Chapter 2 - THE THIRD FLOOR LOCKDOWN
Emily was taken through a pair of white doors and disappeared into obstetric triage.
Preston stood in the hallway with disbelief written across his face.
“You cannot keep me from my wife.”
Raymond looked at him.
“You seemed perfectly comfortable standing ten feet away while she was assaulted.”
“That is not what happened.”
“Excellent.”
Raymond nodded toward the security office.
“Then you should be eager to watch the recording.”
Vanessa suddenly grabbed Preston’s arm.
“We should leave.”
Raymond looked toward her.
“You’re staying.”
“You can’t detain me.”
“I’m not the police.”
Raymond’s voice remained calm.
“But hospital security may preserve a scene and request that witnesses remain until law enforcement arrives.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Law enforcement?”
“You kicked a pregnant patient.”
“It was barely a kick.”
The older man near the waiting area lowered his newspaper completely.
His wife stared at Vanessa in disgust.
Raymond looked toward the couple.
“Sir, ma’am, would you be willing to give statements?”
The woman answered immediately.
“Yes.”
Her husband nodded.
“I saw it clearly.”
Preston rubbed a hand over his face.
“This is getting out of control.”
“No.”
Raymond walked toward the security station.
“It has been out of control for years.”
Preston followed him.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Raymond stopped.
“It means I know about the missing charitable funds.”
Preston froze.
Vanessa looked at him.
“What funds?”
Raymond noticed.
That reaction told him something.
He continued walking.
Preston hurried after him.
“Raymond.”
“Don’t.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Raymond reached the secured administrative door and placed his palm against a scanner.
The light turned green.
Before stepping inside, he looked over his shoulder.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.”
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds Preston stood completely still.
Vanessa moved beside him.
“What charitable funds?”
“Nothing.”
“You just turned white.”
“I said nothing.”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“You told me the foundation accounts were clean.”
Preston grabbed her wrist.
“Stop talking.”
She pulled away.
A camera above them continued recording.
Inside the security room, Raymond stood beside the hospital’s chief security officer.
“Pull camera three-twelve.”
The monitor changed.
Emily appeared on-screen beside the elevator.
Preston appeared.
Then Vanessa.
Raymond watched without moving.
He watched Vanessa step closer.
He watched Emily turn.
He watched the designer heel strike her.
He watched Preston do nothing.
The security chief looked away.
Raymond did not.
“Copy it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Three encrypted copies.”
“Yes, sir.”
“One to hospital counsel.”
“Yes.”
“One to the police.”
The chief paused.
“And the third?”
Raymond looked at Emily’s frozen image.
“To me.”
His phone rang.
Obstetrics.
Raymond answered immediately.
“Yes?”
A doctor spoke from the other end.
Raymond’s expression changed.
“How serious?”
He listened.
Then closed his eyes.
“I understand.”
He hung up.
When he stepped back into the hallway, Preston rushed toward him.
“How is Emily?”
Raymond looked directly at him.
“The baby’s heart rate dropped.”
Preston’s face collapsed.
Vanessa took one step backward.
Raymond continued.
“They are monitoring for placental injury and preterm labor.”
Preston whispered Emily’s name.
Raymond moved closer.
“If my niece loses that child because of what happened in this hallway, your family’s money will be the least of your problems.”
Then the elevator at the far end opened.
May you like
Two police officers stepped out.
Vanessa stopped breathing.
