I smiled and let her continue.

“She left maybe ten minutes ago,” Emily said, glancing toward the private elevator. “Blonde, tall, cream coat. She said Dr. Pierce asked her to pick up some documents from his office.”

I set the lunch bag on the counter. “Did she sign in?”

“Of course.” Emily turned the visitor log slightly, then hesitated. “I probably shouldn’t—”

“It’s fine,” I said gently. “Nathan’s always telling me the hospital has tightened security.”

The compliment relaxed her. “She signed as Mrs. Pierce,” Emily said. “First name… Vanessa.”

Vanessa. Not a patient, not a colleague, not a name Nathan had ever mentioned.

I lowered my gaze and pretended to search my handbag. In reality I watched Emily’s reflection in the glass behind her. She had started replaying the conversation, and now she looked nervous.

“Did she have clearance?” I asked.

“She had his badge,” Emily whispered. “Not on a lanyard. Just in her hand.”

My smile held. Nathan had told me three days earlier that his badge was lost.

Chapter 2 — Don’t Move

I thanked Emily, took the elevator to the surgical administration floor, and went straight to Nathan’s office. His assistant, Marjorie, was out at lunch.