Terminal Reaction

by Dawn Marsanne

  ‘Billie, what the hell has happened?’ asked Piers. This elicited more weeping from the young girl whose name he’d forgotten.

  Billie stepped away from Kirsty, entrusting Kirsty into Amanda’s welcoming arms and indicated that Piers should follow her. She started to explain what had happened.

  ‘There’s been an explosion,’ she said.

  ‘What, gas? Oh, God!’ interrupted Piers.

  ‘No, a reaction, the large-scale reaction which Nick Thomas was doing, for compound 896. The one that’s normally contracted out.’

  ‘Oh, no, anyone hurt?’

  ‘Yes, Nick, and Brett, and Kevin, he’s in a bad way I think.’

  Piers’ eyes widened and he felt his legs weakening. He squatted down on the ground to give him less distance to fall if he felt dizzy. Billie crouched down next to him to continue to fill him in on the details. She really felt sorry for him, his distress was easy to see. Instinctively she put out a hand towards him but withdrew as she remembered his position of CEO.

  ‘From what I can gather, and it’s all very confused as you can imagine. There was a problem with the reaction, Kirsty over there is saying it is all her fault but she’s not making much sense at the moment, understandably.’

  Piers listened intently. ‘And Nick?’

  ‘Well, Nick told her to run for it when he realised there was a problem and he tried to raise the alarm but the reaction must have gone up before he could get out. I saw Brett rushing in the direction of the explosion whilst we were evacuating, so I can only assume he went to rescue Nick. One of the firemen said something about a guy saving another guy, but it’s only hearsay.’ Piers was shaking his head at the news looking distraught and ashen. ‘The three of them are in separate ambulances on the way to hospital. Sorry, I don’t know any more details.’

  ‘Well thanks, I’ll see if I can find someone in charge and speak to them,’ and he wandered off searching for the lead fire officer who was busy directing his men and sealing off the building.

  Piers tried in vain to speak to someone, they kept telling him later, they had to deal with the possibility that there could be a further explosion due to ruptured gas pipes. The gas board were on their way to isolate the supply until then they had a very dangerous situation. Everyone was being marshalled further away from the building. He complied with instructions walking away in silence, consumed with worry, he felt helpless. His mobile rang, he didn’t recognise the number, it wasn’t one of his contacts.

  ‘Dr Frobisher?’ asked the caller.

  ‘Speaking,’ replied Piers, his voice shaking slightly.

  ‘It’s Dr Marshall, head of the clinical trial unit. We performed a study for you on Friday.’

  ‘Yes, yes, sorry, of course, what’s the news?’

  ‘Well, it’s not too good, well for one participant anyway,’ Piers could not believe his ears, his heart started to pound, he felt sick and dizzy for the second time in the last five minutes.

  ‘A woman in her forties, participant four, has been admitted to hospital as she started to feel unwell. She was fit and well on discharge on Saturday morning but her condition has worsened since. Her husband had to call for an ambulance yesterday morning, she’s serious but stable.’

  Could this be happening? Piers’ brain was struggling to process so much dreadful news in such a short space of time.

  ‘I’m sorry, I’m just having trouble with this news, there’s just been an accident at BioQex a few minutes ago as well,’ he said, sounding like he was sedated.

  ‘Oh, I heard all the sirens, I hope everyone’s OK,’ he asked.

  Piers hadn’t the energy to go through it all again, it would be all over the news soon enough. ‘Well thank you for letting me know,’ said Piers, wanting to end the call and be able to sit and think.

  ‘There’s one more thing I’m afraid Dr Frobisher,’ he added quickly.

  ‘Yes,’ said Piers, surely not more bad news.

  ‘Well it seems the husband got very upset about his wife being ill, possibly as a result of the trial, understandably,’ he added. ‘He started ranting and shouting the odds at the hospital and some member of staff contacted the media. I’ve just seen it as breaking news on the local news. So we’ve had to issue a statement from the clinical unit explaining what happened. We don’t want it to look like it was our mistake. Sorry, but we’ve had to state that BioQex made a mistake with the doses.’

