Chapter 8 - Wade's Story)
They questioned Wade in a private conference room.
Detective Shaw.
Her partner.
A public health investigator.
Rachel was permitted to remain because much of Wade's information concerned Tobe and Harbor House.
Wade looked exhausted.
He was thirty four, younger than Rachel had assumed.
Without the friendly Harbor House smile, he looked frightened and deeply ashamed.
"I worked for Pioneer for two years," he began.
"Doing what?" Shaw asked.
"Community program coordination."
"Your badge says field sample collection."
"That was added recently."
"Why?"
"Because I started collecting samples after kids began getting sick."
Rachel leaned forward.
"You noticed?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Late spring."
Tobe's stomach aches had started around the same time.
Wade continued.
"At first it was minor. Kids complaining about stomach cramps. Missed days. Diarrhea. Elaine thought it was a stomach virus."
"And you?"
"I thought so too."
"Then what changed?"
"One boy passed a worm."
The room became silent.
Rachel's stomach turned.
"What happened?"
"His mother called Harbor House. Elaine told us not to discuss it with other parents because it was private medical information."
"Did she report it?"
"She says she did."
"Did she?"
"I don't know."
Shaw made a note.
"What did you do?"
"I collected soil from the garden."
"Why?"
"Before Pioneer, I worked in agricultural testing."
Rachel looked at his badge.
"So you knew what to look for."
"I knew enough to be worried."
"The first test was positive."
"Yes."
"For roundworm eggs?"
"Yes."
Rachel's jaw tightened.
"And Elaine kept the garden open."
"She called Pierce."
"What did he say?"
Wade looked down.
"I wasn't in the first conversation. After that, Pioneer sent its own team."
"They changed samples."
Wade looked at Rachel.
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"I watched them."
Detective Shaw leaned forward.
"Be specific."
"They collected soil from unopened commercial bags in storage instead of the active garden beds."
"So the clean report was from new soil?"
"Yes."
"And the contaminated beds remained?"
"Yes."
Rachel could barely stay seated.
"Why?"
Wade rubbed his hands together.
"Because Pierce saw an opportunity."
There it was.
The sentence Rachel had dreaded.
"What opportunity?"
"Pioneer had been developing PW 17."
"The powder."
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"A fiber and mineral supplement designed to change gastrointestinal transit time."
Rachel frowned.
"Why?"
"Originally, constipation research."
"On children?"
"Eventually, they wanted pediatric trials."
"Approved trials?"
Wade hesitated.
"No."
The public health investigator stopped writing.
"What exactly were they doing at Harbor House?"
Wade took a long breath.
"Pierce believed the naturally occurring infection created a chance to collect data on how PW 17 affected digestive symptoms in children with intestinal stress."
Rachel stood.
The chair fell backward.
"You knew this?"
"Not at first."
"You handed my son that powder."
Wade's face collapsed.
"I thought it was a normal nutrition supplement."
"You gave it to him."
"Yes."
"How many times?"
"I don't know. Elaine controlled the schedule."
"You gave it to him."
"I did."
Rachel wanted to hit him.
Instead she gripped the table so hard her fingertips hurt.
"When did you find out?"
"Six weeks ago."
"And you didn't call parents."
"I tried to document it."
"That is not what I asked."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I was afraid."
Rachel stared at him.
"My son could have needed surgery because you were afraid."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Wade did not defend himself.
That made her angrier.
Detective Shaw stepped in.
"What did you do after you learned PW 17 was being used to track symptoms?"
"I copied records. Collected soil. Contacted a laboratory. Then Pierce found out."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"They fired you."
"Elaine did."
"For theft."
"For taking samples."
"Why were you at the hospital tonight?"
Wade looked at Rachel.
"Because Tobe called me."
Rachel blinked.
"What?"
"Tobe called from Harbor House yesterday afternoon."
"He's seven."
"He knows my number from the garden emergency board."
Rachel's heart began pounding.
"What did he say?"
"He said his stomach hurt and Miss Elaine wouldn't let him call you because she said pickup was soon."
Rachel closed her eyes.
Wade continued quietly.
"I went there."
"You were fired."
"I know."
"What happened?"
"Elaine wouldn't let me inside."
"Then?"
"I waited nearby. I saw you pick him up."
"You followed us?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you talk to me?"
"I was going to."
"But?"
"Pierce's security contractor was there."
Rachel frowned.
"What security contractor?"
Wade looked at Detective Shaw.
"You didn't find the camera room?"
Shaw's expression changed.
"What camera room?"
Wade went pale.
"In the Harbor House basement."
No one spoke.
Finally Shaw asked, "What is in it?"
Wade answered.
"Recordings."
May you like
"Of what?"
"Every child in the garden program."
