The Warning

EVELYN'S POV

Dr. Bennett was standing beside his desk when I entered.

He gestured toward the chair opposite him.

"Please sit, Dr. Evelyn."

I sat.

He turned his computer screen toward me.

The video was paused on a frame showing Vanessa pointing accusingly in my direction.

"I assume you've seen this."

"Yes, sir."

"She claims you stole her research. You've also made public statements about a potential preventive treatment for an emerging respiratory illness. Now people are questioning whether your work is legitimate."

I kept my expression neutral.

"My research is documented, and I've made it clear that our findings are preliminary. I haven't claimed to possess a proven treatment."

"That isn't the issue I'm asking about."

I waited.

Dr. Bennett folded his arms.

"Has Dr. Cole ever had access to your research?"

The question caught me off guard, although I quickly recovered.

"She had access to some preliminary discussions about my work in the past. However, the research records establish the development of my own findings."

"Can you substantiate that?"

"Yes. I have dated records, archived drafts, and supporting documentation. I've already contacted my lawyer to ensure the material is preserved appropriately."

He studied me.

"And can you establish that her claims are false?"

"I can provide evidence supporting the ownership and development of my research. If she has a competing claim, she should provide her own supporting documentation."

Dr. Bennett leaned against the desk.

"I want to be clear. The hospital cannot allow a public dispute to compromise the integrity of its research. Until these concerns are reviewed, I expect you to be especially careful about public statements."

"I understand."

"This is not a finding against you. But I need you to cooperate fully if the matter requires a formal review."

"I will."

He nodded.

"Good. Keep your documentation secure, continue following the approved research process, and don't let this distract you from your responsibilities."

I stood.

"Thank you, sir."

As I reached the door, he spoke again.

"Dr. Evelyn."

I turned.

"Your concerns about the respiratory cases have also reached my desk. The infection-control team is reviewing them. If you have information that could help establish a connection, share it with the appropriate team immediately."

"I will."

I left his office with mixed feelings.

At least he hadn't suspended my research.

But Vanessa's accusation had reached the people whose support I needed most.

I couldn't afford to give her another opportunity to undermine me.

---

By the time I returned to the emergency department, Adrian was waiting near the workstation.

He looked up as I approached.

"How did it go?"

"Dr. Bennett wants the research dispute reviewed properly. He hasn't suspended our work, but we need to be careful."

"That's reasonable."

"Any progress with the laboratory team?"

His expression changed.

"We have a new development."

My attention sharpened.

"What happened?"

"The infection-control team reviewed the patients' histories. Two of them attended a medical trade exhibition in the same city last week. We haven't established whether they were there at the same time, and the other two cases may be unrelated."

I considered that.

"Have we contacted the exhibition organisers?"

"The team is working through the appropriate channels to establish possible exposure histories."

"Good. What about the laboratory results?"

"Further testing is underway. Nothing definitive yet."

I nodded, trying to contain my anxiety.

It wasn't enough to establish an outbreak.

But it was enough to justify continued investigation.

Then Adrian handed me another report.

"There's something else. The fourth patient's symptoms progressed more quickly than we expected. The attending team has escalated his care, and the infection-control specialists are reviewing the case urgently."

I read the report.

My heart sank.

I remembered the first time I had seen this pattern.

The fever. The persistent cough. The sudden deterioration.

But I forced myself to focus on the information in front of me.

One patient's worsening condition did not establish what was happening to the others.

We needed more evidence.

"We should review the sequence of symptoms and make sure the team has all the information they need," I said.

Adrian nodded.

"I've already spoken with the attending physician."

"Then let's make sure we don't miss anything."

We returned to the records.

For the next hour, we worked through the available information, comparing timelines and documenting the similarities without drawing conclusions the evidence couldn't support.

It was slow, frustrating work.

But it was the kind of work that mattered.

And as the afternoon turned into evening, I found myself glancing repeatedly at the system interface.

Finally, a notification appeared.

[MISSION UPDATE: PREPARE FOR THE FIRST WAVE.]

[New evidence suggests a possible connection between multiple respiratory cases.]

[Confidence level: INSUFFICIENT FOR CONFIRMATION.]

[Recommended action: Continue clinical investigation and preserve all relevant findings.]

I stared at the message.

The system hadn't confirmed my fears.

But it hadn't dismissed them, either.

Adrian noticed my expression.

He looked toward the patients' rooms. “Are you worried?” He asked.

I nodded.

Why wouldn't I be when Vanessa was trying to destroy my credibility. Daniel was helping her. The hospital needed evidence before committing further resources.

I had forty-one days according to the system, perhaps less if the situation deteriorated faster than expected.

I needed to protect my research, strengthen our partnership, and help the hospital prepare for a threat it hadn't yet confirmed.

I also needed to keep Adrian alive.

That last responsibility was the one I couldn't bear to fail.

As I turned back toward the workstation, another notification appeared on my phone.

It was a message from an unknown number.

You should stop investigating those patients. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

I read it, and my fingers tightened around the phone.

Someone knew what we were investigating.

Someone wanted me to stop.