BLOODY BELL

by Jeremy Waldron

  A pensive expression filled Susan’s face. The thought had never crossed her mind, and now she was beginning to understand the ethical challenges attached.

  “Blue eyes? No problem.” Benjamin’s hand waved through the air. “Want to ensure your boy is over six feet? Done. Muscular? We can do that, too.”

  Susan was beginning to see his point. She felt awful for the way she’d been treating him. “But why couldn’t you have said this before?”

  “Because I needed to make sure it wasn’t already happening.”

  Susan’s lips parted as a tiny gasp escaped her chest. “It isn’t. It can’t be.” Susan reached for her pearl necklace and felt her brow crease with sudden worry. “Nobody in their right mind would take such risks.”

  A condescending smile tugged on Benjamin’s mouth. “Darling, I wish I could say you’re right. But I’m afraid that designer babies are already a reality.”

  “Why haven’t I heard about this? If what you’re saying is true, this would be big news.”

  Benjamin brought his elbows to the table and leaned forward. Staring at Susan beneath a furrowed brow, he asked, “Have you heard of a company named Phanes Biotechnology?”

  Susan felt the blood leave her checks as she shook her head.

  “Well, you should have.” A glimmer sparkled in his eye. “After all, the founder of that company floated the idea several years back.”

  “What happened? Did a baby ever get designed?”

  “That’s just it; as soon as the idea was presented, the founder received immediate backlash within the medical, religious, and scientific communities. The door was quickly shut after that. Then, everything went quiet—which is what makes me suspicious.”

  “Who was the founder?” Susan’s pulse ticked hard as she suspected she might already know the answer.

  Benjamin’s eyes widened. “Dr. Glenn Wu.”

  Susan took a sip of her wine to relieve her suddenly dry mouth. “What happened? Did the research go underground?”

  “That’s what I don’t know.”

  “You didn’t know any of this before the conference?”

  “Didn’t have reason to.”

  “But we heard Dr. Wu speak. There was no mention of Phanes Biotechnology.” Susan played with her hair, shocked into disbelief.

  “And we heard him highlight his work with embryos.” Benjamin nodded.

  Susan’s gaze went distant as she thought back to their invitation to meet the man Benjamin now suspected of paving the way to living in a world where parents decided what kind of children they would have. She couldn’t help but feel like they may have dodged a bullet. But, at the same time, her curiosity had been piqued.

  “And you still think the conference was one big publicity stunt?” Susan asked.

  Benjamin rolled his shoulders back and nodded. “If Wu has the support of the scientific and medical community, he can soon change the narrative and begin opening the road to riches and fame.”

  Suddenly, Susan didn’t feel so hot as she watched Benjamin pull out his phone.

  “It all started here.” Benjamin produced an image taken from the Journal of the American Medical Association. The photo was taken five years ago. “Tell me, does this look familiar?” He pointed to the right breast of a close up shot of Dr. Wu.

  Susan took the phone between her fingers and brought the screen closer. There, pinned to his chest, was a silver angel. “No, I can’t say it does.”

  “They all are wearing the same pin. Why?”

  Susan moved her gaze across the photo. Dr. Wu was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a couple dozen colleagues—all of them wearing the same angel pin. But, beyond the pin, it was the headline that captured Susan’s full attention. Her mind raced as she wondered if this could be the man behind the missing babies Samantha was trying to find.

  “I’ll tell you why—” Benjamin’s eyebrows flickered. “Because Dr. Wu is making a go at it again.”

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  King kissed me goodbye before saying, “Go home, Sam. Get some rest. You look exhausted.”

  “Gee, thanks,” I teased, running a single hand over my unruly hair. “Really, though, you look like you could use some sleep yourself.”

  King rolled his eyes. “Sleep isn’t in my cards tonight.”

  The life of a detective wasn’t much different than the life of an investigative reporter. We were always on the hunt for our next clue. Whether it be a murder suspect or a witness to crack open my next big story, neither of us got the sleep our bodies deserved.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.” King blew me one last kiss and headed to his car.

  Standing near my Subaru Outback, I flicked my bangs out of my eyes and watched King drive away. I didn’t mention my plans for the night because I didn’t want to have to tell him the truth. It was better he thought I was going home—and eventually I would. But first I needed to check out the address Cameron said would take me to the Guardian Angel’s clinic.

  Tucking myself behind my steering wheel, I plugged the address into my cell phone’s GPS. My heart was pounding hard in my chest as nerves reminded me of the potential dangers of what I was about to do. As soon as the location registered, I started the car and pointed the wheels east, driving toward the city of Aurora.

  There was no record that this place even existed—or at least to what I could find. If it hadn’t been for Cameron remembering the cross streets, I might not have had the chance to check it out myself.

  The tires hummed as they bounced over the road.

  The radio was off and I was lost in my thoughts.

  All I could think about was how I hadn’t connected Dr. Glenn Wu to the NDRM clinic and Phanes Biotechnologies. My sister had been inside the clinic where he worked. Could she have spoken to Dr. Wu? If so, was he the one to steer her toward becoming a surrogate mother? The thought alone left me short on breath.

