Chapter 3 - The Doctor's Confession
"Get down!" I yelled, pushing Noah and Lily toward the floorboards of the car.
A massive black SUV had boxed us in behind the dumpsters.
I slammed the car into reverse and hit the gas pedal with everything I had.
We crashed violently into the side of the SUV, creating just enough space to squeeze past.
Tires squealed in protest as I threw the car into drive and sped onto the empty highway.
I drove erratically for twenty minutes until I was sure we had lost them in the maze of dirt roads.
"We need answers right now," I said, my knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"Where are we going?" Noah asked, clutching the baby to his chest.
"We are paying a visit to Dr. Marcus Hale," I replied.
Hale lived in a heavily guarded penthouse downtown, but I knew the building's blind spots.
I left Noah and Lily safely locked in the car in an underground parking garage two blocks away.
I slipped through the delivery entrance of the high-rise and bypassed the main security desk.
Using an old master keycard from my company days, I rode the service elevator to the top floor.
I kicked open the door to Hale's penthouse, expecting a fight.
Instead, I found the elderly doctor frantically throwing files into a burning fireplace.
"Carter!" he gasped, stumbling backward over his expensive leather sofa.
I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"You signed my sister's death certificate thirteen months ago!" I roared.
"I had to do it!" Hale cried, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
"Who forced you?" I demanded, pressing my forearm into his throat.
"The board of directors discovered a genetic patent Claire created before she died," he choked out.
"They needed her alive to legally sign over the rights, so they hired an actress," he explained.
"Where is the actress now?" I asked, loosening my grip slightly.
"She is at the warehouse on 5th Street, but you cannot stop them, Daniel," Hale whispered.
"The chairman of the board is going to kill us all," he sobbed.
"Give me the chairman's name right now," I commanded.
Hale opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crack shattered the penthouse window.
A sniper's bullet pierced straight through the doctor's chest.
Blood splattered across my face as Hale collapsed lifelessly to the floor.
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I heard the distant wail of police sirens approaching the building.
The true mastermind had just framed me for murder.
