Opening her eyes, Millie finds herself awkwardly sprawled sideways in the entryway chair, her legs dangling over the armrest. Shifting slightly, she winces. The stiffness in her neck is immediate and unrelenting. Millie is working out the kinks when she sees the sun shining through the plated glass. It cast a fractured beam across the floor. Panicked, she glances at the clock to find it's nearly seven am. "I'm late," she says. Jumping to her feet, she darts upstairs.
Minutes later, Millie races across the hospital parking lot, each breath visible in the cool morning air. Bursting through the sliding glass door, she hurries to the nurses' station. "I'm sorry I'm so late," she apologizes. Breathlessly dropping her bag, she slides into her chair. She's taking her notepad from her bag when someone says:
"I need to have a word with you, Miss Clark."
She glances up to find the administrator standing over her with a determined look on his face.
Millie glances at her coworker, who turns away and then back at him. "I know I've been excessively late these past few days, but I promise it won't happen again."
"It has nothing to do with your tardiness, Miss Clark." He gestures to her belongings piled on the floor. "Please gather your things and follow me."
Her mind races as they walk down the long sterile hall. Thousands of thoughts race through her mind as the two continue down the long sterile hall. She glances up at the fluorescent lights above her. I've never noticed the hum before, she thinks.
The administrator opens the breakroom door and goes inside.
Once Millie and the officer are both settled at a table, the officer clears his throat and then says, "There've been several troubling accusations.
made against you, Miss Clark."
"You know how the ED is; rumors are always flying around."
"I was also told the police have questioned you numerous times about the multiple deaths, and that you had a confrontation with each of the deceased hours before each one passed."
"I did speak with each of them, but I assure you, sir, I have no reason to harm any of them."
"That may be true, but until this matter is cleared, I'm afraid I have no other choice but to let you go."
"I'm fired?' She asks, shocked by what he said.
He slides a legal document across the table, points to the bottom, and says, "I was able to get the board to agree to an indefinite suspension until this matter is resolved."
Tears well in Millie's eyes. Her lip quivers when she says, "But I didn't do anything."
"I'm sorry, Miss Clark, but an indefinite suspension was the best I could do."
Her heartbreak turns into anger and then into rage. Slamming her hands against the table, Mille springs to her feet. She leans over his desk and says, "Tell whoever is in charge that I'm going to sue for wrongful termination. Spinning on her heels, she stomps out the door.
*****
On the drive home, Millie replayed the past few years in her mind—the countless double shifts, the numerous times she came in on her days off, and all the holidays she gave up for them. Millie says, slamming the front door shut. "I can't believe the hospital is treating me this way. After nearly twenty years."
Tossing her purse and keys on the table, she stomps to the kitchen and freezes. There are muddy footprints on the kitchen floor. The dirt tracks seem to start at the door, fading as they continue in. She checks her shoes but doesn't find the slightest bit of mud. Mille thinks back to last night's events. "The only time I went out last night was to the front porch. She then sees the door is slightly ajar. I know I locked up and set the alarm when the police were done. Taking the phone from her purse, she brings up the app and finds she had set the alarm last night, and I don't remember seeing any muddy footprints then. A chilling thought suddenly comes to mind… She nervously glances up the stairs. "What if they're still here?" Punching the emergency icon on her phone, she runs to the door, stops, and thinks, I'd be a lot safer out front.
*****
The sergeant is combing through all the reports, hoping to find something they missed, when a forensic tech steps up to her desk.
"I was finally able to get into the flash drive."
Rachel smiles and says, "I knew you would. So did you find anything that'll help solve this case?"
"Maybe." He hands her his tablet.
Rachel watches the video, looks up, and says, "So Millie could be getting revenge, like I originally thought."
"That's not all, Serge. Ballistics tested Steven's gun and found it to be a perfect match."
"That's enough for a warrant." Picking up the phone, she calls her husband's extension and quickly explains. "I'm on my way, sir.' She turns to her crew and says, "The captain said he'll have a warrant by the time we arrive."
Hanging up, Jerry says, "That was the hospital; Mr. Tanner was found dead in his office. Someone used his letter opener to stab him in his carotid artery. Said it didn't appear to be a forced entry, and there weren't any signs of a struggle."
"Jerry, Jeff, I want you to investigate that. Kirk and I are going to pick up Miss Clark."
Hanging up the phone, Kirk turns and says, "Speaking of Miss Clark, dispatch just got a call about a possible break-in at her place.
*****
Rachel and Kirk arrive a short while later to find Millie nervously pacing back and forth across the porch.
"This is the second time we've been out here on a false breaking and entering claim," the sergeant says, opening the car door. "
"Why would she fabricate something like that?"
"Maybe it's part of her game." Climbing out of the car, she walks over to Millie, takes out her notebook, and asks, "So you claim someone broke into your home while you were at work?"
"Yes, the back door was open, and there are muddy footprints on the kitchen floor."
Rachel points to two forensic techs crossing the yard. "I'll have my team check on that for you.
"Mame," one says, stepping inside.
"In the meantime, Millie Clark, you are under arrest for murder. Turn around, hands behind your back."
"But I didn't do anything."
"We have evidence that proves otherwise.
The forensic tech steps outside with muddy shoes in hand. Once the sergeant is finished Mirandaizing their suspect, he says, "I found these in her closet upstairs. Flipping them over, the officer continues. "The tread pattern matches the muddy prints in the house."
"Are these yours?" the sergeant asks.
"Yes, but I haven't worn them in years. Seeing the look she's getting, Millie quickly adds, "So you think the prints are mine, that maybe I'm making the whole breaking-in thing up?"
"We'll sort it out at the house." Grabbing her arm, Rachel heads her towards the car.
"But I didn't do anything." Millie protests. Reaching the car, Millie turns towards the forensic tech and says, "Take the shoes to the lab, and I guarantee you'll find someone else's DNA on the inside, possibly a few fingerprints too."