  When I wasn’t thinking about Heather, I was thinking of little three-year-old Tommy. I knew I was falling into the trap of drawing conclusions I wanted to see without enough information. I hadn’t been to NDRM or talked to Dr. Wu, yet my mind was going to dark places.

  Fifteen minutes later I pulled into an empty parking lot, imagining the babies born to Kate and Cameron. It was important we didn’t forget about their existence. I wanted to believe that if we could find Tracey, we could also find the babies.

  I circled around the inconspicuous looking office buildings, scoping the place out before parking. It was another unremarkable strip mall, not the normal inviting feel of a clinic.

  I parked in front and shined my headlights through the front glass doors. It was dark, just as it was in much of the offices nearby. But something about this place was different—like a business that didn’t need to be advertised.

  My cell phone started ringing and I jumped in my seat.

  Catching my breath, I put one hand over my fluttering heart and turned my phone off.

  I glanced back to the front doors and concentrated on my mission ahead. With my heart racing and my mind focused on confirming I was at the right place, I slid my phone into my jacket pocket and pulled the hood over my head before stepping out of the vehicle.

  Wind swept between my legs as I glanced around and pulled the zipper up to my neck.

  There was no one here; a few empty cars like my own, but that was it. I was alone.

  A flurry of nerves shook my insides as I found it difficult to pick up my heavy feet and move toward the dark entrance. Time seemed to slow with each step. I listened to only my heart thrashing between my ears in a heavy rhythmic battle. This was a bad idea. I didn’t have a good feeling. No matter how many times I wiped my palms on my thighs, they continued to pour with sweat.

  Turn around now. Get out while you still can. The voice in my head pleaded for me to forget about it and come back another time—with Erin for backup.

  Beneath the canopy, there was no lit-up sign. Just a blank glass door with a stenciled logo of an an
gel floating above the words Your Guardian Angel Women’s Health Clinic.

  I stared in disbelief. The lettering was so small I practically had to put my nose on the glass to read it. But I’d found it. Cameron was right.

  Lifting my hand, I brushed the tips of my fingers over the letters as if needing to believe my eyes weren’t imagining things that weren’t really there. They were smooth and precise, etched into glass forever. It couldn’t get any realer than this.

  The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end. Electricity was in the air and I had the strange feeling that I was being watched.

  Slowly, I twisted my spine and glanced behind me.

  It was the same sight as when I’d arrived. Nothing but my vivid imagination getting the best of me. I sucked back a deep breath of air to calm my raging nerves and turned back toward the glass.

  I was only here to request more information if anybody asked. I was doing nothing wrong—not breaking any laws—but that wasn’t what it felt like. Besides, how many walk-ins did a place like this get? Probably more than I suspected.

  Cupping my hands over my eyes, I pressed my nose against the cold glass and peered through the window. Inside, I saw a front desk with nothing more than a single computer monitor on top. To the left, a closed wooden door that seemed to open up into the back.

  A blinking red light caught my attention.

  It was a security camera aimed directly at the entrance and, I assumed, my pretty face was also in the frame. There was another lens pointed at the closed door inside, and one more at the desk. It reminded me of one of the many marijuana dispensaries popping up around town, but without the skunky scent attached.

  Suddenly, my heart stopped.

  In the last corner for me to look there was a single and rather large pastel painting of an angel. The angel took the form of a man’s body with broad expansive wings. His muscular torso was wrapped in a flowing white cloak as he hovered over two small children running through an open flowery pasture.

  A chill zipped up my spine and caused me to shiver. The place gave me the creeps. I couldn’t stop hearing Cameron’s cries as she asked where her baby was. Was the baby here? I certainly thought it could be possible.

  I tried the door. It was locked.

  Needing to know what hid behind that closed door, I edged the building and jogged around to the back. That door was locked, too. There were no windows to peek inside. Something was going on here—something that someone wanted to keep hidden in plain sight. I headed back to the front when suddenly a beam of headlights illuminated the back wall.

  Without hesitation, I threw my shoulders against the bricks and hid in the shadow.

  I held my breath and heard the car park, the engine turn off, and a pair of dress shoes clack their way to the entrance of the clinic. Keys jangled and I heard the lock click over. Peeling the back of my skull off the wall, I stretched my neck with hopes of seeing who’d arrived without risking being seen myself.

  The door closed and I was too late.

  But whoever had arrived certainly saw my car.

  This is your chance, Sam. See who it is. Do it for Cameron, Kate, and Tracey. Take the risk if it means finding the babies.

  With a surge of adrenaline, I bounded toward the door, only to find it locked. I glanced behind me at the parking lot. A white BMW was now parked next to me. When I peered back inside, the door leading to the back was now cracked open.

  A beam of light shined bright and lit up a path through the front office.

  Dancing back and forth on my toes, I tried to see what was hidden behind the door but I couldn’t see anything. It was an eggshell white hall and nothing more. I heard myself curse when falling back on my heels. Then my eyes bugged when suddenly a figure stepped into the frame.

  Everything stopped.

