Chapter 37 Wrong hospital
Rafael
I stared at the photo of Maria Martinez on Flora's phone.
"Get the cars ready," I ordered Marco. "We're going to that hospital right now."
"Boss, this is exactly what they want…"
"I don't care what they want!" My voice echoed through the room.
"That's a fifteen-year-old girl. We're not leaving her to die."
Marco nodded. "I'll assemble the team."
He left quickly.
Isabella stood up. "Rafael, we need to think this through. The Architect has been three steps ahead of us this entire time. What if…"
"What if what?" I turned on her.
"Tell me, Isabella, what's the right move here?"
Isabella's face softened. "I'm not saying we shouldn't go. I'm saying we need a plan."
She was right. I knew she was right.
But the rage burning through me made it hard to think clearly.
"Fine," I said. "We have..." I checked my watch. "Twenty-one hours and forty-three minutes. What do we know?"
"We know A.M. is Antonio Martinez," Flora said quietly. She was still staring at the photo.
"We know he has a dying daughter," Isabella added. "And someone promised to save her if he cooperated."
"The Architect," I said. "The Architect made that promise."
"Which means the Architect has access to medical resources," Marco said, returning to the room. "Advanced treatment. Experimental drugs maybe. Something beyond what a normal hospital could provide."
I thought about that. "Narrow it down. Who do we know with those kinds of connections?"
"Pharmaceutical companies," Marco suggested. "Hospital board members. Research doctors."
"Dr. Russo was Eva's therapist," Flora said. "She had medical connections. Could she have…"
"Dr. Russo is dead," Isabella interrupted. "And she said she was just providing information. She wasn't the Architect."
"But maybe she knew who was." I said.
The room fell silent.
"We're missing something," Flora said. She stood up and walked to the window. "Something obvious. The Architect said they're close to you, Rafael. Someone who's been there from the beginning."
"Antonio has been with me for ten years," I said. "But he's not the Architect. He's another victim."
"Then who?" Flora turned to face me. "Marco? Isabella? Who else has been with you that long?"
"Don't look at me," Isabella said sharply. "I've been trying to expose the Architect, not help them."
"Have you?" Marco's voice was cold.
Isabella's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"You escaped custody very conveniently," Marco said. "Right before the explosion. Right before Dr. Russo showed up. How do we know you're not playing us?"
"Are you serious right now?" Isabella stood up. "I loved Eva! She was my best friend!"
"So you say," Marco crossed his arms. "But you've been involved in this from the beginning. You knew about Flora before any of us did. You had access to Eva's diary. You…"
"Enough!" I slammed my hand on the desk. "We're not turning on each other. That's exactly what the Architect wants."
Marco and Isabella glared at each other but said nothing.
"Let's focus on what we know," I continued. "Antonio is at the hospital with his daughter. The Architect sent us that photo for a reason. They want us to go there."
"It's a trap," Marco said.
"Obviously it's a trap," I shot back. "But we're walking into it anyway. Because we don't have a choice."
Flora walked over to me. "What if we split up?"
"What?"
"You and Marco go to the hospital," she said. "Talk to Antonio. Find out what he knows. While Isabella and I stay here and go through these files. Look for anything we missed."
"Absolutely not," I said immediately. "You're not staying here without protection."
"Then leave some guards," Flora argued. "But Rafael, we need information. And we need it fast. If Isabella and I can find something in Father Matthews's files, something that tells us who the Architect is…"
"No." I grabbed her hand. "I'm not leaving you. Not after what happened at the church."
"Rafael…"
"I said no, Flora!"
She flinched.
I immediately regretted my tone. "I'm sorry. I just... I can't lose you. Please don't ask me to leave you behind."
Flora's eyes filled with tears. "You're not going to lose me."
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you."
We stared at each other. The room felt too small suddenly.
"She has a point, boss," Marco said quietly. "If we all go to the hospital, we're playing right into their hands. But if we split up, we might catch them off guard."
"Fine," I said finally. "But Flora stays here with at least ten guards. Armed and positioned at every entrance. And Isabella, you don't let her out of your sight."
"Understood," Isabella said.
I turned to Marco. "Get the team ready. We leave in ten minutes."
Marco nodded and left again.
I pulled Flora aside, away from Isabella. "Listen to me. If anything happens, anything at all,you call me immediately. Don't try to handle it yourself. Understood?"
She nodded.
"And Flora?" I cupped her face gently. "When this is over, when the Architect is dead or in prison or wherever the hell they end up... we need to talk. About us."
"Rafael, there is no…"
"Don't." I pressed my thumb against her lips. "Don't say anything now."
I kissed her forehead. Then forced myself to step back.
Marco returned with six armed guards. "Team is ready, boss. Vehicles are out front."
"Good." I looked at Isabella. "Keep her safe."
"With my life," Isabella promised.
I took one last look at Flora. She looked so small and vulnerable suddenly.
Then I turned and walked out.
The drive to St. Catherine's Hospital took twenty minutes.
Marco sat beside me in the back of the SUV. Two more vehicles followed us, filled with armed guards.
"What's the plan?" Marco asked.
"We go in quietly," I said. "Find Antonio. Make him talk. Find out who the Architect is."
"And if he won't talk?"
I looked at Marco. "Then we make him talk."
Marco nodded. He knew what that meant.
We pulled into the hospital parking lot. It was late. The place was mostly empty.
"Team Two, cover the exits," Marco said into his radio. "Team Three, stay with the vehicles. Team One, you're with us."
We entered through the main entrance. A tired-looking security guard glanced up at us but didn't stop us.
The elevator ride to the fourth floor was tense.
The doors opened.
The pediatric oncology ward was quiet and dimly lit. Most of the rooms were dark.
Room 412 was at the end of the hall. The door was closed.
I approached slowly with my hand on my gun.
Marco positioned himself on the other side of the door.
I turned the handle.
The door opened.
The room was empty.
No Maria. No Antonio. No one.
But on the whiteboard, someone had written a message in red marker.
"Wrong hospital, Rafael. Try again."
"Son of a bitch!" I slammed my fist against the wall.
Marco was already on his phone.
"There are three other hospitals in the city with pediatric oncology wards. I'll…"
My phone rang.
Flora.
I answered immediately. "Flora? What's wrong?"
"Rafael." Her voice was shaking. "You need to come back. Right now."
"What happened?"
"We found something. In the files. Rafael, we know who the Architect is."
"Who?" I asked.
But the line went dead.
I looked at Marco. "We need to go. Now. "Flora found who the Architect is."
Marco's eyes widened. "Then let's move."
We raced back to the estate.