Chapter 3 - THE HOSPITAL BADGE
The police found the first break in the case inside a trash bin.
A hospital badge.
Name:
ERIC DALTON.
Photo:
the man Elena identified as the one wearing scrubs.
There was only one problem.
Eric Dalton was not in Chicago.
He was a respiratory therapist attending a conference in Milwaukee.
His badge had been copied.
The counterfeit used a real employee number and a cloned access stripe.
That required internal information.
Gabriel hated that fact.
He understood betrayal when it came from enemies.
Inside access was different.
Vincent hated it more.
“This floor was restricted after Daniel was admitted.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“So?”
“So whoever copied the badge knew exactly which credentials would work.”
Daniel had been hospitalized after an asthma crisis complicated by pneumonia.
Nothing about his admission was supposed to be public.
Yet twelve hours after arrival, two men knew his room.
His floor.
His medical vulnerability.
And how to kill the nurse call system.
Gabriel asked:
“Who knew he was here?”
Vincent answered:
“You. Me. Dr. Reeves. Your sister Sofia. Two drivers.”
“And hospital administration.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel’s mother?”
Vincent hesitated.
Gabriel’s ex-wife, Claire Moretti, lived in Boston.
She had flown in that evening.
She was asleep in a hotel across town when the attack happened.
Gabriel looked toward Elena.
She was sitting outside Daniel’s new room with a bandage over her forehead.
“You should go home.”
She shook her head.
“Police told me to stay.”
“I can have someone drive you.”
“No.”
Gabriel almost smiled.
“Do you say no to everyone with guns?”
“Only the ones who kick doors open.”
Vincent looked offended.
Elena did not care.
Then a detective approached.
He held the fake badge inside an evidence sleeve.
“Elena, one more question.”
She stood.
“Did either attacker speak?”
She thought.
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“The one in the maintenance jacket said…”
She closed her eyes.
Then repeated:
“‘He said no loose ends.’”
Gabriel’s expression changed.
Detective Aaron Bell noticed.
“You recognize that?”
Gabriel answered too quickly.
“No.”
But Vincent looked away.
May you like
Elena saw that.
And so did Aaron.
