Zach frowned. "I planned on it. Your enhanced look at the phone logs hit. She called the hospital at the same time Elizabeth's secretary answered an outside call from a woman. Matty and Bruce found her dead this morning. We are waiting on COD."
"Damn it. Elizabeth figured it out, the murders and this. Someone wants to shut her up, and if they find out Austin's remembering, he's in danger too. I want an investigation into Ralph Locke. Send word to the guys in the prison to ask around about him. Did he kill himself because he felt guilty about the little girl or Austin?"
"Little Girl Doe is stable. Kelly got some promising film."
"Is someone on the unit?"
Zach nodded. "A nurse from New York, and Tighe is sitting with her too. Do you want me to put a detail on her?”
"Full security as well. I want competent and gentle."
Zach smiled at his boss.
"I'm going home to take a shower and change. I want the executive staff in the hotel conference room in an hour. Ask Archie to set up a conference call for all the division heads as well. Thanks, Zach.”
"Roger that." Zach left.
It took an effort for Martin to stand. He placed his hand atop Elizabeth's heart. "Jamie, Eric, don't let anyone in this area other than Chase personnel, my family, Joyce, and Ruth."
Eric blocked the door. "We didn't forget. You need to lie on the CT-scan table for ten minutes. Clear?"
Martin obeyed, pushing the meeting back for another hour. All the health center directors had the authority to ground him. An argument would be fruitless.
The tense group occupied the hotel conference room. "Thank you, everyone. Those words are too few for all you are doing. I have some news for all of you. Today I made a life decision: I’ve adopted the infant injured in the trailer park fire. Lola Wyatt will be Lola Bailey by morning. In advance, I thank all her new aunts and uncles for being a part of her life. Second happy news: I plan to ask Elizabeth Reed to marry me the second she wakes up."
He grimaced as he raised his brow. "Now that my personal life is no longer gossip fodder, let's work. Silverton police are going to act on the warrant to arrest Elizabeth. We need to solve these murders." The desktop from his computer flashed on a screen lowered from the ceiling. He gave them a meticulous, detailed presentation.
“Elizabeth sent four damning and accusatory letters to Corrections. There is no clear path where they went from arrival. I informed Brynn Hackman—we are feeding her what we want. She still thinks we’re floundering. We managed to infiltrate Spooner's and Jenner's offices. The bugs we placed remain live, but their trackers indicate someone moved them.”
Mike took over. "Austin's memory is returning. He remembered a corrections van, and damn it, he remembers being shot by a man in black—likely a corrections officer.” He raised his hand to quell the grumbling in the room.
"Technical analysis was able to identify four more prisoners shown in the violent pornographic films, including hospitalized prisoner, Tonette Torres.
“One of our undercover jail guards was invited to watch baseball at Sergeant Alden McAllister’s this weekend.”
Mike wiped his brow, his body stiffening. “After the evening meal, Troy disappeared from segregation with McAllister for two hours. The cameras in the prison are working against us, and the assignments to the SHU are given to select guards. Our people are trying to gain access to Troy. Wes thinks it makes sense that their targets are coming from there. No one will notice they’re missing.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Bruce asked.
“None of us want Troy in there any longer than necessary,” Martin said.
Mike continued, "Troy's attorney was refused visitation again. In a call to his ‘mom,’ Sutton told Esther that ADA Jacob Krebs is prosecuting Troy. Our intel shows Krebs is a former fraternity boy and football player. Lots of rumors about inappropriate workplace behavior, but as far as prosecution, he's a straight hardliner. I'm worried Troy won't have a chance to ask for help.”
Julian stood. "Our forensic unit discovered a scorch mark on the roof ledge of the building six hundred yards due west of the garage. A swab confirmed a shot was fired from there. Martin, you were the target. You now have a protection detail."
Julian's expression challenged him to refuse. Martin nodded.
Zach's phone buzzed. "Martin, Danny Logan failed to override the chief. They are holding off. Sharpe doesn't want to waste budget dollars on an unresponsive arrestee."
Martin dipped his head and took a breath. “Thank you, Lord."
Kip stood for his briefing. "We’re sure Paul Young didn’t send the honey to Elizabeth. We’re trying to track suppliers in the area. I asked tech to look at Logan's old cases going back to his days in patrol, see if we can tie any identified dead prisoners to his arrests. Young left me wondering. I asked him why someone would want to use his name? Other than the obvious, to gain Beth's trust. He said he would be dead before the case could go to trial. Tech is looking at his physicians and a select few colleagues who appreciate how ill he is."
Tate rubbed his dry, tired eyes. "Miles Gerba called to tell us Tonette Torres is awake and stable enough to talk. I was leery of adding more bodies to the floor. Our current assignees are aware of the situation. Tighe said he'll take a go at her tonight."
"Dufour withdrew his intent to file suit," Bruce said. "We’re looking to see if he went for a settlement, or did he withdraw the suit to simply hide the pregnancy?"
"What about Reed?" Martin's gut twisted. “He wanted to sanitize Elizabeth's pregnancy years ago. Did he convince Dufour to do the same?”
