Chapter 1

I was at the hospital for a routine inspection tour. Since Chris, my brother, happened to be doing his residency there, I picked up an extra lunch tray for him while I was in the cafeteria.

Then I caught the whispers from a nearby table. "Isn't that Dr. Nolan from the dental department? Since when does the new girl get to sit with him like that?"

I hadn't even had time to process it before a nurse charged over and slapped me across the face.

"Which department are you from? You little homewrecker. How dare you seduce my boyfriend?"

Chris shot to his feet, grabbing her arm. "Jessica! It's not what you think!"

But Jessica Lynn shook him off and grabbed my wrist. "Come on. Let's go see Dr. Richard Lynn!"

"You've got the wrong idea," I said. "We're not like that."

She scoffed. "Lying at your age, huh? Let's go."

I had a baby face, and that was all this was.

Jessica dragged me straight into the director of hospital's office, still ranting. "Dad! This new girl is out there stealing other girls' men. You can't keep someone like that around. Fire her!"

Richard, the director, turned to me. His voice was sharp. "Which one? Give me your supervisor's number. You're terminated."

"I'll give you the number," I smirked. "Hope you're ready when they pick up."

*****

It was 8:30 Monday morning when I pulled into the parking lot of Riverdale General Hospital.

I was there to investigate. The Health Department had received a stack of complaint letters about this place, including allegations of overbilling, ghost employees, and substandard equipment. They sent me to lead the inspection.

I was the deputy director of the Health Department. On a normal day, I'd walk in with my badge and make it official. But this was an unannounced visit. Low profile was the point.

I'd dressed for it. I had on a white T-shirt and jeans, with my hair in a ponytail. With my face, I could pass for a college student without trying.

I locked the car and headed in. The first thing I noticed was a row of cardboard boxes stacked right up against the emergency exit. I took a picture with my phone.

Deeper in, a fire extinguisher sat at the bend of a corridor. The pressure gauge needle was in the red. I took another photo.

Lines stretched across the outpatient hall, but only two registration windows were open. Three others were closed and dark.

At the information desk, a nurse was glued to her phone. An old man holding a slip of paper asked for directions, but she never even looked up.

"Third floor, turn left," the nurse said.

The old man was hard of hearing. He asked again.

"I said third floor. Left." She didn't bother hiding her impatience.

He shuffled off without a word.

I got it all on my phone. There was plenty to work with. But today wasn't about making moves, but building the case. I'd write the report when I got back.

I took the stairs to the second floor. When I passed the dental department, I glanced in.

Chris was doing his rotation there. He'd just graduated from Public Medical University this year and been assigned here for his residency.

He'd called me, complaining about the cafeteria, and asked me to bring him real food sometime. Today worked out.

But I didn't stop in. I did the rest of the building first. The inpatient wing was worse. The hallway smelled like mold that disinfectant couldn't touch. The notice taped to the pharmacy window had faded to near-illegible.

I got it all on my phone, too.

Around 11:30, I texted Chris. [Where's the cafeteria? I'm grabbing you lunch.]

He replied in seconds. [East end of the first floor. What are you doing here?]

[Work thing. Keep it quiet.]

[Got it.]

The cafeteria had just opened when I got there. It was still quiet. I grabbed two plates: roasted steak for me, fried chicken for Chris. He loves meat.

I found a corner table and sat down. A few minutes later, Chris jogged over in his white coat.

"Hey!" He sat down and shoveled food into his mouth.

"Slow down. Nobody's taking it from you."

"Forty minutes," he said, mouth full. "That's all we get."

"Forty minutes for lunch? For residents?"

"Yeah, Dr. Lynn set that rule. Residents and interns, no exceptions."

"Which Dr. Lynn?"

"The one in charge. Richard Lynn."

I filed that name away for later as I asked. "Are you getting used to things here?"

His fork stopped halfway to his mouth. "It's fine."

"How's it fine? Talk to me."

"Well, some of the senior staff are difficult. They dump everything on the residents, and when something goes wrong, we're the ones who take the heat," he admitted.

"Anything specific?"

"Last week, a patient complained about a treatment plan. The attending made the call. I wrote the apology letter."

I put down my fork. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would you have done? It's like this everywhere."

I was about to say something when the nurses at the next table spoke in hushed tones.

"Hey, isn't that the new guy in dental? Dr. Nolan?"

"Yeah. Who's the girl with him? Never seen her before."

"No idea. She looks young. You think she's his girlfriend?"

"Don't go there. Isn't he with Jessica Lynn?"

"Right, if Jessica finds out, he's done."

I let it go and kept eating. Chris had heard it too. Something shifted in his face.

"Eat faster," he said. "Leave when you're done."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, it's just... my girlfriend can be a bit of a handful."

"Your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, Dr. Lynn's daughter, Jessica Lynn. She's a nurse here."

"Why didn't you tell the family you were dating someone?"

"It's not like we're official or anything," he said.

"The director's daughter." I raised an eyebrow. "Dude, you're climbing the ladder, aren't you?"

"She came after me. Don't make it weird."

"Sure." I let it go and didn't press further.

But I filed it away. Jessica was working as a nurse in her father's hospital. Whether that counted as nepotism, and whether she'd gone through proper hiring, that was worth looking into.