“Is this your mother and sister?” Vance asked, turning to look at me.
I looked at Martha, who was staring down at her black leather shoes, her hand still clutching her pearls. If I told the officer the truth, there would be no going back.
“Yes,” I said. “They are my family.”
“Did she pull the cord on purpose, ma’am?” Vance asked, his pen hovering over the notepad.
I kept my mouth shut, the silence stretching out until the only sound was the steady hum of the monitor. My finger tapped against my leg.
“She is not in her right mind, Officer,” Tessa said, stepping forward. “She had a terrible wreck, and she is confused about everything.”
Vance raised his hand to stop her. “I am asking the patient.”
I looked at the blank hospital consent form on my lap. Martha had already reached over and slipped it into her large handbag when she thought the officer was not looking.
“I want them to leave,” I said.
Vance nodded once, his gravelly voice dropping an octave. “Ladies, you need to step out into the hallway now.”
