Chapter 18 - The Person Closest to the Door
Cassidy did not accuse anyone.
She set another trap.
She told each person a different detail about Amelia’s future.
To her mother, Cassidy said she planned to move temporarily to Vermont.
To Naomi, she said she would remain in the city.
To Dr. Reed, she said Amelia would be transferred to a private pediatric facility.
To Brendan, she said nothing useful.
Gabriel monitored communications.
For six hours, nothing happened.
Then a burner phone connected to a cell tower near the hospital.
A message was sent to a number associated with one of Sloane’s former security contractors.
BABY TRANSFERS TO PRIVATE PEDIATRIC FACILITY TOMORROW.
Cassidy stared at the screen.
Only one person had heard that information.
Dr. Hannah Reed.
Cassidy felt something break inside her.
Hannah had cared for her throughout the pregnancy.
She had held Cassidy’s hand during labor.
She had delivered Amelia.
Gabriel placed Hannah under discreet surveillance.
They watched her leave the hospital after midnight.
She drove home.
Then continued past her house.
Twenty minutes later, she stopped beneath a highway overpass.
Another vehicle arrived.
Hannah stepped out.
A man handed her an envelope.
Federal agents moved in.
Hannah did not run.
When Cassidy confronted her later through video, the doctor looked exhausted.
“Why?”
Hannah began crying.
“My daughter.”
Cassidy said nothing.
“She has a rare heart condition.”
“You could have told me.”
“The surgery wasn’t covered.”
“How much?”
“Four hundred thousand.”
Cassidy stared at her.
“Sloane paid you.”
“He paid the hospital abroad.”
“In exchange for information about me.”
Hannah nodded.
“At first.”
Cassidy’s voice hardened.
“What changed?”
“He wanted medical access.”
Cassidy felt sick.
“I refused to harm you.”
“But you introduced Voss.”
“Yes.”
“You gave them my schedule.”
“Yes.”
“You gave them my daughter’s name.”
Hannah covered her face.
“Yes.”
Cassidy looked away.
Another betrayal.
Another person who had decided Cassidy’s safety had a price.
“Did you know they intended to take Amelia?”
“No.”
“When did you learn?”
“The day before Protocol Seven.”
“And you didn’t warn me.”
Hannah cried harder.
“I was afraid.”
Cassidy thought of the filthy water running down her dress.
The forged documents.
The nursery.
The altered medical chart.
Every step had been possible because someone had remained silent.
Cassidy looked back at Hannah.
“Fear explains silence.”
“It does not erase the consequences.”
Hannah nodded.
“I know.”
Cassidy ended the call.
Gabriel sat beside her.
“That should be the last leak.”
Cassidy looked at him.
“No.”
“What?”
“If Hannah was reporting to Sloane, why did she warn us about the altered chart?”
Gabriel frowned.
Cassidy’s mind worked through the timeline.
Hannah had been compromised.
But she had also sabotaged part of Project Harbor by revealing the induction fraud.
Perhaps guilt had changed her.
Or perhaps someone had wanted Cassidy moved.
Cassidy looked at Gabriel.
“Check who owns the secure medical facility we transferred to.”
Gabriel paused.
“Alder Crown Medical.”
“Through which holding company?”
He searched.
His expression changed.
“Blackridge owns a twelve-percent minority stake.”
Cassidy stared at him.
May you like
The hospital they believed was safe had never been completely theirs.
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
