Chapter 13

Rio's heart raced as he sped away from the mortuary, his mind swirling with thoughts of what had just transpired. He knew he had stirred up a hornet's nest by downloading Batho's autopsy report, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was onto something significant.

As he zoomed through the neon-lit streets, Rio's thoughts turned to his next move. He needed to analyze the data he had acquired, but he couldn't risk doing it in a public place. He needed somewhere safe, somewhere off the grid - his house.

Arriving at his house, Rio wasted no time. He locked the door behind him, ensuring his privacy, and made his way to his personal workstation. With practiced efficiency, he connected his AD to the terminal and uploaded the data he had obtained from the mortuary.

The information scrolled across the screen, detailing the results of Batho's autopsy. Rio's eyes scanned the text, searching for any anomalies or clues that might shed light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding Batho's death.

As Rio scrutinized Batho's autopsy report, he noticed several inconsistencies that raised his suspicions even further. The report indicated that Batho's cause of death was listed as drowning, which seemed straightforward at first glance. However, upon closer examination, Rio found discrepancies in the time-line of events leading up to Batho's demise.

According to the report, Batho's body was discovered in the river three days after his disappearance. Yet, there were no signs of water in his lungs, suggesting that he hadn't drowned. This discrepancy contradicted the official cause of death listed in the report.

Furthermore, the forensic analysis revealed traces of a powerful sedative in Batho's system, a substance that Rio recognized as highly controlled and rarely used - CalmEZ. This discovery added another layer of complexity to the case, indicating that Batho's death may not have been accidental but instead the result of foul play.

He knew that he was onto something significant, something that could unravel a web of deception.

Was this the reason why Dr. Mossing was killed? He assumed that Dr. Mossing had been killed for the Synthetik to appear in her office.

The real body of Batho was also killed.

But Mr. Kagiso said that the current Batho staying in the house possessed Batho's DNA, combined with the DNA of another person who lived three hundred years ago.

Looking at the autopsy report, a sense of responsibility fell on his shoulders. Mr. Kagiso would have to know about this. His son, Batho, was dead. Whoever was in his house might carry his DNA, but Rio was almost certain the real Batho lay dead in the mortuary.

With that thought, Rio found himself back to navigating the neon-lit streets.

As he approached the address he got from the National Registry, he was struck by the sheer grandeur of the estate. The mansion was surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, with colorful flowers and exotic plants lining the pathways. Tall trees provided shade, and the sound of a fountain could be heard in the distance.

The mansion itself was a sight to behold. It was a large, imposing structure with intricate architectural details. The walls were made of a white, marble-like material that gleamed in the sunlight.

Taking a deep breath, Rio approached the front door and rang the bell. The door opened, revealing a butler dressed in a smart uniform.

"Good afternoon, sir," the butler greeted him. "May I help you?"

Rio introduced himself and explained that he was there to see Mr. Kagiso. The butler nodded and led him inside, through a grand foyer with marble floors and a sweeping staircase.

As they walked through the mansion, Rio couldn't help but admire the opulence of his surroundings. The walls were adorned with paintings and tapestries, and the furniture was elegant and luxurious. Everywhere he looked, there were signs of wealth and refinement.

"Please wait here," the butler said, gesturing for Rio to take a seat on the couch in the side living room. He then disappeared through the archway, presumably to inform Mr. Kagiso.

As Rio sat in the side living room, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The silence weighed heavily on him, broken only by the occasional creaking of the old mansion settling. He listened intently for any sign of movement, half expecting to hear the laughter of a child playing.

The thought of being in the same house as Batho, or whoever was pretending to be him, sent a shiver down Rio's spine.

Lost in his thoughts, Rio was startled by a muffled, distant conversation. Curiosity piqued, he rose to his feet and peeked out of the archway to investigate.

The butler who had escorted him was leading the way, while Mr. Kagiso was speaking with another man who seemed to be in his sixties, wearing a serious expression. As the butler opened the front door, Mr. Kagiso turned to face Rio.

"Rio, good to see you," Mr. Kagiso said, catching Rio off guard. Rio flashed an embarrassed smile in response.

Despite this, Rio's eyes still followed the man who had just left the mansion. He felt like he had seen him before, perhaps on the news, though not in person. There was a nagging feeling that told him he knew this man.

Mr. Kagiso noticed Rio's attention was still on his guest. He gave a polite smile and gestured for Rio to return to the side living room. Nodding at the butler, the butler immediately strode to one of the glass cabinets in the living room and poured them each a glass of whiskey.

They both took a seat on the large leather couch. After setting down the glasses, the butler excused himself.

"You know Dr. Rega?" Mr. Kagiso sipped on his whiskey.

A slow recognition dawned on Rio as the name rang a bell in his head.

Dr. Rega! A renowned geneticist who had been mentioned in the news numerous times.

Dr. Rega was a renowned geneticist whose work had revolutionized the field of genetic engineering. He was best known for his groundbreaking research in altering DNA in animals, a feat that was once thought impossible. His work had paved the way for advancements in genetic modification, opening up new possibilities in fields such as agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. Dr. Rega's research had garnered international attention and had earned him a reputation as a pioneer in genetic science.

