The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 71
Leilani instinctively fingered the silver needle concealed in her hand. She followed silently behind the bodyguard, ready to incapacitate him at the slightest sign of trouble.
The man led her through a long corridor and into a private elevator that ascended directly to the top floor. Inside the penthouse conference room, Leilani found herself in a spacious area surrounded by one-way glass. She could see out, but no one could see in. She casually scanned the surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling before averting her gaze and sitting quietly on the sofa to wait.
Four years in prison had made her hypersensitive to surveillance; the moment she stepped inside, she felt eyes on her. If it weren’t for the hundred-million-dollar consultation fee, she would have already walked out.
In the monitoring room, Callahan stood before the screen, his sharp gaze fixed on the woman. This was the legendary ‘Dr. L’? He frowned slightly. She wasn’t what he expected. He had imagined the successor of the ‘Phantom Doctor’ to be someone with an imposing presence and a sharp look, but the woman before him seemed… too ordinary. Almost
mediocre.
Yet, Callahan didn’t let his guard down. Ordinary people didn’t make a name for themselves on the dark web. In this age of technology, appearance and voice could easily be fabricated.
Callahan pressed the intercom, speaking into his Bluetooth headset in a low voice. “Let her
in.”
Following his command, the conference room door opened. A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a white coat walked in. He smiled, approaching Leilani with an extended hand. “Dr. L, hello. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hello.” Leilani shook his hand, her eyes darting around the room. Seeing no patient, she frowned at the doctor. “Where is the person I’m supposed to treat?”
She cut straight to the chase, skipping the polite pleasantries.
Her directness surprised the man, though he quickly rationalized it-experts from the dark web were known for their eccentricities. He adjusted his glasses and began discussing the necessary protocols. “There’s no rush. Our boss would like to establish some ground rules first. We won’t interfere with your treatment methods, but we must ensure total confidentiality. You’ll need to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Additionally, the entire treatment process will be recorded. I hope you don’t mind.”
Leilani looked up at the camera, her gaze piercing, as if locking eyes with the mysterious employer behind the lens.
In the monitoring room, Callahan met her stare through the screen. It was a silent contest of wills, neither willing to look away, until finally, Leilani broke contact. She nodded. “Fine.”
15:23
She knew they were testing her, which was understandable given the exorbitant fee. However, she couldn’t agree too easily, or she’d appear pushover.
Watching from the screen, Callahan’s eyes darkened. This ‘Dr. L’ seemed entirely unfazed by the surveillance-perhaps even accustomed to it.
T
212
15.22
Cedella
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