Chapter 15 - THE CHILD THEY CAME TO STEAL
Lakeview University Hospital entered full lockdown.
No one entered the maternity floor without biometric verification.
No infant left a room without two nurses, an armed officer, and direct approval from Dr. Shaw.
The detained transport workers claimed they had accepted a routine assignment through a private medical company.
Their dispatcher had sent the documents electronically.
The company existed only on paper.
Its registered address belonged to Mason Cole.
Detective Ruiz believed the false team was only the first attempt.
Conrad had spent years preparing contingencies.
He would not abandon the plan easily.
At two in the morning, Emily’s contractions became regular.
Dr. Shaw examined her again.
“You are four centimeters dilated.”
Emily stared at the clock.
“Can we wait?”
“Not safely.”
The placental bleeding had increased.
The baby’s heartbeat recovered after each deceleration, but the pattern was becoming less reassuring.
Dr. Shaw recommended a cesarean delivery.
Emily signed the consent forms.
Her hand shook only once.
Raymond stood beside her in surgical scrubs with his injured arm secured against his chest.
“You cannot come into the operating room with broken ribs,” Emily said.
“Watch me.”
“You’ll faint.”
“I have never fainted.”
“You fainted when I broke my wrist at twelve.”
“I sat down quickly.”
Emily smiled.
Then the doors opened.
A nurse entered.
“Dr. Shaw, the operating room is ready.”
They began moving Emily toward surgery.
Security officers cleared the route.
Detective Ruiz walked in front.
Raymond stayed beside the bed.
The corridor lights were dim.
Every doorway had been checked.
Every employee wore a temporary identification badge.
Near the surgical elevators, a maintenance alarm began sounding.
Smoke appeared beneath a storage-room door.
Hospital staff rushed with extinguishers.
Detective Ruiz ordered the bed stopped.
“This route is compromised.”
They turned toward the secondary corridor.
The lights flickered.
Emily heard Preston’s warning inside her head.
They will try to remove the baby during the confusion.
The bed entered a service passage leading to another operating suite.
A man in surgical clothing stood at the far end.
His mask covered most of his face.
Dr. Shaw slowed.
“You are not assigned here.”
The man raised one hand.
A badge identified him as an anesthesiologist.
Raymond stared.
“That badge belongs to someone else.”
The man turned.
He ran through the next door.
Security pursued him.
The badge had been stolen from a physician found unconscious in a staff restroom.
The intruder escaped into a stairwell.
Camera footage showed Conrad removing the surgical cap two floors below.
He disappeared inside the hospital laundry area.
Emily was moved into the nearest secured operating room.
The doors were guarded from both sides.
Dr. Shaw prepared for surgery.
An anesthesiologist placed the spinal injection.
Emily’s legs became heavy.
A blue surgical drape rose across her chest.
Raymond sat near her head.
His face looked pale beneath the surgical cap.
“You are going to faint,” Emily whispered.
“I am sitting down quickly.”
Dr. Shaw began.
Emily felt pressure.
Hands moving.
Voices giving calm instructions.
The monitor beeped.
Her daughter’s heartbeat slowed.
Dr. Shaw’s voice sharpened.
“We need her out now.”
The pressure intensified.
Emily gripped Raymond’s hand.
Seconds stretched.
Then a small cry entered the room.
Thin.
Angry.
Alive.
Emily stopped breathing.
Dr. Shaw lifted a tiny baby above the drape.
Her skin was pink and wet.
Dark hair covered her head.
One arm moved.
Then the neonatal team carried her to the warming station.
“Why isn’t she crying more?” Emily asked.
“She is breathing,” a nurse said.
“We’re helping her.”
Raymond stood despite his injuries.
He watched the team place a small mask over the baby’s face.
Emily could see only tiny feet and quick hands.
“What is happening?”
Dr. Shaw remained focused on surgery.
“She needs breathing support.”
“Is she all right?”
“The neonatal team is with her.”
The baby gave another cry.
Stronger this time.
A nurse brought her close for several seconds.
Emily saw a small round face.
Closed eyes.
A mouth opening beneath the oxygen tube.
“She weighs four pounds, three ounces,” the nurse said.
Emily touched one finger to her daughter’s cheek.
“Claire.”
Raymond looked at her.
Emily’s eyes filled.
“Her name is Claire Rose Saint Claire.”
The nurse smiled.
“Welcome, Claire.”
The baby was taken to a secured neonatal room adjoining the operating suite.
Two officers followed.
Emily remained in surgery while Dr. Shaw controlled the placental bleeding.
Raymond stayed beside her.
“You did it,” he whispered.
“We did.”
“Your mother would be proud.”
Emily closed her eyes.
The relief lasted less than a minute.
An alarm sounded outside.
A voice spoke through the operating-room intercom.
“Security breach in neonatal recovery.”
Raymond stood.
Detective Ruiz’s voice followed.
“Do not open the door.”
Emily tried to lift her head.
“My baby.”
“She is guarded,” Raymond said.
A gunshot sounded beyond the wall.
Then another.
The lights flickered.
Emily heard shouting.
Dr. Shaw ordered the surgical team to continue.
“Emily, you cannot move.”
“Where is Claire?”
No one answered.
The intercom went silent.
Detective Ruiz’s voice returned after thirty seconds.
“The neonatal room has been breached.”
Emily’s entire body turned cold.
“Where is my daughter?”
Raymond pressed the intercom.
“Lena.”
Static answered.
Then Conrad Whitmore’s voice filled the operating room.
“Congratulations, Emily.”
May you like
“You have exactly ten minutes to sign the transfer of control.”
“Or your daughter leaves this hospital with me.”
