جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 86

The email from Mei Foundation arrived shortly after nine. I was halfway through reviewing the week's research schedule when the notification appeared on my screen. I almost left it until later. There were already several messages waiting for my attention, and I had learned that opening one official email could easily take up the rest of my morning.Then I saw the sender's name. I opened it, the message was addressed to me and concerned the foundation's ongoing partnership review. Mei had completed an initial assessment of the documents we submitted, but there were questions about one part of our research procedure.I read the paragraph twice.They wanted clarification on how information collected during routine follow-up with families would be handled if that information was later used for research.I sat back.It wasn't an unreasonable question; we had separate procedures for patient care and research participation. A parent who declined research participation was not supposed to lose

Charles POVMy phone rang just as I was putting the old correspondence back into its folder. Tina's name appeared on the screen. I looked at it for a moment before answering."Charles." She called, "Did you have a discussion with someone connected to the old programme's withdrawal?" she askedI stood beside my desk. "Who told you about that?" I asked"Daniel's contact. Apparently, they remember you being involved in a separate discussion around that time," she saidI rubbed my forehead, "They're right; there was a discussion, but it wasn't about the withdrawal itself.""Then what was it about?" she asked. "Did you know the programme was going to be withdrawn?" she continued"No, not from that discussion," I replied. There was a short silence from her. "Charles, I need you to understand why I'm asking. Daniel is trying to establish who made that decision. If you were involved in something connected to it, I need to know.""I understand," I replied"Can you find out what the discussion

Adrian POVI was halfway down the corridor when my phone rang again. I had barely made it out of the foundation building. Tina's last words were still in my head, but I answered without looking at the screen."Have you found it?" I asked."Not the original," the caller replied. "But there's a copy; it came with the request that arrived this afternoon."I stopped beside the lift. "Who submitted the request?" I asked"I can't tell from the copy I received. It came through the proper channel.""Who has seen it?" he asked"Two people here," the caller replied"Have they sent it anywhere?" I asked"No, I thought you should look at it first," the caller repliedI glanced towards the glass doors at the end of the corridor. "Where are you now?" I asked"At the office.""I'm on my way. Keep the copy there until I arrive; don't send it to anyone else," they said"I understand," they respondedI ended the call. The lift doors opened. I stepped inside, but before they closed, I looked back towards