공유

Chapter 28

작가: TEG
last update 최신 업데이트: 2026-01-27 03:27:23

Chen finds Subject 23 in three days.

Living in Portland. Working as a barista. Normal life. Enhanced body. Free.

Chen sends photos. Video. Confirmation.

Marcus gathers the team. "Subject 23 exists. Works at a coffee shop called Grounds. Verified enhanced. Verified stable. No signs of degradation. Victoria's treatment appears legitimate."

"Or Subject 23 is a plant," Alex counters. "Someone Victoria positioned years ago. Waiting for exactly this moment. We need to interview her. Directly. Get the
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  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 66

    Sophie's wedding took place on a perfect July afternoon in a small botanical garden outside the city.Emma arrived early, her role as maid of honor requiring her presence for photographs and last-minute preparations. Dr. Walsh had adjusted her medications specifically for today—additional beta-blocker to keep her heart rate controlled during the stress and excitement of the event."You look beautiful," Damien said, helping Emma from the car. She wore a pale blue dress Sophie had chosen specifically for its comfort—no tight waist that might restrict breathing, no complicated fastenings that would frustrate Emma's still-limited shoulder mobility."I look like someone trying very hard not to have a cardiac event at her sister's wedding," Emma said, but she was smiling.Sophie was in the bridal suite, surrounded by friends and a makeup artist who was doing final touches. She turned when Emma entered, her wedding dress simple and elegant, her face radiant."You made it," Sophie said, pulli

  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 65

    Six months afterEmma stood at her father's grave for the first time in nearly a year.It was late May, the cemetery transformed by spring into something less bleak than she remembered. Trees in full leaf. Grass vivid green. Flowers left by someone—Emma wasn't sure who—brightening the simple headstone.David LawsonBeloved Father and Researcher1965-2023Sophie stood beside her, quiet and patient. They'd driven here together after Emma's morning cardiac appointment—the monthly checkup that had become routine over the past six months.Dr. Walsh had delivered cautiously optimistic news. Emma's ejection fraction had improved to fifty-one percent. Not normal, not cured, but stable. Her heart rate stayed controlled. Her medications were working. She was, in Walsh's careful words, "managing her condition successfully."Managing. Not thriving. Not healed. Just managing.But alive."I haven't been here since the funeral," Emma said quietly. "I kept meaning to visit, but there was always anoth

  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 64

    Emma spent five days in the ICU before Dr. Walsh cleared her for transfer to the cardiac step-down unit.Five days of constant monitoring, medication adjustments, and the slow realization that her body had limits she could no longer ignore. Her ejection fraction had stabilized at forty-nine percent—better than the forty-seven it had dropped to, but still firmly in heart failure territory.Dr. Walsh delivered the news with her characteristic directness on day six."Emma, we need to talk about realistic expectations. Your heart has sustained significant damage—Compound 7 exposure, two cardiac arrests, chronic stress. The stem cell therapy helped, but it can't undo everything. You're now classified as having heart failure with reduced ejection fraction."Emma had known this was coming. Had treated enough cardiac patients to understand what the numbers meant. But hearing it applied to herself felt different."What does that mean practically?""It means your heart can't pump blood efficien

  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 63

    Emma collapsed during her Wednesday cardiac rehab session in mid-February.She'd been doing well—thirty minutes on the treadmill at 2.5 miles per hour, heart rate steady at ninety-two. Patricia had been discussing increasing the intensity next week. Emma felt strong, confident, almost normal.Then the room tilted.Patricia caught her before she hit the floor, easing her down carefully while simultaneously hitting the emergency call button."Emma, stay with me. What are you feeling?"Emma tried to answer but couldn't form words. Her chest felt like someone had wrapped steel bands around it and was tightening them systematically. Her heart rhythm was all wrong—she could feel it stuttering, racing, struggling.The world grayed at the edges.Patricia was talking to someone—medical staff who'd responded to the emergency call. Emma felt hands on her, people checking vitals, someone placing oxygen over her face."Heart rate one-forty-two. Blood pressure dropping. Possible cardiac event. Get

  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 62

    Emma started her position as medical director of the Medical Trial Victim Support Fund on the first Monday of January.The office was small—a converted suite in a medical building near Manhattan Memorial, just two rooms and a waiting area. Rachel had set it up with Emma's limitations in mind: ergonomic furniture, multiple rest areas, and flexible scheduling that allowed Emma to work from home when necessary.Emma's first day was deliberately light. Four hours in the office, reviewing intake protocols and meeting the small staff Rachel had assembled. A case manager, an administrative assistant, and a part-time nurse to handle initial medical screenings."We're starting small," Rachel explained, walking Emma through the filing system. "Thirty-seven current beneficiaries, but we're expecting that number to grow as more victims come forward. Your job is to review medical documentation, make recommendations for treatment protocols, and coordinate with patients' primary physicians."It was

  • The Debt He Can't Collect   Chapter 61

    The Daniel Cross trial lasted three weeks.Emma didn't attend again after her testimony. Dr. Walsh had been explicit—one day in court was the maximum her heart could handle. Instead, Emma followed the proceedings through news coverage and daily updates from Damien, who attended every session.The prosecution built a methodical case. FBI agents testified about the evidence seized from Cross Foundation files. Accountants traced money through thirty years of shell companies. Victoria Chen provided detailed testimony about her father's research and Daniel's role in protecting it.The defense strategy remained consistent: attack every witness's credibility, argue that the conspiracy was Marcus Cross's creation alone, portray Daniel as a prosecutor who'd made errors in judgment but committed no crimes.It might have worked if not for the recordings.Sarah Chen's testimony in week two destroyed the defense's narrative. She authenticated the audio recordings of Webb and Daniel discussing brib

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