Chapter 16
319 Biomedical Engineering had been around for over twenty years, but seven or eight years ago, it was shut down for running illegal experiments. Those involved had vanished without a trace.
Silas and Wayne had searched for answers but found nothing concrete. The few people who knew the details refused to talk.
Recently, a small disturbance in Orinadia had been linked to the prokaryotic embryos that 319 Biomedical Engineering had studied. Pedro had once been involved in that research, making it clear that this situation was far more complicated than it seemed.
Wayne frowned, struggling to wrap his head around it. “My grandpa never talks about it. Do you really think the rumors about 319 Biomedical Engineering experimenting on live subjects are true?”
“They’re just rumors. And after all this time, we’ve still found nothing.” Silas leaned back, his expression calm and unreadable. “No rush. We’ll find out eventually.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Silas noticed a slender figure slipping into a car with a man. Slowly, he rolled down his shirt sleeves and made his way toward them.
“You’re heading back to Denisville tomorrow,” he told Wayne.
Wayne broke his cigarette in half, tossing it away. “You’re not coming?”
“I’ve got things to take care of.” Silas’s voice was casual, but his gaze was sharp.
Under the hazy crescent moon, neon lights flickered between the towering skyscrapers. The vibrant nightlife of Jinslenburg pulsed beneath the city’s steel and glass skyline.
In the West District, along Riverside Avenue, Ken and his team were setting up barricades. “Everyone, listen to Lenore later. If she says to stall, you stall,” he instructed.
A group of uniformed officers glanced toward the roadside.
Lenore leaned against a car, her long legs crossed at the ankles. A black mask concealed her striking features, and with her head down, she tapped away on her phone, seemingly absorbed in a game. Even in her relaxed posture, she exuded an effortless confidence—fearless and unshaken.
One of the younger officers ran a hand through his short hair and leaned toward Ken. “Mr. Sharpe… is she even old enough for this?”
Ken shot him a look. “Do you think I’d bring a minor into this? Respect my position here.”
The young officer flushed with embarrassment and fell silent.
Ken’s gaze lingered on Lenore, a mix of emotions flickering through his eyes. Three years ago, during a raid at a karaoke bar, his team had finally tracked down their target. But when they broke down the door, he had found his own daughter inside.
As a police officer, he had no choice but to arrest her himself, torn between duty and heartbreak.
But just as they exited the building, a group of gang members ambushed them. The gang fled in stolen cars, and in the chaos, Ken lost several team members.
Lenore had jumped into his car without hesitation, taking the wheel and chasing the gang down like a demon possessed. But despite her efforts, Ken’s daughter had been thrown from a vehicle in the chase and lost her life.
His daughter had been both a victim and guilty. She didn’t deserve to die.
Though the police caught their main target that night, the ones truly responsible for his daughter’s death were still out there, free.
The tragedy had made headlines. Influencers and self-proclaimed heroes milked the story for views and clout. Reporters camped outside his home, shoving cameras in his face, turning his grief into their entertainment.
It was Lenore who erased every trace of the story from the internet, wiping the headlines clean. She had given him and his wife the one thing no one else had—peace.
The loss of his daughter had devastated his wife beyond repair, and it had left Ken hollow.
He had resigned from the force, choosing to join the traffic division instead. It was the only way he could keep searching for the vehicle—the person—responsible for his daughter’s death.
And Lenore… He owed her more than he could ever repay.
A flash of bright headlights snapped him out of his thoughts.
Ken straightened, clearing his throat. “It’s time to get to work.”
Lenore sent one last message on her phone, then tucked it away. Pulling her hat lower over her eyes, she strode forward with casual ease.
The hunt was about to begin.
