CHAPTER 8: St. Jude’s Secret
The facility sat atop a secluded hill surrounded by towering pine trees and high chain-link fences. To the outside world, St. Jude’s presented itself as an exclusive, high-end wellness retreat for wealthy families dealing with dementia and nervous breakdowns. In reality, it was a gilded cage designed to make inconvenient people disappear behind medical confidentiality laws.
Gabriel parked the SUV near the main entrance. He instructed Clara to keep the doors locked and stay with Lily until he signaled that it was safe.
"Be careful, Mr. Sterling," Clara cautioned, her eyes full of genuine concern. "People with that kind of money don't leave their secrets unguarded."
Gabriel stepped into the sterile lobby. The smell of bleach and antiseptic hit him immediately. Behind the bulletproof glass reception desk sat a middle-aged security guard who barely looked up from his monitor.
"Visiting hours start at two," the guard said monotonously.
Gabriel slammed his Sterling corporate identification card against the glass, along with the red notebook. "I’m Gabriel Sterling. Open this security door right now, or the federal agents thirty minutes behind me will dismantle this facility brick by brick."
The guard glanced at the name on the card, recognized the Sterling family crest, and immediately stood up, his face paling. He pressed the intercom to alert the facility director, Dr. Vance.
"Mr. Sterling... we weren't expecting you," Dr. Vance said as he rushed down the corridor, adjusting his round spectacles. "Your father gave strict instructions that—"
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Gabriel seized Vance by the collar of his white lab coat, pinning him against the wall. "Room 304. East wing. Move your feet or I will move them for you."
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