This chapter is a little shorter, but I am hoping to get the next up soon. I hope everyone is staying safe and doing well. I would like to recommend some writers, BigTimeRush-BTR, Downtonabbey15, EpicallyObsessed, RainbowDiamonds, Foundtoarvvie, DreamBigDieSmall, and Suitelifeforever9.
Four hours later, Griffin was sitting in his home office, polishing off a second glass of Scotch. He reached down and readjusted the ankle monitor. "I don't understand why you didn't fight harder against this damn thing!" He complained to Rutger, who was going over the rules with his obstinate client.
Rutger sighed. "Arthur, given the charges, we are lucky they released you at all. The monitor is a small price to pay for the freedom it brings."
Griffin snorted. "Freedom? I'm trapped in my own house, can't go to work, can't go anywhere!"
"I understand working from home is not optimal, but at least you are home. Now, I've contacted a junior partner and they are going to speak with this Sands that you want to hire. I would highly recommend a background check before following through with this," Rutger said.
"No need," Griffin said, pouring himself another drink.
"Arthur, if you are hiring him for security, you need to have him checked out. Why was he arrested?"
"He missed a court date," Griffin told him.
"Meaning he has been arrested before," Rutger said, shaking his head.
Griffin looked over at him and smiled. "Sometimes, the best person for the job is someone with experience."
"Yes, but experience in what?" Rutger asked.
Griffin sat back in his chair and took a sip of his drink. "It doesn't matter, he's the right man for the job."
Rutger shook his head. "Arthur, you need to be very careful right now. By some miracle you were granted bail, but you are by no means out of trouble. I wish you would understand how important it is to concentrate on your defense."
"Bill, I like you, but I've told you I haven't done anything. You can either believe me or I can find another attorney."
"I am trying to protect you. Many innocent people have been convicted on circumstantial evidence and I don't want to see that happen to you. However, if you feel a different attorney will better protect your interests I will step aside," Rutger said, standing up.
"Bill, sit down. You know I trust you and I apologize for my foul mood. These last couple of days haven't been easy," Griffin told him.
"I know they haven't, but if you don't start taking things seriously, and, listen, there's no point in my being here."
Griffin sipped his drink and waved for Rutger to sit down. "I trust you'll do what is needed, so just let me know what I need to do."
Rutger sat back down and looked at Griffin. "In all seriousness, we start with you telling me the truth about what happened."
Carlos followed Olivia out the door. "Wait!"
"What?"
"We don't really know she didn't do it. Depending on when the first photo was taken, she could have put the camera in there...if we can find it," he said.
Olivia sighed. "You're right. I'm going to go stall Mr. Simmons, somehow. You keep looking for that camera."
Carlos smiled at her. "Will do."
"I'll be back," she said, heading for the elevator. The doors opened and she stepped in, turned, and gave him a wave as the elevator doors closed.
Carlos headed back to Kendall's room, lost in thought. "There has to be a camera in there somewhere," he said to himself. A moment later he bumped into something. Startled, he looked up into Freight Train's face.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, sorry I was thinking," Carlos told him.
"It's alright, Little Buddy, just watch where you're going, I don't want you to get hurt," Freight Train said affectionately.
"I will," Carlos promised.
Freight Train started to open the door but Carlos stopped him. "Are you sure nobody new has been in here?" Carlos asked.
Freight Train shook his head. "I haven't left this door. Only folks who have been in and out are medical staff, with ID cards, and family."
Carlos sighed in frustration. "Darn it, I was sure I was right."
"About what?"
"There has to be a camera in the room somewhere, but I can't find it," Carlos told him.
"A camera?"
Carlos nodded and showed Freight Train the photos.
Freight Train looked at them for a minute and then took a deep breath. He huffed out in anger and then opened the door. He moved quickly across the room and yanked the television cord from the wall. He turned and looked into the shocked faces of Antonio and Jen.
"Uh, what's going on?" Antonio asked looking from his son to Freight Train.
Carlos shook his head and walked over to the bed.
Freight Train put his finger to his lips and gestured for them to follow him.
Jen looked at Antonio, who nodded. She stood up, tucked the blankets around Kendall, and they followed Freight Train into the hall.
"What is going on?" Jen whispered.
Freight Train closed the door softly behind him and scanned the hallway to make sure no one was close by. "It's the television."
"I'm sorry, what?" Jen asked in confusion.
"The camera is in the television," he told them.
"How?" Carlos asked.
"A lot of smart TV's have cameras and microphones. People can hack them and literally spy on you. We need to see what the settings are and see if someone enabled them," Freight Train explained.
"If they're on can we find out who hacked it?" Carlos asked.
Freight Train gave the teen a smile. "I know someone who can probably figure that out, but, we need to make sure it's all legal."
Antonio pulled out his phone. "Call them and I'll make the rest happen."
Olivia was nearly to Mr. Simmons office when her phone buzzed. She looked at it and answered. "This is Dr. Burns."
"Olivia, we may have figured out how they got the photos. We have someone coming who can help us find out who," Antonio told her.
"So, was it Angie?"
"We won't know until they try to activate the camera again, so we need you to stall."
Olivia looked at her watch. "We still have a few minutes before she's due here, so I'll explain everything to Mr. Simmons," she said.
"Okay. Freight Train's tech person is also a licensed detective. We just need Mr. Simmons' permission to move forward."
"I'll get it," she promised and ended the call. She walked into Dr. Simmons' outer office and smiled at the receptionist. "Mr. Simmons is expecting me."
