Chapter 6: The New Lead + The Invitation She Can’t Refuse
1133 Words
Friday morning.
Elise woke to an email.
From: a.patel.former@gmc-mail.co.uk
Subject: You didn’t hear this from me
Her heart stopped.
Dr. Hart,
There’s someone else. She worked at St. Thomas’ 2 years ago. Anaesthetist. Name: Dr. Sienna Blake. She left “voluntarily” after a meeting with a donor. She’s in Edinburgh now. Working private. Don’t say I sent you.
Delete this.
-A
Elise read it three times.
Edinburgh. Another one.
She forwarded it to Priya with one line: We have a lead.
Priya replied in 4 minutes: Booking train. Monday. You coming?
Elise typed: Yes.
She had 3 days.
Those 3 days she barely breathed.
She told Maeve she was “going to see a friend.”
She told Leo nothing.
Thursday came. Regent’s Park.
Sun again. It felt wrong. Like the world was too bright for what she was carrying.
Leo was already there with coffee and a paper bag.
“Pastries,” he said. “In case you’re hungry.”
“You’re spoiling me,” she said, sitting.
“I’m trying,” he said.
They ate. Talked. The normal stuff.
Then he got quiet.
“Elise,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“I’m having a thing next Saturday. Small. At my place. Few friends. No dad. No business people. Just... people. Music. Food.”
Elise’s stomach flipped. “Your place?”
“Flat in Bloomsbury,” he said. “Nothing fancy. I just... I’d like you to come.”
She stared at him.
This was the second invitation. First was dinner. She said no.
This was bigger. His home. His people.
“I don’t know anyone,” she said.
“You know me,” he said. “That’s enough.”
She wanted to say yes. God, she wanted to.
“I’m going to Edinburgh Monday,” she said instead. “For work.”
Leo’s face didn’t change. “That’s good. What kind of work?”
“Research,” she lied. The first lie she’d told him. It tasted bad.
“Okay,” he said. “Well, the invite stands. Saturday. 7pm. Text me if you want the address.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
But she didn’t say yes.
---
Monday. 6:42am. King’s Cross.
Priya was already there with two coffees.
“Edinburgh is 4.5 hours,” Priya said. “We go in. We ask. We leave. No pressure.”
The train was quiet. Elise watched Scotland roll by.
“Are you scared?” Priya asked.
“Terrified,” Elise said. “What if she says no too?”
“Then we find number 4,” Priya said. “We don’t stop.”
---
Edinburgh. Royal Mile. Cold wind.
Dr. Sienna Blake’s clinic was small. Private. Clean.
She was 38. Sharp. Tired.
“I don’t do this,” she said, closing the door. “I left London for a reason.”
“We know,” Priya said. “We just need 10 minutes.”
Sienna looked at Elise. “You’re the new one.”
Elise nodded.
“What did he offer you?” Sienna asked.
Elise’s mouth went dry. “To be ‘close’ to him. For a new NICU.”
Sienna laughed. No humor. “Same script. He used it on me.”
Elise leaned forward. “Will you testify?”
Sienna looked away. “I have a son. 6. He pays for his school. If I speak, he’ll pull it. I’m sorry.”
The room went silent.
“Can you at least give us a statement? Anonymous?” Priya asked.
Sienna shook her head. “I can’t. But...” She paused. “There’s a folder. From the meeting. He emailed me after. ‘Looking forward to our arrangement’. I never replied. I still have it.”
Elise’s heart slammed. “Can we see it?”
“No,” Sienna said. “It’s on a drive. In a safety deposit box. If I give it to you, I’m exposed.”
“But it exists,” Elise said.
“It exists,” Sienna said. “And if you ever get a court order, I’ll hand it over. Until then... I’m sorry, Dr. Hart. I’m really sorry.”
They left with nothing but a maybe.
---
On the train back, Priya squeezed Elise’s hand.
“That’s more than we had,” she said. “Proof exists. We just have to get to it.”
Elise nodded. But inside she was shaking.
Because now she knew. He did this before. He’ll do it again.
---
She got home to Camden at 9pm.
Phone buzzed.
Leo: You back safe?
Elise: Just got in.
Leo: Good. How was Edinburgh?
Elise: Cold. Productive.
Leo: Proud of you.
She stared at that text.
Proud of you.
Two words. From a man she liked. Who didn’t know he was the son of the man destroying her.
She typed: Thank you.
Then: Saturday. What time?
His reply was instant: 7pm. I’ll send the address. Can’t wait to see you.
Elise put her phone down.
She was walking into the lion’s den.
She was going to his house.
And she had no idea what would happen when she did.
---
Saturday. 6:55pm. Bloomsbury.
The building was red brick. Nice. Not a mansion. Not Cross Tower. Just a flat.
She buzzed.
His voice: “Elise? Come up.”
Third floor.
The door opened.
Leo in jeans and a black shirt. Hair damp. Smiling.
“You came,” he said.
“I came,” she said.
Inside: music low. 8 people. Normal people. Laughing. No suits. No cameras.
“Everyone, this is Elise,” he said.
They waved. Kind faces.
He took her coat. “Drink? Food? Tour?”
“Tour,” she said, because she needed a minute.
He showed her the kitchen. The books. The balcony with a view of the London skyline.
“My mum picked this place,” he said. “Said it had good light.”
Elise nodded. “It does.”
They stood there for a second. Just looking out.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “Better than okay.”
He looked at her. Really looked.
“Elise,” he said.
Her phone buzzed in her bag.
Priya: Call me. Urgent.
Elise’s stomach dropped.
“Sorry,” she said. “I have to take this.”
She stepped onto the balcony. Answered.
“Priya? What—”
“Damian Cross just donated £20 million to St. Thomas’,” Priya said. “The NICU you asked for. In your name.”
Elise froze.
“What?”
“He’s making it look like you quit. Like he’s the hero,” Priya said. “The news goes live tomorrow.”
Elise gripped the railing.
Inside, Leo was laughing with his friends.
And outside, his father was erasing her all over again.
—
- Writer