  ‘Thank you,’ was all Piers could muster, he disconnected. He slumped to the floor and buried his head in his hands.

  Chapter 59

  By mid-afternoon, news of the clinical trial of BQ-561 causing a serious side effect resulting in hospitalisation of one participant hit the news. Several minutes later news broke of an explosion at BioQex, with the obvious conclusion that the company might be out of action for some time. Shares began to trade with increasing volume, resulting in a rapid drop in the price. By 3.30 p.m. the shares were in free fall. Theo Henchard, options trader and friend of Giles, read the news feed with increasing excitement. Soon the strike price of his options on BioQex would be passed, and ten minutes later that happened. He immediately exercised his options netting him a handsome profit. What a stroke of luck, this wasn’t a case of trading on the back of some leaked news, it was a case of the stars aligning in perfect combination. True, it was profiting from misfortune and tragedy but it was perfectly legal, after all, you had to protect yourself and biotech was a risky business. He sat back in his chair and smiled. The six-figure profit would be split two ways not three, despite a certain person being of the belief that he would net a third of it. He pulled out his mobile and phoned Jake Marsfield. They might be able to justify a little celebration this evening. They could drink to their profits and to the fact that no longer would they have to listen to that odious idiot Giles Wentworth. After today he would be far to busy speaking to his lawyer.

  **

  Brett was checked over in A & E and deemed to have escaped relatively unscathed although he would be kept in overnight for observation. He was waiting to be admitted to a ward, and for Annabelle to join him. Naturally, news about the explosion had travelled fast but he’d also asked the nurse to get a message to Annabelle personally. He was anxious for news of Nick but all they would tell him was that he was out of danger and stable.

  Polly rushed to the hospital with feelings of déjà vu. How long had it been since she’d sat by Nick’s bedside when he was recovering from being almost beaten to death? She realised it could have been so much worse and there was a statement on the local news that there had been a fatality. No name had been released until the next of kin had been informed. Polly realised that until they were married she wasn’t officially next of kin and she vowed that they would bring their wedding plans forward as soon as he was released. She didn’t want to wait a moment longer to marry Nick, even if it meant a register office ceremony with only a handful of guests. She couldn’t bear the thought of being parted from him.

  Nick was still in A & E but they let her through as soon as she gave her name. She rushed to his bedside and grasped his hand. He looked a mess although they’d tried to clean some of the smoke and blood off his face. His head was bandaged and he was still wearing an oxygen mask. She kissed his hand and she thought she felt a slight pressure on it as though he sensed her presence.

  Brett had been admitted to a ward and was sporting a hospital issue nightgown by the time Annabelle arrived. They had removed his mask and were pleased with his progress, he’d even been allowed something to eat and drink. His face lit up when Annabelle rushed in and leant over giving him a passionate embrace.

  ‘Tell me what happened? Word is that you’re a hero?’

  ‘Shut up, I only did what anyone would do,’ he said dismissively.

  ‘Well, that’s not what I heard. You saved a colleague and dragged him to safety. Apparently, if you’d left him he would have burned to death, the whole area of the explosion caught fire as the emergency services arrived.�
��

  This was news to Brett, he only knew what had happened from seeing Kevin to finding Nick and dragging him to safety. Images of Kevin’s burning body flashed into his consciousness and he felt dizzy, he put his head back for a minute and closed his eyes.

  ‘Are you OK?’ asked Annabelle, ‘you’ve gone really pale.’

  ‘I’m OK,’ and he lowered his voice, beckoning her to come closer, ‘it’s just that someone died, they got badly burned, and I saw them on fire, there was nothing I could do.’

  Annabelle gasped and put her hand over her mouth, collapsing back into the chair by the bed. ‘Oh, God, that’s terrible, was it a chemist?’

  ‘No, one of the support staff, the storeman,’ replied Brett.

  ‘Oh, no, poor guy, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time I guess, how tragic,’ and they sat in silence.

