Chapter 8 - The Empty Bed
The private rehabilitation center listed on the hospital record did not exist. The address belonged to a boarded-up dental clinic.
Maya called the hospital's legal department and demanded records. Someone had used a forged consent form and a physician's name to authorize the transport.
"That's kidnapping," Ethan said.
"It's evidence of a serious crime," Maya replied. "Let police establish the facts."
A detective named Lena Ortiz took the report. She watched Tessa's wedding video, then requested surveillance footage from the hospital loading dock.
It showed Margaret being wheeled into a white medical van at 2:14 p.m. She appeared sedated. A man in scrubs covered his face from the camera.
Ethan noticed the van's cracked tail light. Jonah recognized the fleet sticker of a transport contractor servicing construction sites.
"One of Richard's vendors," Jonah said.
Ortiz requested an emergency trace. Meanwhile, Ethan went to Richard's office with Claire and Maya, hoping to draw out a reaction without entering the building.
Richard stepped outside under the glass canopy. "You two should be on your honeymoon."
"Where's my mother?" Ethan demanded.
"Receiving excellent care."
Claire went white. "You know where she is?"
Richard looked at his daughter. "I know she's safer away from this nonsense."
Maya held up her phone. "Detective Ortiz is listening, Mr. Vale. Would you like to repeat that?"
Richard's smile vanished.
"You're making a terrible mistake," he said.
"Then correct it," Maya replied. "Tell us where she is."
Richard leaned toward Ethan. "Your father made the same choice. He wanted to be a hero. Heroes leave widows."
May you like
A siren sounded down the street. Richard's eyes moved toward it, then toward the parking garage.
He ran.
