“But Nano is a research lab,” said Pia. “My understanding is that in the rest of this facility they are working on paint additives and the like. And we here in the bio labs are presently using worms. We’re not even using animals yet. Why does Nano need a staff of medics? And why are you involved with them?”

“Miss Grazdani. As I indicated to you at the hospital, it would be best if you forgot all about what you saw. Or what you thought you saw. Ultimately it is none of your business. It is time you got back to work.”

Although Mariel Spallek had no way to know, such admonitions were likely to have the opposite effect on Pia from the one intended. Pia felt strongly that it was for her to decide what was best for her to know, not a functionary like Mariel. In Pia’s mind there had been enough international tribunals to proclaim that individuals in organizations bore an ethical responsibility about what such organizations did, and, ultimately, ignorance was not a defense.

“What is the role of the Chinese government at Nano?” Pia demanded.

Mariel had redirected her attention to the forms she held in her hands, but at Pia’s question, she jerked her head upright and bore her eyes into Pia’s.

“I said to forget it. I mean it. Sign the damn requisition forms!”

Pia shrugged and turned to sign the paperwork for Mariel. Judging by the force of Mariel’s reaction, Pia was confident she’d touched a nerve, and, having done so, found that her curiosity was stimulated, not blunted.

Chapter 17

17.

PIA’S APARTMENT, BOULDER, COLORADO

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013, 6:50 P.M.

For the rest of the day, Pia found it almost impossible to concentrate on her work. Mariel’s evasiveness under her questioning had certainly made Pia more interested in what she’d witnessed. And Mariel’s reaction to Pia’s mention of the Chinese government definitely seemed significant. China frequently competed with the United States in commercial interests, including the medical arena. From her time growing artificial human organs with Dr. Rothman in New York, she knew that the best work being done outside the United States was in China. And in China there wasn’t always the same level of respect for the binding nature of patents in general, and medical patents in particular, as there usually was in the United States.