Chapter 8 - The Corridor
Ortiz delayed the arrests for several hours.
She wanted simultaneous searches of the Hale estate, corporate offices, and private clinic. She also wanted Victor to believe the evidence was still uncertain.
That evening, Margaret called the hospital and demanded access to Tessa.
Tessa refused.
Marcus arrived with two attorneys.
Hospital security turned them away.
Then Victor came himself.
He walked into the ICU corridor shouting Daniel’s name.
Daniel was kneeling beside Tessa when he heard him.
Tessa’s hand began to tremble.
Daniel stood, but she held on to him.
“Don’t leave.”
“I won’t.”
Victor appeared outside the open doorway. A uniformed service member assigned as Daniel’s military liaison stepped between them.
“You did this!” Victor shouted. “You poisoned her against us!”
Daniel remained beside the bed.
Victor pointed at his uniform.
“You’re just a soldier! No one will touch our family!”
The police lights appeared across the walls.
Investigator Ortiz entered the corridor with state officers and financial-crimes agents.
Elena handed her the sealed medical evidence folder. Another investigator carried the memory card containing Samuel’s recording.
Victor’s face lost its color.
Daniel looked directly at him.
“I didn’t come here for revenge.”
Ortiz approached Victor.
“Victor Hale, you are under arrest for unlawful confinement, coercion, obstruction of justice, evidence tampering, and related offenses.”
Marcus stepped backward.
Two officers were already behind him.
Margaret reached for her phone.
Ortiz calmly took it from her and placed it into an evidence bag.
“We have the hospital report,” she said. “And the security recordings.”
Victor looked toward Tessa.
For one terrible second, Daniel thought he might attempt to speak to her.
Instead, Victor turned to the officers.
“Do you know who I am?”
Ortiz answered without emotion.
“Yes. That is why the state bureau is here.”
As the officers escorted Victor away, the ICU corridor fell silent.
Daniel returned to Tessa.
She was crying.
“It’s over?” she asked.
May you like
He held her hand.
“This part is.”
