Chapter 9 - THE EMPTY HOSPITAL BED
Thomas had not walked out of the hospital.
Someone had wheeled him out through the laundry corridor in a covered transport cart.
Security footage showed two orderlies pushing it.
Neither worked at St. Matthew’s.
One was Lieutenant Mercer.
The other was Detective Ben Hall.
Ruiz stared at the screen until Rachel said her name.
“Elena.”
“I know.”
“You said you trusted him.”
“I did.”
The words came out flat.
Madison appeared in the doorway holding her stuffed fox.
“Where’s Daddy?”
Rachel forced her voice steady.
“He had to go somewhere.”
Madison frowned. “Did the bad men take him?”
Rachel looked at Ruiz.
Children heard everything adults wished they didn’t.
“Yes,” Rachel said quietly. “But we’re getting him back.”
Daniel gave them the first lead: an abandoned Clarke Development rehabilitation hospital in Port Chester that Marla had once used during an audit. Ruiz took only officers she trusted. They entered through a broken side window.
On the second floor they found Thomas’s hospital bracelet.
On the third, blood.
Rachel ignored every order to stay behind.
“Thomas!”
Her voice echoed through the corridor.
A gunshot answered.
Ruiz pulled Rachel behind a wall.
“Stay down!”
Another shot shattered a window.
Officers moved forward.
Then Thomas’s voice came from behind a locked door.
“Rachel!”
She ran before Ruiz could stop her.
Inside, Thomas was tied to a metal chair.
His face was bruised.
Mercer stood behind him with a gun against his neck.
“Everybody stop,” Mercer said.
Ruiz raised her weapon.
“You’re done, Paul.”
Mercer laughed.
“You still think this is about Marla stealing money?”
Rachel stared at him.
“What is it about?”
Mercer pressed the gun harder against Thomas.
“Your husband found out the Clarke company has been laundering money for twenty years.”
Thomas looked at Rachel.
“My father started it.”
Rachel felt the floor disappear beneath her.
Mercer smiled.
“And somebody still alive intends to keep it going.”
From the dark hallway behind them came Lorraine’s voice.
“Put the gun down, Paul.”
May you like
Everyone turned.
She was holding one of her own.
