“This is about the right spot.” Ben looked from the sheet of paper in front of him to the timestamp on the screen in the center. He pointed at the screen. “Here’s your social worker leaving. I’ll speed it up, and now you see a man slip in. He’s in scrubs, so he doesn’t stand out, but I think he’s holding something at his side. See how his arm is unnaturally stiff there.”
Todd leaned forward and nodded. “Yeah.”
“I can’t see what’s happening in the room. It’s odd because the camera’s out and it shouldn’t be. But then the social worker goes in again before he leaves. She pauses and then gets agitated. See how she says something to someone out in the hall. The next thing she goes in and then a minute later he’s out.”
“Where does he go from there?”
“I’m not sure. I lost him on the next floor.”
Todd studied him. “Take me through it.”
Ben spent the next five minutes flipping from video to video, then ran through it again until Todd had to agree with him. The man disappeared.
“Take a photo of the clearest shot of his face you have. Then we’ll turn that into something we can circulate. See if we can get an ID.” He handed Ben his card. “Email it to me when you have it.”
“Where are you going?”
“Upstairs. I have a social worker to update.” He leaned over and took a snapshot with his phone, then strode out as Ben watched from his chair.
He sent the image to Caleb.
See if you can identify this man.
Maybe they were starting to get a break.
He felt a ray of hope as he quickened his pace. That had to be what made him excited to see Bridget. He’d keep deluding himself.
CHAPTER 10
If they didn’t bring Eliza back down soon, Bridget would wear a hole in the carpet of the ICU lobby. She couldn’t stay in the small room a minute longer, but she also didn’t feel she could leave the floor. Not after what had happened the prior night in the few minutes she was gone.
She placed a quick call to Jason’s apartment complex and figured out the minimum amount he needed to stay in his place. A quick Venmo took care of that.
Sent the money. You still owe half but it bought you time.
Only half?
Be grateful.
Right. Thanks.
Bridget sighed as she stretched her back to release the tension from sleeping in the uncomfortable recliner, but nothing worked. All the things she should do piled up in a jumble in her mind. There was no way she could tackle the list, let alone geton top of it. She’d be hopelessly behind when she got back to her office, but she didn’t really care because she knew the young girl experiencing the jarring MRI needed someone to advocate for her. Bridget just wished she felt better equipped for the role.
“You okay?” The deep voice immediately steadied her, and a part of her hated that even as she wanted to sink into the comfort Todd offered.
Instead, Bridget stilled and mentally told herself to toughen up. She couldn’t rely on anyone else, especially not someone she’d only reconnected with the day before. “Waiting for them to bring Eliza back from the MRI. You sure this is Eliza?”
“As sure as I can be right now.”
She turned to look at him and stilled. He looked as haggard as she must. She’d been avoiding mirrors all day because maybe if she didn't see the evidence, she could pretend she had more energy than she did. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes, and he looked like he’d slept even less than she had.
“I look that good, huh?”
“How do I put this?”
He cocked a grin. “It’s okay. I’m used to it. Some cases demand a lot. This is one of them. Have a seat?” He pointed to one of the striped couches in a corner of the waiting room away from the family that huddled in another area. Hopelessness oozed off them, and she’d tried to give them a wide berth because she didn’t need more. She already carried enough concern for Eliza.
“Sure. What’s up?” She moved to the couch and perched on its edge, while he collapsed onto it with a groan.
