Chapter 8 - The Wrong Ambulance
Nathan ran into the road.
The ambulance passed through the gate without stopping.
“Sheriff!” he shouted. “That crew is compromised.”
The sheriff looked toward the departing vehicle. “They verified through county dispatch.”
“One of them signaled Marcus.”
Marcus stepped forward. “This doctor is under extreme stress.”
Nathan ignored him.
“Call St. Catherine’s. Confirm the ambulance number.”
The sheriff radioed dispatch.
Static answered.
The storm continued disrupting communications, but Nathan no longer believed every failure was caused by weather.
Rosa rushed toward her SUV.
Nathan followed.
A deputy blocked them.
“You cannot leave until statements are taken.”
“Three children may be in danger,” Rosa said.
The deputy looked toward the sheriff for instruction.
Philip approached the gate.
“I know where they are going.”
Marcus turned sharply.
Philip continued before anyone could stop him.
“Kane Medical maintains a private emergency facility near the old ski resort. The ambulance route passes directly beside it.”
Marcus’s attorney stepped forward. “My client objects to these defamatory accusations.”
Philip handed the sheriff his folder.
“These are transportation records. The same vehicle has made seventeen unregistered transfers between St. Catherine’s and that facility.”
The sheriff examined the papers.
“Why do you have these?”
“Because I prepared the company’s liability protections.”
Marcus stared at Philip.
“You have just violated attorney-client privilege.”
Philip’s voice remained steady. “You used my work to hide crimes involving children. Privilege will not save you.”
The sheriff ordered two deputies to pursue the ambulance. Nathan and Rosa were allowed to follow in a police vehicle because of Nathan’s medical role and Rosa’s knowledge of the children’s conditions.
The mountain road had nearly disappeared beneath the storm.
They found the ambulance twelve minutes later.
It stood abandoned near a closed ski lodge, rear doors open and emergency lights flashing.
Lily’s stretcher was empty.
The infants were gone.
Nathan searched the snow.
Footprints led toward a service building behind the lodge.
The deputies entered first.
Inside, they discovered a freight elevator descending beneath the mountain.
The control panel required a security card.
Rosa searched the abandoned ambulance and found a paramedic jacket on the floor. Inside the pocket was a Kane Medical identification badge.
The elevator accepted it.
They descended.
The doors opened onto a bright underground corridor.
White walls extended in both directions. Security cameras rotated above them. Through a glass partition, Nathan saw empty neonatal beds, monitoring stations, and locked cabinets containing medical devices.
Lily had called them the white rooms.
A speaker activated.
“Dr. Mercer,” said Dr. Victor Hale. “You should not be here.”
Nathan recognized the voice of St. Catherine’s research director.
“Where are the children?”
“They are receiving appropriate care.”
“They were removed from lawful emergency transport.”
“The transport was necessary to protect them from exposure.”
“Open the doors.”
“I cannot do that.”
The lights at the far end switched off one by one.
The deputies drew their weapons but kept them pointed down.
Nathan moved forward.
A side door opened.
Lily stepped into the corridor alone.
She was wearing a hospital gown and carrying Eva in her arms.
“Where is Noah?” Nathan asked.
Lily looked behind her.
“They took him to the room with the blue light.”
An alarm began to sound.
The glass doors sealed between Nathan and Lily.
Then a figure appeared behind her.
May you like
Elena Kane placed one hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
She was alive.
