Chapter 66 Summary
Tony remains at the hospital long enough to see Kate leave, then visits Steven and is immediately struck by the dramatic change in his demeanor. For the first time in days, Steven is smiling, optimistic, and even talking about returning to work. Encouraged by this emotional turnaround, Tony spends over an hour with him before returning to his hotel to deal with the growing stack of urgent emails that have accumulated during his absence.
Once back at the hotel, Tony leaves Jennifer a voicemail, eager to share the good news about Steven’s recovery. His attention then shifts to an urgent message from Amber at EnvironLife, warning him about GenaSeed’s aggressive new media campaign. After reviewing the campaign himself, Tony recognizes the implicit attack but concludes that the messaging is carefully crafted to avoid legal liability. He advises his team to monitor the situation rather than respond prematurely, while also expressing renewed hope about Steven’s condition and his own possible return home.
Tony’s optimism continues during a call with Jennifer, where he reveals the unexpected source of Steven’s recovery, his growing relationship with Kate, the officer who first responded to the assault. While hopeful, Tony acknowledges the risk that the emotional bond could be rooted in shared trauma rather than something lasting. He also asks Jennifer to review GenaSeed’s media blitz and offer her perspective, reinforcing his concern that the campaign may signal further escalation.
Meanwhile, Javon Morris makes significant progress in the investigation. Still in the interview room with Sandra Brown, he receives confirmation from the forensics lab that fingerprints recovered from the envelopes match Sandra’s, but no others. Although this initially deepens suspicion, further analysis supports Sandra’s explanation that she unknowingly transported the envelopes after finding them outside her office. Javon concludes she is not responsible for the threatening messages, but rather an unwitting courier.
Relieved yet shaken, Sandra is released with instructions to remain silent about the investigation. Javon, now convinced the culprit is someone within GenaSeed, mentally narrows his focus toward Roger Cortez. With a renewed sense of direction, he contacts Tony to inform him that a person of interest has been identified. While unable to share details, Javon warns that the threat has not fully passed, urging continued caution as the investigation moves closer to exposing the source behind the assault and intimidation campaign.
