Chapter 9 - THE LOCKED ICU ROOM
Rosa saw Thomas enter Vivian's room.
Then the door locked.
"Mr. Mercer!"
No answer.
She hit the glass.
Thomas pulled the privacy curtain.
Rosa screamed for security.
The electronic lock would not open.
Someone had overridden it.
Inside, Vivian lay helpless.
"You should have let this end."
Vivian's fingers twitched.
"Do you know what you were going to destroy? Your sister. Her marriage. The foundation. Thousands of patients."
Vivian forced out a rasp.
"You."
"You always were dramatic."
Outside, Rosa grabbed a fire extinguisher.
A nurse shouted, "Wait!"
Rosa smashed the glass panel beside the lock.
Once.
Twice.
The panel cracked.
Security arrived.
Thomas heard it.
He reached toward Vivian's IV line.
Vivian's monitor began racing.
Then Rosa broke through.
She reached inside and pulled the emergency release.
The door opened.
Rosa charged him with the extinguisher raised.
"Get away from her!"
For a second, the retired judge looked almost amused.
Then security tackled him.
A syringe fell from his coat pocket.
Brooks arrived minutes later with Grant.
Grant went straight to Vivian.
Thomas shouted from the hallway.
"You have no idea what she was about to do to all of us!"
"No. You did."
"You think you're innocent? Her death would have made you chairman."
"That was your plan."
Thomas's smile faded.
Brooks bagged the syringe.
Same drug.
Same manufacturer.
Same lot number as the vial in Adrian's bag.
Thomas was arrested.
Elise stood at the end of the hall watching officers handcuff her father.
Then Vivian whispered from the bed.
"Elise."
Her sister rushed in.
"I'm here."
"What did she say?"
Elise bent down.
Vivian repeated it.
This time everyone heard.
"You knew."
May you like
Elise began to cry.
And did not deny it.