  Brett couldn’t really agree with Annabelle’s sentiment, she knew nothing of what Kevin had been up to, after all, it had only become clear on Friday. They’d not wanted to talk about work too much over the weekend and Kevin’s little sideline had appeared insignificant compared with all the other events of the week. He would explain later there was no need to go into that now in the public setting of the ward.

  **

  Giles was back at work after the tortuous interview with the FCA. He’d continued to maintain his silence despite being told that any cooperation would reflect favourably. Jez’s face betrayed the seriousness of the situation as they left the interview but he contained his emotion until they were out on the busy street.

  ‘Shit, Giles, what have you been up to? The evidence is damning!’ he shouted making himself heard above the traffic.

  ‘Look, it’s all been exaggerated, I can name others who were in on it!’ replied Giles.

  ‘But the recording they made shows you admitting what you did concerning the identity theft. You also brag that you’ve been creaming off amounts from your wealthiest clients at Forteen Bank. It was never your money you were investing in BioQex. Jeez, I wish I’d not agreed to represent you,’ said Jez. ‘I can only do so much but they’ve done all the digging and have a good case.’

  ‘There must be something, I’m being fitted up by Jake and Theo, those documents are fake, they’ve forged my signature to make it look worse than it is. I had no idea my name was on those other offshore accounts, they were supposed to bear Brett’s name. I’m going to go and tell them what I think of them!’

  ‘I would advise you not to. They have covered their tracks, they’ve been very clever. They set up a trail which incriminates you and not them. Your name has been used to set up a company and the money going to them is legitimate payment for consultancy. But it’s been funded by your illicit insider dealing.’

  ‘What do we do?’ asked Giles sounding like all the fight had disappeared from him.

  ‘Well, it’s clear it’s now going to be passed to the Fraud Squad and you will most certainly be charged.’

  ‘But I’m not guilty!’ shouted Giles.

  ‘Really, that tape sounded rather incriminating to me,’ said Jez.

  ‘Yes, well, I admit, I did do some of those things but the rest, no way. Jake and Theo have stitched me up, those documents are all their doing, I’m going to kill them!’

  ‘I would strongly advise against it,’ advised Jez, frustration showing in his voice. ‘You are certainly guilty of embezzlement from your bank, there’s no way we can refute that. As for the rest, we will have to look into it further. You might be able to lodge a counter-accusation, I just don’t know at the moment,’ and he sighed. ‘The best I can advise is that you offer to pay back the money to Forteen Bank, but I’m sure they will terminate your employment, they can’t trust you. And nor do I for that matter. You will have trouble finding another job but we might be able to avoid a gaol sentence if you offer the money. Can you do that?’

  ‘Of course I can’t you stupid git! Where am I going to find that sort of money?’

  ‘Look, cut the insults, I’m trying to help you,’ and he paused, ‘what about your flat?’

  ‘What about it?’

  ‘You could sell it, how much is it worth, half a million, maybe more?’

  ‘Yes, but there’s a mortgage, it’s not fully paid for,’ replied Giles.

  ‘It’s surely gone up in value, what’s the profit, quarter of a million?’

  Giles thought for a moment, ‘Yes, probably around that amount,’ he said glumly.

  ‘Well you better get it valued and be prepared to sell, that might make a difference if we can offer it as a token gesture.’

  ‘It’s a bloody big token gesture,’ he countered, ‘and where would I live?’

  ‘Well, you’ll have to rent somewhere cheaper. It’s your choice, offer the money or they will find you somewhere to live and I don’t think you will like it, despite the three meals a day provided. You might find your room a bit cramped,’ spat Jez and he marched away, saying he’d be in touch.

  Giles stood on the street corner totally stunned. His greed had got the better of him, he’d trusted the wrong people and it had all come tumbling down. What a fool he’d been.

