Lily

Ghosts in the records

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*LILY*

*Chapter 5: Ghosts in the Records*

Lily had 48 hours of admin access.

She used every minute.

*Day 1. 8 PM - 6 AM.*

She went through donor logs, board meeting minutes, patient transfers. Anything with "Richard" and "2009."

Nothing.

Richard Corp donated to the hospital, yes. But the gala photo? That was the only time Victor and Lawrence’s names showed up together with her parents.

She almost closed the tablet.

Then she checked payments.

Not donations. _Payments_. Vendor accounts. 2009 Q1.

There it was.

*March 10, 2009. Richard Corp → Blackstone Security. 50,000,000 Naira. Memo: "Consulting Services"*

Blackstone Security.

The same company named in her parents’ police file as "persons of interest." The company that dissolved 2 weeks after the murder.

Lily’s hands went cold.

She screenshot it. Saved it to a private drive.

Then her tablet pinged.

*Admin access will expire in 4 hours.*

She had 4 hours to find more.

---

*Day 2. 7:00 PM. Room 402.*

Lawrence was being discharged tomorrow. His ribs were healing. The cut was closed.

He watched her take his vitals. She was quieter than usual.

“You found something,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

Lily didn’t look up. “Blood pressure’s good.”

“Lily.”

“Don’t.”

He caught her wrist gently. Not hard. Just enough to stop her.

“Tell me.”

She pulled away. “You shouldn’t be involved in this.”

“Involved in what?” His voice dropped. “What did you find?”

She stared at the floor. “A payment. From your company. To the people who...”

She couldn’t finish.

Lawrence went still. “To who?”

“To Blackstone Security. 3 days before my parents died.”

The room went silent. Even the monitor seemed loud.

“That’s not possible,” Lawrence said. “My dad would never—”

“Wouldn’t he?” Lily snapped. Then immediately regretted it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No,” he said. “You should. You found something. And you’re telling me.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Send me the file. Let me see it.”

“I can’t. It’s illegal. I used admin access.”

“Then let me help you do it legally,” he said. “My lawyer. Tomorrow. After I’m discharged.”

Lily shook her head. “I don’t want you involved.”

“Too late,” Lawrence said softly. “You already involved me. By trusting me.”

She had no answer for that.

---

*3:17 AM. Nurses’ station.*

Lily was charting when her mentor, Nurse Funke, sat down next to her.

Funke had trained her 5 years ago. She was the only person at St. Mercy who knew Lily’s last name meant something.

“You look tired,” Funke said.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Funke said. “You’ve been in the system after hours. Admin access.”

Lily froze. “I—”

“Stop,” Funke said. “I’m not reporting you. But Lily, whatever you’re looking for, drop it.”

“Why?”

“Because people who dig into Richard Corp don’t stay safe,” Funke whispered. “I’ve seen it. A doctor 3 years ago. Asking questions about their donations. He ‘resigned’ the next week. Left the country.”

Lily’s stomach dropped. “Are you threatening me?”

“I’m warning you,” Funke said. “For your own good. Let it go.”

She walked away.

Lily sat there, heart pounding.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

*WE TOLD YOU TO STOP.*

Another buzz.

A photo.

Her apartment building. Taken from across the street. 10 minutes ago.

Lily stood so fast her chair screeched.

She grabbed her bag and ran.

---

*3:45 AM. Outside St. Mercy.*

She didn’t go home. She couldn’t.

She drove. Nowhere. Just drove.

At 4:10 AM she ended up back at the hospital. In the parking garage.

She was crying. She hadn’t cried in years.

The passenger door opened.

Lawrence. In jeans and a hoodie. No sling.

“What are you doing here?” Lily choked out.

“I followed you,” he said. “From my room. I saw you run out.”

He handed her a tissue. “You’re shaking.”

“They sent me a photo,” she said. “Of my building. They know where I live.”

Lawrence’s jaw tightened. “Get out.”

“What?”

“You’re not going home tonight. You’re not going anywhere alone.”

“I can handle—”

“No, you can’t,” he said, not unkind. “Not this. Not alone.”

He held out his hand. “Come with me. My place. It’s secure. 24hr security. No one gets in.”

Lily stared at him. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because 3 hours ago you told me your parents were killed,” he said. “And 10 minutes ago someone threatened you. Because you trusted me with that. So now it’s my problem too.”

She should’ve said no.

She got out of the car.

---

*5:00 AM. Lawrence’s apartment. Ikoyi.*

It was huge. Minimal. All glass and steel. But warm somehow.

He gave her the guest room. Fresh clothes. Water.

“You can sleep,” he said at the door. “I’ll be in the living room. No one’s getting past me.”

Lily sat on the bed. She was safe. For the first time in days.

Her phone buzzed.

Detective Bello: _We traced the payment. It’s real. We need to talk. Tomorrow 9AM. Bring everything._

Lily closed her eyes.

Down the hall, Lawrence was awake too.

For the first time in 17 years, Lily wasn’t the only one fighting.

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