Chapter 6 - The Camera Across the Hall
Hospital security searched the corridor immediately.
They checked elevators, stairwells, waiting rooms, and every exit near the children’s wing. No one found the person who had left the message.
The security cameras should have provided an answer.
Instead, they created a greater mystery.
Daniel, Olivia, and Laura watched the footage inside a small office near the nurses’ station. The camera facing Room 214 had stopped recording for exactly three minutes.
At 8:17 p.m., the image froze.
At 8:20 p.m., it returned.
The note appeared during that gap.
“That isn’t a malfunction,” Olivia said.
The security supervisor, Marcus Reed, replayed the clip.
“The other cameras kept working.”
“Someone disabled this one,” Daniel replied.
Marcus nodded grimly.
“From inside our system.”
Laura’s hands trembled.
“Victor knows people here.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Who?”
“I don’t know their names.”
She explained that Victor had once mentioned doing maintenance work for several hospitals. He often disappeared for days and refused to discuss his jobs.
Marcus searched the visitor logs.
“Victor signed out at 7:52.”
Daniel studied the screen.
“Could he have returned another way?”
“There’s a service entrance beneath the loading dock.”
Marcus opened another camera feed.
The footage showed supply trucks entering and leaving the hospital basement. At 8:05, a white maintenance van pulled inside.
Its license plate was hidden by mud.
At 8:24, the same van exited.
“That’s our window,” Daniel said.
Marcus zoomed in.
A company logo appeared faintly on the side.
Hale Property Services.
Laura stared at the screen.
“That belongs to Victor.”
The evidence should have been enough to call the police.
But Marcus uncovered another problem.
According to hospital records, the van had authorization to enter.
The approval came from an administrator named Thomas Bell.
Dr. Carter recognized the name immediately.
“He’s the financial director.”
Daniel’s gaze sharpened.
“Connected to the foundation?”
“He manages outside donations.”
The pieces were beginning to form a pattern.
Michael Parker had worked for the Harrison Children’s Trust.
The trust had secretly funded Ethan’s care.
Victor wanted the key.
And someone inside the hospital was helping him.
When they returned to Room 214, Buddy was standing near the door.
His body stiff.
His nose pressed against the floor.
He began following a faint scent through the hallway.
Daniel took hold of the leash.
“Where are you going?”
Buddy pulled toward the elevator.
Laura looked worried.
“He never behaves like this.”
They followed him downstairs.
Past the cafeteria.
Past the gift shop.
Into an older section of the hospital that had been closed for renovation.
Buddy stopped before a red metal door.
Above it hung an antique brass bell from the building’s original fire alarm system.
Ethan’s words echoed in Daniel’s mind.
A red door.
A bell.
And somewhere beyond the wall came the distant sound of a train passing beneath the city.
May you like
Daniel inserted the silver key into the lock.
It fit perfectly.
