Upstairs, Martinez arrived with Reed. “Mr. Rowe,” he said evenly, “mind if we verify these documents with the family court?” “Of course,” the man replied, though tension edged his voice. He adjusted his sleeve, smudging mud streaks dried thin on his cuffs. “Long drive from Ridgewood,” he said. “Rained the whole way.”
Anika caught a faint metallic smell, like gun oil or machinery grease, when he turned. The hairs on her arms rose. “Ask security to keep their post tight,” she whispered to the charge nurse. Through the window, the bear’s muffled roar rolled up from the loading dock like thunder through stone. Everyone looked toward the sound.