Chapter 6 - The Secret Beneath Saint Catherine’s
Emily did not open the audio file immediately.
She called the hospital’s legal department, then contacted Detective Lena Brooks, the investigator assigned to Noah’s case. Lena was in her forties, direct, controlled, and unimpressed by Arthur Whitaker’s wealth.
“You cannot investigate this alone,” Lena said.
“My husband named my hospital.”
“That is exactly why you need distance.”
“My son nearly died because people wanted this card.”
“And if the files connect your hospital to criminal activity, accessing them without proper documentation could damage the case.”
Emily hated that Lena was right.
They created a forensic copy of the memory card.
The original went into police evidence.
Emily was permitted to listen while Lena opened the audio file from the copy.
Daniel’s voice filled the consultation room.
“Saint Catherine’s Hospital is not owned by Whitaker Medical Properties, but Arthur has maintained influence through private donations and board appointments.”
Emily thought of the hospital board.
Victor Hale had served as chairman for eleven years.
The recording continued.
“Three emergency department contracts were awarded to companies associated with Victor. Emily questioned the pricing last year, but she was told the arrangements had already been approved.”
Emily remembered.
She had objected to expensive portable monitors that frequently failed. The board insisted they met all standards.
Daniel said, “The same supplier provided equipment linked to deaths at Whitaker facilities.”
Lena paused the recording.
“Did you document those failures?”
“Yes. I sent reports.”
“To whom?”
“Hospital administration. Procurement. Victor’s committee.”
“Did you receive responses?”
“Only reassurances.”
Lena wrote notes.
The audio resumed.
“I believe patient safety reports at Saint Catherine’s were altered. Someone inside the hospital helped Victor remove information.”
Emily felt sick.
Daniel named three cases.
She remembered all of them.
A woman whose cardiac monitor failed during transport.
A teenager whose oxygen regulator delivered inconsistent flow.
An elderly man whose infusion pump stopped without warning.
Each death had been reviewed.
Each had been classified as unavoidable.
Daniel ended with a final statement.
“Emily, do not trust anyone simply because they stood beside you after my death.”
The recording stopped.
Lena looked at her.
“Who stood beside you?”
Emily thought back to the funeral.
Arthur and Margaret.
Victor Hale.
Hospital Chief Executive Marcus Reed.
Her closest colleague, Dr. Julian Cross.
Dozens of people.
“That warning could mean anyone.”
“Start with who had access to the reports.”
Emily opened her laptop.
The hospital reporting system showed that all three cases had been reviewed by the Patient Safety Committee.
Committee chair: Dr. Julian Cross.
Emily stared at the name.
Julian had been Daniel’s closest friend since medical school.
He had delivered the eulogy.
He had helped Emily identify Daniel’s body.
He had sat beside Noah at the funeral and promised that he would always protect them.
Lena noticed Emily’s expression.
“You know something.”
“Julian reviewed the cases.”
“Does that mean he altered them?”
“No.”
But her answer came too quickly.
Lena closed her notebook.
“We will request the system records.”
Emily looked through the glass toward Noah’s room.
His temperature had returned close to normal, but the doctors remained concerned about his hands and possible kidney damage.
“He cannot stay here.”
“He is not safe at home either.”
“I have security cameras.”
“Arthur knows your address. Victor probably does too.”
“Where do you suggest?”
“A protected location.”
Emily shook her head.
“Noah wakes up frightened if he doesn’t recognize the room.”
“Then we increase security here until he can be moved.”
At that moment, Tasha entered.
“There’s a man asking to see you.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Cross.”
Emily and Lena exchanged a look.
Julian appeared in the doorway.
He was tall, dark-haired, and still wearing surgical scrubs beneath his coat. Snow covered his shoulders.
“I heard Noah was brought in,” he said. “What happened?”
Emily studied his face.
Concern seemed genuine.
But Daniel’s warning echoed in her mind.
Do not trust anyone simply because they stood beside you after my death.
“Arthur locked him outside,” she said.
Julian’s expression hardened.
“What?”
“He was found near Highway Six.”
Julian looked toward Noah’s room.
“Can I see him?”
“No.”
He turned back.
“Emily.”
“The police are restricting visitors.”
Julian noticed Lena.
Something passed through his expression.
Recognition?
Fear?
Lena stepped forward.
“Detective Brooks.”
“Dr. Julian Cross.”
“We know who you are.”
Julian looked at Emily.
“What is going on?”
She decided not to mention the files.
Not yet.
“Arthur and Margaret accused Noah of stealing a necklace.”
“That makes no sense.”
“They planted it.”
Julian went still.
“Why?”
Emily watched him carefully.
“To recover something Noah found in Daniel’s study.”
Julian’s face lost color.
“What did he find?”
There it was.
Not surprise.
Fear.
Emily’s voice remained calm.
“A camera.”
Julian looked toward the corridor.
“Does Arthur have it?”
“The police do.”
“Was there a memory card?”
Lena stepped closer.
“Why are you asking?”
Julian hesitated.
“Daniel told me he had recorded meetings.”
Emily felt the floor shift beneath her.
“When?”
“Before he died.”
“You knew?”
“He asked me to help him.”
“With what?”
Julian looked toward Noah again.
“Not here.”
Lena crossed her arms.
“You’re already here.”
Julian lowered his voice.
“Daniel believed someone at Saint Catherine’s was helping Victor Hale cover up equipment failures.”
“We know,” Emily said.
Julian stared at her.
“You opened the card.”
Emily did not answer.
Julian stepped back.
“You need to leave the hospital.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor knows Daniel left evidence.”
“How?”
“Someone accessed the archived patient-safety system twenty minutes ago.”
Emily’s pulse quickened.
“What was searched?”
“The same three cases Daniel investigated.”
Lena asked, “From which account?”
May you like
Julian looked directly at Emily.
“Yours.”
