Chapter 5 - The Name Inside the Medical File
Tessa stopped breathing.
Elena took the photograph from her.
"That's Thomas."
"I know."
"The date..."
"I know."
Mateo checked the back.
"Could someone have changed it?"
Tessa shook her head.
"My father used that exact date stamp on his clinic camera. It printed automatically."
Madeline moved closer.
"Then your father survived."
"No."
Tessa heard herself say it, but she no longer knew what she believed.
She had buried him.
Unlike Rafe with Elena, Tessa had seen her father's body.
Hadn't she?
She forced herself to remember.
Closed coffin.
Because Thomas had supposedly fallen at home and struck his face against a marble counter.
The funeral director had advised keeping the coffin closed.
Tessa had been exhausted with grief.
She had never questioned it.
Now every detail felt wrong.
"Who identified my father?"
Silence.
Madeline answered first.
"Do you remember?"
Tessa thought.
Hospital records.
A phone call.
A doctor.
Then her father's attorney had handled everything.
"Richard Vale."
Mateo looked up sharply.
"What?"
"My father's attorney."
"Richard Vale?"
"Yes."
Mateo cursed.
Elena stared at him.
"You know him?"
"Rafe's father used him for years."
Tessa felt something settle into place.
"Where is he?"
Mateo pulled out his phone.
"Retired."
"Where?"
"Last I heard, Arizona."
He searched.
Then frowned.
"His firm says he died eight months ago."
Elena let out a humorless laugh.
"Apparently death isn't very reliable in this family."
Tessa looked at the photograph again.
Her father might be alive.
Or someone wanted her to think he was.
Either way, the old Calder Hotel was waiting.
They couldn't delay.
Mateo drove Tessa to within two blocks.
"You have twenty minutes."
"Before what?"
"Before I stop pretending you're in charge."
"Generous."
"Tessa."
She looked at him.
Mateo's expression softened.
"Rafe trusts almost nobody."
She waited.
"He trusts you."
"We've known each other one night."
"Doesn't matter."
"It should."
"For normal people, maybe."
She almost smiled.
"Was he really that hurt after Madeline?"
Mateo looked toward the windshield.
"More than he'd ever admit."
"Because she rejected him?"
"Because he believed her."
Tessa understood.
There was an enormous difference.
"Women always wanted something from Rafe," Mateo continued. "Money. Protection. Access. But very few wanted him."
Tessa frowned.
"That's dramatic."
"It's true."
"He's handsome."
Mateo laughed.
"Oh, I'll definitely tell him you said that."
"Do that and I'll deny everything."
"He already thinks you're the bravest person in the city."
"He told you that?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because I've worked for him twelve years."
Mateo's expression became serious.
"I know what his face looks like when he wants something he thinks he isn't allowed to have."
Tessa looked away.
"Tonight isn't about that."
"No."
"But if we survive tonight?"
She looked back.
Mateo smiled.
"Then maybe it can be."
Tessa exited the vehicle.
The old Calder Hotel stood abandoned at the end of the block.
Fifteen stories.
Boarded windows.
Once one of the city's grandest buildings.
Now condemned.
Her phone vibrated.
ENTER THROUGH THE WEST DOOR.
She followed.
Inside smelled of dust and old plaster.
A single emergency lamp illuminated the lobby.
Another message.
LEAVE THE FILE ON THE FRONT DESK.
Tessa placed the duplicate file down.
"Done."
Her voice echoed.
No answer.
"Where is Rafe?"
A speaker crackled.
"You care about him."
Tessa recognized the distorted voice.
"Enough to come."
"Would you die for him?"
"That's a stupid question."
A pause.
Then almost laughter.
"Why?"
"Because nobody knows what they'll do until the moment comes."
"Your father knew."
Tessa's chest tightened.
"Is he alive?"
Silence.
"Answer me."
"You became exactly like him."
"That's not an answer."
"He thought saving people made him righteous."
"He was a doctor."
"He interfered."
"With murder."
Another pause.
Then the voice said, "Walk to the elevator."
Tessa did.
The elevator doors opened.
One button glowed.
She stepped inside.
Her tracker would tell Mateo exactly where she was.
Unless whoever controlled this knew about it.
The elevator stopped.
Fourteenth floor.
Long corridor.
One room stood open.
Tessa entered.
Rafe sat in a chair.
Handcuffed.
Alive.
She rushed toward him.
He looked furious.
"Why are you here?"
"Nice to see you too."
"I told you—"
"Don't."
"Tessa."
"I mean it."
His expression changed.
She crouched in front of him.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Drugged?"
"No."
"Hit?"
"My pride."
"Tragic."
"Tessa."
She checked his pupils anyway.
Normal.
His wrists were bruised from the cuffs.
"How did they get you out of police custody?"
"The captain."
"The man in my father's photograph."
Rafe's eyes sharpened.
"You found it?"
