Page 77 of Ground Truth

No sea view from the hospital windows because it was located in the interior of the island.

When Flint stepped under the portico toward the entrance, the sliding glass doors opened wide, silently welcoming visitors with a feeling of grandeur and elegance.

A splashing waterfall adorned the lobby creating a sense of natural tranquility. Sparkling chandeliers and slow-moving fans hung from high ceilings. Seating groups dotted the gleaming marble floors like lily pads. Richly colored murals depicting tropical scenes covered the walls.

The air was fragrant with the scent of exotic blooms and sea salt and the place was filled with natural light from oversize windows.

In short, nothing about the place resembled a hospital. Instead, the place felt like indulgence and relaxation.

He saw not one wheelchair or handrail. Smelled no antiseptic. No physicians or nurses wandered the halls dressed in surgical garb.

Atabei Hospital was more like the private concierge floor at the world’s most luxurious hotels.

And unlike American healthcare centers, this one had no security officers monitoring the lobby.

Flint scanned the premises for surveillance equipment. No cameras were immediately identifiable by an untrained eye. A normal visitor might believe the lobby was not secure.

But on Hedinger’s properties, everything was constantly watched. Which meant that there was plenty of security, whether he could see it or not.

Flint walked deeper into the lobby, all senses on alert. Drake did the same.

There were no signs identifying the admissions or records departments. No indications that an emergency room existed. Which, perhaps, it did not.

Drake said, “Wonder where they keep the sick people.”

Flint’s constant wariness was rewarded when a stunningly beautiful young woman entered the lobby from behind closed doors opposite the entryway. She came walking across the marble floors, her heels tapping a quick tattoo.

Wearing a lovely floral dress and a white blazer befitting a tropical hotel, she had no name tag, but it was obvious she worked here. Her entrance was purposeful. She was fully aware Flint and Drake had entered the building.

“I’m Genevieve Sweeting, hospital CEO. May I help you gentlemen?” she asked as she approached, her gaze sharper than a full body scan.

“We’re meeting Dr. Stephen Brand,” Flint said, getting straight to the point. “Please direct us to his office.”

She smiled pleasantly. “Is Dr. Brand expecting you?”

Flint flat out lied. “He knows we’re coming.”

“I see.” Her smile faltered slightly as she reached into a deep pocket for her cell phone. “Dr. Brand is usually in surgery most mornings. You may need to come back this afternoon. I’ll check with his assistant. Just one moment, please.”

Sweeting made the call. A few moments later she said pleasantly, “Hi, Mary. It’s Genevieve. Is Dr. Brand available? He has visitors in the lobby.”

She paused briefly to listen and then looked directly at Flint. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get your names.”

“John and Joseph Campbell. We’re here about our sister, Greta Campbell,” Flint said evenly, but Genevieve didn’t flinch. The names meant nothing to her. “She’s missing and Dr. Brand was one of the last people to see her.”

The missing sister comment prompted a concerned frown. Genevieve repeated the information to Brand’s assistant.

She listened to a brief reply and then asked Flint, “As I suspected, Dr. Brand is in surgery. How about two o’clock this afternoon? Will that work for you?”

He glanced at his watch as if he were actually checking the time. “Sure, we can come back.”

Genevieve confirmed the time with the assistant and disconnected the call. “There’s a lovely restaurant two blocks from here, if you need somewhere to wait.”

Drake shook his head. “That’s okay. We’re staying with a friend.”

Flint and Drake thanked her for the help and turned to leave. Genevieve watched them go, frowning.

When the glass doors parted silently and they walked out onto the portico, she was still standing there.

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