Chapter 7 - THE HOSPITAL ROOM
Sofia was still in her room.
Alive.
The officer outside was unconscious.
Drugged.
A nurse had entered fifteen minutes earlier.
Camera footage showed a woman in scrubs.
Mask.
Cap.
No face.
Adjusted Sofia's blanket.
Nothing stolen.
No injection.
No harm.
A message.
Elena stayed near the door.
Not him.
That distinction mattered.
Name: Sarah Wynn.
Celeste's younger sister.
"How many sisters?"
Three.
Renee died in the trial.
Celeste disappeared into Victoria's identity.
Sarah became a nurse.
Sarah had worked at St. Catherine's for four years.
She had access.
Elena asked, "Was Sarah part of the stroller plan?"
Brooks did not know.
Marcus reached for her.
Looked at Elena.
"Can I?"
Not permission as father.
Permission to move near her after what he had done.
Marcus lifted Sofia.
The baby quieted against his chest.
Addressed to Elena.
Inside was a photograph.
Elena outside her apartment.
Another of her younger brother Mateo leaving community college.
Her face hardened.
"What?"
She handed him the note.
STOP SAVING PEOPLE WHO DON'T DESERVE IT.
"This is because you saved Sofia."
"No."
Elena's voice went flat.
"This is because I saw too much."
The pool camera.
The camera was not part of Vale security.
Installed two weeks earlier.
Client name:
Camila Ortiz.
Adriana's sister.
"Yes, I hired someone."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't trust Victoria."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were in love."
"I wasn't."
"You were close enough to be stupid."
Marcus accepted that.
Camila had investigated Celeste for months.
She suspected the identity was false.
The pool camera was meant to catch meetings with Renner.
Instead, it recorded attempted murder.
"Where is your investigator?"
Camila went silent.
"Missing."
"Since when?"
"Yesterday."
"Name?"
"Gabriel Soto."
Elena dropped the envelope.
May you like
"You know him?"
"He's my cousin."
