Chapter 6
HEATHER
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What am I doing here?
The question echoes in my head, an edge of panic trailing it. I’ve made a mistake. I have nothing in common with these people, particularly with the angry young man sprawled in a chair opposite me.
Kane left Justin and me alone at the juice bar, supposedly to sort out the details of the operation. Right now, though, the only detail we’re sharing is an uncomfortable silence.
As if he can sense the doubts swirling inside me, Justin asks bluntly, “Thinking about backing out?”
My cheeks heat up. “Yes.”
His hazel eyes drill into me. “Kane’s one for all that rah-rah stuff, but don’t expect a pep talk from me. If you’re thinking about quitting, you shouldn’t be sitting here.”
“That would suit you, wouldn’t it?”
“Yep. At least then the job would get done.”
“So you think I’ll fail?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“You’ll crack.”
“And you wouldn’t?” I ask.
“No.”
“Why are you so certain?”
“Because I’ve seen a lot worse than you have.”
And no doubt done a lot worse too. But Justin’s judgment is also my fear.
It was why I kept quiet while the two of them sparred over my capabilities.
I have no defense against the unknown. Can I handle watching and recording the sort of suffering they’re alluding to?
What if Justin’s right? What if I crack?
“We won’t hold it against you if you walk away,” he says silkily, laying out his words like an experienced trapper. “Kane will understand.”
No doubt he will. I recall Kane’s patience with the various animals I brought to him to treat. Some of them he had no choice but to euthanize, and I remember how compassionately he treated them in their final moments.
I stare at Justin’s arrogant, indecently handsome face. Kane has left me in the hands of a man who openly expresses his doubt in me and exploits the lack of faith I have in myself. But Kane believes I can take on this undercover role and that’s what I cling to now.
“I’m going through with it,” I tell Justin.
Surprise shapes his features. “Sure you’ve got a hard enough heart?”
“I’m certain you’re more qualified in that area, but Kane appointed me for this task.”
And not you, are my unspoken words.
His jaw tightens. I struck a nerve.
“We’ll soon find out if you live up to Kane’s expectations.” Seeming to tire of baiting me, Justin hangs an elbow over the back of his chair and says briskly, “All right, let’s talk about your role. What we’re trying to do here is emulate what BUAV did to HLS.”
“Uh, BUAV?”
“British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. Now known as Cruelty Free International.”
“Right.”
“Of course, you know what HLS stands for.”
“Of course,” I say, too quickly.
He hooks an eyebrow at me.
“Okay, no.”
Justin shakes his head in disbelief. “Where on earth did Kane find you? Next you’ll be telling me you don’t know vivisection is the cutting into live animals for scientific research.”
“Don’t start,” I warn him.
He blows out an irritated breath. “HLS was Huntingdon Life Sciences, a large contract testing laboratory. BUAV managed to sneak an undercover operative into HLS. The operative kept a diary, detailing everything she witnessed in there. She also managed to secretly film evidence of unbelievable animal cruelty.”
“What happened?” I ask, captivated.
“The public release of her diary and video footage caused HLS’s share price to drop and its investors to rethink their association with such a notorious company.”
“How long did the operative work there?”
“Eight months.”
Eight months. I’ll be at SolomiChem for a month.
My shoulders sag as the enormity of the task ahead of me presses upon my bones.
Kane told me they were expecting me to cause enough PR damage to cripple SolomiChem financially.
As a last resort, they want to use my evidence to pressure the public into forcing SolomiChem to investigate alternative testing methods.
“No matter what,” Justin says, “you can’t free the animals.”
I can’t help my pause before I agree.
He pounces on my hesitation. “You liberate them and they’ll just be replaced with another batch. In this case, it’s better if we expose SolomiChem, force them to stop the experiments altogether.”
“I understand.”
He stands and grabs his helmet and jacket. “We’ll meet later this afternoon.” He names a local park. “Some free advice—never meet twice at the same place.”
“What time?”
“Let’s make it four.”
I bite my lip. “I have a doctor’s appointment at four. Can we meet tomorrow instead?”
“Do you have a life-threatening tumor?”
“What? No.”
“Cancel your appointment. Your work at SolomiChem takes priority over everything else.”
I glare up at him. Even though it’s only a routine checkup, I booked this appointment months ago. It’s obvious Justin wants to see how far he can push me. Not trusting myself to speak, I simply nod.
He gives me a mocking wink. “See you later. Four sharp.”
I remain seated. If I stand, politeness dictates we walk out together. Not that I can detect a polite bone in his body, but I might catch him in a weak moment.
I watch Justin stroll away, watch as numerous eyes track the path carved by his compelling figure.
Oh, what it must be like to be born so good looking.
All my life I’ve lived in the shadow of my plainness.
Brown hair, brown eyes, a body continually at war with itself over expansion rights.
There’s nothing striking about me and I can see that truth reflected in Justin’s eyes.
I get to my feet and set off in the direction of the parking lot, uneasiness dogging my steps.
I can’t escape the disquieting notion that even though we’re on the same side against SolomiChem, I still sense in Justin a dangerous adversary.
And I wonder if I’ll be able to shore up enough armor to protect myself.