Chapter 6 - The Manhunt
Despite the lockdown at Saint Jude’s, Daniel Harris had managed to slip out of the hospital during the chaos of the fire alarm, using a stolen paramedic uniform to pass through the outer security perimeter.
By 2:00 PM that afternoon, a federal manhunt was underway across three states.
I sat in the hospital's administrative conference room, drinking my fourth cup of dark coffee while FBI agents set up secure monitoring stations across the massive mahogany table. Detective Vance was standing by a digital map board tracking Daniel’s last known cell phone pings.
"He knows his company is compromised," Vance said, pointing to a flashing red marker near the private airfield in Teterboro, New Jersey. "The flash drive we recovered contained enough evidence to issue arrest warrants for the entire executive board of Aegis Bio-Tech. Daniel has no home, no company, and no legal protection left. He’s running on cash reserves and pure desperation."
"If he's desperate, he's dangerous," I said, leaning forward. "He came back to the hospital specifically to kill Emily and destroy that drive. He won't leave the country until he feels he's finished what he started."
"Which is why we’re moving Emily to a secure military medical facility at Andrews Air Force Base tonight," Vance replied. "An armored transport will arrive at 8:00 PM."
Suddenly, my personal cell phone buzzed on the table.
It was an unknown, restricted number.
The FBI agent sitting near the audio recording console immediately gestured to me. "Trace is active. Answer it, Dr. Jenkins. Keep him on the line for at least forty-five seconds."
My heart pounded as I slid my finger across the screen and held the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
"Doctor Jenkins," a smooth, chillingly calm voice spoke through the speaker.
It was Daniel.
"Where are you, Daniel?" I asked, keeping my tone flat and controlled while the agents frantically typed on their keyboards.
"You really are a meddling bitch, aren't you?" Daniel said with a low, raspy chuckle. "You think you won because you cut off her arm? You think that little silver drive makes you safe?"
"Your company is finished, Daniel," I said, glaring at the digital monitor as the trace progress bar reached 30%. "The FBI has the files. Emily is awake, and she’s talking to the federal prosecutor right now."
"Emily is a traitor," Daniel spat, his calm voice suddenly cracking with psychotic fury. "She was my wife! Everything I did, I did to build a future for us! And you destroyed it in ten seconds with a cast saw!"
"You were killing her!" I shouted into the receiver. "You were rotting her alive!"
"She belonged to me!" he roared. "And so do you now, Sarah. Do you know where I am right now?"
May you like
I froze. "Where?"
"I’m standing in your apartment, Sarah," Daniel whispered softly into the phone. "You have a very nice collection of medical textbooks. And your golden retriever... what’s his name? Buster? He’s very friendly."
