Chapter 10 - The Woman in Room 214.
The photograph gave police enough reason to take a closer look at St. Agnes, but not enough to storm the facility.
Malcolm's lawyers moved quickly.
By noon, they were calling the allegations a family dispute built around a confused child and a disgruntled former employee.
Victoria wanted action faster than the law could move.
Marcus wanted evidence strong enough to survive Malcolm's attorneys.
Daniel provided the first real break.
He agreed to speak after his lawyer arrived.
He admitted that St. Agnes had kept Eleanor under observation more than once.
He insisted he never saw her physically harmed.
Victoria did not care how carefully he chose his words.
"Where is she now?"
Daniel looked at Lily.
"She was moved yesterday."
"Where?"
"Back to St. Agnes."
Lily started crying.
Daniel continued quickly.
"Not in the main building."
He drew a rough map on a legal pad.
The facility had an older residential wing that did not appear on its public website.
Room 214.
That was where Eleanor had been placed.
An emergency judge approved a welfare inspection based on Daniel's statement, the false custody paperwork, and the recorded call from Malcolm.
Victoria traveled with officers, Marcus, and a court-appointed medical advocate.
Lily was kept safely with Mrs. Whitmore at Ashford House.
St. Agnes looked nothing like a prison.
It had stone walls, gardens, fountains, and expensive art.
That made it worse.
The administrator smiled until the court order appeared.
Then his face changed.
Room 214 was empty.
The bed was stripped.
The closet was bare.
Victoria felt panic close around her chest.
"Where is Eleanor Hart?"
The administrator claimed no one by that name had been admitted.
Marcus placed the photograph from Daniel's file on the desk.
The man said nothing.
A nurse standing near the doorway stared at the floor.
Victoria noticed.
When the administrator left to call counsel, the nurse stepped close.
"Try the hydrotherapy wing."
Her voice was almost inaudible.
"Basement level."
The officers moved immediately.
At the end of a locked hallway, they found three private rooms.
The first was empty.
The second contained medical equipment.
The third was locked from the outside.
Victoria stood behind the officers as they opened it.
A woman lay in the bed beneath a white blanket.
Dark hair framed a pale face.
For one terrible second, Victoria was afraid she was dead.
Then the woman moved.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Eleanor?"
The woman's eyes opened slowly.
She stared without recognition.
Victoria's heart broke.
"It's me."
A tear slipped from Eleanor's eye.
Her lips moved.
Victoria bent closer.
"Lily?"
"She's safe."
Eleanor exhaled as if she had been holding her breath for three days.
Then she gripped Victoria's hand with surprising strength.
"Don't take me home."
Victoria froze.
"Why?"
Eleanor's eyes widened with fear.
"Malcolm owns people inside your house."
May you like
She swallowed painfully.
"And he isn't the one who started the fire."
