Chapter 4 - The Incapacity Letter
Dr. Elaine Morris had performed my emergency C-section.
She was still in the hospital.
When Daniel showed her the incapacity letter, she read only half the page before asking everyone to stop speaking.
“I did not write this.”
Margaret folded her arms.
“You may not remember every form you sign.”
Dr. Morris looked at her.
“I remember declaring whether my patients are mentally competent.”
Her voice was ice.
“And Judge Carter has never been declared incompetent by me.”
The document claimed I had suffered severe postoperative confusion.
It claimed I had displayed irrational attachment behavior.
It claimed temporary guardianship of my children should be transferred to Ethan.
Then, if Ethan was unavailable, authority would pass to Margaret.
It was constructed to make removing Noah appear medical rather than criminal.
Dr. Morris pointed to a line near the bottom.
“This terminology isn't even used by my department.”
Daniel asked the question already forming in my mind.
“Who had access to Judge Carter's medical record number?”
Dr. Morris looked toward the nurses.
“Clinical staff.”
A nurse shook her head.
“Not just clinical staff.”
Everyone looked at her.
“Patient relations can see basic admission information.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Who from patient relations handled this room?”
The nurse hesitated.
“Marla Vance.”
Ethan looked toward Margaret.
I saw recognition in his face.
“You know her.”
Margaret said nothing.
“Mom.”
“She attended a charity dinner.”
“How many?”
Margaret lifted her chin.
“St. Mary's has received millions from our foundation.”
Daniel immediately used his radio.
“Locate Marla Vance.”
A reply came moments later.
“She clocked out seventeen minutes ago.”
“Stop her before she leaves the property.”
Silence.
Then another voice answered.
“Too late.”
Marla had already driven out of the employee garage.
Margaret tried to hide her relief.
She failed.
I watched her carefully.
“Did Marla give you my medical information?”
“This is absurd.”
“Did she tell you my surgery became an emergency?”
Margaret turned toward Ethan.
“You should be worrying about your wife instead of allowing her to interrogate your mother.”
Ethan stared at her as though he no longer recognized her.
“My wife is lying in a hospital bed because you hit her.”
Margaret's eyes flashed.
“She was trying to stop me from helping this family.”
“You took my son.”
“Our son,” I corrected quietly.
Ethan looked at me.
The distance between us had never felt larger.
Daniel's phone rang.
He listened.
Then his face changed.
“What is it?” I asked.
He looked toward Margaret.
“Marla Vance didn't simply access your chart.”
He paused.
“She printed it.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
A cold feeling moved through me.
Daniel continued.
“And according to the access log, she also opened your newborn discharge file.”
My eyes went immediately to Noah.
Daniel's voice dropped.
May you like
“Someone wasn't only preparing documents to take your son.”
“They were preparing paperwork to get him out of the hospital.”
