BURIED BEFORE BREATHING

The flashing blue and red emergency lights illuminated the crumbling facade of St. Jude’s as the medical team loaded Elena into the ambulance.

Detective Sarah Miller of the Major Crimes Division approached Adam, holding a sealed evidence bag containing the thumb drive and Victoria's confiscated tablet.

"Mr. Vance," Detective Miller said, her face grim with disgust at what she had already seen on the preliminary logs. "We found the orderly in the elevator shaft. He’s singing like a canary. He’s already admitted to administering non-therapeutic sedatives under private contract for thirty-six consecutive months."

Adam looked over toward the police cruisers. Victoria was being read her Miranda rights, her hands cuffed securely behind her back as an officer pushed her head down into the backseat of a cruiser.

Her cold, calculating eyes locked onto Adam through the rain-streaked glass, but there was no victory left in them—only the sudden, terrifying realization of total ruin.

"She will never see the outside of a maximum-security facility again," Miller assured him. "Attempted murder, kidnapping, corporate fraud, unlawful imprisonment... the charges will hold without bail."

"Thank you, Detective," Adam said quietly.

"Don't thank me, Mr. Vance," Miller replied, glancing softly at Lily, who was wrapped in a large paramedic blanket beside her father. "Thank your daughter. Without that video, none of us would have ever known."