reathable. He was trying to write up his notes on the Ramirez case, to justify his

face pale. She was holding a single manila

aid, her voice tight. "The original blood

the columns of numbers. Then they stopped. His blood ran cold. He

ot just positive; they were soaring. The third IVF c

gers fumbling on the keyboard as he pulled up her embryology reco

e anonymous donor

y donor number in

Ramirez was pregnant. And she was carrying an e

straight to a busy signal. Of course. She was probably driving, her p

esk phone lit up, a flashing red eye of doom. It was a

s the legal department for the Guerrero Group. We are invoking a full s

ne wen

They were watching a grainy, enhanced security video. It showed a shadowy figure bypassing three levels of security in the

Seal the clinic. Get a team on-site now. I want the direc

ck suits stepped inside. They moved with an unnerving efficiency, one unplugging his

h stammered, standing u

d, not even looking at him. He was already comparing a timestamp from his o

tient who had an implantation proced

atellite phone. "Mr. Guerrero... We've confirmed it. A

retched for three long seconds. Then, a low, chilling laugh echoed faintly through

Guerrero's voice commanded, laced with ice

ce bag. Dr. Finch was handed a non-disclosure agreement so ironclad it could

d, a last-ditch effort of conscience

quick, anonymous email. One of the black-suited m

arrived, leaving behind a terrified staff and a gap

te Guerrero ended the call. The view of the city lights was a gli

r beautiful face serene, her eyes vacant. She'd been in a coma for two years.

reliminary identity confirmation, sir. We're still compiling her background, but our fina

ghtened. He flipp

a copy of a Texas

inary, with wide, dark eyes that seemed almost innocent

deliberate rhythm on the

s either a pa

ere was no such thin

gerously quiet. "I'm going to pay a visit to the woman