Chapter 3 - The Doctor in Room Nine
Leo stepped in front of his father.
“Don’t!”
“Leo!” Adrian grabbed him.
The elderly doctor lowered the weapon immediately.
His face changed.
“Leo?”
The boy stared.
“You know me?”
The doctor looked at Adrian.
“You brought him here?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You promised you never would.”
“I also promised he’d live.”
The doctor put the weapon aside.
“Mara,” Adrian said, “meet Dr. Samuel Rowe.”
Mara stared.
She knew that name too.
“Dr. Rowe died twelve years ago.”
Samuel shrugged.
“Paperwork can be surprisingly persuasive.”
Mara looked between them.
“What is this place?”
Samuel approached Adrian.
“An insurance policy.”
He examined the wound.
His expression darkened.
“Operating room. Now.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No anesthesia until Leo is secure.”
Samuel pointed toward Mara.
“He has her.”
Adrian looked at Mara.
“You trust her?”
“I trust anyone who dragged your arrogant body through a blizzard.”
“Fair.”
Mara crouched beside Leo.
“You’re staying with me.”
Leo grabbed Adrian’s hand.
“Promise you’re coming back.”
Adrian looked at his son.
“I promise.”
“You lied before.”
Silence.
Adrian swallowed.
“Then this time I won’t.”
Samuel wheeled Adrian away.
Mara took Leo into a small office.
Ten minutes later, pounding came from above.
The men had reached Room Nine.
Leo looked at the ceiling.
“They’re coming.”
Mara locked the office.
“Who are they?”
Leo hesitated.
“My uncle.”
Mara turned.
“What?”
“Uncle Victor.”
The answer arrived quietly.
Too quietly.
“Why would your uncle hurt your father?”
Leo pulled something from his pocket.
A phone.
Cracked.
“My dad gave me this in the car.”
Mara turned it on.
One recording remained.
She pressed play.
A man’s voice filled the room.
Victor Vale.
“After Adrian signs the transfer, kill him. The boy too.”
Mara’s stomach tightened.
Another voice asked, “What about Room Nine?”
Victor laughed.
“My brother doesn’t even know what’s there.”
Mara stopped the recording.
Leo whispered, “Dad knows.”
“Apparently.”
The office phone rang.
Mara jumped.
She answered.
Samuel’s voice came through.
“I need you in surgery.”
“What?”
“His pressure is crashing.”
“What about Leo?”
“There’s a security room across the hall.”
Mara looked at the boy.
Leo straightened.
“I can stay alone.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“But Dad needs you.”
Mara hesitated.
Then took Leo across the hall.
The security room contained monitors covering the entire underground level.
She locked him inside.
“Do not open this door for anyone except me or Dr. Rowe.”
Leo nodded.
“Mara?”
“Yes?”
“Save my dad.”
She held his gaze.
“I’ll do everything I can.”
Inside the operating room, Adrian was fading.
Samuel tossed Mara gloves.
“I need another pair of hands.”
“You built a secret hospital but forgot nurses?”
“I had three.”
“Had?”
“They betrayed Adrian.”
“Of course they did.”
Samuel almost smiled.
For forty minutes, they fought.
Blood pressure.
Sutures.
Fluids.
Adrian’s heart rhythm destabilized twice.
Then stabilized.
Samuel stepped back.
“He’ll live.”
Mara exhaled.
A voice came from the doorway.
“That’s unfortunate.”
Victor Vale stood there.
Two men behind him.
Mara froze.
Victor looked remarkably like Adrian.
Same dark eyes.
Same controlled expression.
But none of the warmth Adrian showed Leo.
Victor smiled.
“Dr. Rowe.”
Samuel said nothing.
“Mara Ellis, I assume?”
Mara slowly removed her gloves.
“How do you know my name?”
“I know everyone who enters my brother’s life.”
Victor glanced at Adrian.
“Unfortunately, you entered at the worst possible moment.”
Mara stepped between him and the operating table.
“He just survived surgery.”
Victor smiled.
May you like
“That’s exactly the problem.”
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