Chapter 5 - The Truth at St. Jude’s
Clara entered St. Jude’s through the employee garage for the first time in two years.
Victor followed in a dark coat.
“No army?” she asked.
“Daniel has people outside.”
“Of course he does.”
They took the service elevator to the basement.
Clara knew exactly where old security recordings were stored before being transferred to the central system.
They found the overnight technician alone.
His face drained when he recognized Victor.
“I didn’t see anything.”
Victor looked at Clara.
She sighed.
“That’s usually what guilty people say before anyone asks a question.”
“I’m not guilty.”
Clara leaned against the desk.
“We’re looking for someone brought in privately last night.”
The technician hesitated.
Victor said nothing.
That was somehow more effective.
Finally, the man whispered, “Sublevel surgical suite.”
Clara frowned.
“That wing was closed three years ago.”
“Not anymore.”
“Who reopened it?”
The technician looked at her.
“Dr. Warren.”
Clara went still.
Dr. Elliot Warren.
Her former department chief.
The man who had persuaded her to sign the report that destroyed her career.
Victor noticed immediately.
“That name means something.”
“He was my boss.”
They descended another level.
The abandoned corridor smelled of disinfectant.
Light spilled beneath the door of an old operating suite.
Voices came from inside.
Warren’s was unmistakable.
“You were supposed to make sure Kaine didn’t leave those docks.”
Another man answered.
“He should have died.”
Clara looked at Victor.
His face became perfectly still.
Victor quietly activated his phone recorder.
Warren continued.
“If Kaine survived, we have bigger problems.”
Victor stepped through the doorway.
“Then you have bigger problems.”
Everyone inside froze.
Warren turned white.
“Victor.”
“Doctor.”
Clara entered behind him.
Warren’s shock deepened.
“Clara?”
She stared at the man who had destroyed her reputation.
“You’ve had an interesting career since I left.”
Warren looked between them.
“This isn’t what you think.”
Victor held up his phone.
“Excellent. Explain it clearly for the recording.”
Warren’s shoulders collapsed.
What followed was not dramatic.
It was worse.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
The dock meeting had been compromised months earlier. Warren had quietly provided medical support to the rival organization and helped move money through hospital suppliers.
Then Clara heard something she never expected.
Victor asked, “What about Dr. Hayes?”
Warren said nothing.
Clara stepped forward.
“What about me?”
Warren looked ashamed.
“The staffing records.”
“What staffing records?”
“The night your patient died.”
Her voice became dangerously quiet.
“What did you change?”
Warren closed his eyes.
“I altered the schedule.”
Clara stopped breathing.
“You made it look like I volunteered for the second team.”
“I needed the hospital protected.”
“You told me signing responsibility would protect my residents.”
“It did.”
“It destroyed me.”
“I know.”
Clara’s eyes burned.
Victor moved toward Warren.
Clara caught his arm.
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“No?”
“He doesn’t get fixed your way.”
She turned to Warren.
“You’re going to tell the medical board.”
He stared at her.
“You’re going to give them the original staffing records. Every email. Every alteration.”
Warren swallowed.
“And if I don’t?”
Clara looked toward Victor.
Victor calmly buttoned his coat.
Warren immediately said, “I’ll cooperate.”
Clara almost laughed.
“Good choice.”
Outside, Victor walked beside her in silence.
Finally, Clara said, “You knew?”
“No.”
“You didn’t arrange that confession?”
“No.”
She studied him.
“Why do I believe you?”
Victor looked at her.
“Maybe because I’ve never lied to you.”
“You’ve barely told me anything.”
“That is different.”
She laughed despite herself.
Victor stopped walking.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh.
And the expression on his face made Clara abruptly stop.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing.”
Victor looked away.
“Your laugh surprised me.”
“Why?”
“I wasn’t sure you still knew how.”
Clara punched the elevator button.
“Careful, Kaine.”
May you like
The doors opened.
“You’re starting to sound human.”
