Chapter 5 - THE MAN BEHIND THE HOSPITAL WING
The hospital's chief executive officer was Richard Bellamy.
Fifty-eight.
Elegant.
Respected.
His photograph hung in the lobby beside a plaque celebrating the hospital's newest veterans' rehabilitation wing.
The wing had been funded by Sentinel Recovery Solutions.
I learned that during a staff briefing.
Bellamy stood beside Mallory and Grant.
He smiled warmly.
“Our partnership with Sentinel has transformed veteran care.”
I looked at the presentation screen.
The company's logo appeared.
A silver shield.
A blue star.
Later, I checked the publicly available partnership announcement.
Sentinel's chief executive was Marcus Vale.
A former military contractor with extensive political connections.
He also sat on the hospital's advisory board.
I didn't know whether the connection meant anything.
But I knew it warranted independent review.
That afternoon, I met with the hospital's compliance officer, Dr. Helen Brooks.
She listened to my concerns.
Then asked:
“Do you have evidence that anyone intentionally harmed Colonel Reed?”
“No.”
“Do you have evidence of inaccurate documentation?”
“Yes.”
“Then we'll start there.”
For the first time in days, I felt someone was taking the matter seriously.
But as I left her office, I saw Mallory standing near the elevators.
She was speaking to Marcus Vale.
When she noticed me, she stopped.
Marcus turned.
His eyes followed me down the corridor.
That evening, my phone rang.
It was Dr. Brooks.
Her voice was tense.
“Noelle, don't access Colonel Reed's chart again unless you're assigned to his care.”
I frowned.
“Of course.”
“And don't discuss this with anyone outside the investigation.”
“I understand.”
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone has been trying to determine what records you viewed.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Then I realized something.
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The hospital wasn't just worried about a mistake.
Someone was worried about what I might find.
