Chapter 2: The Phone That Wasn't There
Part 2 ⬇️
Leah pressed her back against the cold metal shelving and held her breath.
Through the door, she could hear Nathan's voice clearly now.
"How long does the hold last?"
"Seventy-two hours," Doreen said.
"Long enough for us to get the paperwork in order."
"And the baby?"
"Goes home with me.
I've already spoken to Dr.
Rusk."
Leah's legs nearly gave out.
She grabbed the shelf beside her with one hand and pulled her son's bassinet closer with the other.
He was still sleeping.
Still safe.
She had to keep him that way.
Mae was watching the door with both hands flat against it, as if she could hold the whole hallway back by force.
"They can't do this," Leah mouthed.
Mae turned and leaned close to her ear.
"They've done it before," she whispered.
"Not here.
But I've seen the paperwork Doreen brought in this morning.
She had it prepared before you even delivered."
Before she even delivered.
Leah stared at her son's face — his tiny closed eyes, his curled fists — and understood that this had never been about her health.
Then a third voice spoke from the hallway.
One Leah didn't recognize.
"The signature is ready.
We just need the attending to co-sign before the shift changes."
Footsteps moved quickly toward the nurses' station.
Mae straightened up.
"I have maybe ten minutes," she said.
"There's someone I need to call.
Someone who can stop this before it goes any further."
She reached into her scrubs pocket.
Her phone was gone.
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What Leah found out next — and who Mae was trying to reach — changes everything.
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