Chapter 11 - The Medical Records|
Vance stood up and walked over to a loose floorboard near the radiator. He pried it up with a screwdriver and pulled out a red, fireproof lockbox.
Bia’s words echoed in Ricardo’s mind. The numbers are in the red box. Find the red box.
Vance spun the combination dial and popped the lid open. Inside was a thick manila envelope sealed with red wax.
“This is it,” Vance said, his hands shaking as he handed the envelope to Ricardo. “The real toxicology report from the night Camila died. It proves she didn't die from her illness. She was administered a lethal dose of synthetic potassium chloride. It stopped her heart in minutes.”
Ricardo stared at the document, the clinical, black-and-white text outlining the murder of his sister in terrifying detail.
“Why didn't you go to the police five years ago?” Ricardo asked, his voice barely a whisper.
“Because the Chief of Police is on Lucas’s payroll,” Vance said bitterly. “You saw how the detective treated you today. They don't care. Lucas used the embezzled hospital funds to buy half the city's officials. If I had gone to the cops, I would have ended up floating in the river.”
“Then why now?”
“Because Lucas is cleaning house,” Vance said, looking toward the window with paranoid eyes. “He’s getting ready to launch a massive political campaign. He can't have loose ends. Two days ago, the nurse who administered the fatal dose was found dead in her car. They called it a suicide.”
Ricardo felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach.
“If he’s tying up loose ends, then you’re next on his list.”
“I know,” Vance said, zipping up a duffel bag sitting on the floor. “That’s why I gave you the audio file. I needed you to have the pieces before I disappeared. I’m leaving the country tonight. You need to take that file straight to the federal prosecutor. Bypass local law enforcement completely.”
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Before Ricardo could reply, the apartment door exploded inward.
Splinters of wood rained down across the room. Standing in the doorway was the man in the gray coat, holding a suppressed submachine gun.
