Chapter 6: The Hidden File
Chapter 6: The Hidden File
Michael Donovan stared at the glowing laptop screen, his pulse pounding in his ears.
The confidential report remained open.
Across the top of the page, bold letters read:
SEALED MEDICAL RECORD – CONFIDENTIAL
He hadn't expected to find anything except surveillance footage. Instead, someone had hidden an entirely different file inside the copied data.
His phone vibrated again.
DELETE THE FILE. NOW.
Michael ignored the message.
He continued reading.
The report detailed a DNA test performed seven years earlier at Carter Memorial Medical Center. Most of the names had been electronically redacted, leaving only dates, laboratory numbers, and one unmistakable signature at the bottom.
Authorized by Chairman William Carter.
Michael frowned.
"Why would this be hidden with the surveillance footage?"
Before he could scroll farther, headlights swept across the apartment window.
A car had stopped outside.
Michael quickly pulled the curtains closed.
Someone stepped out.
A tall figure wearing a dark coat.
Michael didn't wait to find out who it was.
He yanked the flash drive from the laptop, grabbed his jacket, and slipped out the back door just as someone knocked on the front.
The knock came again.
Harder this time.
"Mr. Donovan," a man's voice called. "We just need to talk."
Michael disappeared into the alley behind the building.
Back at Carter Memorial Medical Center, Detective Laura Bennett stood in the surveillance office studying the evidence board.
Photographs covered one wall.
Khloe.
Marcus.
Isabella.
The unidentified man in the elevator.
Michael Donovan.
Colored strings connected each image.
Daniel Reyes entered carrying a fresh report.
"We found Michael's car."
"Where?"
"Still parked in the employee garage."
"So he left on foot."
Daniel nodded.
"And his apartment appears empty."
Detective Bennett crossed her arms.
"He knew someone was looking for him."
She looked again at Isabella's photograph.
"I don't think she's the mastermind."
Daniel agreed.
"Neither do I."
"Someone else has been pulling the strings."
Upstairs, Khloe had finally been moved from intensive observation to a private recovery suite.
Dr. Amelia Brooks entered carrying the latest ultrasound images.
"I have good news."
Khloe immediately smiled.
"The baby?"
Dr. Brooks handed her the printout.
"The heartbeat is strong."
Marcus wrapped an arm around his wife.
"And the bleeding?"
"It has stopped."
Khloe closed her eyes in relief.
"Does that mean we're safe?"
Dr. Brooks answered carefully.
"Safer."
"But not completely out of danger."
She pointed toward the monitor.
"Your body has been through severe trauma."
"You'll need several more weeks of complete bed rest."
Marcus nodded before Khloe could answer.
"We'll do whatever it takes."
Dr. Brooks smiled.
"I expected that."
As she prepared to leave, Khloe stopped her.
"Doctor..."
"Yes?"
"If I hadn't been at a hospital..."
Dr. Brooks hesitated.
"You probably wouldn't have received treatment quickly enough."
Silence settled over the room.
Khloe instinctively placed both hands over her stomach.
For the first time, she fully understood how close she had come to losing everything.
Across town, Michael Donovan ducked into an all-night diner.
He chose the booth farthest from the windows.
After making sure no one had followed him, he plugged the flash drive into a borrowed laptop he kept hidden inside his backpack.
Again, the confidential report appeared.
This time he continued reading.
Most of the document remained redacted.
But one paragraph had escaped the electronic blackout.
Patient requested permanent sealing of all DNA records. Disclosure prohibited without written authorization from Chairman William Carter.
Michael frowned.
DNA records?
Why would the chairman personally seal them?
He continued scrolling.
The final page was damaged.
Only one sentence remained visible.
Biological relationship confirmed.
Before he could examine it further, someone slid into the booth across from him.
Michael nearly jumped.
An elderly waitress smiled politely.
"Coffee?"
He exhaled.
"Please."
As she poured the coffee, she quietly whispered,
"Don't look behind you."
Michael froze.
"There are two men who came in after you."
His heartbeat accelerated.
"They've been watching you for five minutes."
She smiled naturally as if nothing unusual had happened.
"If I were you..."
She topped off his cup.
"...I'd leave through the kitchen."
Then she walked away.
Michael waited exactly thirty seconds before slipping toward the rear exit.
As he disappeared through the kitchen, two men in dark coats stood up from their booth.
One of them glanced toward the empty table.
"He's gone."
Meanwhile, Isabella Rossi spent another sleepless night in county jail.
The metal door opened just after sunrise.
Her new attorney entered.
She immediately recognized him.
Richard Hale.
One of the city's most expensive criminal defense lawyers.
She frowned.
"I didn't hire you."
Richard placed his briefcase on the table.
"No."
"Then who did?"
He met her eyes.
"My client wishes to remain anonymous."
Isabella's stomach tightened.
"The same person who helped me?"
Richard didn't answer directly.
"My instructions are simple."
"What instructions?"
"You will plead not guilty."
"But the video—"
"You'll let me worry about the video."
She leaned forward.
"Can you get me out?"
Richard paused.
"I can try."
"But in return..."
"What?"
"You will never mention the man in the elevator."
Her face lost its color.
"So he does exist."
Richard calmly closed his briefcase.
"I didn't say that."
Later that afternoon, Marcus met privately with Chairman William Carter.
William looked unusually tired.
"I've been thinking about that hidden medical file."
Marcus frowned.
"You know about it?"
Daniel had already briefed him.
William nodded.
"I know exactly what it is."
Marcus waited.
William slowly looked out the window.
"It has nothing to do with the assault."
"Then why hide it?"
"Because revealing it would destroy several lives."
Marcus remained silent.
William continued.
"I sealed those records years ago to protect someone."
Marcus studied his uncle-in-law carefully.
"Someone in our family?"
William didn't answer.
Instead, he changed the subject.
"Right now our priority is Khloe."
Marcus sensed the hesitation.
William knew far more than he was willing to reveal.
That evening, Detective Bennett received an unexpected phone call.
"This is Detective Bennett."
A nervous male voice answered.
"I think someone is trying to kill me."
"Who is this?"
"Michael Donovan."
She grabbed a pen immediately.
"Where are you?"
"I can't stay long."
His breathing was uneven.
"I found something on the flash drive."
"What did you find?"
"It wasn't just surveillance footage."
Detective Bennett stood.
"Tell me where you are."
"I can't."
"Michael—"
"They're listening."
"What do you mean?"
"The hospital attack wasn't the beginning."
He lowered his voice to a whisper.
"It started years ago."
Before she could ask another question...
A loud crash echoed through the phone.
Michael shouted.
"They found me!"
The line went dead.
Detective Bennett stared at the silent phone.
Without another second of hesitation, she reached for her car keys.
May you like
Somewhere in the city, the only man who knew what was hidden on the stolen flash drive had just disappeared.
Again.
