Chapter 4 - David’s Last Project
Hailey’s father, David Monroe, had been a biomedical engineer.
He died in what police called a single-car accident eleven years earlier.
His vehicle left a mountain road during heavy rain.
I was told he lost control.
Mark claimed David had worked secretly with Acheron Biomedical.
According to him, the capsule was designed to deliver medication over several years.
The project was intended for patients with rare metabolic disorders.
David discovered serious defects.
He planned to report them.
Then he died.
“Are you saying Acheron killed him?” I asked.
“I’m saying David stole something from them.”
“What?”
“The original formula.”
“Why put a capsule inside Hailey?”
Mark’s voice became colder.
“Because the formula was encrypted using his family’s genetic markers.”
Detective Brooks wrote something quickly.
“You used my daughter as a biological key.”
“I protected her inheritance.”
“You cut her open.”
“She was sedated.”
“You told her you removed a cyst.”
“The procedure was safe.”
“She is in emergency surgery.”
Mark stopped speaking.
For the first time, I heard uncertainty in his breathing.
“Who authorized the implant?” Brooks asked.
“Laura did.”
I stared at the phone.
“No.”
Mark’s attorney produced a digital consent form.
It carried my signature.
The form stated that I approved a minor surgical procedure for Hailey.
The authorization had been submitted while I was visiting my mother.
Mark claimed I signed it electronically before leaving.
I had signed insurance documents that week.
He had placed the surgical authorization among them.
Technically, my name was there.
But I had never been shown the real procedure.
Detective Brooks looked furious.
“Consent obtained through deception is not informed consent.”
Mark laughed softly.
“Prove deception.”
The call ended.
Dr. Adler entered the waiting room.
His surgical mask hung beneath his chin.
“The capsule has been removed.”
I stood.
“Is Hailey safe?”
“She is stable.”
“But the device ruptured while we were removing it.”
My heart dropped.
“What was inside?”
“We do not know yet.”
“We found a clear fluid and a microchip.”
“The fluid is being analyzed.”
Dr. Adler held up an evidence photograph.
A serial number had been engraved across the capsule.
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Beneath it were two words.
SUBJECT SEVEN.
