Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

telling me something is going to happen there.'

Barnes remained seated, hidden away in his office, filling out the remaining paperwork which had sat on his desk for weeks. His head pounded as the craving returned. His eyes removed off the paperwork momentarily and focused on the desk drawer below. No, Joe, he talked himself out of it. His sight returned to the files. This was always the boring part of his job and he always hated it. The phone on his desk rang out, giving him the distraction he needed.

'DCI Barnes,' he answered.

PC Bell from the station’s reception was on the other end. 'Sir, we've got a situation down here. You've been requested.'

'I'm on my way,' he replied, placing the phone down and marching his way down to reception.

He rushed out of the office and locked eyes with Sarah. He snapped his fingers at her, Brian and Ethan, instructing them to follow him as he burst through the doors out of the CID. Walking through the corridor, they heard a commotion. What's going on? Barnes wondered. They were greeted by dozens of police officers, surrounding Scarlett Thatcher, who had marks and rashes across her skin. Her face was unrecognisable because of the number of cysts and rashes that covered her.

'Scarlett? What's going on?'

Scarlett was so upset, crying hysterically, she couldn't find the words to talk. Barnes approached her slowly and carefully, knowing she was in trouble.

'What's happened?' he continued.

'She wants me to send you a message,' she stuttered, frozen with fear.

'Who? Who wants to send me a message?'

'She said her name’s Esther, but her real name is Jenny Reynolds. She used to work with me at Harrington Labs,' she answered his question.

Barnes froze for a moment, knowing this was either a distraction or a trap. 'What's the message, Scarlett?'

'I am. She's injected me with the drugs.'

'What drugs?'

'The one I sold to Natalie Dixon,' she burst out in more tears. 'She's enhanced it. She told me it wasn't ready, but we were in a rush to hit our targets, so I didn't listen to her.'

'What's she planning?'

'Death and destruction,' she cried. 'She's going to release it.'

'Where's she going to release it?'

'Harrington Labs.'

Barnes' face turned white and Sarah noticed.

'Sir, are you okay?' she said.

'Ally and Jacob, they're in danger,' he told her. 'I sent them to Harrington Labs.'

Chapter 27

Ally quickly flew her Mondeo into a space and the pair of them entered Harrington Labs. Once inside, they were greeted by Malcolm's receptionist who made them wait in the lobby for ten minutes before Malcolm burst through the doors and invited them into his office.

'I've told you already, that wouldn't be my signature on that document and you can speak to my solicitor.'

'Calm down, Mr Harrington,' Ally started. 'We think someone in your lab forged your signature to get that untested drug into human guinea pigs.'

'You think I'm telling the truth?' he said with a shocked tone.

'Maybe. We need to know who your chief of staff is here?' she continued asking questions.

'I'll get you a list,' he replied, shuffling through drawers and cabinets in his office. He placed the files on his desk for them to investigate. 'There you go.'

Ally and Jacob flicked through each file, taking a lot of care and attention to details. Then Ally noticed a name and recognised the photo. She tapped Jacob to get his attention.

'Look who's Chief of staff,' she said.

'Scarlett Thatcher?' Jacob read the name out loud.

'Yes. I think maybe she's the one who forged the signature.'

'But why?' Malcolm asked.

'That's something we'd hope you'd tell us?' she replied.

'Why would I know?'

'Are you telling us you have no idea what happens inside your company?' Jacob asked with a cocky tone.

'I had no idea Scarlett was making dodgy deals in secret.'

Ally changed the subject. 'Do you know anybody by the name of Jenny Reynolds?'

'Yes. Jenny worked here for years, up until the end of last year when she went off the rails,' he began to tell them.

'What do you mean?' Jacob asked.

'She started shouting at Scarlett about stealing something from her. She lost control and hit her. I had no other choice than to dismiss her.' Malcolm continued.

'That's why she wasn't on the list of employees,' Ally whispered to Jacob.

'Why? Has Jenny done something?' Malcolm questioned them.

'We believe Jenny is a threat to you and all your other employees,' Jacob informed him. 'Do you know what Scarlett supposedly stole from Jenny?'

'Oh my God,' Malcolm exclaimed. 'No, I've got no idea.'

'Is Scarlett working today?' Ally asked.

'No. She didn't turn up. I presumed it was because of her traumatic experience.' Malcolm began to fit the pieces into place. 'She's got Scarlett, hasn't she?'

'I don't know,' Ally replied.

'She kept taking a couple of personal days because of her ordeal and I thought today was the same,' Malcolm continued.

'Don't worry. We'll send some officers to her place and make sure she's safe,' Ally informed him while glaring at Jacob to send officers to Scarlett's home. 'Mr Harrington, we need to start evacuating the building just in case.'

Malcolm nodded, staring out of the window of his office. Each lab was surrounded by glass windows and doors making them all visible from his office.

'Mr Harrington, are you listening?' she repeated.

'Yes, yes, sorry,' he panicked.

Barnes phoned Ally and she answered. 'Ally, get out of...' he shouted before the call cut off.

As Malcolm was about to raise the fire alarm, another alarm sounded, alerting the three of them. Ally checked her phone for signal but she had no bars, making her begin to lose her cool.

'What's that?' Jacob asked Malcolm.

'That's a contamination alarm,' he explained.

'What does that mean?' Jacob continued to ask.

'If there's a