Chapter 14 - The Blackout
Daniel grabbed Claire's hand.
"Stay with me."
Red emergency lights flickered on.
A nurse shouted in the hallway.
Smoke?
No.
Power sabotage.
Detective Morris had posted two officers outside Claire's room.
One was gone.
The other lay unconscious near the stairwell.
Daniel locked the door.
Claire whispered, "Julian."
The handle moved.
A voice outside said, "Hospital security."
Daniel did not answer.
The door shuddered under a hit.
Claire pointed toward the bathroom.
"Window."
Fourth floor.
No escape.
The door burst inward.
A masked man entered.
Daniel swung the metal IV pole.
It struck the man's forearm.
A syringe flew across the room.
Claire kicked it under the bed.
Daniel tackled him.
Morris and two officers arrived seconds later.
The attacker was Officer Reed.
Again.
He had been released from temporary medical custody after claiming chest pain and somehow walked out during transport.
Morris stared at him.
"Who helped you?"
Reed laughed.
"You have bigger problems."
Claire looked at his coat pocket.
A hospital visitor badge.
Name:
EVELYN CARTER.
Daniel went cold.
His mother had visited the hospital that afternoon.
"Where is she?"
Morris called the lobby.
Evelyn's driver was still outside.
But Evelyn was gone.
Claire closed her eyes.
"She didn't start as a criminal."
"You said Vanessa worked for her."
"Evelyn hired Vanessa years ago to watch Julian after your father's stroke."
Daniel stared.
"Vanessa was spying on Julian?"
"At first. Then Julian bought her."
"Why didn't Mom tell me?"
"Because Evelyn covered up the first attempt on your father. She thought if the truth came out, she would lose everything."
Daniel understood.
Julian had not just built a conspiracy.
He had built one out of everyone's shame.
Then Morris's phone rang.
She listened.
Her face changed.
"Evelyn just entered Carter Medical headquarters."
"Why?"
"The board is holding an emergency meeting."
Claire sat up.
"The death certificates."
Daniel looked at her.
May you like
"What?"
"They don't need to kill us if the board accepts we're already dead."
