Chapter 15 - A Dangerous Connection
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The room grew terrifyingly still. The only sound was the rhythmic beeping of my heart monitor, which had noticeably accelerated.
"This hospital?" I asked, my voice barely a squeak. "Dr. Mercer was here?"
Priya nodded slowly. "I need to check the employment archives, but yes, it’s highly probable."
Dr. Shah walked over and closed the door to my room, ensuring it latched completely. When she turned back, her professional demeanor had shifted into something far more guarded.
"I don't need Priya to check the archives," Dr. Shah said quietly. "I know Helen Mercer. She worked in our obstetrics department seven years ago."
"Why did she leave?" Evelyn demanded. "Did Luke do something to her?"
Dr. Shah folded her arms. "Helen Mercer didn't just resign. She was a whistleblower. She left St. Catherine's after she filed a massive internal complaint regarding unauthorized access to patient records."
My stomach plummeted. "Whose records?"
"At the time, the investigation was sealed," Dr. Shah explained. "The hospital board quietly settled the matter to avoid a scandal, and Helen disappeared from the medical community. But the rumors in the doctors' lounge were that someone external was illegally scraping patient data and altering files."
"Luke," I said, the name tasting like ash in my mouth.
"Your husband’s name was never publicly attached to the scandal," Dr. Shah cautioned. "But a man matching his description was seen arguing with Helen in the parking garage the week before she resigned."
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"Luke sells home insurance," I said, though the words sounded ridiculous even as they left my lips. "He doesn't know how to hack a hospital."
Evelyn pulled out her cell phone. "We're about to find out exactly what your husband does for a living. I'm calling David."
