Chapter 3 - The Secret Backup
Naomi did not struggle as the heavy hands of the security guards gripped her arms.
She allowed them to march her out of the pediatric intensive care unit.
As she passed the medical director, she offered him a cold, pitying smile.
"You can destroy the files on my computer, Doctor Harrison," Naomi said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"But you cannot destroy the physical blood samples I already sent to an independent, off-site laboratory across town."
The medical director turned completely pale and looked nervously at the corporate lawyers.
Cassandra let out a sharp gasp, her triumphant smirk vanishing instantly.
Elijah watched Naomi being escorted down the hallway, his expression torn between blinding anger and deep confusion.
The security guards pushed Naomi through the hospital lobby and out into the pouring rain.
They stripped her of her hospital identification badge and locked the sliding glass doors behind her.
Naomi pulled her coat tightly around her shoulders and walked quickly toward the dark parking garage.
She needed to get to her car and drive directly to the independent laboratory before Elijah’s lawyers could intercept the blood samples.
The concrete parking structure was empty and echoed with the sound of her wet shoes squeaking against the pavement.
She found her modest sedan parked on the third level, surrounded by shadows.
Naomi pressed the unlock button on her key fob, and the headlights flashed yellow in the gloom.
She opened the driver’s side door and slid into the cold leather seat.
As she reached to start the engine, she felt a sudden, chilling shift in the air behind her.
A gloved hand reached over the driver’s seat and clamped tightly over her mouth.
Naomi screamed into the leather glove, thrashing wildly against her unseen attacker.
The cold, heavy barrel of a suppressed handgun was pressed firmly against her right temple.
"Do not make a sound, Doctor Wheeler," a deep, rough voice whispered directly into her ear.
Naomi froze completely, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror.
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The man holding the gun to her head was Marcus, the intimidating head of security for Elijah’s corporate empire.
"Cassandra paid me a lot of money to make sure you never reach that independent lab," Marcus stated flatly.
