Hearing that Serena was missing, Annika fell silent. As much as she disliked her, she didn't want anything terrible to happen to her cousin.
At the hospital, the nurse burst into fresh tears when she saw Conrad. "I just went to get her medication," she sobbed, "and when I came back, she was gone. We've checked the restrooms, the roof, every floor... Mr. Beryl, I'm so sorry."
"What good is sorry? Is this how you care for your patients?" Conrad's anger boiled over, and he unleashed it on the nurse.
"Yelling at her won't help. We need to find her!" Annika interjected, pulling him back to the task at hand.
Conrad immediately started making calls, using his network in Eirlandia to organize a search. He personally reviewed the hospital's security footage, which showed Serena leaving her room in a wheelchair and entering the elevator. The elevator descended to the ground floor, but she never emerged. The camera on the ground floor had a blind spot near the service corridor.
They searched for a full day, but it was as if Serena had vanished into thin air. Exhausted, they returned to the hotel, the grim reality of her disappearance hanging between them. Conrad had already reported her missing to the police.
Late that night, the phone rang. "Mr. Beryl," a police officer said, "we've found Serena. We need you to come down to the station."
Conrad grabbed his coat, buttoning it as he turned to Annika. "You're coming with me."
She sat motionless on the bed. He stopped, his voice sharp and cold. "Annika, do as I say."
Sensing his volatile mood, Annika didn't want to provoke him further. She dragged her weary body out of bed and followed him out of the hotel.
At the station, a police officer with a grave expression met them. "Mr. Beryl, I'm sorry. Something's happened to Serena."


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