Chapter 5 - The Sabotage in the Lab
At 2:00 AM, the ninth floor of Metropolitan General was pitch black, save for the emergency exit signs casting a faint red glow along the linoleum floor.
In the Central Pathology Lab, a senior technician named Dr. Steven Ross was sitting alone at an electronic workstation. In front of him sat two glass vials containing DNA swabs from Richard Hayes and Maya Miller.
The automated centrifuge whirred quietly in the corner, processing the genetic markers.
The heavy lab door clicked open.
Julian Hayes walked into the sterile room, wearing a dark trench coat.
Dr. Ross looked up, startled. “Mr. Hayes? What are you doing here? This floor is restricted after hours.”
Julian didn't answer. He walked over to the desk, pulled out a thick, unmarked white envelope, and set it down beside the DNA analyzer.
Dr. Ross glanced at the envelope. He opened the flap slightly, revealing fifty thousand dollars in crisp hundred-dollar bills.
“Julian... what is this?” Dr. Ross asked nervously.
“The DNA test you are currently running on the Miller girl,” Julian said, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. “It needs to come back negative. Zero percent genetic match.”
Dr. Ross stared at the money, then at the computer screen. “Mr. Hayes... that’s scientific fraud. Mr. Richard Hayes personally ordered this test. If he finds out—”
“My father is an old man blinded by grief,” Julian interrupted sharply. “He’s seeing ghosts because he misses my mother. If these street kids are linked to our family, it will trigger a corporate lawsuit that will bankrupt our pharmaceutical division. I am protecting this family, Steven.”
Julian stepped closer, towering over the technician. “Swap the blood samples with a control profile from the bank. Do it, and there’s another envelope waiting for you tomorrow morning in Zurich. Refuse, and I will ensure your medical license is revoked by sunrise.”
Dr. Ross’s hands shook uncontrollably. He looked at the cash, then at the screens displaying the genetic sequence.
“I... I understand,” Dr. Ross whispered.
“Good,” Julian said, leaning in. “Make sure the report is delivered directly to my father’s desk at 8:00 AM sharp.”
Julian turned and walked out of the lab, his polished shoes clicking against the tile floor.
Unbeknownst to Julian, sitting in the observation alcove on the far side of the room behind a dark two-way mirror, was Arthur Pendelton.
Arthur had placed high-definition covert cameras inside every wing of the hospital after Richard’s initial order. He recorded the entire interaction, including the exchange of the envelope and Julian’s voice recording, straight to a secure cloud server.
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Arthur watched the door close behind Julian, his face dark with disappointment and anger.
He pulled out his phone and made a call. “Mr. Hayes. We have a severe internal problem. It’s Julian.”
