Page 104 of Savage Beauty

“I don’t expect they’d be keen to pursue her. Their failures in pursuing her have done quite enough damage. But once this mess is sorted, a wise course of action would be for Ms. Watson to return to the United States while this investigation continues.” It’s hard to swallow. “I have some connections. I’m willing to assist with your search for a research position if you’ll do something for me.”

“What?”

“This is confidential.”

“I won’t tell anyone.” I glance up at Max, my boyfriend. “We won’t tell anyone,” I clarify.

“Quite right. As we investigate this matter, we need you to be a resource.” I don’t understand. “We simply ask that you be available to answer questions that might arise.”

“Absolutely.”

“We may need you to testify in an international court.”

Max stiffens beside me. “I’ll testify, if it helps. I don’t have much information. I don’t know any names. I’m awful with names, actually. And faces.”

“I understand.” Tristan’s foot falls to the ground, and there’s a finality to the movement, like he’s done, and this is all that will be said.

“But I have questions. Are you going to rescue those people in Cambodia?”

“It’s not a simple matter.” He doesn’t look happy. “One of the owners of those compounds is a wealthy, connected man and claims those people work there of their own free will and accord.”

“That’s not true.”

“We’re aware. Most of them are the equivalent of indentured servants. But we haven’t gotten involved because there are situations like that all over the world, and it’s a political quagmire. However, now that we know they’re being used for illegal medical testing, it’s a higher priority. But shuttering one compound won’t end anything if we don’t determine which company, or companies, are doing this, and who their customers are.”

“William said it’s a group within Lumina.”

“Lumina International employs forty-six thousand people across the globe. It’s a conglomerate of multiple entities.”

“And you need evidence that ties to specific people?”

“Precisely.”

“I don’t have any names.” I wish I did. While I wholeheartedly condone medical testing on humans, testing people against their will, or even under duress, is unequivocally unethical. “Typically, the first stages of human research are completed in India or China as both countries have less stringent legal standards. It’s confusing to me why a testing firm would risk its reputation by doing initial testing elsewhere unless all they needed to do was test dosage. I could see a potential business reason to rush human testing to narrow the test parameters before taking it to the medical trial stage. Medical trials can last years. If there was a single parameter, like dosage, that you were uncertain about, you could shave off time. But, based on what I found, the testing was done years ago.”

“And the drug would already be out in the market.” He straightens his cufflink absentmindedly. “So, you don’t think this testing is still ongoing?”

“No. Based on what I saw in Cambodia, I think it is. It would be done for products with significant potential financial gain and a reason to rush to market. That’s what you’d need to look for.”

“Competitive pressure.”

“Exactly. But I don’t know how Origins Labs was connected or why. We don’t even do our own testing. We hire third parties to conduct the testing for ethical reasons. My best guess would be to look at who William worked with at Lumina headquarters in Switzerland.”

He covers his lips with four fingers. His gold watch glints in the light. With a sigh, his hand leaves his lips and rests on the back of a chair. “So, knife throwing.”

“Her brother taught her. He served with me,” Max interjects.

“He passed away?” Tristan asks.

“Two years ago,” I answer.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

It’s an autopilot statement. Like ‘have a nice day’ or ‘it’s nice to meet you.’

“Ms. Watson?”

“Yes?”

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