Page 203 of Red Marked

I really don’t need to see this.

I wish he would tell us what he knows already.

“We’re desperate,” Star says. “We need information. Anything. Do you know anything at all that could help us? What is Veridian Bridge? Does it have anything to do with Veridian, the pharmaceutical company?”

Jett sits back. He’s still holding her hand.

“Yes, I know exactly what Veridian Bridge is.”

Thank fuck!

Star’s head turns toward me so fast her hair swings. There’s hope in her eyes.

I smile at her, and she smiles back.

“We searched and searched,” she tells him. “We couldn’t find anything.”

“That’s because it was internal. A division inside Veridian Pharmaceuticals.” Jett rubs his jaw. “They ran quality control. They audited all of the departments and reported directly to the Mainland. They even got paid via the Mainland. Each department had a major audit twice a year, and they monitored everything that went in and out of Veridian.” He frowns. “Perhaps there was more to it than that. Perhaps they were there to make sure nobody ever found out what that vaccination really was. It wasn’t a big staff contingent, but they had a whole floor to themselves. They even had their own entrance.”

“Do you remember any of them?”

He looks up at the ceiling. “They didn’t mingle…ever. They had their own table at company functions. They came, they ate, they left. I don’t think I ever had a conversation with one of them that wasn’t about work.”

“So, you wouldn’t know any of their names, then?” I ask.

He starts to shake his head and then lifts his eyes in thought.

“Wait. Hang on.” He lets go of Star’s hand. “The Christmas party. The one where they hired that photographer, the year we…” He’s already on his feet. “He photographed everyone. Every table. Bridge was there. I’ll be back.”

He’s out of the room and up the stairs before either of us can answer.

Star turns to me. Her whole body has come alive on the sofa.

“Do you think it’ll be one of them?”

“I hope so.”

“You were right about coming here.” She squeezes her hands together in her lap. “I’m so glad we came. Flint, if it’s him…” She bites her lip.

It could be nothing. A blurry table in the back of a wide shot. A male with his head turned. Or maybe Star isn’t going to recognize any of them. That could happen too.

I hope this pans out.

I don’t want her upset.

“Let’s wait and see,” I say.

Jett comes down the stairs two at a time with a laptop under his arm. He sits down next to Star, tight against her side, and angles the screen toward her. His fingers go across the keys.

“This is the batch.”

I can’t see the screen.

“I remember this party.” Star leans in. “I was there. It was a few months before…”

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Jett turns his head. His face is inches from hers. He looks at her mouth. He’s going to kiss her. He’s going to fucking kiss her.

He had better not.