The Killer Queen

Yvonne’s eyes lit up!

“Miss Yvonne, there are loads of loaded folks on the deep web. You could make a killing without even trying.”

Yvonne was itching to give it a go, and cautiously she opened up the deep web. Sure enough, there were a bunch of high–ticket orders waiting.

The top few orders all came from the same account, untouched by anyone.

“Thorpe’s trying to rope in Phantom Surgeon Lunaris to treat his family, with a whopping offer of a billion bucks! That’s a truckload of cash! But I don’t know squat about medicine…”

Even though she majored in medicine back in college, she never attended those classes. The thought of dissections with mice and bunnies made her see those folks as nothing but crude and filthy.

So she paid others to attend all her classes. Now, forget medical skills, she couldn’t even make heads or tails of a basic prescription!

The nanny was unimpressed.

“Aren’t you trained in medicine? Treating a patient should be a walk in the park for you, right? I see a lot of doctors these days just googling stuff and scribbling down some meds. If anything comes up, you can just hit up Dr. Calvin. This could be your shot to strut your stuff.”

And we’re talking a billion dollars here!

Yvonne was practically squirming with excitement!

But she was terrified she’d be tongue–tied when the time came. Better to check out the other

orders first!

She shut down the laptop, not realizing she had inadvertently clicked “accept” on the order.

“I’m off to take an exam at school. I’ll check out the easier orders when I get back.”

“Sure thing.”

Yvonne always had someone else sit her exams in exchange for cash, but she was dead broke now, couldn’t cough up the money for a stand–in. Time to face the music herself!

After wrapping up a surgery, Ulrich didn’t even have time to catch his breath before rushing off

to the lab.

He knew all too well the kind of characters his lab doctors were a bunch of snooty. self–righteous types. He had to pull out all the stops just to get them to willingly follow his lead!

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If he got back late, they’d surely give his sister a hard time!

As soon as he walked into the lab, Ulrich saw Calvin engrossed in examining over three hundred samples.

“Professor Calvin? What brings you here? Where’s my sister?”

“She’s out dining with Mr. Pollack. I wanted to take another look at the data, thought we could go over it together when you’re back.”

Ulrich thought, Palmer sure has a knack for timing! He knew when he said they’d go eat together he was just pulling his leg. He wanted a one–on–one dinner date with his sister!

Calvin handed the research data to Ulrich.

“Take a look.”

Ulrich speed–read through the data, his expression growing serious. His eyes scanned over to Calvin’s signature, and he got the picture.

This was after all about Sexton and his own grandfather. His sister must have wanted the data ASAP, which is why Professor Calvin was called in for the experiment.

With Calvin on board, it’s no wonder the data came back so quickly!

“Professor Calvin, we owe you one for this experiment. Just so happens our lab got a new batch of reagents. Let’s give you a sample, shall we?”

Calvin was grinning ear to ear!

Samples from Ulrich’s lab? Those were treasures you couldn’t even beg for!

He couldn’t believe his luck – helping out and scoring big time. The Schnabel family sure knows how to spread the wealth!

—

Meanwhile, Palmer took Noella to a Secret Kitchen in the city center.

The quaint courtyard was adorned with pricey plants and flowers, with the peohy in the center probably the one that sold for three million at the last auction. The welcoming pine at the gate was also worth a million.

To the uninitiated, this place seemed too intimidating to even enter!

Dining here required a hefty bank balance check beforehand – you wouldn’t be a target

customer without millions in the bank.

The owner of the secret kitchen stood before Palmer and said, “Mr. Pollack, your private room is ready. Right this way, please.”

“Noella, let’s go.”

Dishes were served one after another, each in just a small portion.

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The owner explained, “Mr. Pollack wanted to know what you like, Miss Schnabel, so from now on, we’ll only serve what you prefer. The rest of the menu will be discontinued!”

Noella frowned slightly. “Isn’t this a bit much? What about other customers?”

“Don’t worry, miss. The restaurant has been transferred to your name. From now on, it caters only to your tastes!”

