Page 102 of Crash Course
"The files I found," Cilla said, "are settlement agreements with residents of Morgan. From what I read, the settlements don’t reveal that Randolph Industries has contaminated their property. In exchange they get cash, free medical and remediation attempts."
"Well," Phin said, sarcasm dripping like molasses, "I guess that answers your question about what your father knows."
"It sure does."
"How many cases?"
Cilla shrugged. "From what I could tell, at least fifty. Those are the settled ones. Who knows how many are in the works."
"All righty then." Phin let out a huff and dropped into the overstuffed side chair. "What can I do?"
"I don’t know. I wanted so badly to believe my father didn’t know about the contamination. I can’t walk that back now. He knows. Plus, he sabotaged one of my cases today. Probably reminding me how much power he has."
"No way. He admitted that?"
"First thing to know about my father? He’s a narcissist. He will admit nothing. He says enough to get the message across. And he got the message across. Loud and clear. Now, I face blowing the whistle on the man who’s given me everything."
"That’s not true," Cruz said. "He gave you a start, but you’ve built your own life."
Phin pointed at Cruz. "He’s right. Besides, the way your dad talks about you, you’ve given him bragging rights. You don’t owe him anything, Cilla."
She gave them a piss-poor attempt at a smile. "Thank you. I appreciate that, but what kind of daughter does it make me if I squeal on him?"
"Um," Cruz said, "how about one who cares about saving lives?"
"Wait." Phin blew right by Cruz’s statement, "Maybe it doesn’t have to come from you."
Cilla nodded. "That’s why we called you. Randolph Industries is on the EPA's radar. I asked Dad about them the other day and he told me the company is compliant. Which, based on those settlement agreements, appears to be a lie."
Cruz wagged a finger at Phin. "Maybe we get Ro to see if he can hack into Randolph and find anything on pending cases."
Phin shrugged. "How does that help us?"
"If the agreement isn’t signed, the people involved aren’t bound by a confidentiality clause. They could talk."
Cilla narrowed her gaze. "They sure could. Dad is settling these individual cases to avoid a class action suit. That could cost billions."
Cruz put up his hands again. "Maybe we can leak one of these documents?"
Phin gawked. "And give Zeke a coronary? We signed an NDA."
Again with the NDA? Come on! His brother did not just fucking say that. "People could be dying. Fuck the NDA."
"Whoa." Cilla walked to him and gripped his hands. "Phin is right. If you violate the NDA, my father will destroy you. There’s another way." She turned back to Phin. "Kayla knows someone at the EPA, right?"
"Yeah. At the federal level."
"Doesn’t matter. They’ll probably know someone at state. Can you put me in touch with Kayla?"
"Absolutely. I’ll do it first thing. But, seriously, are you sure about this?"
When Cilla went silent, Cruz turned to Phin. "Sorry we dragged you down here. Go back to Maddy. I’ll call you in a couple hours."
"Not a problem. Keep me posted." He headed for the door, but turned back. "By the way, it’s gonna be warm the next couple days. Mom told me last night she wants a family cookout. Be ready for her to mention it. You got plans tonight or tomorrow?"
Uh, yeah.After last night, he intended to spend every ounce of spare time naked and in bed with Cilla. He wouldn’t tell his brother that, though. At least not in front of Cilla.
Phin, being Phin, sensed hesitation. His eyebrows hiked up half an inch and then he swung to Cilla. "You wanna come to a cookout? Best ribs you’ll find in four counties."
