After leaving the prison, Mark drove straight to the police station to meet Detective James and Director Williams. They had agreed to reinvestigate January's case.
He parked, exchanged brief greetings with officers in the lobby, and headed to Director Williams' office. Inside, James and Williams were already deep in discussion.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Mark said, taking a seat. "Let's begin."
"We're really doing this?" Williams asked, leaning back in his chair.
"We agreed already," James said flatly.
"I need to be clear: we're poking a hornet's nest. Brigade Division Seven (BDS7) isn't just powerful—they are power. We're flies on their windshield."
"So, do we have to let them crush an innocent girl?" James countered.
"This is not the time to argue," Mark cut in. "Let's just begin what we came here for?"
Williams sighed, his gaze shifting to him. "Your move, Mark. What do we have?"
James asked Mark, "First, how was your meeting with January? How is she holding up?"
Mark sighed, rubbing his temples. "As well as anyone trapped in that place can. But she told me something unsettling. There's a white building in the prison where they tried to run tests on her. She saw the words B3 Experiment carved into a bed."
Williams frowned, leaning forward. "B3 Experiment? What's that supposed to mean?"
Mark slid a weathered file across the desk. "Let's start from the beginning. Ten years ago, BDS7 attempted to buy January from her parents. This document proves it."
James snatched the paper, his eyes narrowing. "Buy her? That's human trafficking. Why wasn't this exposed?"
"Because it vanished," Mark replied flatly. "No investigations, no headlines. Until now."
Williams leaned back, his chair creaking under his weight. "So BDS7 has been after her for a decade. Do you think they killed her parents maybe because they refused to cooperate… but why? What's so special about her?"
"That's a reasonable explanation and that's what we need to find out but I think it's more than that."" Mark tapped the file. "January mentioned soldiers guarding her childhood home after her parents died. BDS7 waited years for her to return. When she didn't, they framed her to force her into their custody."
James slammed his fist on the desk. "And the worst part is you let Ethan walk free!"
Williams raised his hands defensively. "Orders came from above. I had no choice."
"Ethan was never a drug dealer," James snapped. "BDS7 fabricated the whole case to trap January. They played us like fools."
Mark interjected, his voice steady but urgent. "Which brings us back to the B3 Experiment. January saw it in that white building. Now the question is, what is it?"
James hesitated, his gaze distant. "Years ago, Russia had a classified project called B Experiment. Their goal was to open a portal between our world and… the underworld."
Williams choked on his coffee. "The what?!"
"How did you know that?" Mark asked.
"That's why I'm a detective. They abandoned it after leaks," James continued, "But maybe it was never stopped. Maybe the BDS7 took it over and revived it as B3...and if it is so, then..."
Mark's face paled. "…Then the prison isn't just a prison. It's their lab. January's their test subject."
Williams stood abruptly, his chair scraping the floor. "I'll inspect the facility myself. If they're using her to reopen that portal—" The group agreed.
Mark frowned, his fingers drumming the edge of the desk. "Inspecting the facility—don't you need a warrant? Or at least permission?"
Williams scooped up his car keys, jingling them absently. "The superintendent's an old friend. If there's nothing to hide, he'll grant access."
James leaned back in his chair, skepticism tightening his voice. "You really think he'll agree?"
"If they're clean, yes." Williams paused at the door, his tone flattening. "If not… well."
James rubbed his temples. "Wait. Does this even make sense? Conducting a secret experiment in a prison? Why not some hidden lab?"
Mark stared at the files spread across the table, his gut churning. "Maybe it's not the experiment we're imagining. Maybe it's worse."
Williams nodded, already halfway out the door. "Either way, I'll check. I'll call if I find anything." His voice trailed off as he dialed the superintendent's number.
James watched him leave, then turned to Mark. "Let's hope he doesn't walk into a trap."
Mark sifted through the documents, his jaw set. "For now, we dig deeper into B3. There has to be a trail."
Director Williams sat in his car, finishing a call with Adam Villion, the prison's superintendent. Adam had agreed to let him search the facility, which weakened their earlier suspicions. After hanging up, Williams left the area and began the drive to the prison. He'd worked in law enforcement for years, but a case like this—unsettling and strange—was new to him.
Williams was content in his marriage to Veronica, with two children: a son, 18, the same age as January, and a daughter, 16. He'd hesitated to take on this investigation, but the thought of his own kids in a similar situation pushed him to act. It wasn't a choice he'd made lightly.
The drive felt long. When he arrived, he parked inside the prison gates, showed his ID, and was let in after Adam confirmed his visit. Inside the building, Adam greeted him at the entrance with a handshake.
"Good to see you, Williams," Adam said, his smile polite.
"Likewise," Williams replied. The man was in his forties, but time had left its mark. "More gray in your hair, I see."
Adam chuckled. "You're one to talk." The two exchanged tired laughs. "I'll take you around myself," Adam added. "Since you're here to look things over."
He led Williams through the prison, methodically showing each section—cells, common areas, staff offices—emphasizing the clean floors, intact locks, and well-maintained equipment. Williams observed quietly, noting details without interrupting.
"You've kept things in order," Williams remarked finally, his tone neutral.
Adam nodded, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Thanks, we do what we can and yeah, let me take you to the white building," Adam said. Williams nodded and followed him.
"What happens in there?" Williams asked as they walked.
"We run tests on some of the prisoners when they arrive," Adam explained casually. "Not all of them, just those who are here because of drug-related offenses."
"I see. And that's all?" Williams pressed.
"Yes. It's to check if there are still drugs in their system. If there are, it helps us figure out how to treat them," Adam added.
"That's thoughtful," Williams said as they stepped into the white building. True to its name, everything inside was white—walls, floors, even the furniture. Williams followed Adam as they inspected the area. Nothing seemed out of place. They exchanged polite greetings with a few doctors and nurses who were working there.
Next, they decided to check on some of the patients. Eventually, they entered January's room.
"This is a new prisoner. She arrived yesterday," Adam said.
"Yes, I know. January," Williams replied. He walked over to her bed. She was asleep, and the steady beeping of machines filled the room. Williams examined her closely. Everything seemed normal. Then he noticed a band on her wrist, like a bracelet, with the letters "B3" inscribed on it.
"What's this for?" Williams asked, pointing to the band.
"It shows that she's free of drugs in her system," Adam explained.
"Okay. And what does 'B3' stand for?" Williams asked, his tone calm but curious.
"It's short for 'Basic 3.' It's a name we use for prisoners who were involved with drugs, like I mentioned earlier. The '3' is her number, so we can keep track of how many people we've tested," Adam said.
"Oh, I see. Alright," Williams said. He took one last look at January before leaving the room with Adam.
Once they were outside, Williams concluded his inspection. "You're doing a great job here. Keep it up," he said.
"Just doing my job. It was good to have you here after so long. Come around again sometime," Adam said as they shook hands.
"Sure will," Williams replied with a smile. He got into his car and drove off the premises.
As he drove, he picked up his phone and called James, who answered immediately.
"Well, guess we were wrong," Williams said.