Chapter 3 - The Woman in the Red CoatDaniel sprinted down the corridor.
“Sir!”
Security officers shouted behind him.
He didn't stop.
Another gunshot cracked through the hospital.
Patients screamed.
Nurses scattered.
A crash cart overturned.
Daniel reached the maternity wing and found chaos.
A nurse was crouched behind the reception desk.
A security guard lay unconscious near the elevators.
Daniel's heart slammed against his ribs.
“Where's my wife?”
The nurse pointed toward the surgical wing.
“Operating room three!”
Daniel ran.
The hallway seemed endless.
Then he saw her.
A woman standing beneath the flickering emergency light.
Red coat.
Black gloves.
Dark hair.
She wasn't running.
She was waiting.
Daniel stopped.
“Vanessa.”
She smiled.
Not the wild smile from the mansion.
This was different.
Cold.
Controlled.
“You always were predictable, little brother.”
Daniel's fists tightened.
“You attacked my wife.”
“I never touched her.”
“You sent someone.”
Vanessa tilted her head.
“Did I?”
Daniel took another step.
“Where's the person who gave you access?”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“You finally understand.”
“Who?”
“You really think this is about the company?”
“You've spent six months trying to steal the Mercer Group.”
“No.”
She slowly shook her head.
“I've spent six months trying to stop you from opening the wrong door.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa glanced toward the operating room.
“Your father wasn't the man you thought he was.”
“Don't talk about Dad.”
“He lied to both of us.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You're insane.”
“Maybe.”
She stepped closer.
“But I'm not wrong.”
A medical alarm suddenly sounded behind the operating room doors.
Daniel turned.
A doctor rushed out.
“Mr. Mercer!”
Daniel ran toward him.
“How are they?”
“We're stabilizing your wife.”
“And the babies?”
The doctor hesitated.
“One baby's heart rate has improved.”
Daniel exhaled.
“And the other?”
The doctor looked at him.
“We're still fighting.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Behind him, Vanessa whispered:
“That's why you need the ledger.”
Daniel turned.
She was gone.
He looked down the corridor.
Nothing.
No red coat.
No footsteps.
Only the sound of alarms.
Then his phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared.
Daniel opened it.
His blood froze.
It was a photograph of Chloe.
Taken only minutes earlier.
Inside the operating room.
Someone had taken it from above.
Daniel looked up.
The ceiling.
Security cameras.
His mind connected the pieces.
The hospital cameras had been compromised.
He turned toward the security desk.
“Get me the surveillance footage.”
The security officer shook his head.
“We've lost the network.”
“Then restore it.”
“We can't.”
Daniel grabbed his collar.
“You don't understand. Someone is inside this hospital.”
The officer looked terrified.
“We know.”
“What?”
He pointed toward the maternity wing.
“Three nurses disappeared from their stations.”
Daniel released him.
A cold realization settled over him.
This wasn't an escape.
It was an operation.
Someone had planned every step.
The mansion.
The ambulance.
The hospital.
Everything.
Daniel's phone rang.
This time, the number wasn't hidden.
It belonged to someone he knew.
Marcus Reed.
His father's former chief financial officer.
Marcus had disappeared after Daniel took control of the company.
Daniel answered.
“Where are you?”
Marcus's voice was barely audible.
“Daniel…”
“Did you know about the second ledger?”
Silence.
“Marcus!”
“Yes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“How long?”
“Since your father was alive.”
“What's in it?”
Marcus breathed heavily.
“Names.”
“What names?”
“People your father paid.”
“For what?”
Another silence.
Then Marcus said:
“Disappearances.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“What?”
“Your father wasn't just moving money offshore.”
Marcus's voice cracked.
“He was paying people to make problems disappear.”
Daniel felt sick.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“No.”
Marcus whispered:
“Of the people who were still working for him.”
Daniel stared at the operating room doors.
“Who are they?”
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus!”
“They're called the Black Ledger Circle.”
Daniel had never heard the name.
Marcus continued.
“They don't exist on paper. They don't have offices. They don't have official members.”
“Then how do I find them?”
“You don't.”
“Why?”
“Because once they know you're looking…”
A gunshot exploded through the phone.
Daniel froze.
“Marcus?”
Static.
“Marcus!”
Nothing.
Then one final whisper.
“Don't trust the doctor.”
The call ended.
Daniel stared at his phone.
The doctor.
His eyes slowly moved toward the surgical doors.
Dr. Miller.
The man currently operating on Chloe.
Daniel's stomach turned.
He immediately stepped toward the operating room.
A nurse blocked him.
“Sir, you can't go in.”
“Get out of my way.”
“Mr. Mercer—”
“Now.”
The nurse backed away.
Daniel reached for the door.
Then stopped.
A hand appeared through the small glass window.
Chloe's hand.
Her fingers pressed against the glass.
Daniel's heart broke.
“Chloe!”
Her eyes were open.
Terrified.
She mouthed four words.
DON'T TRUST HIM.
Daniel looked inside.
Dr. Miller stood over her.
He slowly turned.
May you like
Their eyes met.
And the doctor smiled.
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