That realization made me sick.
PART 19
Nathan said.
“Call the police.”
Security said they already had.
The hospital police arrived first.
Then city police.
They took statements.
Mine.
Nathan’s.
Denise’s.
Security’s.
And eventually Mia’s.
That part nearly broke me.
A child advocate came.
She spoke to Mia gently.
No pressure.
No leading.
Mia repeated the same thing.
Grandma touched the tubes.
Grandma looked at the machine.
Grandma said.
“Maybe if the machines stopped, everyone could finally focus on Vanessa.”
Every word.
Same order.
PART 20
I wanted to vomit.
My mother had spent my entire life worshipping Vanessa.
But this?
No.
I could not fit it inside any version of her I knew.
Cruel?
Yes.
Manipulative?
Yes.
Selfish?
Absolutely.
But willing to interfere with a premature baby’s life support?
My mind kept rejecting it.
Then police showed me the video again.
Her face.
Her jacket.
Her hand using the stolen badge.
No misunderstanding there.
She had entered knowingly.
Secretly.
After being denied.
At two in the morning.
PART 21
I called my father.
Blocked numbers do not matter when you dial out.
He answered sleepily.
“Claire?”
“Where is Mom?”
Silence.
“What?”
“Where is she?”
“I think she’s home.”
“Think?”
He sounded confused.
“What happened?”
I closed my eyes.
