* * *
Brett Collins, looking like a rumpled bed, wheeled through the doorway. “Collins, what do you have?”
“Two things. Prints on the glass match Cassie and Ames. The toxicology screen on the material in the glass showed a combination of Rohypnol and scopolamine. The concentration would definitely impair a large adult, but it hadn’t dissolved fully. The lab says the Rohypnol takes away memory. Scopolamine removes all willpower.”
He handed his boss a flash drive. “I did some backtracking to fill in those gaps in her life story. Whoever sanitized her history failed to take into account 911 recordings are maintained in a separate facility from police reports. I checked recordings from the night of her admission to Franklin. There was an emergency call made from Cassie’s former apartment. It may give you a clue.”
Ian cued the recording.
“911—what is your emergency?”
“I need an ambulance. My daughter…she’s unconscious in the bathtub. She’s bleeding. Send the police. Someone hurt her. Please hurry.”Ian recognized Rachel’s voice.
“Ma’am, is she breathing?”
“Yes, but they’re shallow and slow.”
“Keep her head above the water. Can you see where the blood is coming from?” the operator asked.
“No, the water is red—and she’s covered in flower petals.”
“The police and an ambulance are on the way. Don’t move her. I will stay on the line until first responders arrive.”
Ian pressed his lips together. “Good work, Brett. Identify and find the cops and EMTs who worked that call.”
“Already on it, boss.”
Chapter Eighteen
It was bright and sunny when the three o’clock shift came on duty at the hospital. Dave Newman wheeled the stainless-steel cart with supplies for each unit and whistled a tune. He exchanged small talk and pleasantries with the nurses and clerks at every station. In the intensive care unit, he noticed two familiar men taking care of a patient, both in constant motion. Machines and pumps surrounded the bed.
"What are they doing up here? They usually work in the ED." Dave dropped off two cases of dialysis replacement fluids while getting the 411 on Tucker and Pete.
“They’re doing private duty. They’re nice guys. Supposedly, she’s related to a bigwig around here. I think someone screwed up. The nurses say the family is going after Dr. Maddox.” The clerk signed for the fluids. One case was earmarked for Jerry Stevens, and the other was for Cassie Modine.
* * *
Tucker grabbed the two cases. Always the gentlemen, he dropped off the case for the other patient. “Thanks.” The pretty brunette taking care of the patient took the fluids from him.
“Never a problem to help. How’s he doing?”
She frowned. “Mr. Stevens is expectant, but the family still wants everything possible done. How’s Cassie? Kelly left in tears before the end of her shift yesterday. She feels guilty. We heard about the sponge.”
Tucker leaned against the door. “Tell her it’s not her fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s your nurse manager, Barbara. Cassie’s very sick, but she’s fighting.” With a tip of his head, he returned to his patient.
* * *
Kieran’s entire tactical team, the fifteen men who founded Chase Security with him, and Ian assembled in the planning room. This afternoon, there was no playful camaraderie. Taking the hint from Ian’s demeanor, everyone sat in silence as a picture of Cassie filled the giant overhead screen. Her face was full of life, her brilliant smile warming the room.
“I want to thank everyone for coming in so soon after Louisiana. I promise you’ll get your downtime when we put this case to bed.” Kieran passed a folder to each of the operators in the room. Three tech analysts sat with their laptops at the ready. “Monique, give us the basics on our client.”
Monique spelled out Cassie’s history and current situation. “The Paulsens have five sons, all currently active-duty SEALs. Christian, a lieutenant commander, assigned out of the Silver Strand Training Complex, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Caleb, assigned to SEAL Team 3 arrived just after 1100 yesterday. Lieutenant Junior Grade Noah, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, is returning from the sandbox; Ensign Sean with SEAL Team 4 is coming back from a training exercise in Honduras, and Ensign Francis, SEAL Team 8, is en route from Turkey.”
Murmurs filled the room. Someone said, “Overachievers.”
Monique sipped a cup of herbal tea and continued reporting on the crash that killed Cassie’s family and her education.
Amy, Chase Group’s technical analysis savant, spoke, “During graduate school, Cassie became engaged to lawyer and lobbyist, Garett Whitman. Mr. Collins identified a 911 call with an ambulance transport to the Franklin clinic the day after Ms. Ellis successfully defended her dissertation. If she was admitted or for how long is unknown. There are no electronic medical records. I’m trying to track down employee payroll records at the time and looking at billing records during that time.
