Chapter 22 Summary

Jeffrey Kruger combs through Walter Jenkins’s emails, searching for anything that might expose GenaSeed. Most appear routine, though one message stands out: Jenkins confided to a private contact that he believed he was being followed. With no proof attached, Kruger dismisses the concern as vague paranoia. Still, he forwards select emails to himself before logging out, relieved that nothing he uncovered could harm the company.

Meanwhile, Cortez rejoins Bruner after escorting Tony from headquarters. Bruner views the hostile meeting not as a failure but as part of a larger game, convinced Russell now believes he has leverage. He instructs Cortez to dig into Russell’s life and company for weaknesses. Cortez outwardly agrees, but inwardly, he settles on a harsher solution: eliminating Russell.

Elsewhere in the Met Building, Jennifer Bennett unexpectedly encounters Tony in the lobby. Their polite introductions soon lead to an impromptu walk toward the Gateway Arch, where they discuss the LAB Conference, GenaSeed’s tactics, and Tony’s frustrating meeting with Bruner. Their exchange is candid and guarded, with Tony insisting much of it remain off the record. The conversation shifts as Tony proposes dinner, sealing the plan with a coin toss that favors his charm. Before they part, Jennifer suddenly remembers her imminent appointment with Sandra Brown. Laughing at her own forgetfulness, she dashes back toward GenaSeed, Tony trailing after her with amused persistence.