Chapter 4 - The Shadow Board
Kane placed the laptop on the rolling table in front of Claire and Noah.
On the screen was a detailed corporate org-chart labeled Project Lazarus. At the top was not Daniel Sterling’s name, but a syndicate of seven international pharmaceutical executives and private defense contractors known as the Meridian Council.
"Daniel was never acting alone," Kane said. "Somnodine-7 wasn't designed as an anesthetic or an experimental sedative. It was commissioned by an offshore military contractor as an undetectable chemical restraint. They planned to use Sterling Pharma’s global distribution network to market the drug under the guise of an over-the-counter sleep aid."
Claire’s eyes widened with horror. "If a drug like that enters the mass commercial market, millions of people could be subjected to chemically induced compliance without leaving a traceable biomarker."
"Exactly," Kane nodded. "You refused to authorize the clinical trials six months ago. That’s when the council gave Daniel his ultimatum: eliminate his sister and take control of the board, or forfeit his own life."
"Where is the master formula stored?" Noah asked.
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"In the sub-level laboratory beneath the old Sterling manufacturing plant on the docks," Claire answered, looking at Noah. "My father kept the primary synthesis drives off the main network, secured behind a dual-biometric vault that requires my retinal scan."
"Then we have a problem," Kane said grimly. "Because twenty minutes ago, an armed strike team breached the security perimeter at the dockland facility. The Meridian Council knows Daniel failed, and they're moving to burn the evidence."
