THE LAST CALL

Episode

Amara clicked an archived article.

Her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"Look."

Daniel leaned closer.

The article was old.

The headline mentioned a clinical trial that had been suspended following concerns raised by an unnamed medical professional.

The name of the professional wasn't included.

But the hospital mentioned in the article was St. Raphael Medical Center.

Amara's breathing slowed.

"What are the chances?"

Daniel shook his head.

"Probably not good."

She continued reading.

The trial had been discontinued.

No criminal charges had been filed.

The company had denied wrongdoing.

The matter had eventually disappeared from public attention.

Then Amara saw a familiar name.

Dr. Marcus Adeyemi.

Her father.

She stared at the screen.

Daniel looked at her.

"Amara."

She didn't answer.

Her eyes moved down the page.

There was a photograph.

A press conference.

Her father stood among several other doctors.

Beside him was a younger Jonathan Vale.

And standing several feet behind them—

Dr. Victoria Hayes.

Amara's stomach tightened.

"She was there."

Daniel looked at the photograph.

"Victoria?"

"Yes."

The room suddenly felt too small.

Amara saved the image.

Then another article caught her attention.

This one was dated three days before her father's death.

She opened it.Most of the article was about the suspended research program.

But one sentence stood out.

A senior physician familiar with the investigation reportedly intended to release additional evidence before the matter was permanently closed.

Amara read it twice.

"Additional evidence."

Daniel nodded.

"Your father?"

"Maybe."

"And three days later he died."

Neither of them spoke.

At 9:46 p.m., Amara returned to the ICU.

Jonathan was still unconscious.

She stood outside his room.

A nurse approached.

"Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"He woke up briefly."

Amara immediately looked through the glass.

"When?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"Did he say anything?"

The nurse hesitated.

"Yes."

"What?"

"He asked for someone."

"Who?"

The nurse looked at her.

"You."

Amara's heart began beating faster.

She entered the room.

Jonathan's eyes were closed.

She moved beside his bed.

"Mr. Vale?"

His eyes opened slowly.

He looked confused.

Then he saw her.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Amara leaned closer.

"Can you hear me?"

His lips moved.

She listened.

"Marcus."

Amara froze.

"Did you say Marcus?"

Jonathan's breathing became uneven.

"Your father."

She leaned closer.

"What do you know about him?"

His eyes widened.

Then he grabbed her wrist weakly.

"Don't trust..."

His voice faded.

"Who?"

Jonathan struggled to speak.

"Don't trust..."

The monitor suddenly changed.

A nurse rushed in.

"Doctor!"

Amara stepped back as the team moved around the patient.

Jonathan's eyes closed.

"Mr. Vale!"

Amara watched helplessly as the medical team stabilized him.

Then something caught her attention.

His hand.

He was holding something.

A small object.

Amara waited until the immediate emergency was under control.

Then she looked at his hand again.

A folded piece of paper was partially visible between his fingers.

She carefully removed it.

There was only one thing written on it.

A name.

MARCUS ADEYEMI.

And beneath it was a date.

2:17 A.M.

Amara stared at the paper.

That was the exact time Jonathan had arrived at St. Raphael.

The same time the entire mystery had begun.

She turned the paper over.

There was one final sentence.

Ask Elias what happened before the call."Who?"

Amara's blood ran cold.

She looked through the ICU window.

Elias was standing at the end of the corridor.

Watching her.

Their eyes met.

He slowly walked toward her.

Amara held up the paper.

"What is this?"

Elias stopped.

His face changed.

Not surprise.

Fear.

"You weren't supposed to find that."

Amara's voice hardened.

"Find what?"

Elias looked at the paper.

Then at her.

"Your father's last call."

"What does that mean?"

He didn't answer.

"Who made the call?"

Elias looked down the corridor.

Then back at her.

"I did."

Amara stared at him.

"You?"

Elias nodded.

"Eight years ago, at exactly 2:17 a.m., I called your father."

"Why?"

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Because I had discovered something."

"What?"

Before Elias could answer, the lights in the ICU flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then went out.

The corridor fell into darkness.

A second later, the emergency lights came on.

Amara turned toward Jonathan's room.

The bed was empty.

Her breath caught.

"Where is he?"

Elias didn't move.

Amara ran into the room.

The monitors were still running.

The bed was still warm.

But Jonathan Vale was gone.

And on the pillow where his head had been was a single white envelope.

Amara picked it up.

Her name was written across the front.

DR. AMARA ADEYEMI.

She looked at Elias.

He was standing in the doorway.

Neither of them spoke.

Then Amara opened the envelope.

Inside was a photograph of her father.

On the back were six words.

He knew they were coming.