Adverse Reaction: The Persford Series, #1

By Dawn Marsanne

A secret from the past. An opportunity for blackmail. Set against the backdrop of the pharmaceutical industry, Adverse Reaction explores the complex relationship between two main characters Matt Pearson and Brett Chandler who met at university and then went their separate ways. When their paths cross some years later each character is driven by their own personal crisis to take desperate measures. Other characters become embroiled in the power struggle with serious consequences. Matt's desire to prevent his secret being revealed unleashes a dramatic sequence of events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dawn Marsanne
• Release date: Feb 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386307518

Dawn Marsanne

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for almost twenty-five years I wanted to write a novel which explored some of the serious issues in the field. The reproducibility of scientific data is a common problem which has recently been highlighted in the news and this forms the basis of my first book Adverse Reaction. I particularly enjoy reading thrillers and suspense novels and I have tried to create a fast paced story which holds the reader's attention. Many of the themes of the book occur in everyday life and I have used the backdrop of research to illustrate them. There are relatively few novels which are set in the laboratory environment so I saw this as an undeveloped area but at the same time scientific details are kept to a minimum to allow the work to be accessible to readers of a non-technical background. As I finished the novel I became sufficiently interested in the characters I had created to develop them further and the six book Persford Reaction Series was born. Since then I have written to standalone novels, A Form of Justice and Relative Error. Waves of Guilt is the first in a new series and is now joined by a sequel, Layers of Deceit.  Follow me on twitter @dawn_marsanne

Book preview

Prologue

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Twelve years earlier....

‘I wish I’d never started this.’

‘Oh, come on, surely it can’t be that bad? Do you need some ideas?’

‘I need more than ideas, I need a miracle. There’s no way I’m ever going to be able to sort all this out. I’ve reached a complete dead end. I’m getting seriously worried and time is running out.’

‘Look, why don’t you let me think about it, I might be able to come up with some ideas.’

‘If you would, I’m getting desperate.’

‘You know there is another way, a much easier way,’ and he looked at his friend smiling, his eyebrows raised, hoping that he would be understood.

‘Oh, no, seriously? No, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.’

‘Well you wouldn’t be the first and you won’t be the last. It’s not harming anyone, after all, you didn’t ask to be lumbered with this hopeless piece of shit.  And what’s that supervisor of yours been doing? Fuck all. Certainly not giving you any guidance. You’ve worked really hard and you deserve to get something out of it.’

‘I’m still not sure, but I just feel such a failure.’

‘Look, let me come up with something. Think of your future, it will just be a little help in the right direction. We’re a good team, we help each other.’

‘But what if I get found out?’

‘You won’t, trust me.’

The deal was done, there was no turning back. It seemed like the best option at the time, little did he know that there would be consequences playing out many years in the future. A small lie sometimes solved an immediate problem and could remain undetected perhaps forever. However, when unleashed or discovered it could initiate an alarming chain of events.

Chapter 1

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The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, with an underlying odour from perspiring male bodies. There was a faint hint of garlic from someone’s meal last night. All present longed to open the windows but they were sealed units. They couldn’t open the door as they didn’t want any staff who might be passing to overhear their discussions. The spring sunshine had recently gained some warmth and was adding a few degrees of heat through the south facing windows, increasing their discomfort.

‘Yes, I hear what you say Bob but we have to hold back on that key study until after we have done the upcoming six-monthly presentation to our investors.’  Matt Pearson, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), felt he was almost shouting, he almost banged his fist down on the table in frustration. He needed to calm down, remember assertive, not aggressive he kept telling himself.

‘But it’s unethical!’ spluttered Bob. ‘We are merely kicking the can down the road. We need to find out whether BQ-561 has any effect on the DNA in cells, otherwise it’s is a no-goer. Our front-runner could become an also-ran. My team keep asking me when we are going to press the button on this study and I feel I’m having to stall them all the time.’

This exchange between Matt and Bob McKewan, Head of Biology had served to increase the temperature in the room even further. The air conditioning was struggling against the assembled group each person emanating his several hundred kilojoules of energy. The data so far looked good, amazing even and they were breaking new ground in terms of a treatment for chronic pain but despite the overall upbeat mood Matt Pearson was feeling the pressure. The tension was causing him to perspire and he could feel the sweat pooling beneath his armpits and his pulse beating faster than normal. His teeth were painful, he must have been grinding them again.

‘Bob, we are quite confident that it will pass this study but as you know there are often some surprises. If the study were to throw up a problem then the chances are that we could make a small modification and this would solve the problem but this type of news can really spook the investors. You know how things can get misreported in the media. This is our front-runner compound, so much is riding on it, many other projects depend on this next batch of funding. In fact, the whole company needs it in order for us to stay afloat. We’ve done well so far but we could go belly-up. If it means holding fire for a few weeks just so we can buy ourselves a bit of breathing space then I think that’s a wise decision, otherwise, it could be curtains for us,’ said Matt, managing to speak more calmly and professionally now.

