Chapter 8: Seeking Help
Conrad and Loraine sat in the small coffee shop, the sound of light rain tapping against the windows. The adrenaline from the chase had barely subsided, but their focus now shifted to a more serious task—seeking help. Conrad was quiet, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of black coffee, staring off into the distance. Loraine could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers trembled slightly. She understood why. This wasn’t just about saving lives anymore. It was about his mother. About justice.
“You sure about this?” Loraine asked softly, breaking the silence between them.
Conrad didn’t answer right away. He took a deep breath, letting the steam from his coffee curl around his face before he spoke.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for five years, Loraine. I’m sure.”
His voice was low, steady, but filled with an intensity that sent a shiver down Loraine’s spine. She knew how much Conrad’s mother meant to him. How her death had broken him, and how he’d vowed to make things right. Now, here they were, on the edge of exposing an illegal organ transplant syndicate—a corrupt organization that had cost countless people their lives, including Conrad’s mother.
“We can’t do this alone,” Loraine said, her voice firm.
“This is bigger than us. If we’re going to take them down, we need help. Someone who knows how these things work.”
Conrad nodded, his gaze still fixed on the rain-soaked street outside.
“I know someone. Francis Mendoza. He’s a police investigator—a good one. He helped me once when I got out of trouble in my younger days. If anyone can help us, it’s him.”
Loraine had heard of Francis, a seasoned investigator known for his relentless pursuit of justice, especially in cases involving organized crime. If there was anyone who could help them navigate this dangerous situation, it was him.
“Do you trust him?” she asked, wanting to be sure they were involving the right person.
Conrad finally turned to her, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and pain.
“With my life.”
Loraine nodded, her own resolve hardening.
“Then let’s do this.”
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Later that evening, they met Francis at a discreet location—an old diner on the outskirts of the city. The place was quiet, the kind of establishment where nobody asked questions and the regulars kept to themselves. Francis was already seated at a booth in the corner, a man in his mid-40s with sharp, piercing eyes and a demeanor that commanded respect. His short, graying hair and the tired lines on his face spoke of years spent in the trenches of law enforcement.
Conrad greeted him with a firm handshake.
“Francis, thanks for meeting us.”
“No problem,” Francis replied, his voice gravelly but warm. He glanced at Loraine.
“This the girl you were talking about?”
Loraine nodded, offering a small smile.
“Yeah, I’m Loraine. Thanks for meeting with us.”
Francis motioned for them to sit down.
“Conrad told me a bit about what happened. You two stumbled onto something big, didn’t you?”
Loraine’s stomach twisted as she thought back to the moment they had witnessed the illegal transaction.
“We saw a doctor… one of the hospital staff… making a deal with these men. It was an organ—freshly harvested. They handed over a cooler and got paid in cash. We barely escaped with our lives.”
Francis leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“Illegal organ transplants. It’s one of the nastiest operations out there. Big money, big risks, and big consequences if you cross the wrong people.”
Conrad shifted uncomfortably.
“It’s personal for me, Francis. My mother… she died waiting for a liver transplant. I’ve always suspected that something wasn’t right. Rich patients got priority, while people like my mom were left to die. Now I know why. These bastards were selling organs to the highest bidder.”
Francis’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing.
“I’m sorry about your mother, Conrad. I’ve seen it too many times—innocent people caught in the crossfire of greed and corruption. If what you’re saying is true, we’re dealing with a syndicate that has its claws deep in the medical world. Doctors, hospitals, maybe even law enforcement.”
Loraine glanced at Conrad, seeing the raw emotion in his eyes. This wasn’t just a mission for him—it was a quest for justice, for redemption.
“So what do we do?” Loraine asked, her voice steady despite the tension.
Francis leaned forward, lowering his voice.
“We’ll need to approach this carefully. If they know you two are onto them, they’ll come after you harder than before. We need evidence—solid, undeniable proof that ties these people to the illegal transplants. And we need to gather it quietly.”
Conrad clenched his fists.
“I’m in. Whatever it takes.”
Francis studied them both for a moment, then nodded. “We’ll start by infiltrating their operations. But this isn’t a one-man job. You’ll need to get close to the doctors involved, find out who’s pulling the strings. I’ll arrange for you two to get assigned to some key shifts—places where we suspect the syndicate operates. You’ll have to act like everything is normal.”
Loraine swallowed hard. The thought of going undercover in her own hospital, surrounded by corrupt doctors, sent a wave of fear through her. But she wasn’t going to back down.
“We can do that,” she said, her voice stronger than she felt inside.
Francis gave her an approving nod. “Good. I’ll also have to pull some strings to keep an eye on the hospital’s records and security footage. We need to track the flow of organs—who’s donating, who’s receiving, and where the organs are going. You two focus on gathering what you can on the ground. And remember, don’t confront anyone directly. These people are dangerous.”
Conrad nodded. “We’ve already seen how far they’re willing to go.”
Francis glanced at him, his expression grim. “And they won’t hesitate to kill if they think you’re a threat. That’s why you need to be extra careful.”
Loraine shifted in her seat, the gravity of the situation settling over her. This wasn’t just about saving lives in the back of an ambulance anymore. This was about dismantling a network of criminals that thrived on death and desperation.
“What about the police?” Loraine asked. “Can’t we just report this to the authorities?”
Francis shook his head. “Not yet. If we go to the police without solid proof, it could tip them off. They likely have insiders in the police force. We need to build our case first, and then we’ll strike when we’re sure we can bring them all down.”
Conrad exhaled slowly, his jaw set in determination. “I’m ready for this, Francis. Whatever it takes.”
Francis studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod. “I know you are. But remember, Conrad, this isn’t just about revenge. This is about justice. We can’t lose sight of that.”
Conrad’s eyes flashed with intensity. “Justice is all I care about.”
Loraine reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “We’re in this together, Conrad. We’ll bring them down. For your mom. For everyone they’ve hurt.”
Conrad glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment. He nodded, his resolve unwavering. “Yeah. Together.”
Francis cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Alright, then. I’ll start working on the logistics. In the meantime, you two keep doing your regular shifts at the hospital. Act normal. Don’t raise any suspicions. I’ll be in touch with more details soon.”
Loraine and Conrad stood up, shaking hands with Francis before heading out into the rain-soaked night. As they walked toward the ambulance, Loraine felt the weight of their new mission settle on her shoulders.
“We can do this, right?” Loraine asked, glancing up at Conrad.
He nodded, his gaze focused ahead.
“We have to.”
The storm had only just begun, but Loraine knew they were ready to face it. Together, they would expose the syndicate, no matter how dangerous it became.