  Chapter 60

  By Monday evening Nick was able to breathe unaided and was sitting up in bed eating some soup. His head was extremely painful and he was being given painkillers. Polly had left him for a short while that afternoon to go back to their flat to collect some things for him. They wanted to keep him in overnight for observation but hopefully, he would be discharged the following day. Brett Chandler had wandered round to visit him late afternoon, it was strange seeing him dressed in a hospital nightgown, barefooted, rather than in a smart suit.

  ‘Hi Nick, how are you feeling?’ asked Brett, sitting next to his bed.

  ‘Well, not too bad, head’s a bit sore,’ and he pointed to the large dressing. ‘I don’t remember much, just the reaction turning darker and the temperature rising rapidly. I think I tried to press the emergency button, but nothing after that.’

  ‘I found you under a pile of debris,’ said Brett, ‘but you look like you’ll make a good recovery.’

  ‘Well, it’s thanks to you. Not everyone would have tried to find me. I owe my life to you,’ he said looking directly at Brett. ‘Thanks, you were very brave.’

  ‘Nonsense, I felt responsible after all.’

  ‘I’m so sorry about what’s happened to the building, it’s my fault. I was in charge of Kirsty, I shouldn’t have left her even for a few seconds,’ and he put his head back on the pillow looking close to tears.

  ‘Look, it was an accident. These things happen, you can’t blame yourself for Kirsty, she’s been a bit unreliable but from what Billie told me recently did seem to be knuckling down. But we won’t be doing that reaction again, not at BioQex,’ he added.

  Their thoughts occupied them for a few moment, then Nick realised he’d not heard about Kevin, although Polly had hinted that she’d heard that he’d died.

  ‘What about Kevin?’ asked Nick.

  ‘He’s dead, the blast knocked him over with the solvents he was restocking and they caught fire. It was,’ he paused, ‘it was a horrible sight, there was nothing I could do.’

  ‘Oh, Christ, I don’t believe it,’ and he closed his eyes. ‘It’s just too much to take in,’ and he put his hand up to his head. After a few minutes, Nick changed the subject to ask about the company.

  ‘What will happen now, to BioQex I mean?’

  ‘Well, there’s no way we’ll be back in there for a while I don’t think. Not until part of it is rebuilt, it might be deemed unsafe. Besides it’s not as if it’s a huge building and we can section off part of it.’

  ‘No, I suppose you’re right, I don’t know much about these things.’

  ‘It’s too early to say, perhaps we might be able to rent some space in another part of the science park, I’ve no idea. Or they might think we can use part of our building, it’s all dependent on the assessment.’

  Nick nodded, d
eep in thought.

  ‘Have you heard about Bob McKewan?’

  ‘No, why was he injured as well?’

  ‘He wasn’t at work, he’s dead. Committed suicide on Sunday night.’

  ‘What?’ gasped Nick, unable to take in yet more bad news. He just lay back shaking his head.

  ‘His daughter found him. It’s a tragic sequence of events, and it’s not been released to the media yet, so please keep it under your hat,’ Nick nodded sagely.

  ‘Bob’s been struggling since his wife died, his grief was affecting his work but we weren’t firm enough to make him take time off. He made a mistake with the dosing for the trial. He tried to phone to stop it but couldn’t get anyone to answer. Drove over there and tragically hit a woman and her son, and the press reported on Sunday evening that the boy had died.’

  ‘Oh, God, shit, that’s so awful,’ said Nick starting to feel slightly nauseous.

  ‘This tipped Bob over the edge and he took an overdose as he knew he was going to be charged with manslaughter. Couldn’t live with what he’d done. Left a note, so there’s no doubt.’

  ‘I’m just having trouble processing all this,’ said Nick, ‘it’s just one thing after another,’ and he closed his eyes. Suddenly he opened them, ‘Hey, wait a minute what about the clinical trial, are the participants OK?’

  ‘One became ill and is in here somewhere,’ he waved his arm around indicating the hospital. ‘The clinical unit made a statement, but of course, we don’t know yet whether it’s just a coincidence or actually a side effect. They were still within the toxicity window, but with not as wide a margin as we would have liked.’