Chapter 4 - THE WARNING FROM A DEAD STUDENT
Jordan Ellis’s mother lived forty minutes from campus.
Maya visited her without telling Professor Lang.
Teresa Ellis opened the door wearing hospital scrubs.
She looked exhausted even though it was early afternoon.
When Maya introduced herself, Teresa nearly closed the door.
“The university said we weren’t supposed to speak to students.”
“Why?”
“They said Jordan’s death was under investigation.”
“It was ruled an overdose.”
Teresa’s eyes sharpened.
“My son didn’t use drugs.”
Maya showed her a copy of the altered research summary.
Teresa invited her inside.
Jordan had joined the Aegis trial after a training injury damaged the nerves in his right arm.
The research team promised physical improvement and free medical care.
After the third session, he began experiencing headaches, memory loss, and episodes of involuntary shaking.
Dr. Lang told him the symptoms came from anxiety.
Colonel Ward visited Jordan personally.
“He told my son that veterans finish what they start,” Teresa said.
Jordan attempted to withdraw.
The laboratory warned him he could lose his rehabilitation benefits.
Two days before his death, Jordan mailed his mother a memory card.
It contained a video recorded outside Lang’s office.
Maya watched it on Teresa’s laptop.
Lang’s voice came through the door.
“The dosage exceeded the approved limit.”
Another man answered.
“Then correct the report.”
Maya recognized the second voice.
Colonel Ward.
Lang said, “If another subject collapses, we cannot hide it.”
Ward replied, “Apex signs the next funding agreement in six weeks. Nothing interrupts that.”
The recording ended when Jordan moved away from the door.
Teresa looked at Maya.
“The police said the audio was too unclear to prove anything.”
“Did campus security review it?”
“Colonel Ward collected the original card.”
Maya stared at the copy on the laptop.
Ward had told Frank that Jordan’s death was a personal tragedy unrelated to the research.
He had attended the memorial wearing his military medals.
He had embraced Teresa in front of the cameras.
“Can I copy this?” Maya asked.
Teresa hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Jordan wanted someone to know.”
Maya saved the recording in her encrypted cloud folder.
As she left, Teresa touched her arm.
“Be careful. Jordan believed people would protect him once they saw the evidence.”
That evening, Ward called Maya.
His voice was warm.
“Professor Lang says you’ve become worried about the Aegis data.”
Maya’s skin went cold.
“I found serious inconsistencies.”
“Come by my office tomorrow. We’ll sort it out quietly.”
“Why quietly?”
“Because false accusations destroy good work.”
Maya looked at the copied recording on her laptop.
“Did Jordan make false accusations?”
Ward became silent.
Then he said, “Your father and I survived because we knew when to trust command.”
The call ended.
Five minutes later, Maya received another anonymous message.
SCIENCE BUILDING. 11:30. BRING THE COPY IF YOU WANT THE ORIGINAL FILES.
May you like
CAMERAS ARE OFF.
👉 The message promised proof of Jordan’s death, but it also revealed that whoever sent it controlled campus security.
