Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN IN THE CHAMPAGNE DRESS
Serena made it halfway down the corridor.
Elena followed.
Security stopped Serena near the elevator.
She did not fight.
She simply stood beneath the bright hospital lights, shaking.
Elena approached.
"Who do you work for?"
Serena stared at the elevator doors.
"Let me leave."
"No."
"You can't keep me here."
"The hospital can while security determines why someone falsely identified herself as a patient's wife."
Serena laughed nervously.
"That's not a crime serious enough to detain me."
"No. But corporate theft might be."
Serena looked at her.
Elena continued.
"I have seventeen payments from Vance Meridian that reached accounts connected to companies you control."
Serena's confidence vanished.
"Julian authorized those."
"That doesn't protect you."
"Elena, you don't understand."
"Then explain."
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, they looked real.
"I was assigned to Julian two years ago."
"Assigned?"
"To monitor him."
"By Vesper?"
Serena nodded.
"Why?"
"Because he started asking questions about Daniel."
Elena felt anger rise.
"And sleeping with him was part of the assignment?"
Serena looked away.
"It became complicated."
Elena almost struck her.
Instead she stepped closer.
"You walked into my home."
"I know."
"You drank wine with me."
"I know."
"You told me my marriage was beautiful."
"I know."
"And then you went upstairs with my husband whenever I traveled?"
Serena started crying.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me."
"Good."
"It wasn't supposed to become real."
"Which part?"
Serena said nothing.
"The surveillance or the affair?"
"Both."
Elena studied her.
"What is Protocol 9?"
Serena's face went blank.
"You saw that message."
"Answer."
"I don't know exactly."
"Lie again and I hand everything to federal investigators tonight."
Serena whispered, "Protocol 9 means compromised archive."
"What happens?"
"Records are moved. People are transferred."
"People like Daniel?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Elena believed that part.
"Who runs Vesper?"
"No single person."
"Who gives your orders?"
"A man named Calder."
"First name?"
"I never heard one."
"Description?"
"Sixties. Gray hair. Left hand damaged. He always wears gloves."
Elena noticed Dr. Harris standing several feet away.
His expression had changed.
"What?" she asked.
The doctor hesitated.
"I know that description."
Serena looked terrified.
Dr. Harris lowered his voice.
"A patient transport director came to St. Matthew's nine years ago when Daniel was transferred."
"Calder?"
"He never gave me that name."
"But the hand?"
Dr. Harris nodded.
"His left hand had severe burn contractures."
Elena took out her phone.
"Maya, search everything you can find on Vesper and anyone named Calder."
Serena grabbed Elena's sleeve.
"Don't do that."
Elena pulled away.
"Why?"
"Because they watch database searches."
Elena stared.
Serena swallowed.
"The second you search the right name, they'll know exactly who is looking."
Elena's phone vibrated.
Maya had already replied.
May you like
Too late.
Someone just tried to remotely access your office computer.
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