Chapter 5 - The Siege of Saint Jude
At 11:15 p.m., the main lobby of Saint Jude Hospital was silent, lit only by emergency night lights. Outside, a light rain had begun to fall, slicking the asphalt of the ambulance driveway.
Inside Bay Three of the pediatric wing, Lily was sitting on the edge of a bed, holding a small plush bear that Sarah Jenkins had brought her from the hospital gift shop. Her small eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but every time she closed them, she saw her mother’s pale, still face resting on the kitchen table.
"Drink a little water, sweetie," Sarah said, holding a cup with a straw to the girl's lips.
"Is the dark car coming back?" Lily asked softly, her voice barely audible above the hum of the infant monitors.
Sarah looked over at Deputy Thomas Ross, who was standing inside the room near the door, his uniform jacket off, his hand resting near his sidearm.
"No, sweetie," Thomas said, offering a warm, reassuring smile. "Nobody is getting into this room tonight. I promise you."
Suddenly, the red emergency light above the hallway doors began to flash silently.
Through the glass partition, they saw four men in dark blue suits walk into the hallway. Leading them was a tall, silver-haired man in a tailored three-piece suit carrying a heavy leather briefcase. Alongside them were two armed officers from the State Department of Public Safety.
"It’s them," Thomas muttered, stepping out into the hallway and shutting the door to Bay Three behind him, locking it.
The silver-haired man stopped five feet from Thomas. He pulled a gold-embossed card from his wallet and held it out.
"Deputy Ross," the silver-haired man said in a smooth, aristocratic baritone. "I am Julian Sterling, Chief Senior Counsel for Valley Health System. I have in my possession an emergency administrative injunction issued by the State Circuit Court, ordering the immediate surrender of infants Samuel and Sarah Miller into the custody of Valley Health Guardianship Services."
"Get out of my hospital," Thomas said flatly, his hand resting firmly on his holster.
"If you attempt to obstruct the execution of this court order, Deputy," Sterling said smoothly, gesturing toward the two State Officers behind him, "these officers have been instructed to place you under federal arrest for interference with judicial proceedings."
One of the State Officers stepped forward, his hand on his taser. "Stand down, Deputy Ross. We have a verified judicial warrant. Move away from the door."
Inside Bay Three, Sarah grabbed a heavy stainless-steel IV pole and stood in front of the infant warmers, her eyes fixed on the door. Lily pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging the plush bear tightly against her heart.
"You're executing a warrant signed by a corrupt judge who's under active federal investigation," Thomas said, stepping directly into the path of the State Officer. "I don't care what piece of paper you're holding. You aren't touching these children tonight."
Julian Sterling checked his platinum wristwatch. "It is 11:28 p.m., Deputy. In two minutes, the custody order becomes absolute. Officers, remove him."
The two State Officers moved forward, reaching out to grab Thomas’s arms.
"Stop right there!" a sharp, clear voice echoed down the corridor.
Everyone turned.
Walking rapidly down the hallway was District Attorney Evelyn Reed, accompanied by two men in dark suits wearing brass badges hanging from neck chains: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
Behind them were three news camera crews, their heavy spotlight lamps clicking on, illuminating the dim hallway in a blinding, white glare.
Julian Sterling raised his hand to block the bright light, his smooth composure instantly cracking into a look of sharp alarm. "What is the meaning of this? This is a private medical facility! Cameras are not permitted!"
"This was a private facility, Mr. Sterling," Evelyn Reed said, stepping past the camera crews with a fierce, cold smile. "Until thirty minutes ago, when the United States District Court for the Southern District issued a Federal Emergency Protection Order under the Victims of Child Trafficking Act."
One of the FBI agents stepped forward, holding out a thick document stamped with a heavy red federal seal.
"Julian Sterling," the agent stated in a loud, clear voice that carried directly into the rolling news cameras. "You, Judge Arthur Vance, and six members of the Board of Directors of Valley Health System are named as co-conspirators in a federal indictment for extortion, human trafficking, healthcare fraud, and civil rights violations."
Sterling’s face went entirely white. "This... this is an administrative misunderstanding! We possess legal custody paperwork!"
"Your paperwork was signed by a judge who was taken into federal custody twenty minutes ago at his lake house," the FBI agent replied coldly. He turned to the two State Officers. "Stand down, officers. This scene is under federal jurisdiction now."
The two State Officers immediately stepped back, lowering their hands.
Outside in the hallway, the news cameras zoomed in on Julian Sterling as the FBI agents pulled his arms behind his back, clicking heavy steel handcuffs over his wrists.
"Get those cameras out of my face!" Sterling shouted, pulling his head down as he was marched toward the elevators. "You have no right! You have no right!"
Inside Bay Three, Sarah Jenkins let out a long, shuddering breath, dropping the IV pole onto the floor. She fell to her knees beside Lily’s bed, pulling the small girl into a tight, warm embrace.
"It’s over, Lily," Sarah sobbed, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "It’s over. You did it. You saved them."
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Lily looked through the glass window at Deputy Thomas Ross, who gave her a proud, solemn salute.
For the first time in three agonizing days, the seven-year-old girl closed her eyes, leaned her head back against the soft hospital pillows, and finally allowed herself to fall into a deep, safe, and dreamless sleep.
