Chapter 4 - The Trap Inside St. Jude’s
At eleven that night, Clara walked into St. Jude’s as if nothing had happened.
Luca remained outside with Marco.
That had been the agreement.
Clara already suspected Luca did not respect agreements.
She found Dr. Warren in his office.
“Working late?”
Warren looked startled.
“Clara.”
She closed the door.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Did you know the injured man I treated Monday?”
Warren’s face gave him away.
Only for half a second.
But Clara saw it.
“You did.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Raymond knew too.”
Warren stood.
“Go home, Clara.”
“Who paid you?”
His face hardened.
“You have no idea what you stepped into.”
“I’m starting to.”
“You should have let him die.”
Clara stared at him.
“That’s what this was about?”
Warren moved closer.
“People like Moretti destroy everything around them.”
“Then why take money from people trying to find him?”
Warren’s expression changed.
Clara realized she had guessed correctly.
She stepped backward.
Warren reached for his phone.
The office door opened.
Luca stood there.
Clara stared.
“We agreed you’d stay outside.”
“I lied.”
“You're unbelievable.”
Warren went pale.
Luca stepped inside.
“You sold access to clinic security records.”
Warren said nothing.
“You tracked an injured man through a medical facility,” Clara added. “You put patients at risk.”
“I had debts.”
Clara laughed without humor.
“So do I.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly. You decided your problems were more important than everyone else’s safety.”
Warren looked at Luca.
“What happens now?”
Luca’s expression was cold.
Clara stepped between them.
“Nothing happens here.”
Luca looked at her.
“He endangered you.”
“And this is a hospital.”
“Clinic.”
“Not helping.”
Luca exhaled.
“What do you want?”
“Evidence goes to the proper authorities. The clinic board gets everything.”
Warren stared at her.
“You think that saves you?”
Clara turned.
“From what?”
“You think the people hunting him stop because they lose me?”
Luca’s expression sharpened.
“What does that mean?”
Warren laughed nervously.
“They know about her apartment.”
Clara’s blood went cold.
Luca immediately looked at Marco.
“Move.”
They were halfway down the corridor when the lights suddenly went out.
Emergency lighting flickered red.
Clara whispered, “That’s not normal.”
Luca moved beside her.
“Stay close.”
“I’m not hiding behind you.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
Marco appeared.
“Back exit.”
They moved through the darkened clinic.
Clara stopped.
“Wait.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
“Pediatrics.”
“Clara.”
“There are two overnight patients upstairs.”
“Staff will handle them.”
“The backup system should be running. If somebody cut power—”
Luca understood.
He looked at Marco.
“Get everyone downstairs.”
Minutes later, the patients and staff were moved safely into the main lobby while emergency services arrived.
Whatever plan had been intended for the darkened clinic had failed.
Outside, beneath the rain, Clara looked at Luca.
“You came back for me.”
“You came back for everyone else.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
Luca met her eyes.
“Yes.”
May you like
A pause.
“I came back for you.”