The receptionist smiled back and picked up the phone. "Mr. Simmons, Dr. Burns is here to see you." She nodded and waved Olivia towards his door.
"Thank you," Olivia said as she opened the door.
"Olivia, have a seat," Mr. Simmons said.
"Ronald, we may have a problem," she said, sitting down.
"The Knight boy?"
"More like the paparazzi possibly infiltrating the staff," she said.
"Meaning?"
"Someone has been leaking photos of Kendall and the other boys to the paparazzi," she told him, pulling up the photos on her phone and showing him.
He looked through the photos and handed the phone back to her. "You think it was Ms. Reynolds?"
"We don't know, but it would have to be someone with access to the room, and the boys found her standing over his bed when she was supposed to be packing up the ultrasound equipment."
He sighed. "We have to be careful, these are very serious charges."
"I know, but Officer Garcia called me a few minutes ago to tell me they think the camera is in the television. He said they have a security tech person who might be able to track whoever did this but they need your permission to move ahead."
"Are they licensed?"
"Yes."
He nodded. "Alright, have them go ahead but I would like to speak to them. I also need a copy of their license and all evidence they find sent to the legal department."
"I'll tell them," she said and quickly sent a text off to Antonio.
Simmons' phone buzzed and he picked up. "Yes? Give us five minutes and send her in."
"Angie?" Olivia asked.
Mr. Simmons nodded. "What is the likelihood she's the one who sent the photos?"
"I'm not sure, but it has to be someone who was in the room alone."
"Which pretty much leaves a member of the staff," he said.
"Unfortunately, but we also don't want to accuse an innocent, or tip off the guilty party."
There was a knock at the door and he looked at Olivia. "Let's keep it short and vague."
She nodded. "I think just bring up that the boys were concerned by her staring at Kendall?"
"That will work," he said, as the door opened.
"You wanted to see me?" Angie asked quietly, looking from Olivia to Mr. Simmons.
"Ms. Reynolds, please come in and have a seat," he said sitting at his desk.
"I-Is something wrong?"
"No, we just needed to address a concern a patient's family member voiced to Dr. Burns. I'm sure it's not serious and we just need to clarify so we can reassure them. Standard procedure, really," he told her.
"Okay," Angie said nervously.
Olivia took the chair next to her and smiled. "I know you helped Dr. Breyer with a patient earlier and one of his friends commented that when they went back to his room, you were alone and standing by his bed, just looking at him?"
"Oh, uh…"
Olivia smiled again. "They are just worried because it's a high profile case and I assured them that the staff here is the best and extremely trustworthy. But, they asked me to speak to you about this because their nerves are on edge right now and I just want to reassure them that everything is alright."
Angie closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.
"Ms. Reynolds, do you have something to tell us?" Mr. Simmons asked quietly.
Angie opened her eyes and looked down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset anyone."
Olivia looked over at Mr. Simmons, suddenly concerned by what they might hear.
Olivia reached over and took her hand. "Angie, can you tell us what happened."
Angie nodded and wiped her eyes. "It s-started last year…"
Kendall shivered and pulled the blankets tighter around himself. Someone ran their fingers through his hair and tugged a little on the blanket. "Cold," he said, pulling the blanket tighter.
"You don't need that, I'll keep you warm," someone whispered in his ear.
Kendall woke with a start and pulled away. "No! Leave me alone!" He felt someone pulling him close and shoved against them as hard as he could. Kendall jumped up looked around him and, not seeing anyone, ran for the door.
"You're going to regret this," the voice calmly said.
"Leave me alone!" Kendall yelled.
"I don't think so, I own you and you will do what I say."
"No, I won't," Kendall said opening the door and running through. He looked around and ran down the corridor to the right. He could hear footsteps behind him and ran faster, but the corridor seemed to go on forever. He tried a door and found it locked and ran to the next one. He tried it but it was locked as well.
"You might as well give up, there's no way out," the voice called out.
Kendall ignored him and continued trying doors. One finally opened and he ran inside and slammed the door behind him. He tried to lock it, but it required a key. "No, no, no," he said, desperately looking around him.
There was a table against the wall, next to the door, and he shoved it in front of the door, hoping it would be heavy enough to block the door.
There was a knock at the door. "I know you're in there," the voice said with a laugh.
Kendall looked around and saw a door on the opposite wall. He quickly went over and tried the door and it opened. He looked inside before opening it all the way and found the lights were off. He cautiously searched the wall next to the door for a light switch and couldn't feel one.
"You're making this very exciting!" The voice called from the other door as the table started to move.
Kendall's heart was racing as he stepped inside the other room and moved behind the door. "Please go away, please go away," he chanted, his heart feeling like it was going to burst out of his chest.
"Did you really think you could hide from me?" Someone said as they pulled him close.
Kendall's eyes flew open and he looked around. The room was empty and the only sound was the steady beat of the heart monitor. He started shaking as he tried to figure out where he was. He saw the IV in his right arm and pulled the line out, ignoring the drops of blood that started to fall. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, leaning against the bed. He nearly screamed when pain shot through his right leg, but took a deep breath, and, holding on to the bed, he started for the door. The heart monitor alarm started going off as the electrodes came loose, and he panicked. He let go of the bed and limped towards the door, but stopped when he heard voices outside the door.
"No, no, no," he whispered. He looked for another way out, saw the bathroom and closet, and quickly chose the bathroom door because he knew there would be a lock on it. He closed the door, turned the lock, and slowly sank to the floor, suddenly exhausted. He could hear voices calling for him as his eyes closed, oblivious to the blood now pooling on the floor.