Chapter 11 - The Hospital Door
Marcus reached the hospital faster than the police escort.
He ran through the private entrance.
Two officers followed.
The nurse at the desk stood immediately.
“My son.”
“He’s safe.”
Marcus kept moving.
“Who entered his room?”
“No one was supposed to.”
“Supposed to?”
The nurse hurried beside him.
“A man from hospital maintenance checked an electrical panel approximately twenty minutes ago.”
Marcus stopped.
“Inside the room?”
“For less than a minute.”
He pushed open the nursery door.
His son slept peacefully.
A police officer already stood beside the crib.
Marcus touched the baby’s chest.
Breathing.
Warm.
Safe.
For now.
Detective Cole entered behind him.
“We pulled the hallway footage.”
He showed Marcus a still image.
Daniel Price wore a maintenance uniform.
A surgical mask covered most of his face.
But the scar beside his eyebrow was visible.
He had entered the room.
Taken a photograph.
And left.
Marcus looked furious.
“He got this close to my son.”
Cole nodded.
“He wanted you to know he could.”
Marcus turned.
“Move the baby.”
“We’re arranging a secure floor.”
“Not here.”
“Marcus.”
“Private medical facility.”
Cole shook his head.
“Moving him now creates additional exposure.”
Marcus looked toward his sleeping child.
He hated that Cole was right.
Elena arrived fifteen minutes later.
Marcus frowned.
“Why are you here?”
“Rosa told me about the picture.”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
Elena almost laughed.
“Are you giving me orders again?”
Marcus looked away.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Then don’t.”
Her bruise was darker now.
Marcus felt shame every time he saw it.
Elena looked at the baby.
“Is he okay?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes briefly.
Relief.
Marcus noticed something.
Even after everything, Elena cared about his son first.
Not her job.
Not revenge.
The baby.
Cole entered again.
“We found Daniel’s vehicle.”
“Where?”
“Airport parking garage.”
Marcus frowned.
“He left the city?”
“Maybe.”
Elena looked at the image.
“Or he wants us to think he did.”
Cole glanced at her.
“Why?”
“Because Victoria planned everything around making people look in the wrong direction.”
The detective considered that.
Elena pointed at the photograph of the baby.
“This picture wasn’t sent to scare Marcus randomly.”
Marcus looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“She wants him away from the estate.”
Cole’s expression sharpened.
Marcus froze.
“The recorder.”
David was still at the estate recovering files.
Marcus immediately called him.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He called the security office.
Static.
Then disconnected.
Marcus looked at Cole.
“Something’s happening at the house.”
Police units were dispatched.
Marcus remained at the hospital.
This time, he did not argue.
His son needed him there.
Twenty minutes later, Cole received a call.
David had been found unconscious in the security room.
The recorder was gone again.
But that was not all.
Natalie’s cedar box was missing.
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
Victoria had returned.
She had risked entering a property filled with police attention.
Not for money.
Not for jewelry.
For Natalie’s letter.
Elena whispered the obvious question.
“Why is that letter so important to her?”
Marcus stared at the hospital window.
Because it was proof.
May you like
Proof Natalie had known exactly who Victoria was.
And perhaps proof of something even worse.
