Chapter 11 - THE MATCH
By 4:00 AM on Saturday, the emergency crime lab at the precinct delivered the results of the blood swab recovered from the broken glass in Room 408.
Detective Miller stood in the dimly lit briefing room, staring at the glowing dual-screen monitor. On the left screen was the DNA profile extracted from the blood sample. On the right was the state registry database match.
Miller’s hand froze over his mug of coffee.
"James," Miller said softly, his voice heavy with grim disappointment. "Get a unit to Julian Cross’s address right now."
Officer Diaz stepped up to the monitor, his eyes widening as he read the name on the screen. "Julian? Nathan's own brother?"
"Julian was deep in debt," Miller said, pulling his coat off his chair. "He defaulted on a commercial mortgage six months ago and owed half a million to private lenders. Dr. Vance bought him off. He paid Julian to act as Nathan’s proxy, sign the release forms without an autopsy, and ensure Nathan was buried quietly."
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Miller clicked open the automated transaction log attached to Julian’s flagged bank account. A wire transfer of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars had cleared three hours after Nathan was pronounced dead in Trauma Bay 2.
"The intruder who tried to poison Nathan in his hospital bed wasn't a hired hitman," Miller growled, adjusting his shoulder holster. "It was his own flesh and blood trying to cover his tracks."
