Chapter 8 - DR. HOLLOWAY
Dr. Holloway agreed to speak with police.
He also agreed to speak with Daniel.
Not me.
I was still recovering, and Noah remained in the NICU.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
The old man's voice was thin.
"Daniel Carter?"
"Yes."
A long pause.
"You sound like your father."
Daniel looked at Robert.
"Tell me about Matthew."
Silence.
"Doctor?"
"Your mother loved you boys very much."
"That's not an answer."
"No."
"What happened?"
Holloway breathed heavily.
"Margaret had severe postpartum anxiety after the birth."
Robert closed his eyes.
"She believed the hospital staff were trying to take her children."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"And Matthew?"
"He developed respiratory distress."
"Did he die?"
Another pause.
"Yes."
"Naturally?"
Holloway didn't answer.
Officer Harris stepped in.
"Dr. Holloway, were there concerns regarding Margaret's actions?"
The old man spoke more quietly.
"She disconnected one of Matthew's oxygen lines."
Robert made a broken sound.
Daniel went pale.
"What?"
"She claimed it was an accident."
Holloway continued.
"But a nurse saw her."
"Was she arrested?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Your father begged the hospital not to pursue it."
Daniel turned toward Robert.
Robert's face collapsed.
"You knew."
Robert cried openly.
"I was scared."
"You knew she might have caused his death."
"I didn't know. Not for certain."
"And you stayed with her?"
"I thought she was sick. I thought treatment would fix it."
Daniel stepped away from him.
Holloway continued.
"She became extremely possessive of you after Matthew died."
"Why didn't anyone protect me?"
"I tried."
"How?"
"I recommended psychiatric care."
"That's it?"
"Your mother threatened the hospital."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Of course she did."
Then Holloway said something none of us expected.
"She came to see me six months ago."
I sat forward.
"Six months?"
Daniel asked, "Why?"
"She wanted medication."
"What kind?"
"Something to induce labor."
Every person in the room froze.
Officer Harris spoke first.
"Did you give it to her?"
"No."
"Did she say why she wanted it?"
Holloway swallowed.
"She said her daughter-in-law needed to deliver early."
My heart hammered.
"Did she say why?"
The old man hesitated.
Then he answered.
"She said if the baby came early enough, everyone would realize Emily wasn't fit to be a mother."
Daniel's face turned gray.
And then Holloway added one final sentence.
"She also told me she had done something similar before."
May you like
I whispered, "To who?"
But the old man refused to answer.
