The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 9

Nicklaus crashed to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.

The officer didn't stop there. He grabbed Nicklaus by the shirt and yanked him to his feet with brutal force.

"Stand up like a man and tell me why you killed her! Was this your plan all along?" the officer demanded.

Nicklaus was furious, but as he looked at the man, he could see numerous health problems afflicting him.

"Stop taking those pills at night—they're only making you worse, not better," Nicklaus said, trying to remain calm.

He realized the officer was simply following orders. Gabriel was orchestrating everything behind the scenes.

"What?" the officer asked, confused. Just as Nicklaus had said, the self-prescribed medication he'd been buying wasn't helping his condition at all.

"If you don't stop those drugs, you'll have a heart attack within three days. And I'm not sure you'll survive it," Nicklaus said matter-of-factly.

The officer looked bewildered, as if Nicklaus were speaking a foreign language. However, he had to admit Nicklaus might be right about the heart attack—a recent clinic visit had warned him about his excessive drinking and stress potentially triggering cardiac problems.

Still, the officer chose not to believe Nicklaus. He shoved him hard to the ground. "If what you're saying is true, then why couldn't you save your sister? You talk like you're some kind of medical genius..."

"I am the best," Nicklaus interrupted before the man could finish.

"You think so? And yet you killed your sister," the officer laughed.

Just as he was about to strike Nicklaus again, the interrogation room door opened. The police chief entered and saw Nicklaus's bloodied condition.

"Take him back to his cell. I want to see you in my office immediately," the chief ordered, then left the room.

The officer pointed at Nicklaus threateningly. "You're lucky this time, but I'll be back. And when I return, you'll confess why you murdered your sister."

"You were told something specific, weren't you? Why don't you just admit it?" Nicklaus said quietly.

From the officer's manner of speaking, Nicklaus could tell he'd been manipulated into believing false information.

The officer glared at Nicklaus and sneered, "You planned to harvest your sister's organs because you're so desperate for money. Well, you won't get your hands on any part of her."

Before Nicklaus could respond, the officer stormed out. Shortly after, another officer came to escort Nicklaus to a different cell.

He was alone briefly before Linda, the woman he'd spoken with earlier, was transferred to his cell after being harassed by the men in her previous one.

"We meet again," she said, but Nicklaus remained silent.

"You're bleeding badly," she observed, tearing a piece of her dress and moving closer to clean the blood from his nose.

"No, leave it. The bleeding will stop in exactly fifty-one seconds," Nicklaus said, causing her to pull back in surprise.

"Are you a doctor?" she asked, stunned by his confident prediction.

"I'm a medical laboratory scientist," he replied, and she nodded.

"My grandfather has been ill for years. I hope my father can get me out of here so I can see him one more time before..." she said sadly.

Nicklaus became interested. "What's wrong with your grandfather?"

"He has liver disease, and it's so severe that no doctor can treat him. They've taken him abroad, but no one has been able to help," she explained.

As she spoke, they heard crying from nearby.

"That's my mother," Linda said, though Nicklaus remained seated calmly.

"I can heal your grandfather," Nicklaus stated simply.

She was taken aback, but before she could respond, her mother was brought to their cell.

"Linda, sweetheart, your father finally secured your release," her mother said as an officer unlocked the cell gate.

"Mom, I think I've found someone who can help Grandpa," Linda said, gesturing toward Nicklaus.

"That's ridiculous, Linda. So many people have tried and failed. We've seen more failures than successes," her mother replied skeptically.

"You could at least try, Mom," Linda pressed.

Her mother sighed. "Who? What doctor could possibly heal your grandfather?"

Linda pointed to Nicklaus, who was sitting on the prison bench. When he met the woman's eyes, he bowed slightly in respect.

"How could this man know anything about medicine? He looks like..." the woman began dismissively.

"Mom, don't do this. You taught me never to judge people by their appearance. Why are you doing that now?" Linda interrupted.

The woman looked Nicklaus up and down before walking away. Linda followed her mother, and a few minutes later, a police officer returned to open the cell gate.

"I don't know how you convinced the heir of Fins Conglomerate, but you're only free for today. You'll be locked up again tomorrow," the officer said with obvious displeasure.

Nicklaus hadn't realized Linda was anyone important—he was just learning this now. As he walked out of the cell, Gabriel's voice suddenly rang out from the reception area.