Page 24 - Like No Business I Know

Hypocritical Oaths

“Yes, we have many long-term employees of great experience in
several key areas of the business. Loyalty is a valued trait at
Triskelion. You were right to come here, Dr. Dreyfus. Now, just try
to collect yourself and tell me whatever it is that’s bothering you.
Would you care for a glass of water first?”
Dreyfus blinked. Raven had been portrayed as an ogre by the other
junior staff members.
“Uh, yes, thanks.”
The CEO swiveled to the armoire behind him and poured a small
glassful from a crystal carafe. Dreyfus accepted it gratefully and
downed its contents in a single swallow.
“Good. Now, what’s on your mind?”
The younger man licked his lips and put the glass down.
“It’s basically this, sir: some of the live Kakitiga virus is missing.”
“Oh, that sort of thing happens all the time. We’re always
reminding you scientific types to tighten up your accounting
procedures.”
Dreyfus shook his head.
“I’d like to believe that, Mr. Raven, but this happened on my
watch. One day we had five hundred batches in the refrigerator,
ready for conversion into harmless RNA fragments for the coming
season’s flu shots; the next morning I counted again before taking
them out for processing, and there were only four hundred ninety-
five. Five disappeared overnight. That stuff is dangerous: in the
current Southeast Asian pandemic, the mortality rate is over twelve
percent.”
“So you are convinced the batches are no longer in the lab?”
“If they are, they’re not being stored under controlled conditions.
At any rate, this is potentially a public health disaster. It’s got to be
reported. Maybe a radio announcement, with a reward—something,
anything! It’s not just my job, sir. Innocent lives are being threatened
out there.”
Raven took the empty glass and set it back in the cabinet.
“Just who have you told about this already?”
Dreyfus frowned.
“Only my supervisor and a couple of colleagues.”
“Fine. Then it is time for you to learn the facts of life here at
Triskelion Labs. We—that is, everyone working here—have a

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