The glass doors of the Dallas General Hospital emergency wing slid open as Mark rushed inside, still wearing his heavy boots.
Alex was already pacing near the waiting room counter, his hair messy and his suit coat thrown over his arm.
Alex: Mark! Where is she?! What did the doctor say?!
Mark: She's in trauma room four! Smoke inhalation, but the baby's heart rate is stable!
Alex: Thank God... oh thank God...
Mark: Alex, take a breath. Look at me. Did you call Richard?
Alex: I called him three times. He said he was at a board meeting, but his voice sounded panicked.
Mark: He knows the building burned down. He knows the fire department cleared the rooms.
A tall man in an expensive tailored suit walked swiftly into the lobby, flanked by a corporate lawyer carrying a leather briefcase.
It was Richard Vance, their stepfather and the wealthy CEO of Vance Logistics.
Richard: Alex! Mark! What on earth is going on here?! Why did you call me away from my investor presentation?!
Mark: Cut the act, Richard. We know about the apartment on Elm Street.
Richard: I own dozens of residential properties across Dallas! It's an investment portfolio!
Alex: You kept Mary trapped in that building for twenty-four months, didn't you?!
Richard: Keep your voice down! You are making a scene in a public facility!
Alex: ANSWER ME! Did you kidnap my fiancée?!
Richard: She wasn't kidnapped! She was living under a private care agreement!
Mark: A private care agreement behind deadbolted doors in a building with no fire clearance?!
Richard: She was unstable, Mark! She was going to ruin the family trust fund with her wild claims!
Alex: What claims?! She was an accountant! She worked for your firm!
Richard: She was poking her nose into offshore tax accounts that were none of her concern!
Doctor Evans: Are you the family of Mary Miller?
Doctor Evans stepped out from trauma room four, pulling off his surgical mask as he looked around the tense circle.
Alex: I'm her fiancé! Is she conscious?! Can I see her?!
Doctor Evans: She is awake and stable. She specifically asked for Captain Mark Miller and Alex Vance.
Richard: I am her legal guardian under the Vance estate trust! I should go in first!
Mark: Touch that door handle, Richard, and I will place you under citizen's arrest right here in front of these cameras.
Richard: You wouldn't dare humiliate me like this!
Alex: Step back, Richard. We're going inside.