Chapter 11: The Sixteen Survivors
I read the words again.
Subject P-017 — Deceased.
For four years, I had been living my life without knowing that somewhere in a medical database, I had been declared dead.
"How is that possible?"" I asked.
Thomas enlarged the document.
"The foundation's records show that you died forty-eight hours after the accident.""
My mother covered her mouth.
Arthur looked furious.
"Then who authorized the declaration?""
Thomas searched the digital file.
A name appeared.
*Evelyn Brooks.*
I stared at it.
The same woman who had treated me.
The same woman who had called me sweetheart.
The same woman who had told me my father died because he discovered what she had done.
"Why would she declare me dead?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know yet.""
Samuel examined the report.
"Was the foundation legally permitted to access hospital records?""
"No," Thomas replied.
"Not without consent.""
"Then how did Brooks obtain the information?""
Thomas opened another file.
"She was listed as the hospital's external clinical consultant.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Was she allowed to treat me?""
"Not according to the original referral.""
Samuel nodded grimly.
"Which means someone deliberately redirected your care.""
I looked at my mother.
"Why would they do that?""
She took my hand.
"Because your father was trying to stop them.""
Thomas opened the list of participants.
Sixteen names.
Sixteen people who had apparently survived the same experimental program.
I leaned closer.
"Can we find them?""
"Some," Thomas answered.
"Several changed addresses. Two moved overseas. One died from unrelated causes.""
He scrolled farther down.
Then he stopped.
"That's interesting.""
"What?""
"One participant is currently employed by Carter Holdings.""
Arthur frowned.
"Who?""
Thomas turned the screen.
*Mason Reed.*
I looked at him.
"Who is that?""
Arthur's expression changed.
"He's our chief financial officer.""
Samuel leaned forward.
"Call him.""
Arthur immediately dialed.
The phone rang several times.
Finally, a man answered.
"Mr. Carter?""
"Mason, I need you at my office immediately.""
There was a pause.
"Is something wrong?""
"Yes. And I expect you to explain it.""
Mason arrived forty minutes later.
He was a tall man in his early forties with neatly combed brown hair and a dark blue suit.
When he entered the conference room, he greeted Arthur.
Then his eyes landed on me.
He stopped.
I recognized him.
He had visited my hospital room several times during my recovery.
He had brought flowers.
He had brought books.
He had even offered to arrange a private rehabilitation specialist.
At the time, I had thought he was simply being kind.
"Mason?"" I said.
He looked uncomfortable.
"Nia. It's been a long time.""
Arthur gestured toward the chair.
"Sit down.""
Mason did.
Samuel placed the participant list in front of him.
"Do you recognize this document?""
Mason's face changed.
"I've never seen it.""
Thomas pointed toward the name.
"Your name is here.""
Mason glanced at the screen.
Then he looked away.
Arthur's voice became cold.
"Tell us the truth.""
Mason exhaled.
"Yes. I participated in the program.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"You knew?""
He looked at me.
"I was twenty-six. I had suffered a spinal injury in a workplace accident. They told me the treatment was experimental but promising.""
"What did they do?""
He hesitated.
"They administered a combination of neurological stimulants and regenerative compounds. They monitored our reflexes, muscle activity, and nerve responses.""
"Did it work?""
Mason looked down.
"Not exactly.""
He rolled up his sleeve.
A long surgical scar ran along his forearm.
"The treatment caused complications. Some participants experienced severe reactions.""
I looked at him.
"And my father?""
"Daniel was funding the research. He believed it could eventually help people with spinal injuries.""
"Did he know they were testing it without proper consent?""
Mason nodded.
"He found out toward the end.""
"Then why didn't he stop it?""
"He tried.""
Mason's voice became quieter.
"He discovered the foundation had been falsifying results. Some participants had been given incorrect dosages. Others had been enrolled using forged medical authorizations.""
I felt sick.
"And me?""
Mason looked directly at me.
"You weren't supposed to be a participant.""
My throat tightened.
"Then why is my name there?""
He hesitated.
"Because Evelyn Brooks wanted access to your medical records. She believed your injury could provide a useful comparison for the research.""
"Comparison to what?""
"To the other participants.""
Samuel interrupted.
"Did Daniel know?""
Mason nodded.
"He discovered it shortly before the accident. He wanted to remove Nia from the program and expose the foundation.""
Arthur slammed his hand against the table.
"And you said nothing?""
Mason looked ashamed.
"I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
"You visited my hospital room.""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"To make sure you were alive.""
The room went silent.
I could barely speak.
"Was that why you brought flowers?""
Mason looked at me.
"Yes.""
"Was it kindness?""
He swallowed.
"At first.""
The answer hurt more than I expected.
"What happened later?""
He looked toward Samuel.
"Daniel left instructions with me. He wanted me to protect Nia if anything happened to him.""
I frowned.
"Then why didn't you?""
"Because Evelyn threatened my family.""
Mason removed a folded document from his jacket.
"She told me that if I ever spoke about the research, she would release the original medical records and blame me for the unauthorized treatments.""
Thomas took the document.
It was a list of payments.
Several were made to Mason.
Others went to Evelyn.
But one payment caught my attention.
It was dated two days after the accident.
The amount was $250,000.
The recipient was Mason Reed.
I looked at him.
"What's this?""
He closed his eyes.
"Richard paid me to sign a statement saying your father had authorized the treatment.""
My mother stood.
"You helped them?""
Mason nodded.
"I did.""
Arthur looked disgusted.
"Then why should we believe anything you say now?""
Mason removed another item from his jacket.
A small USB drive.
"Because this contains the original recording from the night Daniel came to my house.""
Samuel took it.
"What recording?""
Mason looked at me.
"Your father knew someone was following him. He came to me because he wanted to make sure you were protected.""
I swallowed.
"What did he say?""
Mason looked down.
"He told me that if he didn't survive the next forty-eight hours, I should give this to Nia.""
Thomas connected the drive to his laptop.
A video appeared.
My father sat in a dimly lit room.
His face was bruised.
His shirt collar was torn.
He looked directly into the camera.
"My darling Nia, if you're seeing this, then I have failed to keep a promise.""
My throat tightened.
He continued.
"I need you to understand something. The people who hurt you are not the people you should fear most.""
He paused.
Then he looked toward someone sitting outside the frame.
"Because the person who ordered everything is someone you love.""
The video flickered.
My father's voice became quieter.
"Someone who has been beside you since the day you were born.""
Then the screen went black.
Nobody moved.
I turned toward my mother.
She was crying.
Arthur looked as though someone had struck him.
Samuel replayed the final seconds.
The video froze on my father's face.
Then Thomas noticed something.
A reflection in the window behind him.
A person standing in the doorway.
Thomas enlarged the image.
The face was blurry.
But the person wore a distinctive ring.
A large silver signet ring with a black stone.
Arthur slowly removed his own ring.
He stared at it.
The same design.
The same black stone.
My grandfather's hand began trembling.
"No," he whispered.
I looked at him.
"Grandpa?""
He shook his head.
"Daniel gave me that ring.""
Samuel turned.
"When?""
Arthur's voice cracked.
"The night before he died.""
He looked at me.
"He told me he was afraid of someone in the family.""
I swallowed.
"Who?""
Arthur stared at the frozen image.
May you like
Then he whispered a name.
"Me.""