Noella was overwhelmed.

Palmer chuckled. “I noticed you liked this courtyard when we drove past last time. Since it’s part of the Pollack Group’s holdings, I transferred it to you.”

Last time she casually mentioned that the pine at the entrance looked sprightly and now she inexplicably owns a restaurant?

“There’s no need to tailor everything to my taste. It’s a restaurant; it needs to do business.. Where will the staff’s wages come from otherwise?”

“They’ll be paid by me. But now that you own the place, you call the shots.”

The owner was almost in tears!

Noella was just too kind! She even cared about their wages!

Truth be told, even without a year’s business, they wouldn’t be short on salary. But who wouldn’t want a considerate boss?

After a moment of silence. Noella turned to the owner.

“I don’t need to be fussy when I come here. Bring me a taste of everything.”

“Yes, miss. We understand!”

Now that she owned the place, popping in to guide the kitchen once in a while wouldn’t hurt.

The last chef she mentored became an international pastry master, though his skills were still pretty basic.

Palmer looked at Noella with a gaze full of tender affection.

“Do you like it here? The Pollack Group has more properties like this. I’ll take you around

sometime.”

Noella was like, why should I tour around the Pollack Group’s properties?

“Thank you for your help with Grandpa’s medication,” said Palmer.

Noella nodded, her clear eyes rippling with beauty. “The slip–up in the ward isn’t your fault, so don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Palmer’s eyes lit up! He definitely smelled a rat when he noticed the two old–timers had conspired to fish for trouble – otherwise, the hospital wouldn’t be popping off like this.

The oldies basically rolled out the red carpet for those guys to exploit loopholes, while also

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lending a hand to the younger generation. But as far as Palmer was concerned, he’d rather have Sexton kick back and enjoy his retirement!

“Much obliged for the comfort, my fiancée. It makes me happy!”

When Annie cautiously knocked on the private room door, Palmer was rolling up his sleeves, peeling shrimp for Noella. His ruby cufflinks were sparkling like nobody’s business.

It was the same pair he’d rocked that time they hit the bar together, and he’d been sporting them ever since!

“Boss, I’ve got some fresh intel…”

Palmer wiped his hands with grace, his expression the picture of sophistication.

“Spill it. There’s no need for secrets around Noella; she can be privy to everything about me.”

“Yes, I’ve got news that on the deep web. Phantom Surgeon Lunaris has taken up Thorpe’s offer, and now the deep web is losing its mind!”

Noella was confused. How come she had no clue she’d taken an order from Thorpe?

“Thorpe’s throwing down a billion bucks. After Lunaris took the gig, she went MIA, and Thorpe’s locked down her digital footprint, probably doesn’t want anyone snooping.”

“Got it.”

The two in the room exchanged glances, falling silent for a moment.

“If I may be so bold, do you know any other Phantom Surgeons?”

Noella eyed him for a beat, sensing he was beating around the bush.

With his smarts, he must’ve figured out that ‘Phantom Surgeon‘ was code for a whole organization!

“I know one; just bit the dust last month, the grave’s still warm. Wanna pay your respects?” Palmer asked, “Could the person who took the job be the maker of the Nourishment Pill?”

“Could be.”

Noella fiddled with her phone, shooting a coded message to Phecda. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

[Using Lunaris‘ account to post a denial.]

[Yes.]

Five minutes later, a new post from Phantom Surgeon Lunaris popped up on the deep web.

Palmer caught a glimpse of the post and couldn’t help but smile.

“Your crew is quite the riot!“–

Noella was puzzled, but Palmer handed over his phone, and they leaned in close enough to

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catch each other’s scent.

The warmth from their arms made Noella’s face heat up.

[Always respected Mr. Thorpe, never took the job, never switched sides, never took the money. Even a piggy has a brain, but Mr. Thorpe seems to be missing one. Phantom Surgeon Lunaris.]

Screens full of snark and shade, classic Phecda shenanigans.