Maddock let out a whistle. “First time you’ve ever agreed with me on anything, White.”
“That’s because you’re usually wrong.”
Maddock grimaced.
Then as Derek brooded, they all heard Chatterton’s voice, which had continued running throughout their discussion about Reese.
“So is the meeting all set for New Zealand for October the sixth?”
“Yes, sir, it is.” It was Markson, sounding calm and natural.
Derek was pleased with his casual, things-as-usual tone of voice.
“Are Stanfield and Ricould both going to be there?”
“Yes, sir, and the agenda is set to discuss which companies will be renewing which patents.”
Damn, that was good. Markson was leading the conversation, steering Chatterton into actual admittance of patent fixing.
“Good, good. We’re all set to play hardball with these guys, then. We’ll show them that it’s in all our favors to work together and agree to divide the market like we have been for the last three years. But we still want the most profit since we’re the largest company.”
“Of course.”
Chatterton laughed. “I like the way you say that. Of course. That sums it all up. We’re going to make a lot of money this year, Markson.”
Then another executive interrupted and the conversation turned.
“That’s it! Damn, that was great. That’s exactly what we’ve been looking for. It should be enough to take to Justice to prove we need to go to New Zealand for this meeting. This could be the big one.”
Maddock shook his head, grinning. “Geez, these guys are so bold, aren’t they?”
“It makes me nervous,” CJ said.
“It just makes our job easier,” Derek assured her.
“I just can’t believe that the price of a prescription drug is determined by half a dozen guys sitting around a room saying who gets to make what and how much they get to charge. It’s unreal. It’s wrong.”
It sure in the hell was. “That’s why we’re sending Chatterton and the rest to prison.”
This was why Derek loved his job. Putting the bad guys away.
The only interestingthing to happen in two days and Reese had missed it. She didn’t even know what it was, since Knight wouldn’t tell her, but she knew it was something because he was excited when he called her, his voice rushed, his energy high.
She either didn’t know what she was supposed to be listening for at Delco, or she was going to have to stop going to the bathroom so she wouldn’t miss a word.
But the day hadn’t been a total waste. She had met Knight’s sister, Claire, that morning when Claire had returned to his apartment after spending the night with a friend. Reese hadbeen impressed with the order and cleanliness of Knight’s apartment when he had brought her there after dinner the night before, and she was really impressed with his sister.
After Knight had gone off to fight crime for peace, justice, and the American way, she and Claire had gone shopping. Claire had immediately understood her dilemma of trying to live on three outfits and had offered to show her where to grab a bargain. Reese had called Chatterton and told him her tale of fashion woe, that she had left all her clothes in Jersey, etcetera, etcetera.
He couldn’t have cared less and happily agreed to let her arrive an hour late to work. It had given her enough time to grab a couple of essentials, including a really cute bright blue bra and panties set. On her lunch break, she had checked out of the Crowne Plaza, bringing her suitcase with her back to Delco, and then had returned her rental car. She had caught a cab to Knight’s apartment after work. Claire had given her a spare key.
Now she was waiting for Knight to get home. He knew she was in his apartment, but he didn’t know that she had checked out of her hotel. That didn’t seem like a phone conversation, letting him know that she needed to stay with him until the weekend when she and Claire were moving into a three-month sublet together.
Better to surprise him in person.
She called her brother Ryan, who was only two years older than her.
“ ’Lo?”