The Name He Never Forgot

Part 2 – The Man Behind the Badge

At 3:07 a.m., Dante Moretti received the first photograph.

It showed a man entering the hospital pharmacy at 2:13 a.m.

He was wearing Clara Vance’s identification badge.

Dante stared at the screen.

“Zoom in.”

Marcus enlarged the image.

The man’s face became clearer.

“Do you recognize him?” Marcus asked.

Dante’s jaw tightened.

“Anthony Cole. Sterling’s personal assistant.”

“Should I bring him in?”

“Alive.”

Marcus nodded.

Meanwhile, Clara sat in a small consultation room, drinking lukewarm chamomile tea. Her cardboard box rested beside her chair.

She had spent the last six hours fighting an accusation that could destroy her medical career.

Now the most dangerous man in New York was investigating it.

She wasn’t sure whether that was fortunate or terrifying.

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The door opened.

Dante entered, wearing a black shirt beneath his jacket. His wound had been stitched, although he clearly hadn’t followed the doctor’s instructions to rest.

“You should be in bed,” Clara said.

“So should you.”

“I’m not the one who was shot.”

He placed a folder on the table.

“We found the man using your badge.”

Clara opened it.

Anthony Cole.

Her expression changed immediately.

“I know him. He works directly for Sterling.”

“Apparently, he’s been accessing the pharmacy records for three months.”

Dante slid another photograph toward her.

It showed several boxes of controlled medication being loaded into a private vehicle.

Clara covered her mouth.

“Those are hospital supplies.”

“Not anymore. Someone has been selling them through an illegal medical distribution network.”

“And they used my credentials?”

“Forty-two missing vials were only the beginning.”

Clara looked at him.

“Why would Sterling risk his position for something like this?”

Dante’s expression darkened.

“Because the medication wasn’t his only business.”

He placed another document on the table.

It contained a list of names, shipment dates, and payments.

One name appeared repeatedly.

Moretti.

Clara looked up.

“You?”

Dante nodded.

“For the past six months, someone has been using my company’s medical transportation contracts to move stolen pharmaceuticals. I thought it was an internal leak.”

“And now you think Sterling is involved?”

“I know he is.”

Before Clara could respond, the door burst open.

Richard Sterling stood there with two hospital security officers.

“Dr. Vance, you need to come with us.”

Clara stood.

“On what grounds?”

“Evidence has been discovered linking you to the stolen medication.”

Dante slowly rose from his chair.

“Show me the evidence.”

Sterling looked uncomfortable.

“This doesn’t concern you.”

Dante smiled without warmth.

“Everything involving her concerns me.”

One of the guards reached for Clara’s arm.

Dante caught his wrist.

“Touch her again, and you’ll regret having hands.”

The guard immediately stepped back.

Sterling’s face turned pale.

“You cannot threaten hospital personnel!”

Dante released the guard and adjusted his cuff.

“I’m not threatening anyone. I’m giving you an opportunity to leave.”

Sterling retreated, muttering something about contacting the authorities.

Clara exhaled.

“Bucky, you can’t solve every problem by frightening people.”

He looked at her.

“It’s worked remarkably well so far.”

She shook her head.

“Still impossible.”

For a moment, the room felt almost like the old tractor shed.

Then Dante’s phone rang.

Marcus’s voice came through.

“Boss, we caught Anthony Cole. But there’s something else.”

“What?”

“Sterling just left the hospital. He’s heading toward the old warehouse on Pier 19.”

Dante’s expression changed.

“What’s there?”

“Your missing shipment.”

He looked at Clara.

“Stay here.”

She immediately stood.

“No.”

“Specs.”

“You’re not going anywhere without telling me what’s happening. If those medications are being distributed illegally, people could die.”

Dante studied her determined expression.

He remembered that same stubborn look from fifteen years ago.

Finally, he sighed.

“Get your coat.”