Chapter 10 - REBECCA
Dr. Burke’s clinic opened at eight.
Nicholas arrived at seven thirty.
Hannah beside him.
Daniel stayed out of sight.
Hector remained with Ethan at the estate.
Walter came only because Nicholas refused to leave him alone.
The clinic receptionist nearly dropped her coffee when Nicholas entered.
“Mr. Valenti.”
“I’m here to see Burke.”
“He isn’t—”
Nicholas rolled past her.
“He is now.”
Burke’s office door was locked.
Walter forced it with his shoulder.
Empty.
Computer gone.
File cabinet open.
Drawers cleared.
Hannah checked the trash.
Shredded paper.
Nicholas cursed.
Then Hannah saw a tiny red light beneath the desk.
A modem.
Still active.
“Wait.”
She followed the cable to a hidden digital backup unit.
Burke had deleted his computer.
He had forgotten the building system.
Within an hour, Nicholas’s attorney arranged lawful access to the clinic’s records.
Hannah searched Rebecca Sloan.
No patient existed under that name.
Then she searched Claire.
Nothing.
Nicholas.
Hundreds of files.
Most normal.
Until Hannah found one set of lab results Burke never showed them.
Nicholas’s blood contained repeated traces of a medication he had never been prescribed.
“There.”
Hannah pointed.
“I knew it.”
Nicholas stared.
“How long?”
“Months.”
“Before the crash?”
She scrolled.
“No. Starting eleven days afterward.”
Daniel’s voice came from the doorway.
“So the poisoning started in the hospital.”
Nicholas turned.
“I thought you were staying hidden.”
“I got bored.”
Hannah ignored them.
She checked medication administration records.
One nurse repeatedly signed overnight doses.
R. Sloan.
Rebecca.
Nicholas leaned closer.
“She treated me in the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“But she didn’t become my private nurse until months later.”
Hannah’s eyes widened.
“Maybe that’s why.”
She opened another file.
Rebecca had placed several notes into Nicholas’s chart.
All later marked deleted.
Patient reports metallic taste after evening medication.
Unexpected hypotensive episode.
Medication packaging differs from pharmacy supply.
Request toxicology consult.
Hannah scrolled.
The toxicology consult was canceled.
By Dr. Burke.
Nicholas whispered, “He knew.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Running.
Daniel turned.
Burke appeared at the far end carrying a bag.
He saw them.
Stopped.
Then ran.
Nicholas shouted, “Burke!”
Daniel sprinted after him.
Hannah followed.
Burke hit the stairwell.
Daniel caught him on the second landing.
Burke swung the bag.
Daniel slammed him against the rail.
“Where is Rebecca?”
Burke stared at Nicholas’s brother.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Daniel smiled.
“Busy morning.”
Nicholas reached the landing using the elevator.
“Where is Claire?”
Burke looked at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand you poisoned me.”
“I kept you alive.”
Hannah froze.
“What?”
Burke looked at her.
“You found the pills?”
“Yes.”
“Then you found only half the truth.”
Nicholas moved closer.
“What truth?”
Burke swallowed.
“Claire didn’t hire me to poison you.”
“Who did?”
Burke looked terrified.
“Frank.”
Nicholas’s eyes hardened.
“Why would Claire pick up medication from you?”
Burke laughed nervously.
“Because she figured it out.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Rebecca?”
Burke hesitated.
Daniel pressed him harder against the wall.
“Answer.”
Burke shut his eyes.
“She’s alive.”
Hannah felt relief and fear at once.
“Where?”
“St. Catherine’s.”
Nicholas frowned.
“That’s a psychiatric facility.”
Burke nodded.
“Frank had her committed under another name.”
Hannah stared.
“You helped him?”
Burke looked ashamed.
“I signed the papers.”
Daniel’s face darkened.
Nicholas asked, “Why?”
May you like
Burke whispered:
“Because Frank has my daughter.”
