Chapter 4 - The Syringe
Maria didn't scream, knowing it would only alert whoever else was involved in the plot.
She acted on pure, desperate adrenaline.
She grabbed a heavy metal IV pole standing near the door and swung it with all her strength.
The heavy base struck the man in scrubs squarely in the back of the knees.
He shouted in pain and collapsed, dropping the syringe onto the linoleum floor.
Maria dove for the syringe, kicking it under the hospital bed where he couldn't easily reach it.
The man scrambled to his feet, pulling a surgical mask up over his face to hide his identity.
He lunged at Maria, grabbing her violently by the throat and slamming her against the wall.
“You stupid maid,” the man hissed, his grip tightening aggressively.
“You should have stayed in the slums.”
Maria clawed frantically at his hands, struggling to breathe as black spots danced in her vision.
She reached blindly behind her, her fingers brushing against the emergency call button on the wall panel.
She smashed her palm against the red button, triggering the blaring alarm in the hallway.
The man cursed loudly, realizing the entire floor would be swarming with doctors in seconds.
He dropped Maria, who slumped to the floor gasping for air.
The assassin sprinted out of the room, disappearing down the hallway just as the elevator dinged.
Dr. Park burst into the room, followed by two massive security guards.
She saw Maria gasping on the floor and the disconnected ventilator tube resting on Daniel’s chest.
“Code Blue! Get the crash cart in here right now!” Dr. Park screamed.
She frantically reconnected the ventilator tube, checking Daniel’s rapidly dropping oxygen levels.
The security guards hauled Maria to her feet, pinning her arms behind her back.
“She was attacking the patient!” one of the guards shouted, completely misreading the situation.
“No!” Maria coughed, her throat bruised and burning.
“Someone was trying to kill him! Check under the bed!”
Dr. Park paused, looking down at the floor beneath the heavy medical bed.
She spotted the plastic syringe rolling near the wheels.
Dr. Park carefully picked it up using a pair of sterile forceps.
She looked at the clear liquid inside, her face draining of all color.
“This is Potassium Chloride,” Dr. Park whispered in absolute horror.
“An undiluted dose this large would have caused an immediate, untraceable heart attack.”
Dr. Park looked at Maria, realizing the housekeeper had just saved the billionaire’s life.
“Release her immediately,” Dr. Park ordered the guards.
Before the guards could let Maria go, the door to the room swung open again.
Charles Voss walked in, looking perfectly calm and impeccably dressed.
He surveyed the chaotic scene, his cold eyes resting on Maria.
“What is the meaning of this disturbance?” Charles demanded smoothly.
Dr. Park held up the syringe in the forceps.
“Someone just attempted to murder Mr. Whitfield, Charles,” Dr. Park stated firmly.
Charles sighed deeply, shaking his head with a look of manufactured pity.
He pointed a steady finger directly at Maria Alvarez.
“I am not surprised,” Charles said loudly.
“I caught this unstable woman snooping around the restricted areas earlier today, clearly looking for a way to extort the family.”
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Charles looked at the security guards.
“Arrest her for the attempted murder of Daniel Whitfield.”
