Chapter 2 — The Birthday That Was Stolen
At the hospital, doctors worked for hours before finally allowing us into Lily's room.
She slept beneath warm blankets.
An IV rested in her tiny hand.
The pediatric physician closed the door behind him.
"She's going to recover."
Relief flooded through me.
Then he continued.
"But she didn't simply fall asleep."
Blood tests confirmed a prescription sedative in her system.
A dosage no four-year-old should ever receive.
Marcus slowly sat down.
Someone had drugged our daughter.
Detectives obtained a search warrant before sunset.
Inside my parents' kitchen they discovered an open bottle of sleeping medication.
Several tablets were missing.
The forensic team recovered fingerprints.
Not mine.
Not Marcus's.
Vanessa's.
When confronted, she laughed nervously.
"I only wanted her to sleep through Emma's party."
The detective stared at her.
May you like
"Today wasn't Emma's birthday."
Her smile disappeared.