He looked around the table at the assembled senior scientific team of BioQex hoping that the body language of the participants would indicate support for him and wishing that one person, in particular, would realise that he needed to get things in perspective and start to live in the real world. This was a commercial enterprise in the world of biotech start-ups where the stakes were high but the potential rewards huge. However, it was a very fragile business requiring the confidence of investors. If they couldn’t continue to attract investment from venture capitalists their future would be far more uncertain. Although they had enough capital for immediate needs they always needed to look to the future to secure continued funding. Yes, there were exciting research compounds coming along, one in particular, but they had to play their hand of cards well and all discoveries needed to be showcased in the best possible light. The assembled Senior Scientific team had spent the last hour and a half, thrashing out the fine detail of the data and fine-tuning the spin they were going to employ to champion the merits of BQ-561 their front-runner on which they hoped their future careers and bonuses were based. The tone of the presentation was very much geared to their future audience of financiers, it was imperative not to blind them with science.

‘Well I’m not happy but you are making it quite clear I don’t have much choice,’ relented Bob, glowering at Matt, his eyebrows set in a harsh frown, ‘and it looks like I don’t have much support here from anyone else.’

Bob’s eyes scanned the members around the table, who quickly averted their gaze and started shuffling their papers or making some quick bullet points on their pads.

‘No, I didn’t think so,’ he added.

Matt broke the awkward silence and pressed on with his message, hoping that they could start to sum up and escape to a less stuffy environment, they’d been trapped in this room long enough.

‘Right,’ said Matt, ‘time to be positive. Frank do you want to add any details about our investor meeting?’

Frank Stevens was the Chief Financial Officer and had scheduled the investor meeting to take place in two weeks.

‘I’ve not much to add really but I can just sum up, pardon the pun, where we are up to.’ Frank laughed nervously but his little joke about summing up, fell a bit flat, his audience was too tired and just wanted to escape. Realising he wasn’t receiving any smiles from anyone, he continued, ‘yes, well it’s going to take place on the Science Park, starting at 11 a.m., so it gives everyone time to get here from London mainly, well from anywhere really. Sally is organising all the admin although I gather there have been a few hitches but I think we are on track now,’ and he made a fingers crossed gesture. ‘But the bottom line is we need that investment of five million, as it will go a considerable way towards ensuring our future. We’ve advertised on all the biotech bulletin boards and as you know we’ve published about this candidate in the scientific journals, chronic pain is an area which is high profile with largely unmet medical need, but of course, you guys know all that. No need for me to preach to the converted. There’s a lot of interest in BQ-561, we could be on the verge of something very exciting. We might even be talking about a buyout of the compound if things go really well and that could be big bucks for everyone.’ That last statement appeared to stir people, there was a distinct increase in the level of engagement in the room. Frank continued, ‘We also need to make sure we avoid any negative publicity until the funding is signed and sealed.’ His pep talk was accompanied by sagely nodding from the assembled team and murmurs of agreement.

‘So any further questions?’ said Matt, hoping to wrap up this meeting and praying that everyone was convinced that things were going well and that they needed to temporarily put on hold any experiments which could muddy the waters.

‘Just one,’ chipped in Bob. ‘What do I tell my team about back-pedalling for the next couple of weeks?’ Once Bob had the bit between his teeth he was reluctant to let go.

‘Tell them it’s a choice between a nice job here and leading a team in a burger bar,’ quipped Matt brusquely, then regretted his words as they were rather unprofessional and he realised he was letting the stress get to him. This raised a smile from a couple of people but he sensed his Chief Executive Officer, Piers Frobisher wincing slightly at his acid tone.

‘Very helpful, Matt. I guess I will think of something a little less aggressive. Excuse me, best get on.’ Bob gathered up his papers and stomped out of the meeting room, closing the door rather harder than was necessary. Best get on was one of Bob’s familiar and perhaps overused phrases.

So that was the meeting wrapped up for now. Inwardly Matt breathed a sigh of relief and realised he would have to try to keep calmer, where was Mr Cool, a reputation he had earned from his time with BioQex and his former employers. He knew his real strength was in his presentation skills, rather than in scientific excellence, he was competent but was by no means brilliant. Not as good as his PhD research would lead people to think, but that was another story from a previous era of a life he had left behind and not something he wanted to revisit or people to know about. Sometimes he felt guilty about keeping up a pretence but he wasn’t harming anyone, was he, and after all his efforts here were going to benefit patients hugely.

