Chapter 6 - The Last Bargain
The abandoned Greyhaven freight terminal stood beside the river.
Dominic’s convoy stopped two blocks away.
“Stay behind me,” he told Evelyn.
“You've said that before.”
“And you ignored me.”
“Probably why you keep saying it.”
Palmer barely heard them.
“My daughter…”
Dominic placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We bring her home.”
Palmer looked at him.
“Why do you care?”
Dominic glanced at Evelyn.
“Apparently nurses are contagious.”
They entered the terminal.
Grant Holloway stood beneath a warehouse light.
Beside him was Palmer’s twenty-two-year-old daughter, Sarah.
She was frightened but unharmed.
“Dad!”
Palmer moved.
Dominic stopped him.
Grant raised a hand.
“The card.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Sarah first.”
Grant laughed.
“You're negotiating with me?”
“Yes.”
“You're an ICU nurse.”
“And you're an accountant.”
Dominic almost smiled.
Grant didn't.
“Give me the card.”
Evelyn removed the bracelet.
“Let Sarah walk.”
Grant considered it.
Then released her.
Sarah ran.
Palmer caught his daughter and pulled her behind Dominic’s men.
Grant extended his hand.
“Now.”
Evelyn tossed the bracelet.
Grant caught it.
He opened the compass.
Removed the memory card.
Then smiled.
“Finally.”
Evelyn smiled back.
Grant’s expression changed.
“What?”
“That card isn't the evidence.”
He stared at her.
“You said—”
“I said it contained authorization codes.”
Grant went pale.
Evelyn continued.
“The complete records were delivered to federal investigators weeks ago.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Grant looked toward Dominic.
“You called police?”
Dominic shook his head.
“She did.”
Grant stared at Evelyn.
“When?”
“Before we left the house.”
His face twisted.
“You think this ends with me?”
“No.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“I think it starts with you.”
Federal vehicles surrounded the terminal.
Grant backed away.
“The people above me will bury you.”
“Then you should probably start naming them.”
He looked at Dominic.
“You know how this city works.”
Dominic’s expression became cold.
“I do.”
“Then help me.”
“No.”
“I can pay you.”
Dominic looked at the bracelet in Grant’s hand.
“You already made your biggest mistake.”
“What?”
“You hurt the granddaughter of the woman who once saved my life.”
Grant laughed nervously.
“You're risking everything for some nurse?”
Dominic glanced at Evelyn.
“No.”
He looked back at Grant.
“She risked everything for forty-three strangers.”
Federal agents entered.
Grant Holloway was arrested without a fight.
As an agent passed Evelyn, Grant turned.
“This isn't over.”
Evelyn nodded.
“For you?”
She looked toward the waiting federal vehicles.
“No.”
“It definitely isn't.”
---
Three weeks later, investigators announced arrests involving hospital administrators, pharmacy contractors and executives tied to a multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud scheme.
Greyhaven Memorial entered independent oversight.
Families of affected patients were contacted.
Dr. Palmer agreed to cooperate fully.
Evelyn was placed under temporary protective security.
There was only one problem.
Her security was Dominic.
And Dominic had opinions.
“You're not returning to work yet.”
They stood in his kitchen.
“My doctor cleared me.”
“Mercer said light duty.”
“ICU nursing can be light duty.”
Dominic stared at her.
“No sentence has ever been less convincing.”
Evelyn folded her arms.
“You don't control me.”
“I've noticed.”
“Then stop trying.”
Dominic was quiet.
Evelyn noticed something unusual.
He wasn't angry.
He was worried.
“Dominic?”
He looked at the compass bracelet.
Grant had dropped it before his arrest.
Dominic had repaired the clasp himself.
“I spent twenty-eight years wondering what happened to Margaret.”
Evelyn softened.
“She died peacefully.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“I found the obituary.”
“Why didn't you come?”
Dominic looked away.
“Because by then I had become someone I didn’t think she would want standing at her funeral.”
Evelyn studied him.
“You didn't know my grandmother very well.”
He looked back.
“She would've made you come inside.”
A faint smile appeared.
“And fed you terrible soup.”
Dominic laughed.
“Yes.”
Then Evelyn’s expression became serious.
“She would’ve been glad you stopped.”
Dominic looked at her.
May you like
“On the road.”
For once, the feared Dominic Valtieri had no answer.
