Page 80 of Hidden Hero

“It could be due to the heart’s inability to pump blood efficiently,” he replied quickly.

“Correct,” Cora said.

As they neared the end of the autopsy, she was just about to have David close when the intercom sounded.

“Dr. Wadsworth. Someone wishes to speak to you—wait! You can’t go through there!”

The sound of a scuffle just outside the door was heard, and Cora glared as she snapped her gloves off. “What is happening?—”

The doors to the lab burst open, and a man rushed inside. He was portly, with dark hair that stood up as though he’d run his hand through it several times. His gaze shot wildly around the room, landing first on her, then dropping to the table behind her where the autopsy was being performed. His eyes widened, and his expression showed horror.

“Sir!” Cora shouted. “I don’t know who you are, but you must leave immediately! Carl—call security!”

“On their way,” Carl replied, rushing into the room, his hands raised to grab the unknown intruder.

The man whirled around and lifted his arm. A shot was fired before Cora could process what her eyes were witnessing. Carl fell backward, hitting the floor.

“No!” Cora’s shout was mixed with the screams of Janice and Carl’s cry of pain as he clutched his shoulder, blood running between his fingers.

She started toward Carl, but the intruder stopped her when he aimed the gun her way. “I have to help him!”

“No! No one move!” he cried out.

Cora knew hospital security would arrive, and the North Heron Sheriff’s Department would have been alerted.Keep calm. Keep him calm.She lifted her hands in front of her, moving slowly. “Okay… okay… we need to slow down, Mr….?”

He didn’t answer, so she continued to speak softly. “Carl is hurt, and we need to get him out of here. Will you let my assistant help him?”

The man’s glassy eyes continued to dart around. He looked at the weapon in his hand as though he had no idea how it got there.

The sharp sound of running footsteps echoed outside the lab doors, drawing Cora’s attention. Her chest tightened with dread. She prayed no one would burst through, knowing full well the man inside still held his weapon. One wrong move and someone else could get hurt—or worse.

“Stop!” she shouted, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. “We have a hospital employee with a gunshot wound to his shoulder!”

Her eyes darted to David, standing frozen nearby. His hands were slightly raised, his face pale and slack with shock. She could almost feel the tremor in his stillness. Turning her attention back to the intruder—a man with wild, darting eyes and sweat dripping down his temple—she forced her voice to soften.

“Please,” she said, her tone carefully measured. “Let Dr. Penn”—she gestured subtly toward David—”attend to the injured man. Allow him to leave so he can save his life.”

The intruder’s eyes burned with a manic intensity. “The devil’s work,” he hissed, his lips curling. “That’s what you do here. Devil’s work!”

A fleeting, absurd thought crossed her mind.The hospital seriously needed better security measures for screening visitors.Now was not the time for random thoughts. Focus.I need to stay calm.

“Right now,” she said slowly, “we need to help this man. He’s injured.”

The intruder’s hand trembled slightly as he adjusted his grip on the gun, his hesitation giving her a sliver of hope. Cora’s heart pounded as she glanced at Carl, who lay near the door, blood dripping from his shoulder. If they acted fast, it wouldn’t take much to drag him to safety.

Keeping her voice low and soothing, she tried again. “Dr. Penn, please move over to Carl. Get him out of here.”

David’s terrified gaze flickered to her, then to the gun, before he jerked his head in a shaky nod. He started inching forward, his hands still raised in a placating gesture. “I’m going to drag him through the doors now,” he said, his voice tight.

The intruder’s weapon snapped in Cora’s direction. Her breath hitched, but she forced herself not to flinch as he wiped a shaking hand across his sweaty face.

“I don’t want anyone else coming in here,” the man growled. “If they do, I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

Cora nodded at David, urging him on. Her pulse roared in her ears as she noticed the light on the intercom panel blinked to life. Someone was listening from the other side—a lifeline.

“Dr. Penn is going to assist Carl out of the lab,” she said clearly, her words directed both at the intruder and whoever was listening. “Janice and I are staying here.”

“Cora?” a voice crackled faintly through the intercom. She froze for a moment before recognizing it.

---