You know what they mean when they say: Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Well, for months, speculation about the fate of Raleigh’s largest home-grown drug company, Salix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SLXP), has revolved around whether the company would be able to stay independent, especially since the multibillion-dollar drug company does not have a CEO. Earlier this month, longtime Salix CEO Carolyn Logan stepped down. Company Chairman Thomas D’Alonzo has assumed the CEO role on an interim basis.

It…