At thirty-eight years old Matt Pearson was enjoying a successful career as a scientist in the biotech industry. He was tall and athletic looking, with a confident air and easy manner which gave him an irresistible charisma. His twice-weekly gym sessions managed to keep his waistline under control, however recently his attendance had slipped due to work pressures. Despite this, he felt that he was actually losing weight doubtless due to the extra stress burning off some calories. His dark hair had started to recede slightly showing the classic male pattern baldness boundaries, so he kept it clipped short to try to disguise the thinning patches which he was sure would soon become rather extensive. So far the grey hairs hadn’t appeared but he felt that they weren’t far away, stressful events like these probably serving to hasten their appearance. When people first met him they felt comfortable in his presence after only a short time. He was someone they could easily get along with and was often described as the type of bloke you would quite happily spend an evening in the pub with. He was worlds away from the stereotyped image of a boffin.

This was his third job since completing his PhD in chemistry at one of the top universities with a strong reputation for science. After completing his research he’d passed up the opportunity to do post-doctoral studies, but instead, he chose to take up a post with a large pharmaceutical company leading a small research team. Due to his personality and his gift for making presentations he’d quickly risen through the ranks in record time to lead a small therapeutic area. Worried that he might have trouble continuing his rapid progress with the same company he’d switched jobs after six years and had made a good impression on his new employers. He had been attracted to the position due to the promising pipeline of new drugs being championed by his new company, however due to a couple of late-stage failures in which nearly a billion dollars of research funds had been invested, he and almost a thousand other research scientists found that the company would need to significantly reduce headcount. Therefore Matt had applied for the job of Chief Scientific Officer with a new biotech start-up company, BioQex located on the InnoFind Science Park in the university town of Persford in the south of England. It meant selling up and moving of course but his wife was supportive and his son Toby who was now pre-school age, had been only about six months old at the time of the move. They had realised that if Matt wanted to change jobs it was better to move in the years before their son was settled into primary school. At the time he’d had mixed feelings about the move as he had no desire to renew acquaintance with a certain person. Having been close friends at university they’d drifted apart. Relationships often run their course and he felt it best to close the door on this particular one. Fortunately, Persford was a big enough place, not like a small village where everyone knew everyone’s business. During the last five years, the Science Park had expanded considerably attracting a wide range of companies. As well as biotech companies there was investment in robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, telecommunications, to name a few.  These served to attract highly qualified people to the town which increasingly gave a prosperous and international atmosphere to Persford. 

Matt could well have been retained by his employer but he felt it was safer to grasp the opportunity when it arose rather than to be scrabbling around for jobs at the same time as everyone else. His parents were also thrilled that he was now virtually leading a small company. They were also accomplished scientists and were proud he was keeping up the family tradition. Throughout his schooling, it had been assumed that he would become a scientist. It was not a subject his parents gave over to discussion. Any suggestion from Matt that he might follow an alternative career elicited a frown of disapproval or a pull of the mouth. However, Matt was equally interested in the business side of things as well as the science and he relished the chance to focus more on that aspect in a small company. His marketing and people skills would be invaluable as it was all about making the correct pitch to investors as well as directing the actual science. Somehow he’d been endowed with or had developed good interpersonal skills, unlike his parents who had been cool and distant from Matt and his brother.

He’d made the change in career to BioQex two years ago and for the first six months or so he felt his decision had been sound. However, working in a small company of around twenty scientific staff was much tougher than he had envisaged. He could easily cope with the management side of things and his personality was ideally suited to making talks to business people, however having to lead and direct the research was becoming increasingly tough. He was beginning to feel extremely stretched and uncomfortable, the headaches were getting worse, he was drinking too much. It was affecting his home life, he knew he didn’t spend enough time with his son Toby. But he enjoyed the kudos, he was getting a lot of admiration and accolades, it was funding a nice lifestyle. The trouble was that in a small company there was nowhere to hide, every decision was crucial and was scrutinised. In his darker moments, he was beginning to question whether he had made the wrong decision twelve years ago. He shouldn’t have been so keen to follow his parents’ careers in science, he would have been better suited to a career in finance all along but his father, in particular, looked down so much on a job in the city. He wanted Matt to do something for the good of the world rather than being a ‘parasite’ as he liked to think of financial types. He also liked to remind Matt how much they had supported him financially whilst he was studying and had been willing to lend him extra cash amounts from time to time with little explanation from Matt as to why he needed occasional large sums to help with living expenses. Matt began to think he had been swept along by a tide which he should have resisted. If he had stood up to his parents he might have chosen something which was more tailored to his talents.

