Chapter 5: The Police Officer at the Hospital
The office door opened before I could respond.
Daniel walked in wearing a navy suit, his hair perfectly styled.
Beside him stood a uniformed police officer.
Vanessa followed.
She was wearing the same pearl earrings I'd given her for her birthday.
"Laura," Daniel said, looking almost relieved.
"Thank God.""
I stared at him.
"Why are you here?""
He turned toward the officer.
"This is my wife. She's been acting irrationally since this morning. She took our children without telling me where she was going.""
I almost laughed.
"Your children?""
Daniel ignored me.
"Officer, I have reason to believe she's experiencing a psychological episode.""
Dr. Reed stepped forward.
"Daniel, that's not true.""
Daniel gave him a warning look.
"Samuel, stay out of this.""
The officer raised a hand.
"Everyone, let's slow down. Mr. Mitchell reported a domestic custody dispute. I need to establish whether the children are safe.""
"They're with my brother," I said.
"They're safe.""
"Do you have a court order?""
"No.""
Daniel immediately interrupted.
"And I have a pending emergency custody petition.""
The officer looked at him.
"A pending petition isn't the same as a custody order, sir.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"She's been neglecting them for years. She works overnight shifts and leaves them with whoever is available.""
I stepped closer.
"Whoever is available? I arranged childcare. You were their father. You were supposed to be looking after them.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Laura, perhaps you should think about what's best for the girls instead of trying to punish Daniel.""
I turned toward her.
"You mean the girls you left sleeping while you shared a bed with my husband?""
Her cheeks flushed.
"That's a private matter.""
"Not when my five-year-old is freezing on a kitchen floor.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Enough!""
The officer raised his voice.
"Mr. Mitchell, step back.""
Daniel reluctantly moved.
I pulled out my phone.
"I have photographs of the forged property documents, the custody petition, and the financial transfers.""
Daniel's face changed.
"Those documents were stolen!""
Dr. Reed spoke quietly.
"Daniel, you need to stop.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"Shut your mouth.""
The officer looked between them.
"What's going on here?""
I handed him copies of the photographs.
He studied the property transfer agreement.
"Mrs. Mitchell, do you recognize this signature?""
"Yes. It's supposed to be mine. I didn't sign it.""
"Do you have the original document?""
"Not with me.""
Daniel laughed.
"Because she's making it up.""
I opened another photograph.
It showed the custody petition and the proposed caregiver arrangement.
The officer's expression hardened.
"Mr. Mitchell, why is your sister-in-law listed as the proposed caregiver?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because she's family.""
"Your wife is also family.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"I've been helping with the children for weeks.""
I looked at her.
"Then explain why Lily was told she couldn't go upstairs.""
Vanessa's expression flickered.
The officer turned toward Daniel.
"Did you leave the child unattended?""
"Absolutely not. It was a game.""
"A game?""
"Yes.""
"How old is she?""
"Five.""
The officer stared at him.
Daniel looked away.
For the first time, he seemed unable to find an excuse.
Then Vanessa pulled a folded paper from her handbag.
"Officer, I have something that proves Laura is unstable.""
She handed it over.
It was a printed hospital incident report.
According to the report, I'd become aggressive toward a patient during an overnight shift two months earlier.
My employee identification number was printed at the top.
But the incident had never happened.
I recognized the formatting.
It was an internal administrative report.
The officer looked at me.
"Is this accurate?""
"No.""
Daniel folded his arms.
"She has a history of losing control.""
I turned toward Dr. Reed.
"Samuel, tell him.""
Dr. Reed looked uncomfortable.
"That report was never entered into our official system.""
Daniel's face went rigid.
The officer raised his eyebrows.
"Then where did it come from?""
Dr. Reed picked up the paper.
"Someone generated it using hospital templates.""
Daniel stepped toward him.
"You said you wouldn't interfere.""
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Everyone went silent.
The officer slowly turned.
"What did you just say?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I meant—"
But the officer was already reaching for his radio.
"Dispatch, I need to document a possible fraudulent medical record in connection with a family dispute.""
Vanessa grabbed Daniel's arm.
"We need to leave.""
He shook her off.
"Not now.""
Then my phone vibrated.
Michael had sent a photograph.
It showed an email printed from Daniel's home office.
The subject line was:
*OPERATION NEW FAMILY — FINAL STEP*
Beneath it was a message from Vanessa.
The girls are ready. Laura just needs to disappear from the picture.
I stared at the words.
Another message arrived.
*Michael: Laura, I found the original payment agreement. Daniel wasn't the person who started this.*
My stomach tightened.
I typed back.
*Who started it?*
Three dots appeared.
Then Michael replied.
*Your sister. And she has been planning this for almost two years.*
I looked up.
Vanessa was watching me.
Her expression had changed.
She wasn't frightened anymore.
She was smiling.
"What's so funny?"" I asked.
She tilted her head.
"You're finally asking the right questions, Laura.""
The officer moved toward her.
"Ma'am, I'd like you to remain here.""
Vanessa reached into her handbag and removed a document.
She placed it on Dr. Reed's desk.
"Before anyone arrests anyone, perhaps you should read this.""
It was a DNA report.
The name at the top belonged to my thirteen-year-old daughter, Chloe.
The tested individual was listed as Daniel Mitchell.
The result stated that Daniel was not her biological father.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why do you have this?""
She smiled.
"Because I know something you don't.""
Then she pointed at the final page.
The biological father's name was printed beneath the result.
May you like
And it wasn't Dr. Reed.
It was Michael.
