Chapter 4: The Second Document
Andre read the message twice.
*HE KNOWS ABOUT THE BOTTLE. GET JASMINE OUT NOW.*
The words seemed to hang in the bright hospital room.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“Who sent that?””
Daniel locked his phone.
“I don't know.””
“You just said it was too late.””
“I said what I said.””
Andre stepped toward him.
“You're not leaving this room until you explain.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You don't understand what you're standing in the middle of.””
Andre's voice dropped.
“Then explain it.””
Monica suddenly grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
“Please.””
Daniel looked down at her hand.
“Monica, you promised me this wouldn't happen.””
Andre heard the sentence.
“What wouldn't happen?””
Monica released him.
Daniel looked at Jasmine.
“She wasn't supposed to know.””
Andre's eyes narrowed.
“Know what?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Andre turned toward his wife.
“Monica.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I was trying to keep her safe.””
“By hiding medication in her backpack?””
“No.””
“Then tell me what you were doing.””
Monica looked at Jasmine.
The girl's face was wet with tears.
“Mom,” Jasmine whispered, “just tell him.””
Monica closed her eyes.
“I can't.””
Andre stared at her.
“You've had nine years to tell me the truth about whatever this is.””
“This isn't about us.””
“You put something in our daughter's backpack.””
“I know.””
“You told her to hide it.””
“I know.””
“And now someone is texting you to get her out of this hospital.””
Monica's voice cracked.
“I never wanted Jasmine involved.””
Andre pointed toward the second paper.
“Then what's that?””
Monica didn't answer.
Andre reached for it.
This time, she didn't stop him.
He unfolded the paper.
At the top was a hospital letterhead.
Below it was Jasmine's full name.
Andre's eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
His expression changed.
Tasha noticed.
“Mr. Hayes?””
Andre didn't respond.
He read the first paragraph again.
Then the second.
His hand began to shake.
“What is this?””
Monica whispered, “Andre…”
“What is this?””
Jasmine looked away.
Andre held the paper up.
“Why does this say Jasmine was evaluated six months ago?””
Monica's lips parted.
“She wasn't.””
Andre looked down.
“Then why is her name on it?””
“I can explain.””
“Explain now.””
Monica walked toward him.
“That document isn't what you think.””
“Then tell me what I think.””
She couldn't.
Andre's eyes moved lower on the page.
There was a physician's signature.
A date.
A reference number.
And one handwritten note in the margin.
*FOLLOW-UP REQUIRED. DO NOT DISCUSS WITH PATIENT'S FATHER.*
Andre stopped breathing for a second.
His eyes lifted.
“You told them not to tell me?””
Monica shook her head.
“No.””
“It's written right here.””
“I didn't write that.””
“Who did?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“I do.””
Andre turned sharply.
Daniel looked at Monica.
“You need to tell him.””
Monica whispered, “Daniel, don't.””
“Tell me what?””
Daniel swallowed.
“The document isn't about Jasmine.””
Andre looked down again.
“But her name is right there.””
“That's the problem.””
Tasha took the paper from Andre.
She examined it carefully.
“This doesn't look like a normal patient copy.””
“What does that mean?”” Andre asked.
“It means I want the attending physician to verify it before anyone assumes anything.””
Monica immediately shook her head.
“No doctor.””
Tasha looked at her.
“Mrs. Hayes, your daughter is a patient here.””
“I know.””
“Then we need to know why this document is in her possession.””
Monica looked toward the door.
“No.””
Andre caught the movement.
“You're afraid of someone.””
“No.””
“You keep looking at that door.””
Monica's voice trembled.
“Because I know what happens if the wrong person walks in.””
Daniel's phone buzzed again.
He checked it.
This time his face went pale.
Andre held out his hand.
“Show me.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Show me.””
Daniel slowly turned the screen around.
Another message.
*THE RECORD HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.*
Andre stared.
“What record?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Monica whispered, “We have to leave.””
Andre looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because they know we're here.””
“Who?””
Monica grabbed Jasmine's backpack.
Andre immediately blocked her.
“Don't touch it.””
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“It's dangerous.””
Andre stared at her.
“What is?””
“The bottle.””
His eyes dropped to the prescription bottle.
“What did you put in it?””
Monica's face collapsed.
“I didn't put anything in it.””
“Then why are you afraid of it?””
“Because someone else did.””
Silence.
Andre looked at Daniel.
Daniel slowly shook his head.
“I told her not to bring it.””
Andre's voice was barely audible.
“Bring what?””
Daniel looked toward Jasmine.
“The bottle wasn't supposed to be in that backpack.””
Andre turned toward his daughter.
“Jasmine?””
She was crying again.
“I didn't put it there.””
Andre looked at Monica.
“Then who did?””
Before Monica could answer, the examination-room door opened.
A hospital administrator stood outside with two security officers.
The administrator looked directly at Andre.
“Mr. Hayes?””
Andre straightened.
“Yes?””
“I'm going to need you to step away from your daughter.””
“Why?””
The administrator's expression was unusually serious.
“Because we have received a report concerning Jasmine's medical records.””
Andre glanced at Monica.
She had gone completely still.
The administrator looked at her.
“And Mrs. Hayes…”
He paused.
“You need to come with us.””
Monica whispered, “No.””
The administrator reached for the door.
“We need to discuss what happened six months ago.””
Andre's eyes locked on his wife.
Six months.
The same date on the document.
The same date Monica had refused to explain.
And suddenly Jasmine screamed.
“Dad!””
Andre spun around.
May you like
She was pointing beneath the examination bed.
“There's another bag.””
