“Richard Jones is the name.” He reaches in his pocket, flashes a badge, and starts to put it in his pocket. “FBI.”
As soon as he hears “FBI,” William jerks his hands off the table, hiding them again, while turning fifty shades of green, proving my assessment of how soft he is to be true.
I tap the table. “I’ll take a look at that badge.”
The agent smirks but slides it across the table for my inspection. I give it a longer look than is necessary before sliding it back to him. “What can we do for you, Agent Jones?”
“I have questions,” he says. “And what better time to ask them than when you’re with your head of research and development.”
“You know who I am?” William asks, and then looks at me. “How does he know who I am?”
“It’s my job to know, Mr. Nichols,” Agent Jones answers.
“What can I do for you, Agent Jones?” I repeat.
His head snaps in my direction. “I’ll be direct,” he says. “I’m investigating a member of the FDA staff with some rather suspect drug approvals. In short, we believe he’s been taking cash payouts to improperly approve sometimes quite dangerous drugs.”
“‘Direct’ means explaining what this has to do with us,” I say. “Not throwing out the information in hope that we squirm.”
“You recently had a drug approved by this FDA representative,” Jones explains, his attention cutting sharply to William. “I assume in your role, you’d be the person deciding it was ready for submission?”
William pales. “I … I don’t know what drug you’re talking about. I submit many drugs for approval.”
“An asthma drug,” Agent Jones says. “The name escapes me, but then, I’m not a world-class scientist like you, William.”
“Tenza,” I supply the name of the drug connected to my brother’s FDA bribe. “It’s called Tenza.” I glance at William. “Did we get the official approval?”
“Just yesterday,” he replies. “I planned to document it in next week’s reports.”
“This approval must have been a shock,” Agent Jones interjects. “I mean, from what I read in the reports, even to me, a complete nonacademic, especially when it comes to the complexity of drug manufacturing, it’s not market ready. Surely a man with your experience, Mr. Nichols, knew that. Unless…” He looks at me. “Management told him to submit it, and you’d take care of the approval?”
“I don’t think I like where you’re going with this, Agent Jones,” I say, my voice low, hard.
“The FBI is far less concerned with what you think, than what you’re doing,” Jones replies dryly. “And if this is going where I think it is, it’s a good thing you’re an attorney. You might be needing those skills.” He stands and sets the chair back at the table behind him before giving me a mock salute. “I’ll be in touch.” He walks away and I watch his every step until he disappears, only then turning my attention back to William, who has turned yet a deeper shade of green.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” I demand.
“What? No. Of course not.”
“Agent Jones certainly seemed to think something is amiss.”
“I admit I was shocked the drug was approved, but I did nothing but submit it.”
Semantics, I think, leaning forward, and tightening my voice. “I plan to make Brandon Enterprises the greatest brand on the planet. Do not let me find out you’re working against that.”
“I’m not. I swear to you, I want the same thing.”
I don’t immediately reply, letting my gaze cut through him. “Go back to work.”
“What about—”
“Go back to work.”
He nods and quickly stands, all but running across the coffee shop. My lips quirk and I dial Seth. “I’m pretty sure William’s shitting his pants right now.”
“I have eyes on him and the man stumbled twice on the way to his car.”
“I’m headed to the office to show my outrage over what just happened and ensure the Brandon clan believes it was real,” I say. “I fully intend to use this to back Derek the fuck off, and hope I keep him in the shadows long enough to take over the board, and get him out of it for good.”
“Get him out for good,” he repeats. “You’ve never said that before, and let me tell you, those words are music to my ears.”
“Blood only goes so far,” I say, wondering how I understood that with my clients but only now accept it with my family. “I’ll give you an update after I talk to my father.” I start to hang up, but pause to add, “By the way. Tell Nick I still have my reservations about contracting an active federal agent for this job, but his man Jones made that easier to swallow. He played William like a star quarterback. If he didn’t break William today, he will.”