Chapter 11 - The Emergency Room
“Fetal distress!”
“Pressure is seventy over forty!”
“Get OR ready!”
Harrison followed the stretcher until a nurse blocked him.
“You can’t come past this point.”
“That’s my sister.”
“I understand.”
“She’s thirty-two weeks pregnant.”
“I understand.”
“Then let me—”
“Harrison.”
A doctor stepped through the doors.
“We have to operate.”
“Is she awake?”
“Barely.”
“The baby?”
“We’re doing an emergency C-section.”
Harrison’s face went pale.
“Will they survive?”
“I can’t promise you that.”
The doors closed.
Harrison stood alone.
For the first time in years, he had no argument.
No motion.
No strategy.
Nothing.
Only waiting.
Richard arrived twelve minutes later.
Harrison saw him.
Walked straight toward him.
Richard stopped.
“Harrison—”
Harrison punched him.
One clean hit.
Richard crashed into the wall.
Hospital security moved instantly.
Harrison raised his hands.
“I’m done.”
Richard wiped blood from his mouth.
“You’re insane.”
Harrison stepped closer.
“You stood there.”
“What?”
“You watched her fall.”
“I was in shock.”
“You watched.”
“I didn’t push her.”
“No.”
Harrison’s voice dropped.
“But I’m going to find out what you did.”
Police arrived.
Vanessa had already been arrested at the courthouse.
Three witnesses had recorded the shove.
It looked simple.
Assault.
Maybe attempted murder.
But Harrison no longer believed in simple.
Hours passed.
Then the surgeon appeared.
Harrison stood so fast his chair tipped over.
“Khloe?”
“She survived surgery.”
He closed his eyes.
“And the baby?”
The doctor smiled slightly.
“A girl. Three pounds, fourteen ounces.”
Harrison covered his face.
He laughed once.
Then cried.
“Can I see them?”
“Your niece is in neonatal intensive care. Your sister is still critical.”
“But alive.”
“Yes.”
“Both alive.”
“Yes.”
Behind him, Richard whispered, “Thank God.”
Harrison turned.
“Don’t.”
Richard looked stunned.
“That’s my daughter.”
“You’ll prove that in court.”
Richard’s expression darkened.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Harrison walked closer.
“It means your wife whispered something before she passed out.”
Richard’s face changed.
“What?”
“Check his phone.”
Richard stopped breathing.
Harrison saw it.
That tiny reaction.
That was enough.
He turned to Detective Elena Ruiz.
“Get a warrant.”
Richard backed away.
“For what?”
Harrison looked at him.
“Your phone.”
Richard reached into his pocket.
Ruiz shouted.
“Don’t touch it!”
May you like
Richard suddenly ran.
Straight through the hospital doors.
