Chapter 4 - The Prescription
The prescription had been filled six times.
Every pickup was logged at the same pharmacy near Margaret’s house.
Emily stared at the record while Daniel paced the hospital room.
“This has to be some kind of computer error.”
Tessa stood beside the bed. “It may be. But it still needs to be investigated.”
Emily thought about the last three months.
The mornings she had felt dizzy.
The strange heaviness after drinking tea Margaret prepared.
The afternoon she fell asleep at the kitchen table and woke to Margaret saying, “Pregnancy has made you useless.”
Her skin went cold.
“Daniel.”
He stopped pacing.
“Your mother makes my tea.”
His expression changed. “Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t turn this into something insane.”
Emily laughed in disbelief. “There is a prescription in my name written by your mother’s doctor.”
“That doesn’t mean Mom drugged you.”
“I didn’t say she did.”
“You were going to.”
Tessa stepped between them verbally before the argument could grow. “The hospital can run toxicology.”
Emily nodded immediately.
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than Emily expected.
“Do it,” she said.
Two hours later, the results came back.
A low level of clonazepam was present in her blood.
Daniel sat down hard in the chair.
“I don’t understand.”
Emily did.
Not completely.
But enough.
A social worker helped her file for an emergency protective order. Daniel was not included in it, but Margaret was ordered to stay away from Emily and the hospital.
Daniel looked stunned when he read the papers.
“My mother is seventy.”
“She is strong enough to hit me.”
“She’s not some criminal mastermind.”
Emily’s eyes burned. “Then help me prove it.”
For the first time, he had no quick defense.
Late that night, when the contractions had eased enough for Emily to sleep, Daniel went home to collect clothing for her.
He returned pale.
“What happened?” Emily asked.
Daniel closed the hospital door.
“I checked Mom’s bathroom cabinet.”
Emily sat up.
He placed a pharmacy bag on the table.
Inside was a bottle with Emily’s name printed on the label.
Empty.
Daniel whispered, “It was hidden behind her vitamins.”
Emily stared at him.
Then his phone rang.
Margaret.
He answered.
May you like
Her first words were loud enough for Emily to hear.
“Did you find the bottle?”
