Recalling Matthew’s altercation with Mike, Rachel worried. “Matthew, please don’t resort to violence unless absolutely necessary,” she reminded him. “It won’t solve anything.”

Matthew nodded. “Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “I’m the last person who wants to fight.”

Tracy scoffed. “Who would believe that from someone who even hit a doctor?”

Ignoring her, Matthew drove them to the Crystal Club, Lambda City’s most luxurious establishment, where anything could be bought. Evan was smoking alone in a private room.

A burly man staggered in. Evan panicked, rising and holding his wine glass. “Patrick, why are you here? Let me toast you,” he stammered.

Bleary-eyed, Patrick Thomson glanced at Evan. “Who the hell are you? Wrong room. Get lost!”

Terrified, Evan bowed. “I’m so sorry. Wrong room. I’ll leave immediately.”

Patrick, a Brotherhood leader, had been offended by Evan years ago, during Evan’s internship. Evan, following Nicholas, had offended Patrick during a factory interview, causing Nicholas to break his leg, lose his job, and flee. To avoid provoking Patrick, Evan quickly left.

He rushed to the front desk to change rooms. Meanwhile, Matthew led Rachel and Tracy to Room 9.

He pushed open the door. A man lay on the couch. “What should we do? He seems asleep,” Matthew asked Rachel.

It was Rachel’s first time in this situation. The news needed to be retracted today; otherwise, it would be published tomorrow. They were short on time. She didn’t hesitate. “Wake him up.”

Matthew patted Patrick’s shoulder. “Hey, Evan, wake up.”

Patrick, roused from a deep sleep, shouted, “Can’t you see I’m sleeping? Get lost!”

His shout startled Rachel. He sounded more like a thug than a reporter. Tracy took two steps back. “Is he drunk?” she worried.

Matthew patted his shoulder again. “Get up. We need to talk.”

Twice disturbed, Patrick stood, grabbing Matthew’s collar. “Are you blind? Why are you disturbing me when I’m sleep…”

Mid-sentence, he saw Matthew’s face. Dumbfounded, his jaw dropped, his eyes widening in shock. He looked like he’d seen a ghost.

“M–Matthew?”

Matthew recognized him. In prison, Patrick had fallen ill, and the prison doctor was stumped. Matthew had treated him—Patrick was his first patient, and his first human punching bag. Matthew had only moved on to a stronger inmate once Patrick could no longer withstand his punches.

“Patrick?”

Patrick’s face paled. “Mr. Grant, please call me Paddy. If you’re looking for me personally, it must be important. Just let me know, and I’ll do it.”

Matthew waved. “Just go back to sleep. Wrong person.”

Patrick seemed disappointed. “Mr. Grant, you didn’t come for me?”

Matthew signaled Rachel and Tracy to leave. “Let’s go. We’ll ask at the front desk.”

Patrick called out, “Mr. Grant, if you need anything, don’t hesitate. I won’t let you down.”

Matthew turned and waved. “You should drink less alcohol.”

Leaving the room, Tracy looked at Matthew with disdain. “What kind of lowlifes do you hang out with? They don’t look good.”

Matthew replied calmly, “I met him in prison. Who goes to prison if they’re good people?”

Seeing Tracy about to retort, Rachel quickly changed the subject. “Let’s find Evan first. You guys should stop talking.”

They found Evan in another private room. Matthew entered first. “Are you Evan Whitaker?”

Evan replied arrogantly, “I’ll only talk to Rachel Carter.”

Matthew nodded and sat down.