Chapter 10 - Claire's Betrayal
Jonathan did not move.
"My father."
Claire nodded.
"William created the legal structure around BM-17."
Richard said, "Claire."
"No."
She turned on him.
"I'm done."
Lila folded her arms.
"Good. Start at the part where you helped trap sick people into silence."
Claire took it.
"I was twenty-eight. New associate. William said the program gave free care to exposed workers."
"And then?"
"I learned the releases were tied to treatment."
Jonathan's jaw tightened.
"When?"
"Within months."
"You stayed."
"Yes."
Lila laughed softly.
"Everybody stayed."
Claire looked at her.
"I tried to change the agreements."
"Did you?"
"Some."
"Did Anna sign?"
"No."
"So you cut her medical support."
Claire's face broke.
"William ordered it."
"And you did it."
"Yes."
Lila looked away.
Jonathan pressed the elevator stop button.
The doors stayed closed.
"Why did you monitor Lila after I met her?"
Claire swallowed.
"Richard ordered it."
"You continued it."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"At first, to see whether Anna had sent her to you."
"And later?"
Claire's voice softened.
"To keep Richard away from them."
Lila turned.
"You expect me to thank you?"
"No."
"Did you pay Mom's bills?"
Claire nodded.
"Through a foundation."
"Why?"
"Guilt."
At least she said the word.
Jonathan restarted the elevator.
"What did William know about Anna?"
Claire opened a file on her phone.
William's memo.
ANNA HART - TERMINATE SUPPORT IF DISCLOSURE CONTINUES.
Jonathan stared.
Then another note.
JONATHAN MERCER - FULL TREATMENT REGARDLESS OF LIABILITY EXPOSURE.
His face changed.
Lila saw it.
"He protected you."
Jonathan nodded once.
"And sacrificed her."
No one answered.
At the South Side plant, the security gate hung open.
Vale's SUV sat near the old administration building.
Lights glowed inside.
Jonathan called police.
Claire said, "He'll delete before they arrive."
"Then we slow him down."
They entered.
Old hallways.
Dust.
Faded safety signs.
Lila's chest tightened.
Her mother had walked these floors.
Jonathan had collapsed here.
This building had followed both families for fourteen years.
A server-room alarm sounded.
They ran.
Inside, Dr. Henry Vale stood at a terminal.
Seventy.
White coat over dress shirt.
Hard drive in one hand.
Jonathan stopped.
"Put it down."
Vale looked almost disappointed.
"Your father told me you would eventually become sentimental."
Jonathan stepped closer.
"My father is dead."
"His work isn't."
Lila moved to a side terminal.
Delete progress:
68%.
Claire yanked the network cable.
The bar froze.
Vale's face changed.
Jonathan looked at the drive in his hand.
"What's on that?"
Vale smiled.
"Mortality."
Lila's skin went cold.
Then every screen flashed one warning.
REMOTE PURGE INITIATED.
May you like
USER: RICHARD MERCER.
CUT.
