Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Inside Mercy General
At 11:18 p.m., Ara, Pette, Detective Ward, and Bruno crowded into a security office.
Lucian joined by video from his hospital bed.
Ara pointed at the monitor.
“There.”
A figure wearing hospital scrubs entered workstation seven at 2:39 a.m.
Pette leaned forward.
“Zoom.”
The camera caught a partial profile.
Pette whispered, “No.”
Ara recognized him.
Dr. Evan Kessler.
Thoracic surgery.
Her colleague for six years.
Ward said, “You know him?”
“I work with him.”
Lucian's voice came through the speaker.
“Bring him to me.”
Ara immediately replied, “Absolutely not.”
“Ara.”
It was the first time he'd used her first name.
She noticed.
So did everyone else.
“We call him,” she said.
Ward nodded.
“Act normal.”
Ara took out her phone.
Kessler answered on the fourth ring.
“Ara?”
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“We've got a post-op complication. I need another thoracic opinion.”
Silence.
Then, “Maro?”
Ara glanced at Ward.
“I didn't say who.”
Another silence.
Kessler hung up.
Bruno swore.
Ward grabbed her radio.
“Units to Kessler's residence.”
Lucian said, “He's running.”
Ara looked at the frozen security image.
“Why would a surgeon help someone kill you?”
Lucian answered quietly.
“Money.”
Ward shook her head.
“Or fear.”
Lucian looked directly into the camera.
“In my experience, they're usually the same thing.”
---
Kessler didn't go home.
His car was found abandoned near Lakeshore Drive.
Inside were twenty thousand dollars in cash and a burner phone.
Ward brought the phone to Mercy General.
“One number appears repeatedly.”
Lucian asked, “Whose?”
“We're working on it.”
Ara looked at him.
“You recognize something.”
Lucian said nothing.
“Lucian.”
He finally answered.
“The last four digits.”
Bruno's expression changed.
“Boss.”
Ara looked between them.
“What?”
Lucian's voice became cold.
“That number belonged to someone inside my organization.”
“Who?”
Bruno answered.
“Matteo Crane.”
Lucian's chief financial officer.
And one of the few men who knew Lucian's movements on the night of the ambush.
Lucian closed his eyes.
Ara understood.
“This wasn't a rival family.”
“No.”
“Your own people tried to kill you.”
Lucian looked at Bruno.
“Find Matteo.”
Ara stepped forward.
“Alive.”
Bruno looked almost offended.
“Doctor—”
“Alive.”
Lucian watched her.
She continued.
“If Detective Ward is going to prove anything, she needs testimony.”
Ward nodded.
“She’s right.”
Bruno looked at Lucian.
Everyone waited.
Finally Lucian said, “Alive.”
Ara exhaled.
Lucian noticed.
“You thought I'd order his death.”
“Yes.”
“You think very little of me.”
“I met you while someone held a gun against my head.”
“Fair.”
---
At 2:06 a.m., Bruno received a call.
Matteo had been found.
But he wasn't alone.
Kessler was with him.
And Matteo wanted to negotiate.
His demand was simple.
Lucian Maro would leave Mercy General.
Alone.
Ara laughed when she heard it.
“No.”
Lucian looked at her.
“I didn't ask.”
“You're my patient.”
“This is bigger than the hospital.”
“Not while your chest is held together by my sutures.”
“He'll disappear.”
“Then let the police handle it.”
Lucian shook his head.
“You don't understand my world.”
Ara moved close enough that only he could hear.
“No. You don't understand mine.”
His eyes met hers.
“If you walk out of here tonight, you could die.”
“I've risked that before.”
“I haven't.”
That stopped him.
Ara lowered her voice.
“I spent hours keeping you alive. You don't get to throw that away because some traitor knows which button to push.”
Lucian stared at her.
“You care whether I live.”
“Unfortunately.”
A small smile appeared.
“That sounded personal.”
“Don't ruin it.”
The door opened.
Detective Ward entered.
“We traced Matteo.”
Lucian looked at her.
“Where?”
Ward gave the address.
May you like
Bruno's face went pale.
It was one of Lucian Maro's own warehouses.
