Chapter 9 - The Explosion
My heart pounded violently against my ribs as I braced myself for terrible medical news.
"Your mother was not just being physically abused," the doctor explained quietly.
"Her blood is completely saturated with a powerful, highly illegal neurological paralytic."
The doctor handed me a toxicological report showing off-the-charts levels of the dangerous drug.
"This chemical is exclusively used by high-level organized crime syndicates to keep kidnapping victims compliant," he said.
Julian had not purchased this drug from a local pharmacy or a corrupt doctor.
He had acquired it directly from a violent international criminal cartel.
Miller knocked on the door and entered the room holding a sealed evidence bag.
"We searched Julian's pockets when we booked him into the county jail," Miller announced grimly.
"We found a contract signed with a notorious crime syndicate."
Miller held up the legal document for me to read under the harsh fluorescent lights.
Julian had not just stolen my mother's money and sold her property.
He had used her stolen identity to borrow ten million dollars from the cartel to fund a failed cryptocurrency scheme.
He was planning to kill her tonight because the cartel's ultimate deadline for repayment was exactly midnight.
Julian believed that her death would automatically void the contract and erase the massive debt.
I looked at the clock on the hospital wall, realizing the terrible, impending truth.
It was exactly five minutes until midnight.
"The cartel is not going after Julian," I realized, my blood running completely cold.
May you like
"Because they think my mother is the one who owes them the money."
The power in the entire hospital suddenly flickered and went completely dark.
