The Agent's Surrender by Kimberly Van Meter Page A

okay to reopen it on a temporary basis. How the hell did Rocha even know the case had been reopened?”
    “I don’t know,” Nathan admitted, looking troubled. “Did he say anything else?”
    “Just that he was there to protect the shareholders’ interests and suggested the case remain shut for the greater good.”
    “Only someone with something to hide would balk at the case reopening, particularly if they thought they were in the clear.”
    Jaci, who’d unfortunately also been present at the time of Miko’s death, spoke up. “Holden, even if you’re right, what good will come of this? What if the beast you’re so keen on exposing is bigger than you can possibly handle? Maybe Miko realized this and that’s why he took his life.”
    “Maybe, but that’s not who Miko was. He never backed down from a fight. Even when he should’ve.”
    “You didn’t see him that day,” Jaci said gently. “He couldn’t hide the pain in his eyes. He was eaten with guilt. Whatever his role was, he’d reached the end of his rope and checked out.”
    “We found three passports, cash and IDs in a hidden location in his bar,” Jane jumped in, surprising Holden. The firm set of her mouth and tilt of her chin suggested she believed Holden was right. Something shifted inside of him, aligning in a new position. He thanked her silently and Jane gave an imperceptible nod before continuing in a strong, clear voice, “We think there may be a bigger connection to Tessara than previously believed. Why else would a bigwig fly all the way to Washington for a sit-down with our chief if not to send home the message that people are watching?”
    “That’s a good point,” Nathan allowed, a dark scowl forming on his brow. “Damn that place. They ought to burn it to the ground.”
    Knowing Nathan’s animosity toward Tessara was centered on his brother Jake’s situation, Holden asked, “Jake getting better?”
    “Yeah, he’s about eighty percent right now. Kat seems to think he’ll make a full recovery eventually, but it’s hard watching him struggle with his memory. Personally, I question the decision to keep MCX-209 in cold storage when it should’ve been destroyed. That drug is a threat to everyone on this planet.”
    Holden agreed. At Jane’s questioning look, Holden explained quickly, “Jake was given a dose of an experimental drug created in a Tessara lab called MCX-209. It was supposed to cure Alzheimer’s, but instead it wipes out memories. In earlier trials of the drug, it pretty much reduced the test subject to a drooling mess, or worse, dead with their brains leaking from their ears.” Jane grimaced and Holden continued. “Yeah, pretty nasty stuff. The worst part is Jake’s girlfriend, Dr. Kat Odgers, actually created the drug and was the one forced by a rogue faction within a government branch to administer it to him. So, understandably, no one at this table has fond feelings toward Tessara.”
    The color drained from Jane’s face. “Why wasn’t it destroyed? A drug like that...it’s too dangerous for anyone to have.”
    “Because it’s quite possibly the most innovative weapon ever created to date, and of course, our government felt it necessary to control it.”
    “That doesn’t fill me with confidence.” She shuddered a little. “Sounds like something out of a movie—and not a feel-good movie.”
    “Agreed,” Holden said. “Back to Miko... Listen, Nathan, Jaci, it’s late and we’re tired. Tomorrow we’re going to drop by Tessara and poke around, but in the meantime, I want you guys to search your memories and see if there’s anything else you can remember about that day. Miko was stashing money and IDs for a reason. We just have to find out what it was.”
    They nodded, although both didn’t look happy about the idea of revisiting Miko’s death, not that Holden blamed them. If he’d seen his brother kill himself, he might still be in a padded cell. “Thanks. I appreciate your