Chapter 11 - The Voice Behind the Glass.
Claire did not move.
The suspension announcement repeated once.
Then the speaker went silent.
Emily looked terrified.
“Can he do that?”
“Yes,” Claire said.
“Then what do we do?”
Claire looked at Hannah.
“We stop pretending this is a normal hospital chain of command.”
Owen agreed.
He contacted city police directly instead of hospital administration.
The first officers were already on their way because of the infant security breach.
Arthur Bell had no authority over them.
Claire removed her hospital badge and placed it on the table.
“If I am suspended, I am not acting as lead nurse.”
Hannah understood.
“You are acting as a witness.”
“And as the person who found the forged order.”
Daniel stood beside the window.
He had been quiet since Patricia’s confession.
Then he said, “There is something else.”
Hannah looked at him tiredly.
“What now?”
“My mother asked me to meet Bell last week.”
Claire turned.
“Why?”
“He wanted me to approve a foundation donation.”
“How much?”
“Five million dollars.”
Owen gave a humorless laugh.
“That buys a lot of loyalty.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I refused.”
Hannah looked surprised.
“My mother told me the hospital needed it immediately.”
“Did it?” Claire asked Owen.
“No.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Then the donation was payment.”
Before anyone answered, footsteps approached Room 417.
Claire moved Nora’s bassinet behind the wall.
Owen stood beside the door.
A face appeared in the narrow glass panel.
Arthur Bell.
He was in his sixties, gray-haired, wearing a tuxedo beneath a winter coat.
So much for the fundraiser downtown.
He knocked once.
“Daniel, open the door.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
She shook her head.
Bell tried again.
“Your mother is downstairs with legal counsel.”
Daniel stepped closer to the glass.
“Victor?”
“No.”
“Where is Victor?”
Bell’s eyes shifted.
“I do not know.”
Daniel gave a cold smile.
“That means you do.”
Bell lowered his voice.
“This has gone far enough.”
Hannah stood, still holding Nora.
“No, Arthur.”
“This has gone exactly far enough.”
Bell saw her through the glass.
His expression hardened.
“Hannah, you are a patient.”
“And you are about to be investigated.”
Bell stepped back.
Owen’s radio announced that police had entered the building.
Bell heard it too.
He turned and walked quickly away.
Owen opened the door and followed.
Claire remained with Hannah, Daniel, and Emily.
A minute later, Owen called.
“Bell is gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Service stairwell.”
Claire looked toward the laptop.
A new file had appeared on the desktop.
It was labeled TRUST CLAUSE 14B.
Daniel opened it.
He read the first paragraph.
Then he stopped.
Hannah noticed.
“What?”
Daniel looked at her with disbelief.
“My mother cannot control Nora’s shares even if she becomes guardian.”
“Why not?”
Daniel scrolled lower.
“Because the trust names a backup custodian.”
Hannah frowned.
“Who?”
Daniel read the name aloud.
May you like
“Claire Donovan.”
WHATEVER YOU HEAR, STAY QUIET
