In Death 08 - Conspiracy in Death

top-level centers worldwide." She slapped a hand on the dash to keep her balance when he swung into the garage. "Cagney -- he's her uncle, but he's chief of staff, chairman, and one of the most respected surgeons in the country. Hans Vanderhaven, international connections. God knows where he is right now. If not them, there are others who can walk right in and get to her without anyone blinking twice. There must be a dozen ways to off a patient, then cover the tracks."
    She sprang out of the car, raced for the elevator. "They don't know she's talked to me. She's smart enough to keep that to herself, maybe to play dumb if anybody tries to pump her. But they might have gotten something out of Jan before they killed her. They've got to know by now she has data on the calls, asked questions, made accusations."
    She watched the numbers light above the door, willed them to hurry.
    "They'd wait until the floor was quiet, until the change of shifts, most likely."
    "We won't be too late," she promised herself, and sprang out of the elevator the moment the doors opened.
    "Miss!" A nurse came scrambling around the desk as Eve rushed by. "Miss, you're required to check in at the desk. You're not authorized." Racing after them, she dragged out her beeper and called security.
    "Where's the uniform assigned to this door?" Eve demanded, shoving and finding the door itself secured.
    "I don't know." Grim-faced, the nurse moved over to block them from the door. "This is a family or authorized personnel only area."
    "Unlock this door."
    "I will not. I've called security. The patient in this room is not to be disturbed as per doctor's orders. I'll have to ask you to leave."
    "Go ahead and ask." Rearing back, Eve broke the door open with two vicious kicks. Her clutch piece seemed to leap into her hand as she ran through. "Oh God, goddamn."
    The bed was empty.
    The nurse sputtered when Eve whirled on her, grabbed her by the collar of her pale peach uniform smock. "Where's Louise?"
    "I -- I don't know. She's supposed to be here. She was logged out as not to disturb when I came on shift twenty minutes ago."
    "Eve. Here's your uniform."
    Roarke was crouched on the other side of the bed, testing the unconscious cop's pulse. "He's alive, sedated heavily I'd say."
    "Which doctor logged her as not to be disturbed?"
    "Her attending. Dr. Waverly."
    "Do something for that uniform," she ordered the nurse. "Cops will be here in ten minutes. I want you to order this building sealed, all exits."
    "I don't have the authority."
    "Do it!" Eve repeated. She spun on her heel. "Organ wing, best guess. We'll have to separate when we get there. We can't cover the whole wing in time unless we do."
    "We'll find her." They hit the elevator together. He pried open the plate, flipped some controls. "We're now straight express. Brace yourself."
    She didn't even have the breath to curse. The speed pressed her into the corner, made her eyes tear and her heart thunder. She had a moment to pray he'd remembered to engage the brakes when they jerked to a stop that had her stumbling hard into him.
    "Some ride. Here, take my piece."
    "Thanks, Lieutenant, but I have my own." His face was cold and set as he drew out a sleek nine-millimeter. A weapon, like all handguns, that had been banned decades earlier.
    "Shit," was all she had time to say.
    "I'll go east, you take the west side."
    "Don't fire that weapon unless -- " she began, but he was out and gone.
    She got her bearings and moved down the corridor, sweeping with her weapon as she came to a turn or a door. She fought the urge to rush. Each new area had to be carefully searched before she moved to the next.
    She gazed up to the cameras scanning. It would be a miracle, she knew, if she came across her objective without being expected. And she knew she was being led when doors that should have been locked gave way as she approached.
    "Okay, you son of a bitch," she whispered. "You want a one-on-one? So do I."
    She made another turn, faced double doors fashioned of heavy, opaque glass. There was a palm plate, a cornea scanner, timed locks. A computerized voice activated as she stepped forward.
    Warning. This is a secured area. Authorized Level Five personnel only. Hazardous biological material contained within. Warning. Anti-contamination suits required. No entry without authorization.
    The doors slid smoothly open.
    "I guess I've just been authorized."
    "Your tenacity is admirable, Lieutenant. Please, come in."
    Waverly had