Chapter 2 - The Missing File
At the hospital, Rachel heard the baby's heartbeat before she believed she was safe.
The steady thump filled the exam room. She closed her eyes and cried into Jason's shoulder.
"She's okay," Dr. Priya Patel said. "You're bruised and shaken, but the monitoring looks reassuring. I want you resting tonight. If anything changes, you call immediately."
Jason nodded too fast. "Anything. We will."
Rachel looked at him. His wet party clothes had been replaced by gray hospital scrubs someone had found for him. His hair was still damp.
"Where's Vanessa?"
His jaw tightened. "Police took statements. She left with her attorney."
"Of course she did."
Mia sat in the corner, arms wrapped around herself. "I'm sorry. I should've said something sooner."
Rachel looked at her. "Sooner about what?"
Mia opened her mouth, then stopped.
Jason noticed. "Mia."
"Mom has been watching Rachel," she said.
Rachel's skin went cold.
"Watching me how?"
"Asking where you go. Who your doctor is. What time your appointments are. I thought she was being controlling. That's normal for her."
"That is not normal," Rachel said.
Mia gave a humorless laugh. "In our family, it is."
Dr. Patel returned with a tablet in her hand and a worried look.
"Rachel, I need to ask you something. Did you request printed copies of your complete prenatal chart two weeks ago?"
"No."
"Did Jason?"
"No," he said.
Dr. Patel turned the tablet around. "Our system shows an authorized release. Your signature is attached."
Rachel stared at the digital image.
It looked like her signature.
Almost.
"That's forged."
Jason took the tablet. "Who picked it up?"
"The record only says 'family representative.' I'm having compliance pull the access log."
Rachel looked at the ultrasound picture lying inside a clear evidence bag on the counter.
"So she didn't just steal one page."
"No," Dr. Patel said. "Someone accessed everything."
Mia stood. "Mom knew the baby was a girl."
Rachel's pulse jumped.
Jason looked at Dr. Patel. "Who else knew?"
"You two. Me. The ultrasound tech. Anyone with proper access to the chart."
A nurse knocked and stepped inside.
"Doctor? Security needs you."
Dr. Patel frowned. "Why?"
The nurse looked at Rachel.
"Someone just tried to log into her medical file again."
Jason rose.
"From where?"
May you like
The nurse swallowed.
"From inside this hospital."