  I froze and stared.

  The figure did the same.

  It was impossible to make out a face because of the way the shadows fell in front of him, but I knew it was a man. His shoulders were broad, his thighs spread in a strong stance, and I guessed him to easily be over six feet.

  Slowly, I reached for my phone and pulled up the one number I knew would confirm whether or not this was where Cameron had been held.

  With trembling fingers, I pressed the green call button to Cameron’s cell phone without ever bringing it to my ear. Even while the phone was at my side, I could hear the line begin to fill the silent void surrounding me.

  There was no noise coming from inside, but I held my breath and waited.

  The man stared—frozen stiff like a statue, unsure how to respond to my presence.

  Cameron’s cell continued to ring. Somewhere, it was on—the battery hadn’t died—but where was it?

  Then, without warning, the man flung his head to the side as if hearing the phone ring somewhere in the back. Suddenly, the lights went out. He was gone. My time was up.

  I sprinted back to my car and sped away, hoping to make it home without being followed by the man who now knew who I was.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  I ignored the sharp pain in my knees as my feet pounded the pavement and ran faster. It was senseless. Impossible to get away from the demons that I felt were chasing after me. But I picked up my speed, pushed myself to go faster, and watched Cooper beat me to the house.

  I joined him on the steps, bending over to grip my knees as I caught my breath. “Good run, boy,” I said, patting his head as soon as the pain in my lungs subsided.

  Cooper panted—the satisfied look in his eye saying he would now spend the remainder of the day curled up on the couch—and wagged his tail quietly back into the house.

  After a thorough stretch and a hot shower, I was turning on the morning news and booting up my laptop when I received a message from Dawson.

  Samantha, where the hell is my story?

  “Shit,” I said, dropping my face into my palm. I’d completely forgotten my headline. Now it was too late. Midnight had come and gone while I’d been beating myself up for not taking the plates of the BMW at the clinic.

  The story I’m telling is still developing, I messaged back, thinking it was safer than getting on the phone. Sorry for dropping the ball.

  I wasn’t sure Dawson was going to forgive me for my mistake, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Suddenly, the news anchor on the tube was updating the public about Tyler Lopez.

  “The manhunt continues and the police are asking for any information that can lead to Mr. Lopez’s arrest.”

  I shook my head and hit the mute button. The entire situation was absurd. Instead of making a hero out of one of his officers, Chief Watts was going to get a hard lesson on the length a person would go to win. Campbell was a fool to take the bait. Why did it seem like I was the only one who saw through this scam?

  Turning to my computer, I navigated to Tyler’s Instagram feed and searched for the video I’d asked Allison’s help in getting removed. It was gone. I couldn’t find it. A smile curled my lips as I said, “Ali, baby, you did it.”

  Then it was on to my next task of drafting up a public letter addressed to Tyler Lopez. I planned to publish this straight to my website—knowing it would be against Dawson’s wishes—and share it to my social media feeds with the hopes that Erin and my audience would help spread the word. As for getting it in front of Tyler’s eyes, I would send him a direct link through his Instagram account as soon as I was finished and pray my plan worked.

  Tyler, if you happen to find yourself reading this, please surrender. My fingers worked the keys like a pianist. Don’t do it because you are guilty, but because I know the police have you mistaken. And I have the evidence to prove it.

  Over the next several paragraphs, I made my case. I included the photos of Cameron’s scar, presented a hypothetical to what actually may have happened to lure Tyler to Cameron, and even pointed out that Tyler had been hosting a party when he received a call from an unknown number—a call from Cameron on the nurse’s phone just before givin
g birth.

  Tyler, I believe you were set up. Made to take the fall. As for who actually did this to Cameron, I know who you are and I’m coming for you. Sincerely, Samantha Bell.

  I reeled my fingers away from the keyboard and crossed my arms. The house was quiet with Heather and Mason still asleep. I wasn’t certain my plan would work, but I needed Tyler to know that he had at least one ally out there in a sea of nonbelievers.

  But did I really know who was behind this? Or was I only telling myself I did?

  Cooper groaned next to my foot and closed his eyes. The bright orb of sunlight rose over the eastern horizon when I hit publish.

  There was no turning back now. I was publicly teaming up with Denver’s Most Wanted.

  I stood and made my way to the counter to make another pot of coffee when my mind wandered back to last night. All night I’d tossed and turned with visions of the shadowy figure at the clinic hovering over me. This investigation was getting dangerously close to the edge. I could feel it breathing down my neck when suddenly I was struck with a thought.

  I hurried back to my computer and tried a couple different variations of the name stenciled on the glass leading into the fake clinic—Your Guardian Angel Women’s Health Clinic—until finally, once again, I admitted defeat.

  Had the website been taken down? Or was the domain so obscure and unrelated to what I knew that I couldn’t decipher the code? I had nothing and wished I had a way to contact Cameron without detective Campbell ever finding out.

  My chin hit my chest as I shoved my fingers through my hair and yanked at the roots.

  “Sam,” my sister’s voice said softly from behind, “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what you already know, but you work too much.”