Chapter 9 - THE CHILD WHO NOTICED THE WRONG MEDICINE
The breakthrough came from an unexpected place.
A nine-year-old patient named Lily had been admitted to Blackridge for a chronic medical condition.
She was observant.
Quiet.
And fascinated by hospital routines.
One evening, she told Elise something strange.
"That doctor uses the wrong stickers."
Elise looked up.
"What doctor?"
"The one with silver hair."
Dr. Sloane.
Elise kept her voice calm.
"What do you mean?"
Lily pointed toward the medication cart.
"His stickers are different."
Elise felt cold.
She asked Lily to explain what she'd noticed, without suggesting an answer.
Lily described seeing Dr. Sloane carry medication supplies into a restricted room.
She remembered the labels because she liked collecting stickers.
Elise documented the statement and notified the appropriate investigators.
The information helped them identify additional inventory discrepancies.
But Lily's observation also created a new danger.
Someone had been watching the investigation.
And someone knew Elise had spoken to the child.
That night, Elise received another anonymous message.
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEDICATIONS.
She stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
CHILDREN CAN GET HURT TOO.
Elise's blood went cold.
She immediately reported the threat.
Then she called Adrian.
He answered on the first ring.
"Elise?"
Her voice trembled.
"They threatened a child."
Adrian went silent.
May you like
Then said quietly:
"Tell me where you are."
