Chapter 10 - The Man In The Lab
The older man Lily saw beside Tyler was Derek Gaines.
Fifty one.
Vice president of advanced programs at Whitmore Advanced Materials.
He had worked at the company eighteen years.
No criminal record.
Respected engineer.
He also had a serious problem.
Aurora Nine research originated partly at Northbridge under a Cooperative Research Agreement.
Whitmore funded some work.
But not all data belonged to Whitmore.
When Professor Stephen Marrow died unexpectedly from a stroke, his university credentials remained active because IT offboarding failed.
Gaines learned from Tyler that Marrow’s account still opened archives.
At first he said not to use.
Later business pressure changed.
Meridian Applied Solutions had offered Whitmore a lucrative joint development contract requiring technical comparisons.
Whitmore legal department had not cleared all requested university data.
Gaines told Tyler to retrieve “materials matrix.”
Tyler downloaded much more.
Gaines accepted some files.
That was unauthorized access and potential theft of trade/research data.
Then Meridian exported.
Gaines claimed he did not know foreign transfer.
Emails suggested he suspected.
He entered cooperation agreement eventually.
What did he know about attack?
Nothing before.
After Tyler called:
“I got bag.”
Gaines thought Tyler had recovered company data voluntarily? Tyler said Lily had “stolen internal logs.”
He told Tyler secure with company.
Then learned violence from news/police.
He hired lawyer.
He did not destroy backpack.
This distinction prevented everything becoming giant conspiracy.
Then Meridian principals.
One man, Douglas Grant.
D.G.
Not Derek Gaines? Wait initials same. We can use different recipient confusion. Let's clarify earlier D.G. on Tyler text maybe Derek Gaines. Fine.
Meridian owner Samuel Kerr.
American procurement consultant.
He had contracts with foreign aerospace firm. Federal export case.
Kerr had paid Tyler’s LLC.
He was later indicted for export violations and wire fraud unrelated to assault.
No one in Lily’s attack except Tyler knew full Meridian scheme.
Ethan wanted intimidate.
Brandon followed.
Tyler had motive from research theft.
Then Victor Whitmore’s responsibility.
Internal board investigation found compliance warnings about Meridian ignored at Gaines level.
Victor had pressed for deal but also instructed legal clearance.
He was not charged with export conspiracy due insufficient evidence.
However, separate corporate civil/regulatory penalties for supervision and contracting controls.
Whitmore Advanced Materials paid large settlement and lost certain government contracting privileges temporarily? Need later.
Victor remained CEO initially, then board forced resignation due governance failure and conflict with son’s misuse.
Not criminal.
That is nuanced.
Then the nickname Ghost Colonel.
Historical Whitmore security archive included Specter incident reports marked restricted company legal.
Victor had repeated to Tyler.
No current classified leak.
Good.
Reyes said:
“So your mythical reputation came from old contractor gossip.”
“I’m disappointed.”
“You always were.”
Then Lily learned.
She wrote:
SO HE DIDN’T KNOW SECRET SECRET?
“Not necessarily classified breach. His father knew from old contract investigation.”
GOOD.
She did not want father’s past reopening entire world.
Then Dr. Morris removed one wire? Surgery recovery.
Lily could speak softly again after weeks.
First clear sentence to me:
“You look terrible.”
I laughed and cried.
“Thanks.”
Then:
“Did they find backpack?”
“Yes.”
“USB?”
“Yes.”
She closed eyes.
“Good.”
Then:
“I thought they’d erase me.”
“They didn’t.”
“Because you called Specter?”
“No.”
She looked.
“Because you copied evidence, a student found you, doctors documented, Detective Ellis kept case, and people did their jobs.”
She stared.
“You too.”
“I called.”
“Still.”
I squeezed hand.
Then she said:
“Don’t make this your old war.”
May you like
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
