Chapter 10 - The Needle
Leah stood so quickly that pain tore through her abdomen.
Eli began crying.
Outside, Dr. Rusk spoke again.
“Leah.”
“I need you to open the door.”
“No.”
“You are placing yourself and your newborn at risk.”
“I’m feeding my baby in a locked room.”
“You disappeared from your assigned bed.”
“Because Nurse Rowland moved me.”
Silence.
Leah immediately realized her mistake.
Mae.
Dr. Rusk’s voice became colder.
“Where is Nurse Rowland?”
“I don’t know.”
Nathan whispered.
“Don’t tell them anything.”
Dr. Rusk snapped.
“You should not be here.”
Nathan answered.
“He’s my son.”
“And Leah is my wife.”
A second voice joined them.
Hospital security.
“Mrs. Carver, please open the door.”
Leah looked around.
There was no second exit.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered silently.
Mae whispered.
“Do not open that door.”
“Where are you?”
“Two floors down.”
“I found Simone.”
Leah nearly sobbed.
“They’re outside.”
“I know.”
“Can you get here?”
“Not yet.”
“Security has locked the elevators.”
Mae paused.
“Simone gave me screenshots.”
“Hundreds.”
“Messages between Nathan, Doreen, and her.”
Leah looked at the door.
“Can we send them somewhere?”
“Already did.”
“To whom?”
“A reporter?”
“No.”
Mae almost laughed.
“Hospital legal counsel.”
Leah stared ahead.
“That helps us?”
“It helps them understand the lawsuit they’re about to inherit.”
A violent knock hit the door.
Eli screamed.
Leah flinched.
Dr. Rusk spoke sharply.
“Open the door now.”
Mae whispered through the phone.
“Stay calm.”
“Tell them you consent to a physical exam but not sedation.”
“Tell them you want an independent physician.”
Leah nodded even though Mae could not see her.
She raised her voice.
“I will open the door if an independent doctor is present.”
Dr. Rusk answered.
“That is unnecessary.”
“Then I’m not opening it.”
“Leah.”
“No sedatives.”
“No psychiatric medication.”
“And Dr. Rusk does not touch me.”
Silence followed.
Nathan suddenly spoke.
“She has that right.”
Dr. Rusk lowered her voice.
“You should think carefully about what side you are choosing.”
Nathan answered.
“I should have done that months ago.”
Leah closed her eyes.
She did not forgive him.
But for the first time, he sounded afraid of the right person.
Five minutes later, another doctor arrived.
Dr. Priya Shah, chief of maternal medicine.
Leah opened the door.
Dr. Rusk stood behind security.
In her hand was a capped syringe.
Dr. Shah saw it.
“What is that?”
Rusk froze.
“A precautionary medication.”
Dr. Shah held out her hand.
“Give it to me.”
May you like
Rusk hesitated.
That hesitation changed everything.
