Chapter 2 - The Pills in Her Hand.
.Rebecca did not release Victoria’s wrist until a nurse appeared in the doorway and froze at the sight before her.
“Call hospital security,” Rebecca said.
Victoria recovered quickly.
Her face softened into offended dignity.
“This woman attacked me.”
Emma made a sound of disbelief.
Rebecca let go only after taking one step back and positioning herself between Victoria and the bed.
The dark pills had fallen onto the white tile.
Three rolled beneath a chair.
One stopped beside Rebecca’s polished shoe.
The nurse looked at Victoria, then at the pills, then at Emma.
Her name badge read LENA ORTIZ, RN.
“Mrs. Mercer, what medication is that?”
Victoria glanced at her.
“You should remember who funds this wing.”
Lena’s face tightened.
Rebecca crouched without touching the pill.
“Get an evidence cup.”
Victoria laughed.
“You are behaving as though this is a crime scene.”
Rebecca rose again.
“That depends on what those are.”
The man in the dark suit took one step forward.
“Captain Hale, I’m advising you to leave.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“And you are?”
“Martin Crowe.”
“That tells me your name, not your authority.”
Crowe said nothing.
Lena quietly pressed the emergency button near the sink.
Emma grabbed Rebecca’s sleeve.
“Mom, my phone.”
Rebecca turned.
“They took it.”
“Who?”
Emma looked at Victoria.
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
“I did no such thing.”
Emma’s voice shook, but she continued.
“Julian took it when I tried to call a taxi.”
Rebecca felt anger rise, but training held it behind her ribs.
“When was Julian here?”
“This morning.”
Victoria interrupted.
“My son came because Emma was hysterical.”
Emma’s eyes flashed.
“I told him the engagement was over.”
The room went silent again.
Rebecca had known Emma and Julian were having problems.
She had not known Emma had ended the relationship.
She certainly had not known Emma had been admitted to a hospital less than an hour afterward.
Lena returned with a specimen cup and gloves.
She collected the pills from the floor one by one.
Victoria watched her with open contempt.
“You are making a career-ending mistake.”
Lena’s hands paused.
Rebecca spoke before fear could take root.
“No, she is documenting medication found at a patient’s bedside.”
Then Rebecca looked directly at Lena.
“Do exactly what your policy requires.”
Lena nodded.
Two hospital security officers entered.
Victoria immediately transformed.
Her voice became calm.
Her posture became composed.
She pointed at Rebecca.
“This visitor became aggressive and physically restrained me.”
One guard looked uncertain.
The other recognized Victoria and straightened.
Rebecca expected that.
What she did not expect was Emma suddenly lifting her blanket and pointing at the inside of her left arm.
There were adhesive marks near the elbow.
“I kept waking up after they gave me things,” Emma said.
Lena stared at the marks.
“What things?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“Sedatives ordered by her physician.”
Lena frowned.
“Dr. Patel discontinued sedatives yesterday.”
Victoria’s eyes snapped toward her.
That was the first genuine mistake she made.
Rebecca saw it.
So did Lena.
Rebecca’s phone vibrated.
A secure message appeared.
FEDERAL LIAISON ACKNOWLEDGED.
ETA COORDINATION IN PROGRESS.
Rebecca showed no one.
She simply put the phone away.
Then Emma whispered something that changed the shape of the entire day.
“Mom, I recorded them before they took my phone.”
Rebecca leaned closer.
“Recorded what?”
May you like
Emma looked toward the closed door.
“Victoria telling Julian that I couldn’t be allowed to leave until I signed the papers.”
