Chapter 4 - The Shadow of the Lab
That night, leaving Maya safely guarded by Mrs. Gable and four of Luka’s private security staff, Luka and I drove back into the city toward the abandoned industrial district.
My father’s original laboratory sat tucked away behind a row of decaying brick warehouses near the waterfront. It had been sealed by court order following his death, but Luka possessed a set of master security keys given to him by my father years ago.
We stepped through the rusted side entrance. Rain leaked through the skylights, pattering against dust-covered counters, broken beaker sets, and empty equipment racks.
"Why are we here?" I whispered, shining a flashlight across the darkened room. "Mark’s team searched this place top to bottom after Dad died."
"Mark searched the physical room," Luka said, walking toward a heavy steel support pillar in the center of the lab. "Your father didn't trust physical files."
Luka knelt beside the base of the pillar, pulled a small knife from his belt, and pried away a metal panel. Behind it was a small, biometric keypad.
"Place your hand on the scanner, Clara," Luka instructed.
I stepped forward, my heart hammering, and placed my right palm against the cold glass screen. The scanner beeped twice, flashing green.
A hidden compartment built inside the concrete pillar clicked open.
Inside lay a single, heavily encrypted black drive, alongside a sealed envelope addressed in my father's distinct handwriting: TO MY BELOVED CLARA.
Tears blinded my eyes as I reached into the compartment and picked up the letter.
"Read it later," Luka advised gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We need to clear out before—"
CLANG!
The heavy steel doors of the lab slammed shut behind us.
The bright halogen floodlights of the warehouse snapped on, blinding us. Standing near the main entrance was Mark Sterling, flanked by four thick-necked men in black tactical vests, and Julian Vance himself, holding a walking cane with a silver lion's head handle.
May you like
Mark looked immaculate in his designer suit, though his eyes were wide with a desperate, manic greed.
"I knew you'd come here eventually, Clara," Mark sneered, stepping forward as his guards raised their weapons. "You always were predictable."
