Chapter 9: The Undercover Investigation
Miguel paced back and forth in his office, his mind racing with thoughts of the danger that still loomed over them. The hospital, once a place of healing and hope, now felt like a battleground where unseen enemies lurked in the shadows. The attack on the island, the coma that had left Aubree clinging to life, and the creation of Robo-Aubree all of it had led him to this moment. He knew he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. He had to find out who was behind it all, and why.
The knock on his office door was firm and steady, bringing Miguel out of his thoughts. He quickly crossed the room and opened the door to find Julian standing there, his expression serious but with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Julian, thank you for coming," Miguel said, stepping aside to let the police investigator into the office.
Julian nodded, glancing around the room before taking a seat on the leather couch. "Of course, Miguel. I’ve been meaning to check in with you ever since… well, everything that happened."
Miguel closed the door and took a seat across from Julian, leaning forward with a determined look.
"I appreciate that, but we both know why you’re really here. I need your help, Julian. I can’t let this go on any longer."
Julian’s brows furrowed slightly as he studied Miguel’s face.
"I had a feeling you were going to say that. But I need to know exactly what you’re planning before I agree to anything."
Miguel took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Julian, you know what they did to Aubree… what they almost did to me. We both know this wasn’t just a random attack. Someone orchestrated it, and I’m certain it’s connected to something much bigger. There’s corruption within the hospital someone with power and influence pulling the strings. I need to find out who’s behind it and why they’re targeting us."
Julian leaned back, folding his arms as he considered Miguel’s words.
"You’re talking about going undercover, aren’t you?"
Miguel nodded.
"Exactly. But I can’t do it alone. I need someone I can trust, someone who knows the law and has the skills to investigate without raising suspicion. That’s where you come in."
Julian was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"And what about Robo-Aubree?" he asked carefully. "I assume she’s going to be part of this as well?"
Miguel hesitated, the weight of his decision pressing down on him.
"Yes," he finally said. "Robo-Aubree will play a key role. No one at the hospital knows the truth about her except for you and me. She can blend in perfectly, and with her help, we can gather the information we need without drawing too much attention."
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"That’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Miguel. If anyone finds out the truth about her, it could blow up in your face."
"I know," Miguel replied, his voice firm.
"But I don’t have any other choice. I need to protect Aubree, the real Aubree, and I can’t do that until I know who’s behind this."
Julian let out a slow breath, his expression softening slightly.
"Alright, I’m in. But we need to be smart about this. If we’re going to pull this off, we need a solid plan and we need to cover our tracks. No one can know what we’re really up to."
Miguel nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Julian. I knew I could count on you."
"Don’t thank me just yet," Julian warned. "We’ve got a long road ahead of us, and it’s not going to be easy."
Miguel leaned forward, his voice low and determined.
"I’m ready for whatever it takes."
---
The next morning, Miguel and Robo-Aubree sat together in the hospital cafeteria, the bustling environment providing a convenient cover for their conversation. Julian had joined them, his police uniform blending in with the other officers who occasionally came in for a coffee or a quick bite between shifts.
"Alright," Julian began, keeping his voice low as he leaned in slightly. "We need to establish our cover story. It has to be something plausible that explains why we’re going to be poking around in places we normally wouldn’t."
Miguel nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "I was thinking we could use the excuse of an internal audit. The hospital administration has been pushing for more transparency lately, especially with all the scrutiny we’ve been under. We can use that as a reason to dig into the records, interview staff, and check up on procedures."
"That could work," Julian agreed.
"But we’ll need to make sure our actions are subtle. If we’re too obvious, someone might get suspicious and shut us down before we can get anywhere."
Robo-Aubree, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
"I can access the hospital’s electronic records without raising any alarms. My presence here as the ‘real’ Aubree will give us a legitimate reason to review patient files, surgical reports, and other sensitive information. No one will question why I’m doing it."
Julian glanced at her, still marveling at how seamlessly she mimicked the real Aubree. "That’s a good start," he said. "But we also need to think about the human element. Whoever is behind this might not be working alone. There could be others in the hospital who are involved nurses, doctors, administrators. We need to find out who they are and what their motives might be."
Miguel tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
"We’ll need to talk to people, gain their trust. But we can’t afford to let anyone know we’re onto them. We need to approach this like we’re just doing routine check-ins, nothing more."
Julian nodded in agreement.
"Right. And we should be prepared for resistance. If someone feels threatened by our investigation, they might try to throw us off course or even sabotage our efforts."
"That’s why we need to be one step ahead," Robo-Aubree added.
"We can’t let anyone know what we’re really after. We need to control the narrative."
Julian looked at her thoughtfully.
"You’re right. But we also need to be careful with what we reveal, even to those we trust. The fewer people who know the full extent of what we’re doing, the better."
Miguel leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Agreed. We’ll start with the financial records. If there’s corruption in the hospital, it’ll likely show up there—misappropriated funds, unexplained expenses, payments that don’t add up. From there, we can expand our investigation to personnel records and see if there are any connections to known criminal organizations."
Julian nodded, his eyes narrowing as he considered their plan.
"It’s a good approach. We’ll also need to keep an eye on the hospital’s security. If someone’s trying to cover their tracks, they might start deleting records or tampering with evidence."
"I can monitor the system from here," Robo-Aubree said.
"If anyone tries to erase or alter anything, I’ll catch it."
Julian looked at her, impressed.
"You’ve got all the bases covered, don’t you?"
Robo-Aubree gave a small smile. "I was designed to be thorough."
Miguel couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for Robo-Aubree. Despite the strange circumstances of her existence, she was proving to be an invaluable ally. But the thought of the real Aubree, still lying comatose in a distant hospital bed, tempered his feelings with a deep sadness.
"We should also consider potential threats," Julian said, breaking into Miguel’s thoughts. "Whoever is behind this could be watching us, tracking our movements. We need to stay vigilant, both here at the hospital and outside of it."
Miguel’s expression darkened. "I’ve already seen what they’re capable of. We can’t take any chances. We need to protect ourselves and each other."
Julian leaned back slightly, his face serious. "I’ll make sure we have all the necessary precautions in place. But remember, Miguel, this isn’t just about finding out who’s behind the attack. It’s about keeping you and Aubree safe. If things start to get too dangerous, we might have to pull back."
Miguel nodded, though he knew in his heart that he wouldn’t stop until he uncovered the truth. "Understood. But I’m not backing down. Not after everything that’s happened."
Robo-Aubree reached out and placed a hand on Miguel’s arm, her touch light but reassuring. "We’ll see this through together. I’m with you every step of the way."
Miguel looked into her eyes—those familiar yet different eyes—and felt a renewed sense of determination. They were in this together, and they would find the answers they needed, no matter the cost.
---
The following day, the plan was set in motion. Miguel and Julian began their undercover investigation, using the pretense of an internal audit to access the hospital’s financial records. Robo-Aubree, meanwhile, discreetly monitored the hospital’s electronic systems, watching for any signs of tampering or suspicious activity.
They worked methodically, reviewing files and cross-referencing data, all while maintaining the appearance of routine hospital work. To their colleagues, it seemed like business as usual, with Miguel and Aubree back at the top of their game. But behind the scenes, they were piecing together a puzzle that would lead them closer to the truth.