The Lone Knight (Under The Cowl Book #1)

CHAPTER 6

The GCPD camped outside Gotham General Hospital. News vans and reporters from all stations big and small wanted to be the first on the scene and report the tragic killing spree that took place.

Detectives and the uniformed boys in blue flooded the halls of Gotham General from the ER to the surveillance room to the VIP floor. 

Outside the hospital but within the sealed off area, it was with one statement after another from those spared from the shooter's wrath, mostly from those who wanted the attention in order to have a juicy water cooler story for tomorrow morning, Stephanie listened to them shape their version of the story painting them as the an intended victim.

Stephanie heard the news over the police radio she nicked upon her return to Gotham a few months ago. By the time she rushed from her apartment to the hospital, unable to shake the gut wrenching feeling in her stomach, it was all over. The masked shooter said to have his face covered in bandages was long gone.

Getting in through the front door or through the emergency entrance wasn't going to be easy. Unless she presented herself with a debilitating illness or found herself wheeled inside on a gurney, Stephanie knew she wasn't going to get inside the hospital to inspect the scene of the crime the way she wanted.

Lucky for her the building next to the hospital wasn't spaced too far apart.

Picking the lock on the door that lead to the roof was a bit more challenging then she remembered. But once through Stephanie knew the hard part was over.

With a running start and sneakers yet to fail her at being the fastest she wanted to be, Stephanie jumped across twenty feet of open space.

The door through the VIP floor was different than the rest. Electronically operated, a key card and a pass code were essential to get inside. A test Stephanie enjoyed tackling with her hacking skills she'd like to think rivaled her mentor, Barbra.

Blending in required to act as if you belong, Stephanie remembered. Do not run. Do not maintain eye contact for too long or break it too quickly. Try not to lower your face into your collar or walk with you head down.

Stephanie walked with confidence as if she belonged.

She turned the corner and entered the nurse's locker room without a single eye turning her way with question.

Though it's been a while since she's broken into a building where she did not belong, Stephanie felt her heart race wildly as if it's about to burst out her chest.

She changed into a purple pair of scrubs and tied her hair into a ponytail. Better to have the look of a nurse down to the last letter.

Moving fast and without misstep, Stephanie took one last look around the locker room and found the coast clear. She tossed her bag into one of the empty showers and made her way out down the hall.

Hopefully the way to Dr. Tompkins office will be just as she remembered. With Dr. Leslie Tompkins on the hospital board and plenty of staff members working under her, she's sure to have friends in the hospital who kept her safe during the attack.

"Found you." Stephanie said to herself, taking a moment to stop in front of the door with the name "Dr. Leslie Tompkins" in bold black letters on the center of the frosted glass window.

Stephanie reached for the door handle and quickly froze at the image of more than one person inside Leslie's office.

"I believe this was Dr. Howard's and Dr. Strange's corrupt practices that cost them their lives."