Chapter 6 - The Recording
The voices outside continued for another forty seconds.
Leah recorded every one of them.
Doreen.
Nathan.
Dr. Rusk.
No one said enough individually to explain the entire conspiracy.
Together, they said plenty.
Dr. Rusk warned that an emergency psychiatric hold could not simply be manufactured.
Doreen answered that the documentation already existed.
Nathan asked whether Leah’s nightmare was enough.
Dr. Rusk said it helped establish a pattern.
Leah’s stomach turned.
Her private fears had become paperwork.
Her husband had converted pillow-talk into evidence.
When their footsteps finally faded, Leah lowered the phone.
Her hands were shaking so badly she nearly dropped it.
Owen stirred.
A small sound escaped him.
Leah reached into the bassinet.
“I’m here.”
His fingers closed around hers.
For several minutes, that tiny grip was the only thing keeping her together.
Then someone knocked.
Three soft taps.
Leah froze.
“Leah?”
Nathan.
Her body reacted before her mind did.
Every muscle tightened.
“Leah, are you in there?”
She remembered Mae’s warning.
Do not open the door.
Nathan tried the handle.
“Come on.”
His voice sounded gentle.
Almost wounded.
“I know you’re scared.”
Leah said nothing.
“I’m trying to help you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Once, those words would have worked.
Now they sounded obscene.
Nathan lowered his voice.
“Mom has pushed too hard.”
Leah stared at the door.
“I know that.”
Still she remained silent.
“I can fix this.”
A long pause.
“Just open the door.”
Owen started fussing.
Nathan heard him.
His voice changed.
“Owen’s in there?”
Leah stepped between the bassinet and the door.
“Leah.”
Another knock.
Harder.
“Open the door.”
She finally answered.
“No.”
Silence.
Then Nathan whispered.
“Please.”
“Go away.”
“You don’t understand what’s happening.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Nathan stopped.
Leah looked at the recording timer on her phone.
Still running.
“I heard you.”
Nothing moved outside.
Then Nathan said carefully,
“Heard what?”
“Everything.”
The silence that followed was different.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Nathan tried the handle again.
“Leah, open the door so we can talk.”
“No.”
“If you stay locked in a supply room with the baby, you’re proving exactly what they’re saying.”
There it was.
Not concern.
Threat.
Leah’s fear hardened into anger.
“You mean what you’re saying.”
Nathan exhaled sharply.
“You’re emotional.”
“And you forged my signature.”
Nathan said nothing.
“You used my nightmare.”
Nothing.
“You let your mother build a case against me before I even delivered.”
His voice became low.
“You don’t understand the financial situation.”
Leah almost laughed.
“Our son is hours old.”
“And you’re already talking about his money.”
“Leah—”
“Go away.”
The footsteps eventually retreated.
A minute later, the lock clicked.
Leah grabbed the bassinet.
Mae entered.
Behind her stood Simone.
Leah stared.
“What are you doing here?”
Simone held up her phone.
“Helping.”
Mae shut the door.
Simone looked at Leah.
“I heard enough from my room to know you need more than a nurse.”
“What do I need?”
Simone’s expression hardened.
“A lawyer.”
Leah stared at her.
Simone gave a humorless smile.
May you like
“Lucky for you…”
“That’s what I am.”
