Tiana rushed into the hospital's reception area, gasping for air as she looked about for her father. Anxiety pricked every beat of her heart, which thumped like a drum. Her gaze flitted about the waiting room as she called, "Dad?"
The elderly man was pacing back and forth close to the front desk. Mr. Banks' uniform appeared rumpled, and his normally calm manner was broken. He turned suddenly when he heard his daughter's voice. "Tiana!" He grabbed her shoulders and ran to her. The deep creases on his face were more prominent, and his eyes were bloodshot. "Larry is not doing well."
Tiana's throat was dry as she swallowed hard. "How bad is it?"
Mr. Banks let out a long sigh. "Worse than the last time he had a crisis. Despite their best efforts, the doctors can't do much. They don't have the required facilities for his treatment here." He had to pause when his voice cracked. "He's hardly awake."
Larry had been diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome with Mitochondrial Dysfunction, a genetic disorder that can cause intellectual disability, chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, and other debilitating symptoms. His treatment had been costing them a lot of money, which was why Tiana was working off jobs even while in school to support the small salary her father earned as a security guard at Smith Laboratories.
A knot formed in Tiana's neck. "But we can't afford to pay for another hospital bill?"
Her dad gave a headshake. "Not from my pay. We haven't even begun long-term care yet, and the experimental treatments alone are exhausting."
Tiana's hands clenched. Had Mr. Smith survived? He had pledged to give them access to the M3 vaccine, a ground-breaking formula that was meant to treat genetic illnesses like Larry's, before their accident. However, that hope had now vanished like sand slipping through their fingers due to the deaths of Tom Smith and his wife.
With a flash of resolve in his tired eyes, Banks turned to face his daughter. "I'll speak with Mrs. Catherine Gayle; perhaps she will keep her brother-in-law's word. She now oversees Smith Laboratories."
Tiana paused. Although Catherine Gayle wasn't particularly known for being nice, perhaps she would lend a hand if she still had any remaining morality.
"You know I work for Geoffrey Smith too," Tiana muttered, biting her lip. "I'll ask him for help. Maybe he'll be able to do something, although I'm not sure."
Her father's eyes grew softer. He held her arm gently, "Are you certain? I know you don't like scurrying for favors."
Tiana gritted her teeth. "Well, we're friends." But she had doubts in the back of her mind. What if Geoffrey thought she was using him? She wasn't sure if she was ready to find out.
************************************************
Catherine stood in the sterile, white-walled lab, surrounded by scientists in lab coats working on their latest project. The air smelled of disinfectant and chemicals. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
A message. From Ashley.
Catherine's heart leaped into her throat as she tapped on the notification. Ashley wrote: "This is where your husband has been spending his time." Attached is a location. Below it is a series of photos uploaded one by one.
Catherine's blood ran cold. The first picture showed Danny in a dimly lit restaurant, leaning toward a woman. They were close. Too near. The second image was captured outside, close to a vehicle. Danny was kissing her.
Catherine's hold on the phone tightened as she clicked the third image. The woman's face was clear now. Elegant features. Long, wavy brown hair. A familiar sneer. Cecilia MacPherson.
Catherine's stomach twisted. Cecilia was no ordinary person. She was the cousin of William Meyers, whose family had been attempting for years to acquire Smith Laboratories and the daughter of a prominent English congressman. The parts of the puzzle clicked into place. Danny hadn't just cheated on her. He had killed her sister and brother-in-law.
And now, he was in bed—literally—with someone who might have played a part in it. Like a sharp knife, the betrayal cut through her. She struggled to keep her breathing steady, and her chest heaved.
She looked around at her coworkers, who had no idea that a storm was building inside of her.
No. This was not something she was going to overlook. Catherine thoughtlessly snatched up her keys and purse, leaving the lab in disarray while her team called for her to no avail.
She had only one thought in mind. She was going to expose Danny's deception. His infidelity and murder. And there would be no mercy this time.
As Catherine's automobile sped toward the outskirts of town, her mind raced with questions. How long had this romance been going on? Was Cecilia involved in the murders? Or was she merely a pawn in Danny's perverse scheme? Why was Danny doing this much damage to her? Did he ever love her at all?
She pressed the gas pedal harder, her nails digging into the steering wheel. If Danny thought he could betray her and get away with it because he had dirt on her, he was damn
Wrong. He had another thing coming, he wasn't going scot-free no matter what!