“I had no idea.” Martineau paused momentarily. “And there is no doubt that Oraloxin was the direct cause?”

“We don’t know the details,” Kilburn said.

“Maybe we should find them out first,” Martineau said emotionlessly, but his clouding eyes hinted at growing fury. “I don’t know how to interpret your information. The Spanish investigators have not suspended their study. If they had, I would know it by now. Which leads to me to believe they’re not very concerned about this supposed human case.”

Torrington leaned closer to Abram, whispering in his ear as Martineau spoke.

Abram glanced uncertainly at Martineau before turning to Lopez. “I assure you, doctors, SeptoMed will launch an internal investigation immediately.”

“Absolutely. We will get to the bottom of this, of course,” Byington said, recovering her affable smile. “In the meantime, can you afford to have us suspend the supply of Oraloxin?”

“That’s not an option,” Lopez said, convinced that Byington already knew the answer.

“Luc,” Cohen spoke up for the first time. “How many people at SeptoMed were aware of the bone marrow complication with Oraloxin?”

All eyes turned to Martineau. He pursed his lips. His gaze narrowed. Another electrified pause followed. “Mais d’accord. Several people working directly on the project on the eighteenth floor must know,” he said slowly. “But I believe I was the only person informed, albeit informally, outside of the development team. I wholly trusted their judgment with respect to clinical significance, or lack thereof, of the primate findings.”

“And did you share this information with anyone else in the company?” Cohen asked.

Face blank and eyes frigid, Martineau shook his head slightly.

“I think Dr. Martineau has provided a reasonable explanation for his actions hitherto,” Torrington said in a voice stiff with legalese. “It is SeptoMed’s written policy to report any and all adverse clinical outcomes. In this case, as Dr. Martineau clearly stated, he deferred to the researchers who felt there were no immediate clinical concerns.”

Cohen nodded. “Is it fair to say that the lab findings might have influenced the FDA’s review process for Oraloxin?”

“They still might, Dr. Cohen,” Martineau said. “We have not yet been granted FDA approval for anything beyond the current compassionate-release status.”

“Of course,” Cohen said. “But now that Oraloxin is the only cure available for MRGAS, the FDA is unlikely to reject the drug.”

“We didn’t create this crisis,” Byington said evenly.

Lopez held her breath, waiting for Cohen or Kilburn to comment, but neither did.

“Well, thank you for arranging this meeting,” Abram said. The CEO rose to his feet. “I think you can appreciate how tight all our schedules are in the wake of recent events.”

Lopez dug in her purse and pulled out business cards. She passed four of them across the table. “If you need to contact us while we’re here, you can reach me via the cell number there.”