The orderly uniform wasn’t good enough.
Franklin had snuck into a supply room, found a uniform, and put it on. But he couldn’t locate the security badges that hung around the orderly’s necks. And even if he did, the plastic area would be empty; no photo, no name. Any officer close enough to him would notice.
But if an officer got close, it would be too late for him anyway. His face was the bigger problem.
Clutching his box, he slunk up multiple flights of stairs and stepped onto the third floor.
One good thing about the bodyguard protecting Rayne and Shaley—the man’s presence outside a door would signal Rayne’s room.
Franklin passed multiple patient rooms, some with doors closed, others open. He glanced inside the open ones as he went by. Three looked empty.
Up ahead was a corner. He slowed, cocking his head to listen. Voices filtered around the wall, sounding some distance away. He edged close and leaned forward until one eye cleared to see.
Another corridor of rooms. Some thirty feet down sat a nurse’s station. Two policemen talked nearby.
Long, long down the hall, past the nurse’s station and almost to the end, two men stood at attention on either side of a door. One in plainclothes. The other in a cop’s uniform.
Rayne’s room.
Franklin jerked his head back. His chest turned to lead. Two men guarding the room. One a police officer. How was he going to get inside?
Voices sounded from another connecting hallway behind him. Franklin glanced right and left. He spotted a door to a room he remembered as empty. He darted toward it, jumped inside, and pulled the door shut.
Seconds later, the voices passed by.
Franklin’s shoulders relaxed. He turned and set the box on the nearest bed. With narrowed eyes he focused out the window. He looked out on a side street. No sign of cops.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Franklin had memorized the number months ago, when Jerry had given it to him over the phone. He hadn’t wanted to use it today. Too many risks involved. He’d be better at persuading in person. But now he had no choice.
Staring at the cell, Franklin took a deep breath—and punched in the number.