Chapter 8 - The Fall of Garrett Holloway
Two days later, the front page of the Ridgeport Daily Chronicle carried a massive headline: HARBOR FIRE EXPOSED: MAJOR SAFETY FRAUD UNCOVERS CORRUPTION AT PIER 4. Below it, a crisp, professional photograph of Garrett Holloway being led out of his corporate offices in handcuffs by federal marshals filled half the page.
Inside Ridgeport Memorial Hospital, the atmosphere was thick with whispered gossip. Nurses clustered around the nurse's station, staring at the newspaper photos in stunned disbelief while Bernardet Quill, the 55-year-old charge nurse, leaned against the counter with a cup of black coffee in her hand.
"Did you hear about this, Delaney?" Bernardet asked as Delaney walked past carrying a chart clipboard, looking rested and sharper than she had in months. "They're saying an anonymous tip reached the federal prosecutor's office forty-eight hours ago containing every single invoice, shell company record, and fraudulent inspection report connected to the harbor construction project."
"Is that right?" Delaney said mildly, not breaking her stride as she checked the medication schedule on the board.
"And get this," Bernardet lowered her voice, leaning closer. "The hospital board just received an anonymous corporate endowment covering the entire pediatric physical therapy wing for the next five years, specifically earmarked to cover patients with chronic mobility needs like your brother Wes."
Delaney paused, a faint, knowing smile touching her lips. She didn't look up from her clipboard. "Sounds like someone finally audited the books properly."
"Maybe," Bernardet muttered, narrowing her eyes as she studied Delaney's expression. "You know, for someone who spent her night off pulling a mafia boss out of a burning ship—which is all over the local news, by the way, even if they didn't use your real name—you're remarkably calm about all this corporate drama."
May you like
"I'm a nurse, Bernardet," Delaney said, turning to face her with a bright, steady gaze. "I deal with pulse rates and oxygen levels. Corporate drama is way above my pay grade."
Before Bernardet could press further, the double doors of the emergency department swung open, and a sleek, black town car pulled up right outside the ambulance bay, ignoring the "No Parking" signs entirely.
