She glanced at the driver's license, then pointed to the sign‑in sheet. "Just sign your name and print it and then also print your relationship to the patient. I have to say this is unusual. There are regular visiting hours and guests are normally approved in advance by Mrs. Young, who's in charge of security. But you came in under extraordinary circumstances, with Ms. Hampton, and you're already here, so I don't see the harm."
He signed himself in as quickly as possible.
"Mrs. Hampton is still in room two‑thirteen."
"I'll show myself up."
"Please keep it under fifteen minutes. We don't want to tire her out. You understand."
"Thanks. I really appreciate this. My cousin Ally likes to get an update on"—he realized he had momentarily blocked her mother's name—"her mom as often as possible."
He headed for the elevator, trying to contain his excitement. The idea was to keep this as below the radar as possible. Was he about to crack the wall of secrecy that Winston Bartlett had erected around Karl Van de Vliet and the Gerex Corporation?
Just as the elevator door was closing, he saw a figure emerge through the security entryway. The man clicked a memory‑moment from somewhere in the far‑distant past, but he couldn't place him. As best he could tell, the guy didn't see him.
Just keep moving. Don't look back
As he stepped off the elevator onto the second floor, the pale marble floors were lit by small bulbs along the walls. This was a place where medical miracles were supposedly being made to happen and yet it was lit only with a ghostly half‑light. The sounds of televisions emanated from several of the rooms.