And Apex probably wouldn't go for it. They'd say it was too risky. They wouldn't want the liability. Their lawyers would have a stroke.
But if they did say yes…
Dustin closed his laptop and lay back on the bed.
The ceiling had the same cracks as every other motel ceiling he'd ever stared at. He traced them with his eyes, not really seeing them.
When we're ready.
“Guess I'm ready now,” he said to no one.
Sleep didn't come for a long time.
The next morning, Dustin stood in the medical supplies aisle of a Walmart, staring at a rack of scrubs.
They came in more colors than he'd expected. Various shades of blue and green. And Dustin had no idea which one would let him blend in at St. Anthony's Hospital.
He pulled out his phone and searchedSt. Anthony's Denver staff photos.
The results were inconclusive.
Whatever, Dustin thought, grabbing the navy. Navy felt safe. Navy saidI belong here and no one should question that.
He also headed over to Walgreens to buy a stethoscope, which was probably unnecessary, but it completed the look.
No one asked him what he needed the items for, and once he had everything, he found a bathroom to change in.
Five minutes later, he emerged looking like someone who had a legitimate reason to be in a hospital. The scrubswere slightly too big and the stethoscope hung around his neck like a costume prop. But he'd learned a long time ago that confidence covered a multitude of sins.
Of course, if anyone asked him a real question, he'd be exposed in seconds, but until then…
Dustin squared his shoulders and checked the time.
10:47 AM.
The collection window opened at 11:23.
He had thirty-six minutes to get to St. Anthony's, find room 4W-12, and figure out if there was anything—anything at all—he could do to stop death from taking Marco Reyes-Ybarra.
CHAPTER 16
Dustin found himself pulling into a parking garage attached to a sprawling medical complex that looked like it had been expanded more than once since its inception.
This was good. A new face wouldn't stand out much.
He parked on the third level and sat for a moment, hands on the wheel.
10:58 AM.
Twenty-five minutes until the window opened.
He looked at himself in the rearview mirror. He'd taken out his more visible piercings, which made him look almost… Well, no, he did not look respectable, but he could pass.
Dustin got out of the truck, and when the automatic doors to the complex slid open, he walked into St. Anthony's Hospital like he belonged there.
The lobby was chaos, with visitors clustering near the information desk, arguing with each other as well as the hospital staff.
Dustin adopted a confident stride and kept his eyes pointed forward. The trick to going places you weren'tsupposed to be was to never look like you were asking permission.
