Chapter 10 - THE OLD CLINIC
The old Vale clinic had closed eight years earlier.
That did not mean it was empty.
Police surrounded it.
Elena wore a wire.
He hated it.
He stayed.
That was new.
The lobby smelled like dust and antiseptic.
"Mateo?"
No answer.
Alive.
Bruised.
His hands tied.
"Where's Mateo?"
Gabriel whispered, "Basement."
Renner's voice came over the intercom.
"Keep moving."
Scared.
Unhurt.
A camera faced them.
"Drop the card."
Elena did.
"Let them go."
"You still think this is negotiation."
"What is that?"
"Something I used often."
Adriana.
Renee Wynn.
Maybe others.
Renner said, "The Vales were always easy. Too much money. Too much grief. Everyone around them wanted something."
"And you?"
"I wanted access."
"To what?"
"Power that believes itself untouchable."
He almost sounded proud.
Then he admitted Renee's death was not accidental.
The sedative trial had already shown dangerous reactions.
Renner falsified data to keep funding.
Renee died.
Celeste blamed Vale Health because Renner made sure she did.
He recruited her grief.
Turned her against Marcus.
"She was useful."
"She was your victim too."
Renner shrugged.
"Victims are usually useful."
That sentence triggered Brooks.
Police breached.
She slammed the exam tray into Renner's wrist.
The syringe flew.
Gabriel tackled him.
Officers rushed in.
Renner went down screaming.
Mateo ran to Elena.
Outside, Marcus saw her emerge with her brother.
He did not touch her.
He would have accepted it.
Instead she said, "Sofia?"
"Safe."
Then Brooks came out holding an evidence bag.
Inside was Renner's syringe.
Lab label:
MIDAZOLAM / POTASSIUM MIX.
"That combination appears in Adriana's toxicology archive."
"The report said nothing unusual."
Brooks answered, "Because someone changed it."
"Who?"
"Your family doctor signed the final report."
Marcus went cold.
May you like
Dr. Samuel Vale.
His uncle.
