Chapter 104: He Is All I Have

“Okay,” Melody nodded. They had completely blocked off every exit Madeline could have used to leave. Seeing no way out, Madeline turned to Waylon. “I… I don’t know anything.”

Waylon chuckled, his ridiculously handsome face taking on a slightly sharp edge. “Miss, I haven’t even asked you anything yet. Why are you already saying you don’t know? Or do you already know what I’m going to ask?” When it came to interrogation, no one in the entire bureau could match Waylon.

Madeline panicked further and turned to Chase. “Dr. Goodman, there’s a storage room downstairs we haven’t checked. We’re supposed to finish inventory today. If we don’t, we can’t leave. I’ve got a three-year-old at home. I can’t work overtime.”

Chase folded his hands on the table. “I’ll have someone else handle your work. You won’t need to stay late. As long as you cooperate, you’ll be out of here soon.” Of course, “out of here” might also mean out of the hospital altogether.

Looking at Madeline’s expression, Waylon knew he’d found the right person. So, it was time to begin.

“Have you seen this person before?” Waylon pulled out a photo of Aimee and showed it to Madeline. Just as expected, her pupils dilated slightly after seeing it, but she still looked away and said she didn’t recognize her.

“Really? You’re sure you’ve never seen her?”

“I’m not a nurse. I don’t go into patient rooms. The pharmacy is mostly staff-only. How would I know her?”

Waylon shot back immediately. “I just asked if you’ve seen her. I never said she was a patient. See? You do know something. Miss, do you know you’re breaking the law?”

“I… I’m not! I really don’t know her.”

Waylon said, “According to the hospital’s security footage, Aimee was staying in Room 316, right across from the nurse’s station. When you’re on night shift, you like to sit at the station and watch TV with the others. On video, you walk past 316 over five times a night. And I thought you were supposed to be in the pharmacy?”

Plus, Room 316 had a constant flow of people. The door was open most of the time. Of the five times Madeline walked past, two or three times the door was open—and she glanced inside. There was no way she hadn’t seen Aimee’s face.

Madeline said, “I stayed with the night shift crew, but I wasn’t taking care of that patient.”

Waylon kept going. “From what I’ve heard, you paid a little too much attention to the patient in 316. You might be the only one who knows the truth. Keeping quiet makes you an accomplice. Miss, you’ve got a three-year-old to care for. Do you really want to get taken in for questioning?”

A child was always a mother’s weakness. Madeline had been tense, but the moment they mentioned her son, her tough front started to crack. Even so, she still didn’t speak.

“I’ve seen her, sure—but only in passing. I noticed her because Room 316 always needed meds changed. I just got a little familiar.” Madeline’s response was watertight.

But finally, Chase couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Madeline, I have to say this. I’ve been watching you for a while. Last time when Avery was admitted, the overdose Winnie gave her—wasn’t it the drugs you supplied?”

“It wasn’t me!” Madeline suddenly shouted, her emotions all over the place. “I don’t know! I barely ever see Winnie. Without a doctor’s order, how could I even take anything from the pharmacy?”

That actually reminded Chase of something. Without a doctor’s note, it was easy to trace pharmacy staff. And last time, the meds Winnie used had come from Madeline. The follow-up investigation showed everything was officially signed off. The meds were originally supposed to go to a patient downstairs. Somehow, they ended up in Winnie’s locker. Chase knew there had to be deeper problems at Cloud Hospital—corruption running through nurses, doctors, pharmacists, everyone.

“But the drugs passed through your hands. The cameras prove it. You were the only one near the meds. Madeline, I asked you to this office so we could talk things through. If you won’t be honest, I’ll have to hand you over to Mr. Fred. Your husband works out of town, right? If you’re not home, who’s going to take care of your kid?”

Chase had clearly learned Waylon’s pressure tactics well—threats and promises, all in one.

Waylon said, “If you talk now, and no one’s been hurt, I can count it as turning yourself in. But if you keep lying, I’ve got enough on tape to charge you. You’re coming with me today, either way.”

“No, no…” Madeline completely broke down, trembling and panicked.

Seeing her collapse, Chase sighed, got up, and poured her a cup of hot water. He was about to step away when Madeline suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

“Dr. Goodman, I didn’t want to—but I had no choice. They threatened my kid. Every time before they made me take the meds, they sent me a picture of my son at school. I… He’s all I have.”

She started crying. Chase and Waylon exchanged a glance. Looks like they got her.