Chapter 3 - The Web Tightens
The accusation hung in the sterile air like mustard gas. Sarah stared at the paperwork on the desk, her name printed clearly in black ink beneath the clinic header: Sarah Vance – Clonazepam 1mg – 30 Tablets.
"That's impossible," Sarah choked out, her hands shaking violently. "I've never seen that doctor. I've never set foot in that pharmacy. Someone used my identity!"
Ethan was staring at her now, his expression curdling from grief into a horrifying, sickening doubt. "Sarah... you told me last week you were struggling to sleep. You said the crying was driving you out of your mind."
"Ethan, look at me!" Sarah pleaded, grabbing his wrists. "I said I was tired! Every new mother is tired! I would never drug our baby! You know me!"
"Do I?" Ethan’s voice cracked, pulling his hands away as if her skin burned him. "You’ve been locking yourself in the bathroom. You screamed at me two nights ago because I bought the wrong formula. You’ve been unraveling, Sarah."
Behind them, Evelyn stepped into the small office, having slipped through the unlatched door. Her face was a mask of tragic sorrow. "Oh, my poor darling boy. I tried to warn you when I arrived yesterday. I found crushed powder on the kitchen counter, but I didn't want to believe it. I thought it was baby cereal."
"You lying monster!" Sarah lunged forward, but Ethan caught her around the waist, dragging her back as she thrashed. "She did this! She planted it! She wants Lily for herself!"
"Restrain her!" Dr. Evans shouted, stepping between them.
Two hospital security officers burst through the door, grabbing Sarah’s arms and forcing her down into a chair. She fought wildly, weeping, watching Ethan step back toward his mother. Evelyn wrapped an arm around Ethan's shoulders, pulling him against her shoulder, murmuring words of comfort while her dark, triumphant eyes stayed locked on Sarah.
"Mrs. Vance, calm down or we will have to sedate you," the lead security guard warned, his grip bruising her forearms.
A detective in plain clothes appeared in the doorway, flashing a gold badge. "I’m Detective Miller, Special Victims Unit. Mr. Vance, we need to speak in private. Mrs. Vance, you need to come with me down to the station for questioning."
"No! I need to see my baby! Lily needs me!" Sarah sobbed, her fingernails tearing against the vinyl armrests.
"Under emergency hospital protocol, you are barred from the PICU pending the police investigation," Detective Miller said coldly.
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As they hauled Sarah to her feet, she caught a glimpse of Evelyn reaching into her coat pocket. The older woman pulled out a small, amber plastic prescription bottle, discreetly sliding it deeper into the lining of her purse before turning to whisper something into Ethan's ear.
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