Chapter 3 - The Locked Wing
By morning, the Rossi estate was sealed.
Nobody entered.
Nobody left.
Dominic's fever dropped below 101.
That should have been good news.
Instead, Leo appeared with worse news.
“Dr. Bell is missing.”
I looked up.
“Missing?”
“His wife hasn't seen him since yesterday.”
Dominic swore.
Leo continued.
“And Vincent left the estate before we locked the gates.”
“Of course he did,” Dominic said.
I changed Dominic's dressing while they talked.
The swelling was improving.
“You're healing.”
Dominic looked down.
“Disappointed?”
“Devastated.”
Leo almost smiled.
Dominic caught him.
“Don't encourage her.”
A knock came.
One of the guards entered.
“Sir, we found Bell's medical bag.”
“Where?”
“East wing.”
Dominic went still.
Leo said, “That's impossible.”
I looked between them.
“Why?”
Dominic answered.
“The east wing has been locked for three years.”
“Since when?”
“My mother died.”
I finished the bandage.
“Then let's go.”
Dominic stared at me.
“We?”
“Yes.”
“You're a nurse.”
“And you're my patient.”
“You're not investigating my house.”
“Fine. You investigate. I'll make sure you don't collapse.”
Twenty minutes later, Dominic was dressed in black pants with a fresh white bandage crossing his tattooed shoulder and chest.
He refused a wheelchair.
I refused to argue.
Instead, I walked beside him.
We reached an ornate door at the end of a corridor.
The lock had been forced.
Inside, dust covered everything.
Furniture hidden beneath white sheets.
Old portraits.
Closed curtains.
Leo led us toward a small study.
A medical bag sat on the desk.
I opened it.
Dr. Bell's identification was inside.
So were syringes.
Dominic opened a drawer.
Empty.
Another.
Empty.
Then I noticed scratches beneath the desk.
“Wait.”
I crouched.
There was a small black device taped underneath.
A recorder.
Leo removed it carefully.
We returned to Dominic's bedroom and played the audio.
Static.
Footsteps.
Then voices.
Bell first.
“I won't do it again.”
Vincent answered.
“You'll do exactly what you're paid to do.”
“He could die.”
“That is the point.”
Dominic's jaw hardened.
Bell's voice shook.
“You said you only wanted him weak.”
“I changed my mind.”
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Finally I said, “That's enough to call the police.”
Dominic looked at me.
“No police.”
“Dominic.”
“No.”
“Your brother tried to kill you.”
“And I will handle my brother.”
I stepped closer.
“That's exactly how this started, isn't it?”
His eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Everybody in this house handles everything privately. Nobody talks. Nobody trusts anyone. People get hurt, and the solution is always another locked door.”
Leo suddenly became very interested in the floor.
Dominic stared at me.
“You don't understand my family.”
“Then explain it.”
He looked toward Leo.
“Leave us.”
Leo left.
Dominic sat on the edge of the bed.
“My father had two sons. Me and Vincent. But only one of us was legitimate.”
“Vincent?”
He nodded.
“My father never let him forget it.”
“That wasn't your fault.”
“No. But when my father died, he left everything to me.”
“And Vincent believes it should be his.”
“He believes I stole his life.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then stop acting guilty.”
His gaze sharpened.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“Medicine is simple sometimes. Find what's killing the patient and remove it.”
“And Vincent is the infection?”
“You said it, not me.”
He gave a quiet laugh.
Then his expression changed.
Pain.
His hand moved to his shoulder.
“Dominic?”
He stood.
Then stumbled.
I caught him.
“Leo!”
Dominic collapsed against me.
His skin was burning again.
I checked his pulse.
Too fast.
Leo ran in.
“What happened?”
“Call an ambulance.”
Dominic grabbed my wrist.
“No hospital.”
“This isn't negotiable.”
“Nora—”
“Your fever is back.”
His eyes struggled to focus.
“Something's wrong.”
I looked at the medication.
The sealed medication.
Then at the water glass beside his bed.
“Who brought that?”
Leo's face drained.
“One of the kitchen staff.”
I smelled it.
Nothing.
But that meant nothing.
“Don't touch anything.”
Dominic's grip weakened.
His eyes closed.
“Dominic!”
No response.
I slapped his cheek lightly.
“Dominic, open your eyes.”
Nothing.
I looked at Leo.
“Forget his rules.”
Then I pointed at the phone.
May you like
“Call 911.”
---
