David followed the strange young man into his cabin to find the room had already been ransacked.
"You didn't find what you were looking for?" he asked.
Mr Campbell patted a large case that was stood on the dining table.
"We found plenty; we just want to make sure this is everything before we get to the nitty-gritty of signing the paperwork."
"You really think you can pretend that this is all legal and above board." asked David amazed.
Mr Campbell only smiled.
"Dr Hayward, I am very well paid for the work that I do and I can assure you the results are the only thing my employers are interested, and I always get results. Admittedly this is a little more messy than I usually like but that was due to an unfortunate setback with a colleague and then the hospital taking it upon themselves to sabotage my good work."
"Sabotage…" said David suddenly making a different connection.
Sabotage? Sabotage as in intentionally contaminating Bianca's medication! The tests he had done on the cheap drugs from that new supplier had proven they were tainted with an unknown chemical, what if it wasn't accident?
"Does your employer have any links to Globalnox?" David asked.
"They are a subsidiary, yes." said Mr Campbell, pleased that David had been able to work it out.
"You adulterated those drugs with something… something that would interfere with the Orpheus treatment!"
"Theno-carboxihyrophan, a little discovery from our employer's labs; an almost untraceable drug that in high enough doses causes an excruciating overload on the human nervous system. It sells very well to those governments that still endorse torture."
"I knew there was nothing wrong with my serum!" cried David. "You could have killed Bianca!"
"Our only goal was to make Orpheus worthless to you; a failure that you would happily sell to us for a reasonable price. Only the hospital withdrew treatment forcing us to somewhat accelerate our plans."
"You were worried that when the treatment stopped and Bianca suddenly got better the sabotage would be traced back to you!" concluded David.
"There is that. But now we have a new way to level the playing field." said Mr Campbell smoothly. "So for your daughter's sake and all the other hostages, which I believe also includes your grandson, I trust you will co-operate with us without any undue fuss."
David scowled at the cool young man. If it wasn't for the heavies he'd brought with him David would have beaten this snot nosed kid to within an inch of his life, but instead he buried his anger."
"What do you want from me exactly?" David asked.
"Well we have everything; bloods, tissue samples, even samples of the drug itself, but it is proving… if you will… a difficult nut to crack. It would seem the missing key to your miracle drug is you."
David glanced at the empty lab table.
"You have all my paperwork, the formula is right there. It is no more complicated than that. Take it, take it all… just leave my family be."
"Very touching." said Mr Campbell, "But no… my employers are not just interested in the cure of the century, they are also interested in the mind that created it. Your mind… We would set you up in a top of the range laboratory, with excellent staff and unlimited funding."
David just starred at the man in amazement.
"Is that a no?"
"That's a no."
"Pity… although the report we had on you did suggest that you don't work well with others so perhaps it is for the best. Very well, please check that this is everything you have on Orpheus… If I find out that you have tried to hold back on us, I will not be pleased, and I'm afraid my colleague at the hospital may act on my displeasure."
"If I give you everything you will leave." asked David.
"You have my word."
"And my family will be safe."
"Your family will be safe." said Mr Campbell, "You have my assurance that no harm would come to your daughters or your son… or anyone else you care about. I personally guarantee it."
David reluctantly looked into the large case on the table. They had his notebooks and his computer hard drive. They even had every vial from his drugs cabinet.
"You need my research papers," he said walking towards his lab table.
"Nice slow movements, Dr Hayward, please." ordered Mr Campbell, "Or you will make Mr Salt twitchy."
David pulled at a drawer and picked up a computer disk. He reluctantly handed it to the slick young man.
"This is my life's work." said David. "This is everything I have ever written about developing Orpheus."
"Excellent." said the young man, reverently placing the disk in the case with everything else. "Now there is only the little matter of the paperwork… Mr Salt!"
The thuggish associate of Mr Campbell came forward with a document folder and a pen in his hand.
"Please sign where the cross is indicated." said Mr Campbell.
"You can't expect to get away with this." said David as he scribbled off his signature.
"You know you would be surprised how many people have said that to me over the years, and yet here I am… still getting away with it. Are we done?"
Mr Campbell gathered up the papers and then waved outside summoning the second thug from the car. The man, who David had christened Mr Pepper, picked up the heavy case with ease.
"It would seem our business is concluded. Reasonable payment will be forwarded to your bank account in due time, but of course you don't do it for the money. It is a shame I couldn't persuade you to come and work for us, a mind like yours is such a beautiful thing to waste."
"Just leave." said David angrily.
"I shall. I shall leave you in the capable hands of Mr Salt."
David looked suspiciously at the large man in black who was smiling a crooked smile and cracking his knuckles.
Mr Campbell was still talking.
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you Dr Hayward...
"I'm afraid I can't say the same." snapped David although he looked warily at Mr Salt.
The goon suddenly grabbed hold of him, forcing his hands behind his back. David cried out in surprise.
"Ah, humour to the end," said Mr Campbell, still smiling, "I do like that. It does seem a pity… but you have chosen such a dangerous profession. Building a laboratory with no proper safeguards and all these flammable chemicals…"
David looked wildly around the cabin as Mr Salt tied him to a chair. There was a stack of gas canisters by the door.
"You said you wouldn't hurt me!" shouted David struggling against his bonds.
"No I said I wouldn't hurt your family, and I will keep my word." said Mr Campbell, as cool as ever. "But if you won't work for us, it is in our best interests to see that you don't work for anyone…"
…