Simon had taken a metaphorical ax to the barrier her conscience had built. As it splintered into a thousand pieces, Kelly knew what she had to do next. Her hand crept to her pocket and pulled out her phone. In slow motion, she punched in a number that had haunted her for days.

The tears trickled down Simon’s cheeks.

“Dr. Scott’s rooms, please.” Then, “Alisha, it’s Kelly Whiteley from Rubicon. I need to speak to Anthony. It’s urgent.”

“I’m sorry, but he’s unavailable at the moment.”

A slow smile lit up Simon’s face.

“This is urgent, Alisha. He’s waiting for my call.”

A pause. “One moment.”

“Thanks for getting back, Kelly.” Anthony’s warm tone was back.

Kelly cut a swath through the pleasantries. “Anthony, you asked me about the potential side effects of Mendacium. I have no data to back this up, but I know we can’t rule them out. I can’t guarantee anything, and I understand your nervousness at not having that guarantee. I suggest if you’re concerned, you contact our R&D department for any information to help you make the best decision for your patients.”

A pause. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? What you’re able to say?”

“Yes, I am. It’s something I need to say.” The phone trembled in her hand.

“You have great integrity.”

“Thank you.” Kelly’s voice eked out of her in a whisper. With shaking fingers, she cut the call. The growing sense of dread that eased into her was met with a warmth. A peace. A feeling of right that calmed her quivering nerves.

Tears cascaded down Simon’s face. “I am so proud of you. Now, how would you like to save more than just one family?”

Twenty-Six

Daniel stood just inside his mother’s front door and wished she could stay on the point. He needed to arm himself with as much information about Gramps’s camera as possible before he picked up his photos and confronted Simon.

“How are you and Kelly?”

“We have our moments, but we’re busy people. A lot of families are like us right now. It’s the modern world.”

“You were always good at turning things into an academic argument, and you didn’t answer my question.”

“Of course we’re doing well. Work’s great. Just had our thousandth couple.”

His mother smiled. “You’ve worked so hard, and everything was set up by your wonderful book.” A shiver ran up Daniel’s spine. “And you still didn’t answer my question.”

“We’re having some trouble, but we’ll work through it.”

His mother reached up to stroke his cheek. “Thank you. I’m glad, because I’m worried about Milly. She looks like you did at twelve, just before your father left. You withdrew into yourself and kept asking how your dad could love another woman.”