Chapter 2 - The Woman at the Hospital Door
A nurse pointed toward the hallway: "Mr. Calder, someone is asking for you." I turned and saw Reena standing beneath the hospital lights, gripping her purse with both hands. She stared at me and said, "You took my children without permission." I calmly looked past her toward the security desk. Then I noticed the man standing behind her.
Reena hadn't come alone.
The man was in his fifties, wearing a gray suit and carrying a leather folder.
I recognized him.
Gordon Vale.
Aaron's former attorney.
"What is he doing here?" I asked.
Reena's face tightened.
"He is my attorney."
Gordon stepped forward.
"This situation has become unnecessarily complicated."
I looked at him.
"My nephew has an untreated injury."
Gordon's expression didn't change.
"Children sometimes exaggerate."
I felt something cold move through me.
"Drew is six."
"I understand his age."
"No," I said. "I don't think you do."
Reena stepped between us.
"You have no right to keep my children from me."
A security officer moved closer.
I looked toward the treatment area.
Drew was still inside.
Lily was with another nurse.
I lowered my voice.
"I'm not keeping them from anyone. I'm waiting for doctors to finish evaluating them."
Reena's eyes narrowed.
"You called the police."
"I called for medical help."
"You knew exactly what you were doing."
I stared at her.
For years, I had wondered whether I had been unfair to her.
That doubt was disappearing.
Gordon opened his folder.
"Mr. Calder, I strongly recommend that you do not make accusations."
"I'm not making accusations."
I pointed toward the treatment room.
"I'm telling you what a doctor just told me."
Reena's expression changed.
"What did he say?"
I didn't answer.
She took one step toward me.
"What did he say about Drew?"
Before I could respond, Dr. Mason came back into the hallway.
"Mrs. Calder."
Reena turned.
The doctor studied her.
"We need to speak with you."
Her face went pale.
"About what?"
"About Drew's medical history."
"I know his medical history."
The doctor paused.
"Apparently, there are gaps."
Gordon immediately stepped forward.
"What kind of gaps?"
Dr. Mason looked at him.
"Medical questions are better handled with the child's legal guardian."
"I'm her attorney."
"I understand."
Then he turned to Reena.
"We have documentation suggesting Drew's leg has suffered previous trauma."
Reena stared at him.
"That's impossible."
I looked at her.
"Then explain it."
She didn't.
The silence lasted only three seconds.
But it was enough.
A nurse came out carrying a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was Drew's old hospital bracelet.
The same bracelet I had noticed earlier.
I pointed at it.
"Where did that come from?"
The nurse looked at me.
"Drew had it in his pocket."
I felt a chill.
"Why?"
She glanced toward the treatment room.
"He told us he kept it because nobody believed him last time."
Reena's head snapped toward her.
"That's not true."
The nurse didn't argue.
She simply walked away.
Gordon whispered something into Reena's ear.
I caught only two words.
"Destroy it."
My heart stopped.
"What did you say?"
Gordon looked at me.
"I said nothing."
But Reena had heard him too.
Her eyes widened.
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Gordon."
He pulled away.
"Not here."
I stepped closer.
"What were you talking about?"
Reena turned toward the elevators.
I followed.
"Reena."
She stopped.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely frightened.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Frightened.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
There was one sentence.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO FIND THE ROOM.
I looked up.
Reena was staring at my phone.
She knew.
I turned toward the security desk.
"Can you trace this number?"
The officer shook his head.
"Not from here."
I looked back at Reena.
"Who sent it?"
She said nothing.
Then Drew's nurse rushed into the hallway.
"Mr. Calder."
I turned.
She was holding a small folded piece of paper.
"Drew asked me to give you this."
I opened it.
There were only four words.
ASK ABOUT DAD'S SAFE.
I looked at Reena.
May you like
Her face had gone completely white.
And Gordon was already walking toward the exit...
