Chapter 7 - The Room Beneath the Tracks
The key turned with a soft metallic click.
Daniel pulled the red door open, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
Marcus shone his flashlight inside.
“This area isn’t on the current building plans.”
Dr. Carter stood behind them.
“The hospital was expanded over an old railway service tunnel.”
Buddy moved forward without hesitation.
Daniel followed.
The air below smelled of dust, rust, and damp concrete. Pipes ran along the ceiling, vibrating whenever trains passed beneath the nearby avenue.
Laura remained beside Ethan upstairs while Olivia stayed with the nurses. Only Daniel, Marcus, Dr. Carter, and Buddy entered the hidden passage.
At the bottom of the stairs, they found a small storage room.
Old hospital furniture had been pushed against the walls.
Broken wheelchairs.
Metal cabinets.
Stacks of outdated financial records.
Buddy crossed the room and stopped beside a heavy desk.
He scratched once at the floor.
Daniel moved the desk with Marcus’s help.
Underneath it lay a square metal plate.
The same triangular symbol had been engraved into its center.
Marcus knelt.
“There’s another lock.”
Daniel inserted the key.
The plate lifted.
Inside the shallow compartment sat a waterproof black box.
A child’s name had been written across the top.
ETHAN MICHAEL PARKER.
Dr. Carter covered her mouth.
Daniel carried the box to the desk.
Inside they discovered a digital recorder, several photographs, a sealed envelope, and a thick folder filled with financial statements.
Marcus opened the folder first.
His eyes widened.
“These are donation records.”
Dr. Carter examined one page.
“Millions of dollars.”
“Transferred through false accounts,” Marcus added.
The names appeared again and again.
The Harrison Children’s Trust.
St. Gabriel Medical Center.
Thomas Bell.
And Victor Hale.
Daniel picked up one photograph.
It showed Michael Parker standing beside Victor outside the hospital loading dock.
They weren’t strangers.
They had known each other long before Laura ever met Victor.
A date was printed in the corner.
Two weeks before Michael’s death.
Dr. Carter opened the sealed envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter addressed to Ethan.
She read the first line silently, then handed it to Daniel.
Son, if you are reading this, then I was unable to come home.
A train thundered beneath them, shaking dust from the ceiling.
The digital recorder suddenly activated on its own.
Static filled the room.
Then a man’s frightened voice began speaking.
“My name is Michael Parker. The foundation is stealing money meant for sick children.”
Everyone froze.
“They know I found the accounts,” the recording continued. “Victor Hale has been following my family. Thomas Bell is helping him.”
Buddy whined softly.
Then Michael’s voice said something none of them expected.
“My son is not dying from a natural illness.”
Dr. Carter stumbled backward.
The recorder continued.
“Someone has been poisoning him slowly.”
At that exact moment, the red door slammed shut above them.
May you like
The lights went out.
And footsteps began descending the stairs.