"Yes."
"Then you know."
"Know what?"
Rafe stared.
And Tessa suddenly understood.
He knew more.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"Tessa—"
She stood.
"No. Not this time."
"We need to get out."
"My father may be alive."
Rafe looked away.
That was enough.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
"Since when?"
"Tonight."
"How?"
"The photograph in room 214."
"What photograph?"
"There were two."
Tessa stared.
"You only showed me one."
"I know."
"Why?"
Rafe's voice lowered.
"Because the second showed Thomas Ward alive."
Anger surged through her.
"You had proof my father might be alive and didn't tell me?"
"I had a photograph."
"You lied."
"I was trying to protect you."
She laughed once.
"Of course you were."
"Tessa."
"You don't get to decide what truth I can survive."
"I know."
"No, you clearly don't."
"I was wrong."
She stopped.
Rafe looked directly at her.
"I was wrong."
No excuses.
No defense.
Just that.
Her anger loosened slightly.
"Show me later."
"If we get out."
"When."
Rafe's mouth moved.
"You really are impossible."
"You're welcome."
She inspected the cuffs.
Basic.
Not police issue.
She reached into her hair and removed a small metal pin.
Rafe stared.
"Combat nurse."
"You learn things."
"You learned to pick handcuffs?"
"I had interesting coworkers."
Thirty seconds later, the cuff opened.
Rafe looked impressed.
"Remind me never to annoy you."
"Too late."
They moved toward the door.
It slammed shut.
Lock clicked.
Rafe tried the handle.
Nothing.
A speaker activated.
"Tessa Ward."
She looked up.
A man's natural voice now.
No distortion.
Familiar.
She couldn't place it.
"You came for Rafe."
"Who are you?"
"Someone your father failed to stop."
Rafe stepped in front of her.
"Show yourself."
"Still protecting women who don't want you, Rafe?"
Rafe froze.
The voice continued.
"Madeline didn't want you. Neither did the women before her. They saw what you are."
Tessa saw the hit land.
Invisible.
Precise.
Whoever spoke knew exactly where to strike him.
"They were right to reject you," the voice said. "A man your size. Your reputation. Your blood. What woman would choose that?"
Tessa stepped beside Rafe.
"Me."
Silence.
Rafe turned.
Tessa looked up at him.
"I would."
His eyes changed completely.
The speaker remained quiet.
Tessa continued.
"And whoever you are, you don't know him nearly as well as you think."
The speaker crackled.
"You met him tonight."
"I've treated dying nineteen-year-olds who showed me more truth in thirty seconds than some people show in thirty years. Time isn't the point."
Rafe stared at her.
"Tessa..."
She took his hand.
Again.
Not medical.
Not pity.
Choice.
"I told you already."
His fingers slowly closed around hers.
The voice returned.
"Touching."
Then gas began hissing from vents above them.
Rafe looked up.
"Move."
They ran to the window.
Sealed.
Rafe grabbed a chair and smashed it into the glass.
Once.
Twice.
Third strike cracked it.
Tessa coughed.
Her head began swimming.
Rafe wrapped his jacket over his forearm and hit the glass again.
It shattered.
Cold air rushed inside.
Tessa leaned toward it.
Rafe shouted down.
Fourteen floors.
No useful exit.
Then gunfire erupted in the corridor.
Mateo.
The door lock exploded.
Rafe pulled Tessa behind the wall.
The door flew open.
Mateo appeared.
"Move!"
They ran.
Down the corridor.
Stairwell.
Twelve floors.
Tessa's lungs burned.
At the ninth floor, an armed man appeared below.
Rafe struck him before he could raise his weapon.
The man hit the wall.
Tessa kept moving.
They reached the lobby.
Elena's security vehicle waited outside.
Madeline sat inside.
"Go!" Mateo shouted.
They piled in.
The vehicle accelerated.
Tessa leaned back.
Alive.
Rafe sat beside her.
Their hands were still joined.
Neither mentioned it.
Madeline turned from the front seat.
"The federal investigator received the file."
Tessa nodded.
"Good."
"And he identified M.R."
Everyone went silent.
"Who?" Rafe asked.
Madeline looked at him.
"Marcus Redd."
Rafe's expression became blank.
Elena whispered, "No."
Tessa looked between them.
"Who is Marcus Redd?"
Rafe answered slowly.
"My godfather."
Mateo gripped the steering wheel.
Rafe continued.
"He helped raise me after my mother died."
Tessa remembered Thomas's letter.
Someone close to Rafe.
Someone he trusts.
"Where is he?"
Mateo said, "His estate."
Rafe pulled out his phone.
Then stopped.
A message had arrived from Marcus.
One photograph.
Thomas Ward.
Alive.
Sitting in a chair.
Today's newspaper lay on his lap.
May you like
Underneath were six words.
BRING TESSA OR HER FATHER DIES.
