“And you opened it anyway?” Dean asks.
“If there was an alarm on that door, it should have been properly marked, now shouldn’t it have been? I was doing my duty to ensure the hospital is properly secured,” he offers.
“And proved it sure as shit isn’t,” Dean says.
Thirty-Four
“We need to speak with every security guard on duty here and the police and make sure they know about that door,” I say.
The door to Ashley’s room opens just as I’m saying this and Misty steps out. I wonder if she heard me, and the quizzical expression on her face tells me she did.
“What door?” she asks. “What are you talking about?”
“You remember Xavier,” I say, gesturing toward him. “He identified a breach in the perimeter security of the area.”
Her eyes grow wide. “What does that mean? Is Ashley safe?”
“Everything’s fine,” I tell her. “We found it and are going to make sure everyone who is responsible for keeping guard over Ashley and securing the hospital knows about it. It will be under continuous surveillance just like every other entrance and exit. I can promise you no one is going to be able to get to her.”
“How much longer is she going to have to stay?” Misty asks.
“I don’t know,” I say. “That’s up to her doctor. Do you want me to go talk to him?”
“Yes,” she nods. “I don’t want to leave her.”
“I’ll be right back,” I say.
I go out to the nurse’s station and have the head nurse page the doctor to come speak with me.
I hold my hand out to the silver-haired doctor as he approaches. “Agent Emma Griffin. We spoke briefly when Ashley Stevenson was brought in.”
He nods. “Of course, Agent Griffin. What can I do for you?”
“Misty Stevenson asked me to find out how much longer Ashley might need to be here,” I say.
“I really can’t make that determination right at this moment,” he tells me. “We’re still waiting for results from her tests; what those results tell us will be critical in determining how much longer she needs to stay here or if there’s any further treatment necessary. She seems in fairly good condition, considering everything. Of course, we don’t know exactly what she went through the last five years, but we can make pretty good assumptions.”
“I can,” I say, not wanting to dwell on it. “I’m guessing you’re going to do a full physical exam on her?”
“Yes,” he says. “As soon as I think she’s ready, we will do a thorough exam and as much testing as we can. I don’t want to wait too long because the evidence is degrading even as we speak. But I felt she needed some time just to be back here. To know people are thinking about her and taking care of her.”
“Absolutely,” I say. “Is it safe to assume she’ll be here for at least another day or so?”
“I would say that is a conservative estimate,” the doctor says.
“I will let them know. Thank you.”
I go back to Ashley’s room and find that Vivian and Allison have left. Misty is leaned close to Ashley and is talking to her in a whispered tone. She straightens up as I come back in the room.
“What did he say?” she asks when she notices me.
“He isn’t able to give you an exact length of time yet. There are further tests and examinations he needs to do, then he needs to wait for the results to determine when Ashley will be healthy enough to leave. He does say she looks as though she’s in good condition, so that’s definitely a positive. But she will definitely need to be here for at least another day or two,” I say.
Misty nods, looking saddened by the news, but also forcing a small smile as she pats Ashley’s leg.
“We can do another couple of days,” she says. “And I will be here every moment they let me.” She turns to look at me. “What about when I can’t be?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“If the hospital makes me leave, what’s going to happen to Ashley? Now that we know there’s a way for someone to access this floor without authorization, how do we know she’s safe? What if the person who did this to her comes after her again?” she asks.
“You have my word, she will be safe. I’ll be back to see you soon. And while I’m not here, the officers will be. I’m going to talk to the detectives and make sure that they know the security guards aren’t enough. I’ll have them place officers around and they will be there for as long as they need to be. No one who isn’t on an approved list for one of the people on this floor will be able to get up here,” I say. “You decide who you want to be able to come see Ashley, and then give the list to the officers downstairs.”
“Do you have to go?” Ashley asks.
“I do,” I tell her. “But I’ll be back. And if there’s anything that you need before I come back, your mother has my phone number; she can get to me any time. Okay?”
She nods and I say goodbye before heading for the door. Before I step out into the hallway, I hear Misty.
“Honey, I’m going to be right back. I’m just going to walk Agent Griffin out.” She follows after me, pulling the door most of the way closed behind her. “Agent Griffin?”
“Call me Emma,” I say, walking back toward her. “What do you need?”
“Do you really think she’s safe here?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say without hesitation, because I have to. “She will have people watching over her all the time. And she won’t be here for long. They just need to get through the tests and make sure there’s
