Chapter 5 - The Emergency Room Lockdown
The hospital corridors were bright,
smelling strongly of antiseptic,
and filled with rushing doctors,
who took Leo away immediately,
into the trauma bay,
to stabilize his fragile body,
Daniel and Mariana stood outside,
watching through the small glass window,
as nurses attached tubes,
and monitors to their son,
the machine began to beep,
a steady rhythmic sound,
that proved his heart was beating,
though it was weak,
Ines sat on a plastic chair,
holding her father's jacket,
staring at the floor quietly,
as if she could still hear things,
that no one else could,
two police officers stood guard,
at the entrance of the wing,
ensuring no unauthorized people,
could get close to the family,
Detective Rossi walked up,
his face grim and tired,
holding a small notepad,
Mr. Rivas,
he said to Daniel,
we have your sister in custody,
she is singing like a bird,
but she is terrified,
she keeps saying that someone,
will come to finish the job,
Daniel turned away from the window,
his eyes dark with exhaustion,
what did she tell you,
Detective,
is my son safe here,
Rossi sighed heavily,
rubbing his temples,
she claims a man named Carlos,
the head of a local cartel,
orchestrated the entire thing,
he wanted the audit files,
on the Queretaro land deal,
the ones you are reviewing next week,
they kept the boy alive,
as leverage,
just in case you found out,
or refused to cooperate,
Daniel felt a sickening wave,
of guilt wash over him,
his son had suffered for months,
because of his job,
because of his honesty,
Mariana came over,
taking his hand tightly,
it is not your fault,
she whispered,
sensing his dark thoughts,
we found him,
that is all that matters,
but their relief was short-lived,
as the lights in the hallway,
suddenly flickered and died,
plunging the entire hospital floor,
into absolute darkness,
the heart monitors beeped frantically,
switching to backup battery power,
and from the end of the hall,
the sound of a heavy door opening,
May you like
echoed through the blackness,
followed by a silenced gunshot.
