Chapter 3 - The Wrong Initial.
Rachel opened the portal before Dr. Mercer could stop her.
She was tired of waiting for other people to decide what she was allowed to know.
The updated result filled the screen.
Most of it meant nothing to her.
One detail did.
Patient: E. Bennett.
Rachel looked at Emma.
Her daughter's full name was Emma Rose Bennett.
The initial could have been correct.
The birth year beneath it was not.
Rachel turned the phone toward Dr. Mercer.
“That isn't her.”
He took the phone without touching the screen.
“No.”
Rachel felt relief hit first.
Anger followed immediately.
“Then remove it.”
“I will have the lab correct the record.”
“No, I want it gone now.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
Dr. Mercer stayed calm.
“I understand that you've spent hours believing your daughter could have a serious problem because an unverified result appeared in the portal.”
Rachel's voice tightened.
“That is exactly what happened.”
Emma slid down from the examination table.
“Can we leave now?”
Dr. Mercer looked at her gently.
“We're close.”
Rachel turned back to him.
“You said the results that are actually hers look reassuring.”
“They do.”
“Then say what she has.”
Dr. Mercer rotated the monitor so Rachel could see.
He pointed to a group of values.
“These are Emma's verified blood results.”
Rachel leaned closer.
“They show a mild inflammatory pattern.”
“What does that mean in normal English?”
“It fits with a small infection.”
“Nothing worse?”
“Nothing here suggests the larger concern we discussed yesterday.”
Rachel finally released a breath.
Emma heard only one word.
“Infection?”
Dr. Mercer nodded.
“Minor infection.”
Emma looked down at her hands.
“Do infections need shots?”
Rachel almost smiled despite herself.
Before the doctor could answer, a knock sounded at the door.
Nurse Tessa Cole entered with a printed sheet in her hand.
Her face was controlled, but she moved quickly.
“Daniel, the lab called again.”
Dr. Mercer stood.
“What did they find?”
Tessa glanced toward Rachel and Emma.
“They found two labels generated within six seconds of each other.”
Rachel's relief disappeared.
“For my daughter?”
Tessa hesitated.
“For two patients with the same last name.”
Dr. Mercer took the paper.
“Same first initial?”
“Yes.”
Rachel stepped forward.
“You're saying there were two E. Bennetts?”
Tessa nodded.
“One pediatric patient and one adult patient.”
Dr. Mercer scanned the page.
“Which accession number belongs to Emma?”
“That's what they're rebuilding now.”
Rachel stared at both of them.
“Rebuilding?”
Tessa explained carefully.
“The lab system briefly lost the link between the printed label and the electronic order.”
Rachel's voice rose.
“So you don't know which sample is hers?”
“We know which specimens were collected from the clinic.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Tessa did not flinch.
“The lab is verifying the chain manually.”
Emma moved closer to her mother.
Rachel wrapped an arm around her.
Dr. Mercer looked at the nurse.
“How long?”
“They said they would call within fifteen minutes.”
Rachel gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
“Fifteen minutes.”
She looked at the clock on the wall.
“I have been afraid since seven twelve this morning.”
Dr. Mercer lowered the paper.
“Rachel, I still believe the concerning result is not Emma's.”
“But you cannot prove it yet.”
“Not yet.”
Emma looked up.
“What happens if they can't prove it?”
Nobody answered immediately.
That pause was enough.
The girl stepped backward.
“I don't want another blood test.”
Rachel turned sharply toward Dr. Mercer.
“You told her yesterday one test would be enough.”
“It should be.”
“Should be?”
The doctor's phone rang again.
Tessa looked at the caller ID.
“It's the lab supervisor.”
Dr. Mercer answered.
May you like
Rachel watched his face.
For the first time all morning, he stopped looking reassuring.
