Page 21 of Seal My Fate

“Thank you,” I beam back, feeling a rush of nostalgia and affection. How many nights did we sit up, gossiping over guys? How many times did I take that easy banter for granted, assuming she would always be around?

I’ll never take it for granted again.

“You really trust Saint, don’t you?” Wren asks me, looking just as nostalgic as I feel. “I can see it in the way you look at him.”

I nod. “I love him,” I answer. “He’s had my back from the beginning, every step of the way. Even when I suspected his best friends of being behind your attack, he didn’t hesitate to step up and do the right thing. It may have started as a wild fling, but… I trust him with my life now.”

Wren gives me a small smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this over a guy,” she says. “So happy and comfortable with him.”

“You mean, despite the looming conspiracy and threats?” I crack dryly.

“Pesky details,” she grins back, and I have to laugh.

I know that we’re in the middle of something big, something dangerous, but sitting here talking like this with her… It fills my heart with joy. Somehow it feels like everything’s going to be OK.

The glass divider between us and the driver slides down. “We’re here,” he tells us, pulling over outside a swanky apartment building, right in the heart of Spitalfields, a buzzing shopping district in a historic area, full of expensive boutiques and restaurants.

I look around as we get out, confused. This place screams money, and from what I’ve seen of Phillip, he’s more of a worn-out tennis shoes and threadbare sweaters kind of guy.

Wren must be thinking the same thing, because she pauses on the sidewalk. “Are you sure this is the right address?”

“It’s the one he texted,” I reply with a shrug. I didn’t tell Phillip anything about Wren in our messages, just that I needed to speak to him ASAP. So, we head inside, through the gleaming marble lobby, and hit the button for his floor.

As we swoop up, I wonder what he’ll say when he sees Wren. I got the impression that he had a crush on her when they worked together, so I know he’ll be overjoyed to see her again.

Joy doesn’t even begin to describe it.

“What…? How…?” he gapes at her when he opens the door. Wren gives her old friend a massive hug, and then a playful shove.

“Since when do you wear designer suits?” she teases.

Phillip stays frozen in place. “This is impossible,” he whispers, looking like he’s just seen a ghost.

Which, technically he has.

“You’re the scientist,” Wren says with a grin. “So how about you let us in, and start analyzing the sensory data?” She gives his arm a pinch as Phillip stands aside, looking dazed.

Inside, I let Wren fill him in with the bare bones details of what’s happened. He takes it the same was as Saint did—with wide-eyed disbelief.

“Impossible,” he shakes his head. “Valerie would never compromise the research like that. It was her life’s work!”

“Work that produced no successful results,” Wren reminds him gently. “She was determined that this protocol was the key to everything, she staked her reputation on it. And Ashford Pharma’s entire future, too. If it failed… Can’t you imagine she might help cover up the real results, to buy us all more time?”

Phillip exhales slowly. “It’spossible,” he admits, looking reluctant.

“So you’ll help us?” I ask eagerly. “We need someone with access to the research and data to look for the evidence that Wren saw. And now that you’re head of the department, it’s even better. You can check all the records.”

He looks back and forth between us. “I don’t know what use I can be,” he says anxiously. “The research phase is long since over. All the original data will be filed away, who knows where? I’m just filling in as lead, until they find somebody else and—”

“Phillip, please.” Wren leans closer and takes his hand. “We need your help on this. I need you.”

She gazes at him, and Phillip seems to melt under her stare. “Of course I’ll help you,” he says, gazing back. “As soon as I get into work today, I’ll start looking. Where do you think it’ll be stored? Valerie’s files are a mess,” he adds. “You know what she was like when it came to organization.”

While they discuss server logs and data sets, I move to the window. It’s a chic, luxurious apartment full of high-tech gadgets, and a gorgeous view of the city.

“Where are my manners?” Phillip jerks to his feet suddenly. “I haven’t offered you anything to drink. Tea? Coffee? La Croix?" he adds to Wren, and she laughs, clearly over some in-joke.

“If you’re offering…”

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