Chapter 12 - The Phantom File

The shocking news of Brenda's sudden death sent a violent and freezing shiver down my spine. The warden explained that it appeared to be a heart attack, but I knew that was a pathetic lie. Someone had silenced her permanently to ensure the dark truth about the baby remained completely buried. I demanded to see her personal belongings, threatening to involve my high powered corporate legal team. The warden nervously handed over a small plastic evidence bag containing Brenda's final worldly possessions. Inside the clear bag was a cheap plastic comb, a torn photograph, and a heavily worn Bible. Luke immediately grabbed the Bible and began flipping through the thin, yellowed pages with intense focus. His sharp eyes noticed tiny pinpricks under specific letters scattered throughout the Book of Genesis. My brilliant son decoded the hidden message in less than three minutes right in the dirty prison lobby. The secret message contained a specific locker number at the central train station and a secure combination code. We left the prison immediately, ordering our heavily armed bodyguard to drive us downtown at top speed. The massive train station was crowded with busy evening commuters, providing the perfect cover for our mission. I navigated through the sea of people and finally found the rusty metal locker hidden in a dark corridor. I punched in the four digit code Luke had deciphered and prayed the contents were still inside. The heavy metal door clicked open, revealing a single thick manila folder resting in the shadows. I pulled the folder out and opened it beneath the flickering fluorescent lights of the train terminal. It contained stolen medical records from a highly exclusive private fertility clinic in Beverly Hills. The documents proved that Christopher had illegally harvested Luke's genetic material during a routine appendectomy surgery. He had forced Brenda to undergo the procedure to create an heir that could bypass my father's corporate rules. The sickening reality of my ex-husband's absolute depravity made my stomach violently churn in disgust. I turned to show the horrifying documents to Luke, feeling a massive wave of protective anger. Before I could even speak a word, a bright red laser sight suddenly appeared perfectly centered on Luke's chest.