Chapter 7 - PW 17)
The powder was not contaminated.
Not with worms.
Not with parasite eggs.
The first results showed a mixture of dried vegetable protein, fiber, vitamins and a high concentration of a common mineral compound.
Dr. Patel explained it carefully.
"The powder itself does not appear to be the source of the infection."
Rachel felt almost disappointed.
Not because she wanted the powder to be dangerous.
Because she wanted one clear answer.
"So the garden soil did it?"
"We're still testing."
"Then what is wrong with the powder?"
Dr. Patel's face tightened.
"The concentration of magnesium is significantly higher than expected for a children's nutritional product."
"Could that hurt them?"
"It can cause gastrointestinal symptoms at excessive doses, particularly diarrhea and cramping."
"But not worms."
"No."
Rachel stared at the silver packet on the counter inside its plastic evidence bag.
"Why would they give children something that causes stomach problems when they were already exposed to parasites?"
Dr. Patel did not answer.
Detective Shaw did.
"Maybe they didn't know."
Rachel looked at her.
"Or maybe they did."
Shaw nodded slightly.
That possibility was now being considered.
The investigators found a spreadsheet on a Harbor House computer.
Children were listed by initials.
Age.
Weight.
Attendance.
Food preferences.
Beside each name was a column marked GI RESPONSE.
Rachel recognized Tobe immediately.
TM 7.
His row contained dates.
Mild discomfort.
No reported nausea.
Loose stool.
Abdominal complaint.
Dose maintained.
Rachel stopped reading.
"Dose maintained?"
Her voice sounded unfamiliar.
"What does that mean?"
"We're determining that," Detective Shaw said.
"You know exactly what it sounds like."
"We do."
Rachel pushed the pages away.
"They were studying them."
"It appears Pioneer may have been collecting symptom data."
"Without telling parents."
"That is what we are investigating."
"Tobe wasn't in a nutrition class."
Her voice rose.
"He was a test subject."
Tobe stirred in the bed.
Rachel immediately lowered her voice.
Detective Shaw stood.
"We'll continue this outside."
In the hallway Rachel pressed both palms against the wall.
She had never felt rage like this.
It was not explosive.
It was clean.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Who approved this?"
"We don't know."
"Find out."
"We are."
"Who paid Pioneer?"
"A combination of grants and private donors."
"Who owns it?"
"It's a nonprofit."
"Who runs it?"
Shaw hesitated.
"Dr. Malcolm Pierce."
Rachel knew the name.
She did not know why at first.
Then she remembered.
A framed photograph in the Harbor House lobby.
Elaine Ward shaking hands with a silver haired man beneath a banner about children's wellness.
Malcolm Pierce.
Pioneer founder.
Pediatric nutrition researcher.
Television interviews.
Charity events.
Awards.
A man who had built his public reputation on helping underserved children.
"What does he say?"
"His attorney says Pioneer supplied educational nutritional products but had no knowledge of contaminated soil."
"And the spreadsheet?"
"No comment."
Rachel laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
"There's more."
Shaw lowered her voice.
"We recovered emails between Pierce and Elaine."
"What do they say?"
"One message references unexpected gastrointestinal responses."
Rachel stared at her.
"When?"
"Ten weeks ago."
Before Tobe's severe pain.
Before Wade's soil testing.
Before Harbor House closed.
"What did Pierce tell Elaine?"
Shaw handed her a printed line.
Continue observation. Avoid unnecessary parent concern until variables are isolated.
Rachel read it twice.
Then a third time.
"Variables?"
Her voice broke.
"My son is a variable?"
Detective Shaw said nothing.
Rachel turned away.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened.
A man stepped out wearing a dark coat over a purple polo shirt.
Wade Keller.
Hospital security moved immediately.
He raised both hands.
"I'm not here to run."
Detective Shaw reached for her radio.
Rachel stared at him.
"You watched my son's ultrasound and left."
Wade looked ashamed.
"I panicked."
"Why?"
"Because I knew what they were going to find."
Rachel moved toward him.
"Then tell me everything."
Wade looked at Detective Shaw.
Then at Rachel.
"They didn't create the parasite problem."
Rachel's face tightened.
May you like
Wade continued.
"But when they discovered it, they decided sick children were useful."
