Chapter 10 - NO ONE TAKES HER
The ambulance stood beyond the iron gates.
Vincent waited beside Dr. Hale, holding a folder.
Santiago stepped out of the car before Tomas finished speaking.
“What is this?”
Hale wore his patient smile.
“We have serious concerns about Sophia’s condition.”
“Who is we?”
“Her treatment team.”
“You haven’t examined her.”
“Your household reported agitation and medication refusal.”
Santiago glanced toward Mrs. Delaney, who stood pale behind the gatehouse window.
She shook her head.
Vincent stepped forward.
“Let’s keep this dignified.”
“Leave.”
Hale lifted the folder.
“A transfer has been arranged for assessment.”
“Does Sophia consent?” Nora asked.
She had arrived in a second car.
Hale hesitated.
“She has impaired judgment.”
“She’s an adult. What legal authority are you claiming?”
Vincent’s face tightened.
“This is a family matter.”
“Then stop bringing an ambulance into it.”
One of the paramedics looked between them.
“We were told the patient requested transport.”
“She didn’t,” Santiago said.
From behind him came the sound of footsteps.
Sophia stood on the front path.
Ruby walked beside her but did not lead.
Santiago turned.
“You don’t have to come out.”
Sophia raised her tablet.
“I know.”
She approached the gate until she could see Hale clearly.
Her fingers shook so badly she had to correct the first sentence twice.
Then the device spoke.
“I did not request an ambulance.”
The paramedic nodded.
“Do you want medical help right now?”
Sophia typed.
“From my new doctor. Not him.”
Hale’s smile disappeared.
“Sophia, you’re under considerable influence.”
She looked at Ruby.
Then back at him.
“Yes. People are finally listening to me.”
Vincent stepped toward the bars.
“Be careful, sweetheart.”
Santiago moved in front of her.
Nora turned to the paramedics.
“Please document exactly what you were told when this call was arranged.”
Hale lowered the folder.
“This is unnecessary.”
“So was the ambulance,” she said.
They left without Sophia.
Inside, Mrs. Delaney began to cry.
“Dr. Hale called yesterday. He said he needed to know whether she was restless. I told him she wasn’t sleeping well. I didn’t understand.”
Santiago almost snapped at her.
Then he remembered how many times he had answered the same questions without asking why.
“Tell the investigators everything.”
His phone rang.
Nora glanced at hers at the same moment.
The digital examiner had recovered data from Elena’s phone.
May you like
One file was an audio recording.
Created the night she died.
