Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Four days later
The slender man, wearing a custom Italian suit and three-thousand-dollar loafers, entered the hospital front entrance just after three in the afternoon.
He bypassed the reception and headed straight for the elevators with his briefcase. Going to the fourth floor, where he asked for the doctor by name.
The white-coated doctor, with her red hair pulled back in a bun, appeared tired as she emerged from the floor through the restricted area doors. Brushing back hair from her face. Dark circles under her eyes. “Mr. Manneton?”
He nodded. “That’s correct.” He opened his briefcase on the reception counter and handed over a piece of paper. “This document provides me with medical, legal, and financial power of attorney for all matters concerning Lydia Rosenberg.”
“Right. As I stated when your office called, there isn’t much that can be done.
Given the size of the tumor in her brain, she would have had a matter of weeks to live at best. After the extensive injuries she received as a result of the explosion, the damage is too great.
I’m afraid the prognosis is inevitable. Unless, of course, you decide to terminate life support. ”
“I can assure you,” Mr. Manneton said, “I have no intention of ending her life.”
The doctor frowned. “I don’t understand. There’s nothing that can be done for her. I can explain it further if you’d like.”
He shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“I don’t—”
He cut her off. “Transport will be here in two hours. Lydia Rosenberg is being removed from this facility. As a gesture of gratitude, the Rosenberg Foundation has issued the hospital a sizeable donation. The fate of Lydia Rosenberg will be in our hands now.”
“There’s nothing that can be—” The doctor looked at the check. “Whoa. This is very, um, generous of you.”
“Thank you for your time.”
The doctor swallowed. “Even transporting her somewhere has risks. She might not survive travel. You may simply be speeding up the inevitable.”
“A helicopter will land on the roof in due course. The rest is in our hands.”
“O-kay.”
Manneton nodded. “Again, thank you for your time.” He left the relevant paperwork, then turned and walked out.
The doctor looked at the nurse behind the reception desk.
“What on earth was that?” the nurse asked.
The doctor shook her head. “I have no idea.”