Chapter 53

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Leo recalled another unsettling rumor: some patients were used for human experimentation.

He had a question. "Redwood Psychiatric Hospital doesn't allow visitors, right? So how did he manage to send you a request?"

Regina's face clouded over. 

"Honestly, he never contacted me. I'm covering this one out of my own pocket. I can't just sit back knowing an innocent man is about to get a lobotomy."

"That means you need to move fast—the sooner, the better. If we wait too long, it'll be too late."

…

Redwood Psychiatric Hospital stood in the Coronado Farms district of Santo Domingo. Directly across from the hospital, you could see Megabuilding H7, a huge complex packed with the poor.

On their way to Santo Domingo, the car felt oppressively quiet. Nobody spoke.

"Nobody's talking. How about some tunes?" Jackie asked from the passenger seat as he reached for the radio.

"Forget it. I'm not in the mood," Leo said, and both V and Lucy shared the sentiment.

But Jackie had already switched it on. Instead of music, a determined male voice filled the car:

"Hello, my name is Jefferson Peralez, a forward-thinking candidate who refuses to conform. I'd like a minute of your time to explain why you should vote for me."

Jackie muttered a curse. "Dammit, these guys never stop campaigning."

He didn't care about politics; to him, it hardly mattered who became mayor—just one set of crooks replacing another. He reached out to kill the broadcast, but Leo stopped him.

"Hold on. I want to hear what he has to say."

Jackie pulled back his hand and rubbed his nose awkwardly. Peralez's voice continued:

"First, let me address the question, 'What am I fighting for?' The answer is simple: to end the stranglehold that mega-corporations have on Night City politics! Plenty of people who opposed them have gone down hard, but we can succeed. All I need is your support—to break free of corporate backing entirely. With your help, I will win this election. My victory is your victory! 

"You might be wondering, sitting in your car listening to the radio, what do you—and countless other ordinary people—stand to gain? My answer is a truly independent city. No more boards of directors making decisions for Night City and its people from the comfort of their plush offices, never once stepping foot in Watson or on the streets of Japantown. 

"I'll strive to give everyone a real chance at a better education. If I become mayor, I promise that in my first year at City Hall, I'll launch an annual fund. It will pay for twenty full scholarships and thirty partial scholarships, supporting two hundred of our most talented students. 

"That's not all. I plan to tax the mega-corporations and use that money for the public good. Last year, City Hall exempted thirty-two corporations—including Arasaka, Moore Tech, and Dinara—from corporate tax. Their combined revenue—even just gross income—was in the tens of trillions of eurodollars. The proposal passed almost unanimously. I cast the only dissenting vote. 

"If I were mayor, I would never allow something like that. I'd make the corporations pay their fair share and use those funds to improve housing and health care. I'm Jefferson Peralez, and I urge you to place your trust and your vote in my hands. I promise I'll lead you—and Night City—back to a golden age!"

Jackie finally snapped the radio off, curling his lip in disdain. "All talk. Politicians are all cut from the same cloth."

After grumbling, he glanced over at Leo, who was gazing straight ahead. "Leo, what's on your mind?"

"Nothing," Leo replied.

But that campaign ad had reminded him of something. It wouldn't be long before Night City held its mayoral election. Jefferson Peralez, an emerging political star, and the incumbent mayor, Lucius Rhyne, were gearing up for an all-out fight, each making lofty promises. 

Politicians in this part of the world had a long tradition of grand pledges. Once elected, they'd be lucky to fulfill a few. Still, there might be a chance to make use of it somehow.

…

Leo parked some distance away from Redwood Psychiatric Hospital. Driving right up to the front gate would be too conspicuous. Here felt safer.

"V, Jackie, you two stay with the car. Lucy and I will scout ahead."

Leo's tactical goggles could scramble surveillance. Lucy had installed a similar anti-detection mod. If the cameras caught them on film, they'd appear as nothing but a blur of static—no usable image. Even direct scans from cyberware wouldn't pull any data. They were the ideal recon pair.

V nodded. "We'll wait here. Keep us posted."

Jackie slid from the front passenger seat into the driver's spot Leo had just vacated. "I'll keep the engine running, ready to pick you up anytime."

"All right, Lucy—let's go."

Leo and Lucy got out and headed toward Redwood Psychiatric Hospital.

They slipped through the hospital's perimeter. Lucy glanced at Leo.

"What's our plan?"

"We'll see how it goes, but ideally, we'll grab our target and leave without attracting attention."

Lucy covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.

"What?" Leo asked, puzzled.

"It's just that whenever someone says that, it feels like we're about to blow the place sky-high."

Leo gave her a look but didn't comment.

As soon as they approached, the large metal doors of the main hospital building slid open, retracting into the walls. A guard sat behind a desk in the security booth, multiple monitors around him streaming data. He barely acknowledged the pair, only glancing up from his phone for a second before looking back down to continue tapping away.

Leo and Lucy walked past a stack of delivery boxes in the corner, then through the security room into the reception area. Pale fluorescent lights created a gloomy atmosphere. 

Because Redwood disallowed all visits, it was nearly empty. Only two corporate suits, likely having dropped off a patient, were chatting in low voices on one of the benches. On the other side sat a few guards. Another guard stood by the passage leading deeper into the facility.

Leo spoke quietly on their team channel: "Hack the cameras."

Lucy gave a slight nod. Falling half a step behind Leo, she used him to shield the glow in her eyes while she breached the system. Walking by the two corporate lackeys, Leo overheard part of their hushed conversation:

"What's the point of bringing them here? Waste of time and money. If someone's gone psycho, just put a bullet in 'em and end it. What's this 'mandatory treatment' nonsense for?"

"You don't get it—it's all about the money."

"Money?"

"The company provides employee health insurance. If they just put 'em down, how would they milk insurance? The more they send here, the longer they stay, the more the corp profits."

"Damn, that's messed up."

"Are you really surprised, man? You've worked at that corp long enough. Don't be so naive."

Lucy's voice came through on comms. "All done."

"Nice work," Leo replied.

Ignoring the pair on the bench, he headed for the reception desk. A bedraggled teenager stood in front, trying to get some information.

"Hello, I'd like to see my father, Bob Gelbaum—patient number NC/23322/C. He was transferred here from a medical center. Please, if there's any way…"

The receptionist wore a polite smile but sounded firm. "I'm sorry, we're not allowing visitors in the short term. The doctor says isolation is crucial for his treatment. Please don't come again. We'll let you know when patient NC/23322/C is eligible for visitation."

Seeing that he couldn't get anywhere, the teenager left looking dejected.

Once he'd gone, Leo stepped up. The receptionist put on her best professional smile.

"Hello. How can I help you?"