Brenda sat in the federal detention center's interview room with her attorney Marcus Walsh and prosecutor Sarah Mitchell, flanked by Detective Morrison and an FBI agent named Chen who specialized in corporate crimes; she'd been offered a deal that morning: full cooperation in the Lee Chung poisoning case in exchange for reduced sentencing on the corporate espionage charges.

"Before we proceed, I want the terms clear," Marcus said, reviewing the written plea agreement. "My client testifies ...