The detailed description of Dr. Rega's work leapt into his mind. The question now was: what was Dr. Rega doing at Mr. Kagiso's mansion? Rio couldn't help but think about all the rumors surrounding Mr. Kagiso. Some said he had been working with the government on secret projects, and there was even talk of a thousand-year-old monster living in his basement. Perhaps Dr. Rega's presence here was related to these rumors.

"It's not what you think," said Mr. Kagiso, his penetrating eyes seeming to bore into Rio's mind.

Rio flashed another embarrassed smile.

"You have something for me?" Mr. Kagiso's gaze darted to Rio's AD in his hands.

The question brought Rio's focus back to the purpose of his visit. He nodded and switched on his AD. "I discovered something."

A flicker of unsettled emotion flashed through Mr. Kagiso's eyes. He rose from his seat. "Walk with me. We will talk outside."

Taken aback by the suggestion, Rio quickly recovered and followed behind Mr. Kagiso. Perhaps Batho and Mrs. Kagiso were in the house, and Mr. Kagiso didn't want to have the discussion within their earshot.

Mr. Kagiso led Rio out of his mansion to the tranquil lake outside. The sight of the lake brought back memories of when Rio first met Mr. Kagiso, but this time, it was a real lake, not a hologram.

The lake shimmered under the moonlight, casting a serene glow over the surroundings. The gentle rustle of the wind in the trees added to the peaceful ambiance. Mr. Kagiso walked along the edge of the lake, and Rio followed, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot breaking the silence.

As they reached a secluded spot by the water's edge, Mr. Kagiso turned to face Rio. His expression was serious, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. "What did you find?" he asked, his voice low and measured.

Now, Rio displayed the autopsy report on his AD to Mr. Kagiso, briefly recounting his narrow escape in the mortuary earlier that day. Mr. Kagiso remained impassive as his eyes followed the scrolling report.

With a soft sigh, Mr. Kagiso nodded, indicating that he had finished reading it.

Rio hastily stowed the AD back in his pocket.

"Just as I had expected, Batho was dead," Mr. Kagiso's voice betrayed no emotion. "But I did not expect a murder. I had thought Batho had drowned."

There was something about Mr. Kagiso that gnawed at Rio. It was the way Mr. Kagiso spoke about his son's death. He did not appear to be a father who had just lost his son; rather, he spoke of it with the detachment of a scientist discussing a factual matter.

Rio's doubts about his situation were soon to be answered.

"There is a reason why Dr. Rega visited me. Not what you thought about the secret project," Mr. Kagiso said, without preamble, his eyes locked on the surface of the lake.

A crease formed between Rio's brows at the sudden mention of Dr. Rega again. It could only mean Dr. Rega had some form of relation to this case.

Mr. Kagiso dropped his gaze, seeming to struggle with how to tell Rio.

Rio waited in silence.

"I have doubts about Batho's identity," said Mr. Kagiso, taking another deep breath. "I am sterile. There would be no way that Mrs. Kagiso could conceive with Batho."

The revelation left Rio's mouth agape and his eyes clouded with confusion.

In this era, the ability to procreate was determined at birth. The problem of overpopulation that occurred a few hundred years ago had been a painful lesson learned, leading governments to impose laws that restricted procreation to certain individuals.

The ability was assigned randomly, and once a person was selected to be sterile, there was no turning back.

It seemed Mr. Kagiso was one of them.

"Then... Batho?" stammered Rio, feeling foolish for asking. No matter what the answer was, it would not be the one desired by Mr. Kagiso.

"I thought I could just pretend that I didn't know about it," Mr. Kagiso's eyes went distant, "and live with it. As long as she is with me."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Despite all the rumours and speculation surrounding Mr. Kagiso, Rio couldn't deny that there was still a glimmer of humanity within him, a depth of feeling that transcended the cold, calculated exterior he often displayed.

"I have been trying to get close to Batho, ignoring the fact that I was sterile," Mr. Kagiso said, his voice tinged with regret. "But it always seemed like there was an invisible wall between us."

Rio's curiosity piqued. "Did you not tell Mrs. Kagiso about your sterility when you first decided to be together or get married?"

A regretful smile crept onto Mr. Kagiso's lips. "The first thing she talked about when we met was how much she loved kids. I liked her a lot, and I didn't want to risk telling her something that might drive her away."

Rio nodded, understanding the delicate balance of love and fear. "How did you react when you found out about her pregnancy?"

Mr. Kagiso shrugged. "I could either continue to believe in miracles and hope that a miracle had happened, or I could get to the bottom of how this happened."

As Mr. Kagiso dropped his gaze to the surface of the lake, Rio couldn't help but reflect on the complexities of human emotion, even in someone as prominent as Mr. Kagiso.

"But now," Mr. Kagiso continued, his tone becoming more resolute, "I have no choice but to find out the truth."

Rio furrowed his brow, considering the implications. The only plausible explanation that came to mind was that Mrs. Kagiso had Batho with someone else. However, Mr. Kagiso seemed to have a different explanation in mind.

"That's where Dr. Rega comes in," Mr. Kagiso said. "I discovered that Batho also carries my DNA. In other words, he is really my son."