Page 95 of Mission: Possible

"If it really was Zach... why would he do such a terrible thing to his own sister?" asked Manny.

I tugged the door open and we stepped into the corridor. "That's what I'm trying to find out," I said. "Let's get you some help first and then I can try to figure it out."

After taking few steps into the corridor, I called for help. Two nurses rushed towards us, fussing over Manny and ordering him a wheelchair. As I followed them to the ER, I shot a text to Austen, telling him I found Manny and he was okay. I figured Austen needed one less thing to worry about. As soon as Manny was lying down on an ER bed, he waved me away, insisting I was of no further use to anyone by staying with him.

Reluctantly, I left and headed back to the ICU. Alice waited outside Sophie's room and I could see the back of Austen's head inside as he nodded at something the doctor said. "What's happening?" I asked my sister-in-law.

"They've been in there for a few minutes. I think everything's okay but I'm not really sure." She glanced at the police officers. "They called in a detective. I hope it's one of our guys," she added.

"I hope so to. This could be attempted murder."

"Where's Mr. Ortega?"

"I found him at the bottom of the stairwell. He thinks some of his ribs are broken but he didn't get a good look at the guy who was fleeing. He thinks it might have been Zach but he couldn't be sure," I explained.

"Hospital security will pick him up on one of the cameras, I bet," said Alice, glancing around as if Zach would pop out at any moment. "I just don't understand. If it were Zach... well, he was always so concerned about Sophie. Why would he do that to his sister?"

"I think I might know," I said with a sigh.

"You discovered something?"

"Several things. Not quite enough to complete the puzzle but enough to know that Austen's suspicions weren't unfounded."

"That poor man! He's been through hell this week. How could it get any worse?"

"I think I'm about to make it worse." I dropped into a chair and rested the back of my head against the wall as I looked up at the plain ceiling. "I feel so bad for Austen."

"Whatever it is, you have to tell him. That's what he asked you to do."

"Yes. Still sucks though."

"I don't think you ever get used to telling someone bad news about their loved ones. Sometimes we have to steel ourselves, really lock down our faces, and tell our patient's family the awful truth. Then we go out and cry in the break room."

I reached for Alice's hand and squeezed it. For a moment, we sat in silence. "Why didn't we get jobs as teachers?" I asked.

"Kids," said Alice, then she thought and added, "parents."

"Coffee shop baristas?"

"Customers."

I glanced at her. "Lawyers?"

She fixed me with a skeptical look. "Assholes," she said. "Although maybe that’s the clients."

I laughed. "Guess we'll have to suck it up and do our jobs."

"Guess so."

"Bet you're sorry you got dragged into this," I said.

Alice smiled. "Not one bit."

"What happened here?" asked Garrett, walking towards us. Alice and I stood but instead of coming straight over, he turned to the two officers and spoke to them. When he finished, he raised his eyebrows at us. "I thought you were looking into that bank robbery," he said, coming to a stop in front of us.

"I was, but I got this one and Solomon has everyone else working on the bank case. And I think I worked out what was stolen," I said with a small smile of smug satisfaction.

"Can't wait to hear the theory right after I take Mr. Takahashi's statement."