Chapter 5 - The Shift in the Wind
Back at the hospital, Eleanor was finalizing her plans with Richard Vance when she noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere outside the frosted glass windows of the VIP lounge.
The quiet, deferential murmurs of the nursing staff had suddenly ceased. Through the glass, Eleanor saw several men in dark, tailored suits standing at the entrances to the corridor. They weren't hospital security. They carried themselves with the rigid, lethal posture of federal or state investigators.
"Richard, who are those men?" Eleanor frowned, standing up and approaching the door.
Before the attorney could answer, the door to the waiting room was pushed open. Dr. Harrison stepped inside, his face completely drained of color. He was sweating profusely, his hands shaking as he clutched a medical chart.
"Eleanor... we have a problem," Harrison stammered, glancing nervously over his shoulder.
"Don't be ridiculous, Harrison. Control yourself," Eleanor scolded. "What is the status of the C-section? Has the child been delivered?"
"The... the surgery is underway, but Clara’s internal injuries are severe. There is massive placental abruption," Harrison whispered. "But that's not the problem. Ten minutes ago, the hospital administration overrode my authority. A team of state medical investigators arrived with a warrant signed by a federal judge. They’ve seized all of Clara's intake records, the blood samples, and they’ve barred me from the operating room. They are treating this as a criminal assault investigation."
Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly forced her mask of arrogance back on. "A criminal investigation? On whose authority? I own the board of this hospital! I will have that judge removed by morning!"
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"They aren't listening to the board, Eleanor," Harrison cried out in a panicked squeak. "They said they answer directly to the highest office in the state. Someone with massive federal leverage called them in. They know the narrative about the fainting spell is a lie. They already have forensic photographs of Clara's arm showing distinct finger-shaped bruising from an assault."
Eleanor staggered back a step, her confidence taking its first major fracture. Who could have done this? Clara’s family was powerless. Who had the authority to override the Sterling name in less than two hours?
