Chapter 3 - The Letter Marco Left BehindThe hospital administrator arrived ten minutes later with two security officers and an expression that told Emma things were worse than anyone wanted to say.
Her electronic chart had been altered.
Grace's chart had been altered too.
According to the system, both had left the building before Connor ever entered the maternity corridor.
That meant someone had created a digital record suggesting Emma was no longer inside the hospital.
Luca understood the danger immediately.
"If something happened after the fake discharge, there would be confusion about whether the hospital was responsible."
The administrator nodded reluctantly.
"We're investigating."
Emma looked toward the door.
"So someone inside this hospital helped Connor?"
"We don't know that."
"Then what do you know?"
The administrator had no answer.
Luca did.
"We know you don't leave this room until we have a secure exit."
Emma looked at him.
"You don't get to order me around."
"You're right."
His tone remained calm.
"But I strongly recommend it."
Emma hated that he was right.
She hated even more that Connor had managed to reach into the one place she had believed was safe.
The administrator promised to contact police cybercrime investigators.
After everyone left, Emma looked at Marco's envelope again.
"You haven't read the letter?"
Luca asked.
"No."
"Maybe you should."
Emma unfolded it.
Marco's handwriting was uneven.
He had clearly written quickly.
Emma, if you're reading this, then I didn't get the chance to explain everything myself.
Emma stopped.
Her throat tightened.
Luca turned away slightly, giving her privacy.
She continued.
I need you to know that meeting you was the first thing in years that made me stop wanting to run from my own name.
A tear slipped down Emma's cheek.
She wiped it away.
I also need you to know that the trouble around me isn't yours.
If Connor Blake ever approaches you, don't believe anything he says about me, Luca, or the company.
Emma inhaled sharply.
Connor is scared because I found something.
The key in this envelope opens a locker at Union Station.
Locker 318.
Inside is a backup of everything I found.
Emma lowered the letter.
"Luca."
He turned.
"Union Station."
His eyes changed.
"What?"
"The key opens locker 318."
Luca stepped closer.
Emma continued reading.
Do not go there alone.
Give the evidence to Luca.
You may not know him, but I do.
He'll act like he doesn't care.
He's very good at that.
Luca looked away.
Despite everything, Emma almost smiled.
She continued.
The truth is that my brother has spent his entire life protecting people and pretending it doesn't cost him anything.
If I'm gone, trust him with your life.
Luca's jaw tightened.
Emma read the final lines silently.
Then she folded the letter.
"What does it say?"
Luca asked.
Emma studied him.
"He trusted you."
Luca did not answer.
"He said to give you whatever is in the locker."
That got his attention.
"We need to tell the police."
"Marco specifically said to give it to you."
"And I'm telling you the police should be involved."
Emma stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because if Marco was right, this isn't just about missing money."
"What else could it be about?"
Luca crossed to the window.
"Connor didn't risk coming into a hospital for accounting records."
Emma looked at Grace.
"He came for my daughter."
"Maybe."
Luca's voice was quiet.
"Or maybe he thought you had the key."
Emma remembered Connor grabbing at her.
His hand had gone toward Grace.
But at one point, he had also grabbed the strap of Emma's diaper bag.
She had assumed he was trying to pull her closer.
Now she wasn't sure.
"The diaper bag."
Luca turned.
"What about it?"
"He grabbed it."
"Where is it?"
Emma looked toward the chair beside the bed.
The chair was empty.
Her heart dropped.
"It was there."
Luca moved immediately.
"When did you last see it?"
"Before the hallway."
"What was inside?"
"Baby clothes."
"Your wallet?"
"No."
"Phone?"
"No."
"Marco's envelope?"
Emma looked down at the envelope in her hands.
"No."
"Anything Connor might want?"
Emma tried to remember.
Then she froze.
"A notebook."
"What notebook?"
"Marco's."
Luca stared at her.
"He left it at my apartment months ago."
"What was in it?"
"I don't know."
"You never opened it?"
"I did."
Emma shook her head.
"It was mostly numbers."
"Dates."
"Company names."
"Some initials."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Emma, where is that notebook now?"
"In the diaper bag."
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow taps.
Luca stepped toward the door.
"Who is it?"
No answer.
The knock came again.
Three slow taps.
Luca looked through the window.
The hallway was empty.
He opened the door just enough to look down.
A pale-blue diaper bag sat on the floor.
Emma stood behind him.
"That's mine."
Luca did not touch it.
The top zipper was open.
The notebook was gone.
But something had been placed inside.
A white card.
Luca pulled on a pair of hospital gloves before lifting it.
There were only six words written across the card.
Locker 318 belongs to me now.
Emma's blood went cold.
Luca turned toward her.
"We're not waiting for discharge."
"What are we doing?"
May you like
His eyes moved to Grace.
"We're getting you both out of here."
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