"What do you think you're doing?" Everett's hand clamped the medic's wrist hard enough to make the man blink. "Checking vitals," the medic said, voice thin. "She fainted. Protocol—" "Back away from her," Everett ordered. He didn't ask. He pulled the man's wrist until the medic let go. Maya's eyes opened just enough to see Everett's face. She mouthed Everett's name and then closed them again. "Commander Case," the medic said, rubbing his wrist as if that explained everything. "We're allowed—" "Not today." Everett didn't look at the medic. He kept his palm near Maya's brow, as if the distance mattered more than the touch. "Who called this in?" "House security. The maid. They found her in the guest suite." The medic fumbled for his radio. "We were told there might be signs—" "Signs of what?" Everett cut through him. "Of what someone wants the cameras to say." Maya's breathing was shallow. Ignacio O'Brien appeared behind the medic: short, direct, the kind of man who made crime scenes honest even when others lied. "Let me see," Ignacio said. He crouched, checked Maya's pupils, ran gloved fingers along her jaw. "No trauma. No obvious signs of a struggle." "Then why is she in that room?" the medic insisted. "Neighbors saw—" "Neighbors can see anything," Ignacio said flatly. He straightened and looked at Everett. "Commander, if you want a full exam, I can run the proper tests. Blood