Page 78 of See How They Hide

“Follow me,” she said.

She used her card key to get into a secure part of the building, then turned left and led him down a long, wide brightly lit hall. Though the hospital had the slight antiseptic smell pervasive in all hospitals, it wasn’t overwhelming, and the walls were decorated with framed pictures of the surrounding area.

She used her key to get into another wing, and stopped at the nurses’ station. “I need Jenny Dunn.”

“I’ll page her,” the nurse said.

“Have her meet us in Gardner’s room,” Michael said.

The doctor didn’t like taking orders, but Michael didn’t believe in coincidences. Gardner was stable last night, and Michael had talked to Granderson not more than an hour ago. Gardner had been awake and while still showing signs of depression and grief, his vitals were strong.

Something had happened to Gardner in the thirty minutes from alert to unconscious.

Granderson led Michael down the hall to where there was a round work station and three windowed rooms. The rooms were all empty, but one had clearly been in use.

Before they even walked in, Michael saw the flowers.

A bouquet of spring flowers interspersed with dozens of red poppies.

“Who brought in those flowers?” Michael demanded.

The doctor was taken aback by his harsh tone. “Agent Harris, there is—”

“I need to know right now. And no one goes into that room until a forensics team goes through it. Understood?”

She bristled, then said, “I need to contact head of security.” She stepped away.

Michael pulled out his phone and called Matt, told him what little he knew, and said, “Can I pull Jim in to review Gardner’s medical records and gather evidence in the room? This is fishy to me.”

“I’ll send Jim over as soon as he can get free, and contact the sheriff and ask what’s going on with his deputy.”

“Have the deputy talk to me directly,” Michael said. “I have questions.”

“I’ll make it happen.”

When Michael ended the call, Dr. Granderson approached with a young nurse and a tall, skinny man in a suit. “Agent Harris, this is Ms. Dunn, and Tom Royce, our head of security.”

Royce said, “My people are downloading you a copy of all security footage from this wing.”

“Thank you,” Michael said. He might need footage of other parts of the hospital, but he’d wait to see what he learned from the nurse.

He turned to Dunn. “Ms. Dunn, were these blinds open so you could see into Mr. Gardner’s room?”

“Yes, sir. There was a nurse at this station every minute. They can’t leave unless the replacement has arrived. And the deputy was right there.” She gestured to a chair that had line of sight to the main hallway and the room.

“Did the deputy step away for anything?”

“No.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Michael said. “I’ve worked stakeouts—there are always breaks, for the restroom, to get coffee, to stretch legs.”

“When he had to step out he said no one was allowed into the room unless it was an emergency. And he was never gone for more than ten minutes.”

“You found Mr. Gardner unresponsive at what time?”

She glanced at the doctor. “I didn’t leave the station.”

“I’m not saying you did,” Michael replied. “You were here watching him. What made you go in to check on him? Was it routine or did something alert you that he was in trouble?”

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