Chapter 18 - Unfinished Business
Three months after the events in Geneva, life in Upstate New York had transformed into a tranquil rhythm.
Spring had fully arrived. The Carter Estate was surrounded by lush green lawns, blooming cherry blossoms, and the peaceful hum of nature. The constant presence of armed guards and armored SUVs had been replaced by a subtle, state-of-the-art security system designed purely for privacy.
Liam sat at the outdoor dining table on the patio, his laptop open, finishing his final enrollment papers for MIT. He was heading to Cambridge in two weeks to begin his freshman year.
His mother, Eleanor, set down a tray of fresh iced tea and homemade biscuits. "You're going to miss my cooking when you're living in those college dorms, young man."
Liam smiled, taking a glass. "Mom, I’m pretty sure I can persuade Dad to fly me home on weekends."
"Don't give him any ideas," Eleanor laughed, sitting down beside him. "He's already talking about building a new research lab near your campus just so he has an excuse to visit."
Marcus walked out from his study, holding a newspaper. The front page of *The New York Times* featured a large photograph of Marcus and Liam standing in front of the United Nations headquarters, under the bold headline:
*THE CARTER FOUNDATION PLEDGES $10 BILLION TO GLOBAL CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE.*
"Look at this, Liam," Marcus said, laying the paper on the table. "They finally spelled your name right on the front page."
"About time," Liam joked, scanning the article. "It feels surreal seeing our names in the news for something good instead of international espionage scandals."
"You earned every word of that praise, son," Marcus said warmly.
Suddenly, Marcus’s personal phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, expecting a routine call from the foundation’s board of directors. But as he looked at the caller ID, his expression subtly shifted.
It was an official line from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florence, Colorado—the location of ADX Florence, the most secure supermax prison in the United States.
Marcus swiped to answer, placing it on speaker so Liam and Eleanor could hear.
"Marcus Carter speaking."
"Mr. Carter," a stern voice spoke through the speaker. "This is Warden Miller from ADX Florence. I am calling regarding inmate Victor Grant."
Liam and Marcus exchanged a quick, sharp glance.
"What about Grant?" Marcus asked, his tone growing serious.
"Inmate Grant experienced severe medical complications two hours ago," the Warden reported. "He was rushed to the facility's intensive care unit. The doctors inform us he has less than twenty-four hours to live due to late-stage organ failure."
Liam frowned in confusion. "Organ failure? He was completely healthy when he was sentenced six months ago."
"The prison medical team believes it was a slow-acting synthetic toxin introduced into his system months before his arrest," Warden Miller explained. "Regardless, Mr. Grant has refused all further treatment. He has requested a final personal meeting with you, Marcus... and with your son, Liam."
"Why would he want to see us?" Eleanor asked, concern in her voice. "It could be a trick."
"He's behind three layers of bulletproof glass in a supermax medical ward, Mrs. Carter," the Warden assured her. "He poses zero physical threat. But he insists he has information vital to your family's future safety that he will only disclose in person before he dies."
Marcus looked at Liam. Liam met his father's gaze, seeing the unspoken question in Marcus’s eyes.
"We go," Liam said firmly. "If Victor Grant has something left to say after everything that happened, I want to hear it with my own ears."
May you like
Marcus nodded slowly. "Tell the medical unit we're on our way, Warden. We'll be in Colorado by sunset."
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