The Man in the Dark Suit
Chapter 04 - The Man in the Dark Suit
The shadow outside Adrian’s room did not belong to Marcus.
It belonged to Captain Owen Vale, deputy commander of the Royal Guard and the officer responsible for cathedral security.
Owen entered the suite after midnight wearing a dark suit instead of uniform. He claimed he needed Adrian’s signature on a temporary medical directive authorizing Marcus to act for the Crown.
Sophie stood between him and the bed.
“The prince can barely speak.”
“The council cannot wait.”
“He was poisoned less than twelve hours ago.”
Owen placed the document on the bedside table. It declared Adrian incapacitated and transferred executive authority to Marcus until three royal physicians certified recovery.
Two signatures were already present.
One belonged to a doctor who had not examined Adrian.
Elias entered and tore the monitoring copy from the clipboard.
“No one obtains legal consent from my patient tonight.”
Owen’s politeness disappeared.
He said the hospital received royal funding and reminded Elias that retirement privileges could be reviewed.
Elias opened the door.
“Then review them from the corridor.”
Owen left, but Sophie noticed him glance at the medication pump.
Minutes later, a nurse discovered a new order in Adrian’s chart for a sedative that would have prevented meaningful communication for at least twelve hours.
The order used Elias’s credentials.
He had not entered it.
Hospital security traced the login to a workstation in the royal family lounge. Owen’s access badge had opened that room.
Sophie called the capital police.
The palace attempted to block the request, claiming royal jurisdiction. Elias bypassed administration and contacted Detective Lena Ortiz, head of the national medical-crimes unit.
Ortiz arrived with a warrant preserving Adrian’s blood, chart and all electronic access logs.
Marcus protested that police presence would create panic.
Ortiz replied, “A poisoned future king and falsified medical order already qualify.”
Before officers could question Owen, he disappeared through a service elevator.
Security footage later showed him carrying a narrow silver case.
Inside Adrian’s room, the prince opened his eyes again.
Sophie asked whether Owen helped poison him.
Adrian blinked once for yes.
Whether Marcus ordered it.
Adrian’s eyes filled with fear.
He blinked once again.
Then he moved his right hand toward his wedding ring and tapped it three times against the bed rail.
Sophie understood.
May you like
During their engagement, three taps meant the brass key.
The evidence beneath King Rowan’s statue had to be recovered before Marcus reached it.
