Chapter 9 - Trial Six
Before becoming a hospital pediatrician, Naomi worked at Sherman Biotech.
She helped review early immune-response trials.
Trial 6 involved six adult volunteers.
One developed fatal liver failure after receiving a compound related to SN-14.
Leonard blamed an unrelated infection.
Naomi disagreed.
She reported evidence that the drug caused the death.
Elijah, then a rising executive, was under pressure to secure investment.
He believed Leonard.
He accused Naomi of overreacting.
The company buried the trial behind a confidential settlement.
Naomi resigned.
Two months later, Elijah proposed to her.
She believed he regretted choosing the company over the truth.
Then Cassandra entered his life.
Now Naomi understood that Leonard feared her because she could connect Toby’s poisoning to the earlier death.
“This drug should never have remained in development,” she said.
Elijah looked devastated.
“I was told Trial 6 was cleared.”
“You were told what you wanted to hear.”
Detective Price asked whether Naomi kept copies of the original data.
“No. The company confiscated everything.”
Elijah stood.
“There may be an archived server.”
“Where?”
“In the old research building.”
Sherman Biotech had closed the facility after Trial 6.
Only Leonard and Elijah retained access.
Police headed there immediately.
Naomi remained with Toby.
At 4:06 a.m., he opened his eyes.
“Daddy?”
Elijah leaned close.
“I’m here.”
Toby looked around.
“Where’s Mommy?”
Elijah could not answer.
Toby’s voice became smaller.
“She said I had to be brave for your company.”
Elijah covered his mouth.
Then Toby added one more thing.
“Dr. Leonard gave her the needle.”
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Cassandra had injected him.
But Leonard had been inside the Sherman home too.
