Page 37 of Crow’s Haven (Savage Legion MC #15)

Sharon

W e step out into the hallway and head back to the ward. Chaotic sounds from the nursing station get louder. Suddenly, I see my old colleague, Carla. Her expression flickers from surprise to guilt.

My eyes narrow on her. “You knew?”

Carla whispers, voice cracking. “How could I know the IV bags were poisoned?”

I straighten, voice steady. “Nobody said they were poisoned. Where did you get that idea?”

Carla’s face goes white and her bottom lip trembles.

From her response, I can guess. “You didn’t know there was anything wrong with the IV bag until you hung it and he went into cardiac arrest, right?”

When she just closes her eyes and shakes her head, it all comes together in my head. “You freaked out when you realized it was the bag. That’s why you disappeared during the code. I looked around at one point and you were gone.”

Her expression turns remorseful, but she doesn’t admit to anything.

I say harshly, “It doesn’t matter if you deny it now. It’s all out in the open.”

“I’m sorry, you got stuck holding the ball. I just couldn’t handle seeing that little boy die. It was my first death, and I didn’t handle it well,” she says quietly.

I’m not buying her story, like at all. “You keyed in my employee number instead of scanning your badge when you dispensed the medication. You tried to frame me. If you didn’t know the medication was compromised, how did you know to use my number?”

She throws up both hands in a defensive gesture.

“It wasn’t like that. I left my badge at home, so I couldn’t scan it.

When I pulled up the med list in the computer, your employee number was the last one entered, so I just copy and pasted it in for mine.

Those numbers are fourteen digits long. I couldn’t remember mine.

I thought it would be okay. The one time I didn’t follow the rules, the patient coded. ”

“That’s a lot to swallow, Carla.”

Her expression lifts. “I did what I was supposed to do, though. I told the DON, and she said that she would handle it.”

I tap my chest and tell her angrily, “Yeah, our Director of Nursing handled it by blaming me. They put out a warrant for my arrest for something that wasn’t either of our faults.”

“I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t know why Cynthia Brenner accused you of wrongdoing, so I stayed quiet.”

“What the hell is going on here? Why are you talking about me behind my back? What’s going on? I received a call telling me to get here as quick as possible.”

Cynthia rushes forward, looking a little disheveled, like she rolled out of bed and got dressed quickly. She’s not wearing makeup and has an angry, pinched look on her face. Catching sight of me, she says, “You! What do you think you’re doing showing your face at this hospital?”

Agent Harper leans close. “Who is this?”

I lower my voice to match hers. “The Director of Nursing for this hospital.”

What I don’t say is that I’ve learned she is as ruthless as she is meticulous.

Harper’s hand goes to the earpiece she’s wearing as she steps away. I catch a glimpse of her turning her head to talk into a microphone attached to her collar.

Cynthia’s voice cuts through the whispers. “I asked you a question, Ms. Carlin.”

I used to be intimidated by her perfectly coiffed silver hair and polished demeanor. Now, I see her for the bitter, old woman that she is.”

“You will answer me,” she says coolly. “To what do I owe this intrusion?”

My pulse pounds in my ears, but my voice stays steady. “Fortunately, I don’t report to you anymore. Therefore, I’m not obligated to answer any of your questions.”

The night administrator steps forward and they talk with their heads together. For a brief second, Cynthia’s composure falters, her eyes flickering towards me with a dangerous intensity before she regains control. “Jesus, how did they get through the door?”

He whispers, “I had no choice.”

Cynthia reaches out to tap Agent Harper on the shoulder. “If your agents are finished traipsing through my hospital, I want you gone.”

Harper’s hand comes down from her ear and goes directly to her belt—and then out come the cuffs. “You’re not authorized to make demands because you’re under arrest.”

“Absolutely not. I have a right to know what this is about.”

Harper slaps the handcuffs around one of her wrists and jerks her around, twining the other arm back as well.

Once the cuffs snap into place, she states, “Agents have reviewed your phone data. They discovered your brother-in-law works for Salinas Pharmaceuticals, the same company currently accused of malfeasance in an IV contamination scandal.”

“I did nothing wrong.” Cynthia’s voice is high pitched and panicked.

“To the contrary, you deliberately concealed a conflict of interest,” I reply, unwavering. “A child died because you put profit and family loyalty above patient safety. And you framed an innocent nurse to take the fall.”

Cynthia’s eyes glitter coldly, her voice is filled with venom. “Be very careful, Agent whatever your name is. You’re accusing me of something quite serious.”

Harper turns her around and looks her in the eye. “I’m stating facts. You orchestrated a cover-up to protect your family’s investments. How many more people need to suffer before you were satisfied?”

Cynthia sneers, “You think you understand what’s happening here. This is bigger than you and me. We’re just pawns, insignificant and disposable.”

Agent Harper gives her a rueful look. “Sounds like a personal problem. I’d advise you to come along quietly. I’d hate to have to tase you for getting rowdy.”

Cynthia leans closer, voice low and chilling. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Cross me, and I promise you’ll regret it.”

Harper brings her hand up to her earpiece. “Can I get you to add ‘threatening a federal agent’ to Brenner’s list of charges?”

I tell her quickly, “I don’t know why you’re threatening federal law enforcement, Cynthia. It’s too late for that.”

She stares at me, eyes icy with rage. Her composure fractures, revealing a dangerous, irredeemable fury simmering beneath the surface. “We’ll see about that,” she shoots back. “You’ll be lucky to make it out of this situation alive.”

I glance at Agent Harper. “Yet more threats.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. You’re under the protection of the DOJ.”

Cynthia snorts a laugh. “My brother-in-law is a dangerous man. He’ll make you both regret causing such a huge issue for this company.”

“His company is responsible for at least one child’s death.”

Our conversation is interrupted when Harper’s radio crackles sharply.

She listens, nodding once. “Martin’s team has secured all the administrative personnel,” she announces clearly.

“The hospital’s leadership is being brought in for questioning.

I’m told the board of directors will be here shortly to cover until other arrangements can be made. ”

Cynthia’s face pales. Gasps ripple through the gathered nurses and techs, and shocked murmurs break out, spreading rapidly down the hallways.

I close my eyes, relief flooding through me.

It’s finally over. The people who destroyed lives, who lied, who hurt innocent children are all in handcuffs.

I wasn’t naive enough to think all of them would necessarily end up behind bars, but I had to trust that most culpable would.

Harper hands off Cynthia to another agent and I follow her to the exit, the hallway clearing in stunned silence as we pass.

I keep my eyes forward, my steps strong.

Outside, fresh morning air floods my lungs, washing away the stifling antiseptic hospital smell.

My knees feel weak, but my mind is strong.

I walk proudly across the parking lot, lit by flashing lights and swirling blue strobes from police cruisers.