Chapter 3: The Deep Web of Corruption
The interrogation room was a stark contrast to the hospital lobby. It was quiet, cold, and inescapable. Brenda sat at the metal table, her starched uniform now rumpled, her composure shattered.
Thorne walked in, tossing a manila folder onto the table. It contained photos—not of Brenda, but of the hospital administrator, Dr. Aris.
"The hospital isn't just a building, Brenda," Thorne said, pulling out a chair. "It’s a laundering operation. You sell patients who have no families. You 'dispose' of the ones who are too loud. And you use the intake records to hide the numbers."
Brenda remained silent, but her jaw tightened.
"We found the ledger," Thorne continued, his voice calm. "We have the names of the men waiting outside. They’re talking. They’re all blaming you for the error in judgment tonight. They’re saying you were the one who authorized the 'escort' back into their custody."
Brenda’s resolve cracked. "Aris told me... he said if I did my job, I’d be taken care of. He said the girl didn't matter."
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"People always matter, Brenda," Thorne said, leaning in. "But right now, you’re the only thing that matters to me. Give me the access codes to the administrative server, or you take the fall for everything Aris did."
She didn't hesitate. Survival was a powerful motivator, and Brenda was, at her core, a coward. She reached for the notepad.
