Chapter 3 - The Missing Medical Records
Luka opened the door only two inches.
The woman outside wore hospital scrubs.
Her badge said RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
Luka studied it.
“What’s your employee number?”
The woman froze.
“I’m sorry?”
“Employee number.”
She stepped backward.
Luka opened the door wider.
She turned and ran.
He moved instantly.
But he did not chase her.
Instead, he looked down the hallway.
“Pack the baby’s things.”
“What?”
“We’re leaving.”
“I was told I can’t be discharged.”
“That changed.”
“How?”
“I made a phone call.”
I should have argued.
Instead, I looked at Isla.
Something deep inside me understood one thing.
Derek had not simply left us.
Someone had erased records.
Someone had created a false DNA report.
And now someone had come to my room in the middle of the night.
Twenty minutes later, Luka pushed my wheelchair through a private service corridor.
A black SUV waited beneath the hospital.
Three men stood around it.
All wore dark suits.
One opened the rear door.
I stopped.
“I am not going anywhere until you tell me where.”
“My house.”
“No.”
“A safe property.”
“No.”
Luka crouched so we were eye level.
“Elena, your insurance account was accessed six times tonight.”
My anger disappeared.
“By Derek?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Someone using an executive hospital credential.”
He showed me his phone.
Every medical file connected to my pregnancy had been accessed.
Ultrasounds.
Blood work.
Genetic screenings.
Even Isla’s newborn blood panel.
Then I saw something worse.
Several records now said FILE NOT FOUND.
“They’re deleting everything.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Isla’s blood test showed something.”
My hands began trembling.
“What?”
“A genetic marker.”
“What kind?”
“One that appeared in every known M-17 case.”
I looked down at my baby.
Fear became anger.
“My daughter is not a case.”
“I know.”
“Then stop calling her one.”
Luka’s face softened.
“You’re right.”
For the first time, I saw exhaustion behind his hard expression.
He was not afraid for himself.
He was afraid for us.
I finally entered the SUV.
The city lights disappeared behind tinted glass.
Twenty minutes later, Luka received a call.
He answered through the car speakers.
One of his investigators spoke.
“We checked Elena’s apartment.”
My heart jumped.
“What happened?”
The investigator hesitated.
“Someone got there first.”
My stomach dropped.
“Derek?”
“No.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing obvious.”
Then the investigator added something that made Luka swear under his breath.
“They didn’t steal anything.”
“They searched the nursery.”
I held Isla tighter.
The investigator continued.
“And they left one thing behind.”
“What?”
“A photograph of Elena’s father.”
Luka went silent.
May you like
The investigator took a breath.
“His eyes were crossed out.”
