Chapter 7: Hannah Hart
The meeting location was a private medical facility owned by a Cole Industries subsidiary.
Maya insisted on following Adrian with a hidden tracking device.
Adrian entered alone.
The facility was nearly empty. A nurse led him through a silent corridor into a recovery room.
Caleb sat beside the bed.
He ran to Adrian.
“You came.”
Adrian pulled him close.
On the bed lay Hannah Hart.
She was pale, weak, and connected to a heart monitor. A bruise marked one side of her face, but her eyes opened when she heard Adrian’s voice.
For nine years, Adrian had imagined what he would say if he ever saw her again.
None of those words came.
“Hannah.”
She looked at the wheelchair, then at his face.
“I tried to tell you.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Her gaze shifted toward the camera in the ceiling.
“We don’t have much time.”
“Grant caused the crash.”
“He arranged it. But he wasn’t trying to kill you.”
Adrian leaned closer.
“What did he want?”
“To make you dependent.”
Hannah explained that Adrian’s father had planned to transfer control of Cole Industries to him. Grant would have lost his position and access to the family trust.
The crash occurred two days before the transfer.
Adrian survived but suffered a spinal injury.
His doctors believed he might recover.
Grant paid Hale to ensure he never did.
“They kept you heavily medicated,” Hannah said. “They changed your rehabilitation results. When I discovered it, Grant threatened Caleb.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“I did.”
“What happened?”
“The detective gave my statement to Grant.”
Adrian looked at his son.
Hannah’s voice weakened.
“I spent years collecting evidence. Yesterday, Hale found out.”
The door opened.
Dr. Hale entered holding a syringe.
“The reunion is over.”
Adrian positioned his wheelchair between Hale and the bed.
“You’re finished.”
Hale smiled.
“Your brother owns the board, the police commissioner, and every doctor who signed your reports. You have stolen files and an emotional story.”
“We also have Hannah.”
Hale looked at her.
“No. You have a patient who may not survive the night.”
He raised the syringe.
Before he could move, Maya entered through the side door and aimed her weapon at him.
“Put it down.”
Hale froze.
Then Hannah whispered something that made Adrian forget the doctor.
“Grant didn’t only steal your recovery.”
May you like
She looked toward Caleb.
“He changed the results of your father’s will.”
