Chapter 7 - The Locked Office
The key belonged to a private records facility owned by Mercer Biotech.
Sarah learned this by following Daniel.
Two days after his confession, Daniel left home at 10:40 p.m. He had told Sarah he was going to the hospital, but he drove in the opposite direction.
Sarah followed in Margaret’s old sedan.
Daniel stopped at a windowless building near the industrial district. There was no company name outside, only the circle-and-line symbol etched into the glass entrance.
He used a security card to enter.
Sarah parked one street away.
Margaret waited in the passenger seat.
“This is reckless,” Margaret said.
“You came with me.”
“That makes both of us reckless.”
Sarah held up the silver key.
“I need to know what Room 6 is.”
They approached the rear of the building.
Margaret’s granddaughter, Lily, had once worked for a security company and had taught her grandmother more than Sarah expected about basic alarm systems. Margaret removed an exterior panel and bridged two wires with a paper clip.
A green light appeared.
The service door unlocked.
“You could have mentioned this skill earlier,” Sarah whispered.
“I have a complicated family.”
Inside, the corridors smelled of disinfectant.
Sarah heard distant voices.
She and Margaret moved toward a directory mounted near the elevator.
ARCHIVE LEVEL
CLINICAL STORAGE
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
Room numbers began with six.
They took the stairs.
The basement was colder than the floors above. Metal doors lined the corridor.
Daniel’s voice came from an office at the far end.
Sarah and Margaret hid behind a storage cart.
Victor Mercer stood inside the office with Daniel.
“You told her too much,” Mercer said.
“She had the bracelets.”
“You should have destroyed them.”
“You said they were already destroyed.”
“And you believed me?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“I need the transfer completed before Ethan’s next procedure.”
Mercer poured himself a drink.
“The policy change requires Sarah’s authorization.”
“I can obtain it.”
“She’s suspicious.”
“She’s frightened. Frightened people are easy to control.”
Sarah’s fingers tightened around the cart.
Mercer leaned against the desk.
“What about the nurse?”
“I’ll handle her.”
“And Margaret Vale?”
Daniel hesitated.
“The old woman isn’t a threat.”
Mercer smiled without warmth.
“Her daughter thought the same.”
Margaret covered her mouth.
Sarah touched her shoulder.
Daniel placed a folder on the desk.
“The donor has agreed?”
“He agreed to testing.”
“He doesn’t know who Ethan is?”
“Not yet.”
Daniel stared at the folder.
“If he’s a match, Ethan survives.”
“And if the procedure succeeds, Mercer Biotech receives approval for the Halcyon protocol.”
“You promised Ethan wouldn’t be harmed.”
“Every clinical advance carries risk.”
Daniel grabbed Mercer’s collar.
“He is my son.”
Mercer looked down at Daniel’s hands.
“Is he?”
Daniel released him.
Mercer straightened his tie.
“You are emotionally compromised. Remember what is at stake. If Sarah learns the full truth, you lose your family, your position, and your freedom.”
Daniel picked up the folder.
“I need another week.”
“You have three days.”
Daniel left the office through another door.
Sarah waited until his footsteps faded.
She and Margaret reached the archive corridor.
Room 6 stood at the end.
The silver key fit.
Inside were shelves containing boxes marked with dates, patient numbers, and trial codes.
Sarah found the year Ethan was born.
A box labeled CARTER-SLOAN contained photographs, blood reports, consent forms, and a video cassette.
Margaret found another box.
“Anna.”
Her daughter’s name was written across the lid.
Before they could open either container, an alarm sounded.
Red lights flashed overhead.
The archive door locked automatically.
A voice came through the speaker.
May you like
“Mrs. Carter,” Victor Mercer said. “Please remain where you are.”
Gas began pouring through the ceiling vents.
