Chapter 3: The Woman Under the Hood
“Her name is Leah Mercer,” the head of security said.
The band slipped from Liana’s fingers.
Matteo blocked the doorway.
“Marcus, how do you know that name?”
Marcus Hale straightened his jacket.
“She was a neonatal nurse at St.
Anne’s Hospital.
She treated Nico after the accident.”
Liana pressed Nico closer.
“Her name wasn’t always Mercer.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You know her?”
“Her name was Leah Graves.” Liana’s lips trembled.
“She’s my sister.”
Matteo turned the tablet toward her.
“You’re certain?”
“I haven’t seen her in eight years, but I’d know the way she holds her left shoulder.
Our father broke it in a farm accident when she was twelve.”
Marcus moved toward the door.
“Then this is a family scheme.
Leah forged the badge, planted that band, and sent Liana into your home.”
“Stop,” Liana said.
Marcus glanced back.
“Excuse me?”
“You knew my sister’s name before I said it.
You also knew she treated Nico.”
“That information is in his medical file.”
“Then why did you turn pale when you saw the band?”
Marcus’s hand settled near the radio on his belt.
Matteo held out his palm.
“Give me the radio.”
“Sir, this woman entered under a false identity.”
“I applied under my own name,” Liana said.
“The housekeeper interviewed me yesterday.”
Marcus faced Matteo.
“Leah must have inserted her into the system.
Let me remove her, and I’ll investigate.”
“No one removes her.”
“Your son could be in danger.”
“Nico is asleep against her chest.”
Marcus looked down.
The baby’s fingers were still tangled in Liana’s collar.
“That proves nothing,” he said.
“It proves she stays until I understand this.” Matteo pointed to the corridor.
“Call Jonas and bring me every access log from three weeks ago.”
Marcus did not move.
Matteo’s voice dropped.
“That was an order.”
Marcus surrendered his radio, but his eyes remained on Liana.
“You should ask why her sister disappeared,” he said.
“People who run usually have something to hide.”
Liana stepped toward him.
“Did you threaten her?”
“Careful.”
“Did you frighten Leah away from this house?”
Marcus smiled without warmth.
“You’ve been here less than an hour.
You have no idea whom you’re accusing.”
“I know what fear looks like.”
Nico stirred at the sharpness in her voice.
Liana rocked him until his cheek settled against her shoulder again.
A younger guard appeared with a laptop.
“Mr.
Varric, I’m Jonas Reed.
You asked for the logs.”
“Put them on the table.”
Jonas opened the file.
“The system says Leah entered with a temporary badge at 1:14 a.m.”
Marcus folded his arms.
“Exactly.”
Jonas swallowed.
“But the service-gate camera shows something else.”
He played the recording.
Leah stood outside the gate, hood lowered, speaking to someone inside the booth.
Matteo leaned closer.
“Increase the sound.”
Static filled the nursery.
Then Marcus’s voice came through the speaker.
“You have four minutes,” the recording said.
“Plant it and disappear.”
Marcus reached for the laptop.
Jonas snapped it shut first.
“What did she plant for you?” Matteo asked.
Marcus backed into the corridor.
“That recording has been altered.”
Liana moved between him and Nico.
“Then you won’t mind us calling the police.”
Marcus gave her a long, cold look.
May you like
“Call anyone you like,” he said.
“By the time they arrive, Leah Graves won’t be alive to answer you.”
