Chapter 8 - THE HOSPITAL THAT KEPT ITS SECRETS
The hospital stood on Chicago's West Side.
A modern building with polished floors, bright windows, and walls covered in photographs of smiling patients.
Dileia hated it.
She hated the entrance.
The waiting room.
The elevators.
The smell of disinfectant.
Every hallway carried a memory.
Tommy laughing weakly from his hospital bed.
Tommy asking whether she'd eaten.
Tommy promising they would take a vacation when he recovered.
Tommy never coming home.
Rachel arranged a meeting with the hospital's compliance officer.
Julian attended as a representative of the company whose records had been accessed.
Dileia insisted on being present.
The compliance officer, Dr. Elaine Mercer, appeared uncomfortable.
She reviewed the access logs.
Then frowned.
"These credentials shouldn't have been active."
Rachel leaned forward.
"Whose credentials?"
"An outside consultant."
"Name?"
Dr. Mercer hesitated.
"Martin Voss."
Dileia's hands tightened.
"Why would a financial executive have access to hospital records?"
"Because Northbridge retained him during a billing reconciliation project."
"Fourteen months ago?"
"Yes."
Rachel studied the logs.
"Was he involved in reviewing industrial injury cases?"
Dr. Mercer looked away.
"Some."
Dileia felt sick.
"Did he access my husband's records?"
The compliance officer hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Dileia closed her eyes.
Julian's voice hardened.
"Did he alter them?"
"We're investigating."
Rachel leaned forward.
"Then preserve everything. We will be requesting the audit trail."
Dr. Mercer nodded.
The meeting ended.
But as they left, a nurse approached Dileia.
She was in her fifties.
Her badge read NORA BENNETT.
"Mrs. Hail?"
Dileia stopped.
"Yes?"
Nora looked toward the hallway.
"Can we speak privately?"
Rachel stepped closer.
"About what?"
Nora swallowed.
"Your husband."
They moved into an empty consultation room.
Nora closed the door.
Then she began crying.
"I've wanted to contact you for months."
Dileia felt her heart accelerate.
"Why didn't you?"
"I was afraid."
"Of whom?"
Nora looked toward Julian.
Then back at Dileia.
"Martin Voss."
Silence.
Nora continued.
"Your husband was improving."
Dileia froze.
"What?"
"His infection was responding to treatment. His vital signs were stabilizing."
Dileia gripped the edge of the table.
"Then why did he die?"
Nora's eyes filled.
"His condition deteriorated suddenly after a medication order was changed."
Rachel leaned forward.
"Who changed it?"
Nora swallowed.
"The order appeared under a physician's credentials. But the doctor denied authorizing it."
Dileia stared.
"Was it investigated?"
"Internally. Then the review was closed."
"Why?"
Nora looked down.
"Because the hospital received a large settlement payment from an outside entity."
Dileia felt the room tilt.
Julian moved toward her.
She raised a hand.
"Don't."
He stopped.
She needed to stand on her own.
She needed to hear every word.
Nora continued.
"I kept copies of the original medication records."
Rachel's expression sharpened.
"Where?"
"At home."
"Are you willing to provide them to investigators?"
Nora nodded.
"Yes."
Dileia looked at her.
"Why now?"
Nora's eyes filled.
"Because another patient died last month under similar circumstances."
Silence.
Then she added:
"And I think someone is still doing it."
Dileia felt cold.
The forty million dollars wasn't merely stolen money.
It had helped conceal a system of corruption that reached into hospitals.
And Tommy had died trying to expose it.
That evening, Julian received a call from Salenzo.
Martin Voss had been located.
Not at the hospital.
Not at his apartment.
At a private airfield outside Chicago.
He was preparing to leave the country.
But when federal agents arrived, they found something unexpected.
Martin wasn't alone.
May you like
Adrian Thorne stood beside him.
And Adrian was carrying a briefcase containing documents marked with the seal of Julian's company.
