Chapter 7: Room M-17
Marcus stared at the photograph until the edges of the screen blurred.
Olivia.
Alive.
Terrified.
Tied to a chair in a concrete room.
A clock behind her showed 8:12.
The message had arrived at 7:14.
Less than an hour.
Marcus looked at Elena.
“We're going.””
The officer immediately stepped forward.
“Mr. Hale, you're not going anywhere alone.””
Marcus handed him the phone.
“Then don't let me go alone.””
The officer studied the photograph.
His expression changed.
“Detective?””
A second officer moved closer.
“Where was this taken?””
“Ashford Memorial,” Elena said.
The detective looked at her.
“You're sure?””
“M-17 was an old records room beneath the east wing.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why would there be a records room underground?””
“There used to be.””
Elena's voice was quiet.
“Before the renovation.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Who has access?””
Richard smiled faintly.
“No one.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Don't lie.””
“I haven't worked there in years.””
“Yet you knew about M-17.””
Richard said nothing.
The detective pulled out his radio.
“Get units to Ashford Memorial. East wing. Possible hostage situation.””
Marcus moved toward the stairs.
The detective grabbed his arm.
“Wait.””
“My daughter is down there.””
“We'll get her.””
“You don't know the building.””
Elena stepped forward.
“I do.””
The detective looked between them.
“Then you're coming with us.””
Richard suddenly laughed.
“You're making a mistake.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
Richard leaned against the wall.
“You think Olivia is the hostage.””
Marcus froze.
“What does that mean?””
Richard smiled.
“She isn't.””
The detective drew closer.
“Explain.””
Richard looked at Marcus.
“She is the reason you're being brought there.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“Why?””
“Because whoever has her wants something from you.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“You still don't understand what your father left behind.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What?””
Richard looked at Elena.
“You told him about the trust.””
“Yes.””
“You didn't tell him the rest.””
Elena's eyes filled with fear.
Marcus turned toward her.
“What didn't you tell me?””
She didn't answer.
“Elena.””
She whispered:
“The trust wasn't money.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“Not originally.””
Richard smiled.
“It was control.””
The detective looked confused.
Marcus wasn't.
He remembered his father's company.
The private medical investments.
The properties.
The voting shares.
“How much control?””
Elena swallowed.
“Enough to decide who owns Ashford Memorial.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Richard laughed.
“Your father owned the controlling interest through three shell companies.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I thought the hospital was publicly owned.””
“It is now,” Elena said.
“Because?””
“Because the trust transferred the shares.””
“To whom?””
Elena looked at him.
“To Olivia.””
Silence.
Marcus's face went blank.
“She owns Ashford?””
“Not directly.””
“Then who?””
“A trustee.””
“Who?””
Elena looked at Richard.
“Daniel Mercer.””
Marcus's stomach dropped.
Daniel wasn't just Olivia's guardian.
He controlled the trust.
And the hospital.
The detective cursed under his breath.
“That means whoever has Olivia can force the trustee to transfer everything.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“And the receipt?””
Richard's expression changed.
“Insurance.””
Marcus understood.
The purchases had been made under a hospital-linked account.
The receipt connected Vanessa to the transfer.
Someone had been moving money to keep Olivia hidden.
But why?
Marcus looked at Elena.
“Who was helping you?””
“I told you. I never knew his name.””
Richard laughed.
“You did.””
Elena turned sharply.
Richard continued.
“You just forgot.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What does that mean?””
Richard said nothing.
The detective's radio crackled.
“Unit approaching east wing.””
Marcus took Elena's hand.
“Stay with me.””
She nodded.
They drove to Ashford Memorial under flashing lights.
Marcus had never seen the hospital like that.
Police vehicles blocked the east entrance.
Security guards were being moved aside.
The emergency department was still operating.
Patients and staff watched as officers rushed past.
Marcus's phone vibrated.
Another message.
*No police inside M-17.*
He showed the detective.
The detective frowned.
“Someone can see us.””
Marcus looked up.
Security cameras.
Dozens of them.
Then the lights in the east wing flickered.
One by one.
Dark.
The detective grabbed his radio.
“Cut power to the east wing.””
A voice answered:
“Can't.””
“Why?””
“System locked.””
Marcus's stomach tightened.
The detective looked at him.
“Someone controls the building.””
Elena whispered:
“Daniel.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He looked toward the elevators.
“Richard said Daniel disappeared.””
The detective turned.
“Where is Richard?””
Marcus looked behind him.
Richard was gone.
The officers exchanged glances.
“Find him.””
Marcus ran toward the service corridor.
Elena followed.
The elevator doors opened.
Inside was a man in hospital scrubs.
He held the door.
“Room M-17?””
Marcus stopped.
The man looked directly at him.
“You're Marcus Hale.””
Marcus stared.
“How do you know me?””
The man stepped out.
“Because I've been waiting twelve years.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Twelve years for what?””
The man reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed Marcus's father.
Standing beside a young Daniel Mercer.
And another man.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
Richard.
But there was someone else in the photograph.
A woman.
Elena.
Younger.
Pregnant.
Marcus looked at her.
Elena covered her mouth.
“That was the day Olivia was born.””
Marcus looked back at the stranger.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled sadly.
“My name is Samuel Reed.””
Elena whispered:
“Sam.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You know him?””
She nodded.
“He delivered Olivia.””
Samuel looked at Marcus.
“And I know where your daughter is.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Take me to her.””
Samuel shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because there are two people in that room.””
Marcus froze.
“Who?””
Samuel looked toward the darkened corridor.
“Olivia.””
May you like
A pause.
“And Daniel Mercer.””
