know, Linda thinks Krissy is somewhere at Sunny Gardens, right nearby. This is all conjecture. We’ve got to get at the truth.”
“Next question,” Marc inserted, addressing the eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room. “When do we call Peg and the FBI task force?”
“Not now, we don’t,” Ryan responded quickly. “I need time to get some answers. Once we have those, you can tell the task force whatever you want.”
“This is going to be tricky-and tight,” Casey murmured. “I’m sure the task force is only a few steps behind us, and that’s only because of the red tape of having to get warrants. Once they get them, they’re going to storm Sunny Gardens like gang-busters, looking for Linda Turner. And, if she’s not clearheaded enough, that could ruin any chance of finding out about her accomplice.”
“Yeah, and if that accomplice knows that Linda’s been made, we can kiss finding her goodbye.”
“She’s our only link to Krissy,” Casey said fervently. “I won’t let her get away. Ryan, plan on leaving for Sunny Gardens at the crack of dawn.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Early-morning sunlight was peeking through the trees when Ryan’s van pulled up the road to Sunny Gardens. Like Marc, he left a healthy distance between his car and the facility, parking in a dirt alcove amid a wooded area where his van could blend right in. Later, he’d make a more public appearance.
The good news was that construction workers began at dawn. So when Ryan trudged across the grounds in his dirt-stained jeans and white T-shirt, carrying a large toolbox, no one gave him a second look.
He went around back, as Marc had instructed, and, also as Marc had surmised, the delivery door was unlocked. It was daytime. Security measures were more lax. And deliveries were more plentiful.
He went straight down to his destination: the basement. It didn’t take him long to navigate the various wiring and network connections, or to locate the video distribution feed that led to the main nurses’ station.
He pulled out his staple gun and fired a staple directly into the jacketed wire. Ryan waited-one minute, then two. After five minutes had passed, he whipped out his cell phone and called the head nurse’s station.
“Yes?” she answered in a frazzled voice.
“Hey,” Ryan greeted her. “This is the security company. Are you having a problem with your closed-circuit TV?”
“How did you know? Our bank of monitors just became wavy and full of static. We can’t see much of anything.”
“The system monitors itself for trouble, and a message popped up in our office. You’re a medical facility, so you’re a priority customer. Would you like me to drive over now and take care of it?”
“Oh, God, yes.” The nurse sounded as if she were being thrown a lifeline. “Thank you so much.”
“Not a problem. Who should I ask for?”
“Jeri Koehler. That’s me. I’m the head nurse here.”
“Okay, Jeri, you hang tight,” Ryan said in a reassuring tone. “I’ll be there within the hour.”
He hung up, placed his tools in his toolbox and left the building, strolling across the grounds and walking out the main gate.
Reaching his van, he climbed into the back and settled down. He opened the brown bag that was waiting for him, and helped himself to the protein bar and coffee he’d bought himself for breakfast. While he was eating, he checked in with the office, let them know that phase one was complete.
A half hour later, he changed into a work shirt-making sure to leave the top few buttons undone-got out of the back of the van, opened the driver’s door and sat down behind the wheel.
He drove through the front gates and parked in the main parking lot. Checking in at the front desk was a snap.
To say that Head Nurse Koehler was happy to see him would be a gross understatement. She visibly released a breath of sheer relief when he walked over. A few of the other nurses poked Jeri, asking who the hot guy was, in low undertones that Ryan wasn’t supposed to hear. She answered in a no-nonsense voice that said he was here to fix their video system, and to save their flirtations for later. Then, she showed Ryan the problem and headed off to tend to a pressing medical situation.
Ryan unpacked a few things and dismantled the monitors, listening as the other nurses muttered under their breath about Nurse Koehler. He chuckled a few times, commiserating with them about uptight supervisors and turning on the charm that came so naturally to him and that he was careful to use to his advantage in situations such as this one.
He spent just enough time searching for the problem, before announcing that he needed to go down to the basement to locate the source of the weak signal. With a wink, he promised to be back ASAP.
Once downstairs, Ryan began to repair the cable he’d sabotaged an hour ago-but with modifications. He inserted a splitter, routing the second video line to his personally designed “black box”-a computer capable of streaming the closed-circuit video signal over the internet and directly to the Forensic Instincts office.
Task completed.
Ryan used his Android phone to remotely access the brownstone’s video server, checking to see if his handiwork had been successful.
A nod of self-congratulations. His black box was sending the video perfectly.
Job done. He was a genius.
Ryan packed up and headed upstairs and back to the nurses’ station.
“Hi, ladies,” he greeted the nurses, who were still hanging around, waiting for his return. “I made a repair, but unfortunately, it’s only temporary. I’ll need to order a part and come back in a few days to install it. In the meantime, the good news is, you’re back in business.”
“Thank you so much,” one of them said gratefully. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“Glad to be of service.” Ryan gave her a broad smile, again cranking up the charm. “Now I’ll just need a few minutes to reassemble your monitors and clean up the mess I left you.”
“Take your time.”
Ryan did, taking as much time as he could, and chatting with the nurses as he worked.
“I noticed your gardens when I drove in,” he commented. “They’re pretty impressive. My mother would be jealous.”
“Yes, our patients love to sit out there and enjoy them,” a young, pretty, blonde nurse’s aide supplied.
“I figured as much.” Ryan carefully fitted one of the monitors in place. “Do they get to go out there a lot?”
“As much as they want. They’re finishing breakfast now. Those who want to go outdoors will be on their way soon.”
Not soon enough for me, Ryan thought silently.
He straightened up and turned, dragging his arm across his forehead and giving the women a rueful look. “I know how hard you ladies work. And I promise I’m not being sexist. But would one of you mind getting me some water? I left my bottle in the van, and that basement was really dusty. My throat is so dry I can barely swallow.”
“No problem.” The nurse’s aide scampered off, buying Ryan a little extra time.
He used it wisely, chatting up the nurses, telling them about his marathons and extreme sports adventures, and watching their eyes widen with awe. BASE jumping came in handy. You either impressed the hell out of someone, or convinced them that you were crazy.
Either way, it passed the time until the nurse’s aide returned with a large cup of ice water.
“Here you go,” she said, handing it to him.
“Thanks so much.” He began to drink, glancing at the monitor as he did.
The patients were being helped or wheeled outside, some to the patio and others to the gardens. Sweet.
Ryan made sure to drink his water slowly, taking a break here and there. Finally, he turned back to his work.
