“I was just in there getting my ID updated.”

“You’ll have to go back.”

“Look, Mr. Milloy, this is outrageous. I’m an employee here, I had an accident.”

“So I see. But I have no authority to let you in.”

“Call Zachary Berman, he’ll tell you.”

“Zachary Berman, the CEO of Nano.” Milloy laughed. “And what would I say to him? Sorry, lady, I can’t help you.”

“He knows me,” said Pia indignantly. But she knew she wasn’t going to win this argument. She had one last attempt in her.

“Okay, call Whitney Jones, his assistant.”

“I know who she is. I happen to know she’s away on business with the boss man. Why don’t you give her a call in a couple of days, and I’m sure she can help you. Now I have to go.”

Pia could tell Milloy was enjoying himself at her expense. Normally, Pia would have stood there and argued with Milloy, but she found she didn’t have the strength. As she walked back to her car, Pia’s anger increased. She got in and drove fast out of the Nano lot. When she came to the state road, she made an impulsive decision. Instead of turning right back to town, she turned left and headed directly to Zach Berman’s house. Perhaps he was away, as Milloy had said, but maybe he wasn’t. Even if he wasn’t there, Pia needed to blow off some steam. At the moment her anger and frustration were directed at the CEO. He was, ultimately, responsible.

The gate. Pia had forgotten about the gate at the bottom of Berman’s drive until she was almost upon it. She pulled directly up to it and leaned on her horn. The raucous sound startled the birds in the immediate environs, and Pia saw them flee up into the higher branches of the surrounding evergreens.

After several blasts, Pia eased up and the din ceased. Her ears were ringing. Then she noticed the buzzer and pressed it repeatedly. A minute passed, then another, with no response. She then got out of the car and faced what she thought was the remote camera, defiantly putting her free hand on her hip.

“Hey, Mr. Berman, I can’t get into my lab. It’s not fair. I helped you fix those microbivores. I should not be treated like this. If you’re not there, maybe you’ll see this tape. We have unfinished business. You know it, and I know it.”

Then Pia felt foolish, shouting at a stone gatepost with what she thought was a camera mounted on top. She looked up one more time, flipped a finger, and then got back in her car to drive home.

Chapter 39

39.

PAUL CALDWELL’S APARTMENT, BOULDER, COLORADO

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013, 9:52 P.M.