Chapter 10 - The Doctor's Real Identity
Dr. Ward wore the same white coat Emily had seen in the video.
Rain soaked the fabric, but she seemed completely unconcerned.
She raised one hand.
The masked figures behind her remained still.
Thomas stepped toward the open doors.
"Where is Laura?"
Dr. Ward smiled.
"Safe for now."
"And David?"
Her eyes moved toward Emily.
"Closer than any of you realize."
Emily remained beside the nurse.
"You were my doctor for six months."
"Yes."
"You knew who I was."
"From the first appointment."
Emily's hand moved protectively over her stomach.
"Did you ever harm my baby?"
Dr. Ward's smile disappeared.
"No."
Her answer came quickly.
Almost sincerely.
"I was assigned to observe you, not hurt you."
"Assigned by whom?"
Dr. Ward looked at Daniel.
He lowered his eyes.
That frightened Emily more than anything else.
Dr. Ward stepped onto the bus.
The masked figures followed.
Police sirens could be heard far away, but the sound was fading rather than approaching.
The rail district's old signal-blocking system had turned the area into a communication dead zone.
Thomas positioned himself between Dr. Ward and Emily.
"You wanted me. I'm here."
Dr. Ward studied him.
"We wanted what you carried."
"I don't have it."
"You carried it for twelve years without knowing."
Thomas frowned.
Dr. Ward pointed toward the scar near his temple.
"The night of the warehouse fire, David placed something beneath your skin."
Thomas touched the scar instinctively.
"What?"
"A storage capsule."
Daniel's expression changed.
Even he had not known.
Dr. Ward continued.
"It contains the final evidence from the Carter investigation."
Thomas shook his head.
"Impossible."
"David trusted no bank, no police department, and no government archive. So he placed the evidence inside the one man no one suspected."
Emily stared at Thomas.
"My father used you."
Thomas's voice became bitter.
"Apparently."
Dr. Ward removed a small handheld scanner from her coat.
A blue light passed across Thomas's temple.
The device beeped.
"There it is."
The masked figures moved closer.
Thomas raised his hands.
"Take it, then let everyone go."
Dr. Ward looked almost disappointed.
"You still don't understand."
She pointed toward Daniel.
"He was supposed to bring Emily here quietly."
Daniel stepped forward.
"You promised she wouldn't be harmed."
Dr. Ward laughed.
"Now you care?"
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Emily watched him carefully.
For the first time, he looked less like the man controlling the situation and more like another trapped participant.
Dr. Ward lifted the scanner again.
"We need the capsule."
Thomas nodded toward the passengers.
"Release them first."
Before she could answer, every light inside the warehouse turned on.
The brightness forced everyone to shield their eyes.
A voice echoed through hidden speakers.
"Helen, step away from my daughter."
Dr. Ward froze.
Emily looked upward.
On a metal walkway above the bus stood her father.
May you like
He held no weapon.
Yet every masked figure turned toward him in fear.
