Chapter 2 - The Woman in Maroon.
Arthur did not answer Emma until the door was fully closed.
He walked to the bassinet, checked that Grace was sleeping, and lowered his voice.
"Nothing happens to you tonight," he said.
Emma knew her father well enough to hear what he was not saying.
Something could happen tomorrow.
A nurse named Elena Ortiz entered quietly and asked whether Emma wanted the room restricted to approved visitors.
Emma nodded immediately.
Arthur told Elena that Don Mercer and Claire Benson were not to enter without Emma's direct permission.
Elena wrote the restriction into the chart and left.
Emma looked down at Noah.
"Tell me what that number means."
Arthur unfolded the crumpled document as carefully as he could.
"It's a county filing reference."
"For what?"
"I don't know yet."
That was almost certainly a lie, and Emma knew it.
Arthur had spent his career negotiating hospital acquisitions, lawsuits, and regulatory investigations.
He rarely said he did not know when he actually knew.
Emma turned toward the empty doorway.
"Claire is pregnant."
Arthur's expression softened.
"I saw."
"He told her we were separated."
Arthur sat beside the bed.
"Then he lied to both of you."
Emma laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
Three days earlier, Don had kissed her forehead and promised he would be beside her through every contraction.
Now he had arrived after the birth with another pregnant woman and a document touching every part of Emma's life.
The humiliation burned almost as much as the betrayal.
"I should have seen it," Emma said.
Arthur shook his head.
"You were building a family, not conducting an investigation."
His phone rang.
The caller was Margaret Sloan, Hale Memorial's general counsel.
Arthur put the call on speaker.
"Arthur, I pulled the filing number," Margaret said.
"You need to listen carefully."
Emma's grip tightened around the blanket.
Margaret continued.
"Don filed an emergency petition this afternoon."
"What kind of petition?" Emma asked.
There was a pause.
"He claims you are medically unable to make independent decisions following childbirth."
Emma stared at her father.
Margaret kept speaking.
"He is requesting temporary authority over your personal finances and the children's discharge decisions."
Arthur rose so quickly the chair rolled backward.
"On what evidence?"
"Two written statements from physicians."
Arthur's face went still.
"Which physicians?"
Margaret read the names.
Both doctors worked for companies partly owned by Hale Medical Group.
Emma had met neither of them.
"That's impossible," she said.
"They never examined me."
"I know," Margaret replied.
"The hearing is scheduled for nine tomorrow morning."
Emma felt the room tilt.
Noah made a small sound, and she instinctively held him closer.
Arthur promised Margaret he would call back within ten minutes.
After the line disconnected, Emma whispered, "Can he take the twins?"
"Not without a judge," Arthur said.
"And not while I'm standing."
A soft knock came from the hallway.
Elena opened the door only a few inches.
Claire Benson stood outside alone.
She no longer looked polished or confident.
Her mascara had smudged beneath one eye.
"I need to speak to Emma," Claire said.
Arthur immediately refused.
Claire reached into her handbag and pulled out a black flash drive.
"Then tell her Don lied about more than our relationship."
She placed the drive in Elena's hand.
"He also lied about why he needed her signature."
Emma stared at the tiny object.
May you like
Claire stepped back.
"And if he finds out I gave you that, he'll know exactly what I'm afraid of."
