get these guys. But I don't think you have any idea what you're up against.”

"You might be right about that. But I don't think they know who they're up against either.”