Mr. Park Lane (The Mister)

Gerry chortled and then jumped when his phone started to ring.

“Saturday night?” Jacob asked me.

I shook my head. “Honestly, I’m sure you have better things to be doing—”

“It’ll be fun. I’m on shift, so shall we meet at eight thirty somewhere? I’ll text you the name of a place.”

I shrugged. I could hardly say no in front of my boss, who’d just set me up. “Okay. Let me know and I’ll be there.” I tried to sound enthusiastic, but I was a terrible faker.

Gerry put down his phone and Jacob swept out, pulling the door closed behind him.

“So,” he said, and cleared his throat. “We got sidetracked last week talking about what you’re going to be doing outside the hospital. Tell me, are you enjoying yourself?”

“Everyone has been very welcoming and I feel like I’ve been here longer than I have.” I wondered if I should mention he looked like he hadn’t slept for a week. “The extracurricular stuff is a challenge. But I’m working on it.”

“I see you are. Keep at it. I’ll need updates every two weeks. In the meantime, I could use your help with something. But I don’t want it to interfere with you settling in or finding yourself a life outside work.”

That sounded intriguing. I nodded, urging him on.

“I mean it, Hartford. It’s the kind of project that can consume you. You have to promise me you’re going to keep up with the good work you’re doing outside the hospital.”

“I promise,” I replied.

He pushed back in his chair and exhaled, nodding. “What I’m about to tell you is highly confidential and you must repeat it to no one under any circumstances.” Gerry’s expression turned from jolly to steely.

“Okay, I won’t tell a soul.”

“I used to teach at Harvard Medical School and have many wonderful friends in America, many of whom were students or faculty from my six years in Cambridge. One of those friends now works for a major pharmaceutical company over there and has shared some very disturbing news indeed.”

He paused as if he wanted me to say something, but I had no idea where he was going with this.

“My friend has come to me because the company they work for has had a change of strategy in order to boost sales in respect to certain drugs currently in development. They have an entire division tasked with developing drugs that can be sold over the counter. That doesn’t sound controversial, does it?” He didn’t wait for a response, though I shook my head anyway. “But they have teams of people looking at the rules and guidance so the drug gets through loopholes and patchy legislation. By all accounts, they’re bribing regulators left and right.”

I could feel the hairs on my arms stand to attention. Drug companies held so much power and could do so much good, but three steps to the left and they could do so much harm.

“Merdon are angling for over-the-counter approval on a number of their new drugs, which are close approximations of formulas currently available exclusively on prescription. What’s worse is that they’re targeting medicines for children first. They hope they can take advantage of parents wanting the best and quickest help for their children.”

I could feel the bite of his words in my sternum. “That’s disgraceful. Do you think they’ll get away with it?”

“Well, I’m doing my best to ensure they don’t. But I have to be careful because I don’t want my friend to risk her job and reputation.”

“You said you wanted my help. What can I do?”

Gerry sighed. “They’re starting in America. With a drug for ADHD called Calmation.”

“Calmation? I’ve read about it in the journals. There’s got to be a mistake.” There was no way a drug so powerful could be sold without a prescription.

“No, they’re just weeks away from filing. When they get regulatory approval in America, they’ll use it to put pressure on the British regulator. They intend to spread their rot this side of the Atlantic.”

“So—” I started then paused, my mind ringing with the sound of internal alarm bells. This was bad. “No one can expect parents to make medical decisions about children that could cause lasting damage. A child with such a serious medical condition should be monitored by a doctor.” My fury was snowballing. “You’re telling me Merdon is going to try to sell a drug that alters a child’s mood over the counter, like it’s a lollipop or something?”

“They’re sinking tens of millions into it apparently.”

“What can we do? Sign a petition. Create some kind of lobby. Has anyone spoken to you about it? You’re the best consultant pediatrician in the world.”

He shrugged. “Of course not—Merdon just want to make money and the regulators are a bunch of pen pushers. They don’t actually have to deal with the consequences of their decisions.” Gerry pulled open an old-fashioned metal filing cabinet and took out a file, which he handed to me. “I need fresh eyes to look at the issue and come up with some kind of plan. I thought as you’re not afraid of working in a warzone, you might be just the woman for the job.”