The CEO of the company, Dr Piers Frobisher, was very much ‘hands off’ in terms of the day to day running the company, just interested in the overall picture, Matt was primarily in the driving seat in terms of the research. He was ably if rather grudgingly at times assisted by his Head of Biology, Dr Bob McKewan, who had been a colleague of Matt at his previous company. At fifty-eight Bob could be considered to be close to retirement but never discussed the subject, he liked to create the impression that he would carry on forever and be taken out on a stretcher rather than give up his passion for science. Matt couldn’t help thinking that if Bob didn’t cut down on his cigarette habit he might be carried out feet first sooner than he expected. Having a mainly sedentary occupation meant that Bob’s figure was tending towards portly rather than well built which might have been an apt descriptor in his younger years.  Considering he was working in healthcare he seemed to have little regard for his own well being. He was forever popping out to smoke outside the building although thankfully didn’t indulge in his vice by the front door of the building, not the best advert for the company.

Now was no time for self-doubt Matt told himself. He needed to stay positive and steer the company through the next couple of weeks at least. Perhaps their front-runner prototype would prove attractive enough to be snapped up by one of the bigger players and there would be a big windfall for all staff and particularly himself. Then he could change careers, perhaps take some time off, say goodbye to science. Should this happen he need not worry what his eminent scientific parents thought of him and he wouldn’t need to keep them sweet for any more bailouts. They had made it quite clear they would assist him from time to time if he remained in the field of science and medicine but not if he chose to pursue some financial career in the city.

So fortified with a large coffee he headed back to the office to catch up with some admin and look through his slides for the venture capital meeting in a couple of weeks.

Chapter 2

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Sarah Grant made her third visit to the ladies’ toilets that morning, she was feeling extremely queasy, it wouldn’t be long before people started to suspect something was wrong. She’d told them it was food poisoning but if this morning sickness carried on she couldn’t keep on saying it was something she’d eaten. Also, there was the continuing issue of working in the laboratory environment, it was a bit risky but other people did it, some companies had different policies of working in the laboratory whilst pregnant and wouldn't allow it but this was start-up biotech, they wanted every ounce of sweat from people. After all, the biology section allowed pregnant ladies to continue to work in the laboratory. For some reason, she didn’t fully understand it wasn’t considered as dangerous as in chemistry, even though they were handling the same biologically active entities whose effect on the unborn child had yet to be evaluated.

The route to the toilets took her past one of the glass-sided meeting rooms where there was obviously an important discussion taking place. The tension was palpable, Matt looked very stressed, and sweaty, his face set in a stern grimace. Bob McKewan looked miserable as usual and extremely unhappy today, obviously, a difference of opinion was being thrashed out. Probably something to do with this upcoming meeting for funding, everyone in the company knew how important it was.

Sarah wasn’t sure there was ever going to be a good moment to break the news to Matt. He was a lovely guy most of the time but he did have an unpredictable side to his personality, sometimes quick to anger. She’d seen it a few times at work with colleagues who were questioning his judgement. It was impossible to predict how he would receive her news. It could go either way, he could show his sympathetic side or he could tell her to get lost, but she hoped she could get him to listen to her, she had to get him to listen to her.

At thirty-seven years old, Sarah Grant was one of the senior chemists at BioQex supervising Nick, Caroline and Kirsty. She was pleasantly attractive, always smartly dressed, quietly confident but not brash. She did a good job, nothing outstanding and could have been even better if she could concentrate on the job. Sarah had enjoyed a series of unsuccessful relationships, sadly she could never find Mr Right, lots of Mr Wrongs and her colleagues were getting a bit tired of hearing about it all. They were also tired of hearing about her biological clock and how that was ticking away. Sarah had lots of friends with children and was desperate for a child of her own, preferably with a husband but she was beginning to give up on that idea. Once the initial shock of a positive test result had worn off, and the panic had subsided she began to feel quite thrilled despite not being in a stable relationship. Initially, when she was a few weeks late she just assumed it was her cycle changing as she approached the age of forty. She had also suffered a few miscarriages in earlier relationships which had contributed to the breakups, such was the disappointment she became moody and difficult to live with. So she had begun to think that she might need some fertility treatment or at least some planning to enable her to become pregnant.

She hoped that this time she would be able to carry the baby to term but she really needed to look after herself. However, if she was going to go public with her pregnancy she would need to make up a boyfriend or admit to a one night stand. The actual father would have to remain a secret or a secret just between themselves, that’s if he was prepared to be understanding. However there was one stumbling block, a child was very expensive and she would need to take maternity leave for a while, then possibly only return to work part-time and pay for childcare. Her parents were retired and reasonably comfortable financially although they weren’t extravagant and she was certain they would not be pleased with her taking this path. They, in particular, her father, believed that a child should have two parents who were preferably married.

She hadn’t told her mother about her pregnancy, they had drifted apart over the last couple of years. However, Sarah felt that the baby had to come first despite what her parents might say and the father had certainly played a part in this and enjoyed himself, that was obvious, he must share the responsibility. If she were being honest they had both used each other in different ways. She just needed to plan and approach this in the best way, it had been occupying her thoughts for a couple of weeks now. Timing was crucial and it was now apparent that there was no time like the present. Stress was very harmful in the early