Chapter 6: The Man Who Ordered the Test
The door opened before anyone could stop it.
A tall Black man in a charcoal suit stepped inside.
He looked to be in his late forties.
No hospital badge.
No medical uniform.
Just a leather folder tucked under one arm.
His eyes went straight to Monica.
“Hello, Monica.””
She backed away.
Andre stepped between them.
“Who are you?””
The man looked at him.
“Calvin Brooks.””
Andre's eyes narrowed.
“You know my wife?””
Calvin smiled without warmth.
“We've known each other for a long time.””
Monica shook her head.
“Calvin, you shouldn't be here.””
“You said the same thing six months ago.””
Andre turned toward Monica.
“Six months ago?””
Calvin looked at Jasmine.
“She's grown.””
Andre immediately moved closer to his daughter.
“Don't look at her.””
Calvin's eyes returned to him.
“Protective. I understand.””
“You're going to explain why you ordered a medical test on my daughter.””
Calvin said nothing.
Andre stepped forward.
“Now.””
Calvin opened his leather folder.
Inside were several documents.
“I didn't order a test on your daughter.””
Andre frowned.
“Then who did?””
Calvin looked at Monica.
“She did.””
Monica's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
Calvin pulled out a document.
“Your wife contacted me.””
Andre turned toward Monica.
“Is that true?””
She shook her head.
“Not like that.””
“Then explain.””
“I didn't know who else to call.””
Calvin placed the document on the medical cart.
Andre looked down.
It was an authorization form.
Monica's signature was at the bottom.
Next to it was another name.
*CALVIN BROOKS.*
Andre stared.
“Why is your name on my daughter's medical record?””
Calvin leaned against the cart.
“Because Monica asked me to help her.””
“With what?””
Calvin glanced at Jasmine.
“With a question she couldn't ask you.””
Andre's voice hardened.
“What question?””
Calvin looked him directly in the eye.
“Whether Jasmine was biologically your daughter.””
Jasmine began crying.
Andre turned immediately.
“Baby, don't listen.””
But Jasmine shook her head.
“I already knew.””
Andre froze.
“What?””
Jasmine wiped her cheek.
“I heard Mom talking about it.””
Monica whispered, “Jasmine…”
“I heard her say your name.””
Andre looked at his wife.
“You discussed this in front of her?””
“I thought she was asleep.””
“And she wasn't.””
Monica covered her face.
Calvin quietly said, “That's why she stole the bottle.””
Andre looked at him.
“What does the bottle have to do with this?””
Calvin didn't answer immediately.
Tasha stepped forward.
“Mr. Brooks, if you know what is in that bottle, you need to tell us.””
Calvin looked at her.
“I don't know what's in it.””
Andre stared.
“Then why did you say that's why she stole it?””
“Because Monica told Jasmine to hide something.””
Monica shook her head.
“I never told her to steal anything.””
“You told her to protect it.””
“I told her to keep it away from him.””
Andre looked at Monica.
“Why?””
Monica's voice became barely audible.
“Because the bottle isn't mine.””
Andre pointed toward the prescription bottle.
“It has your name on it.””
“I know.””
“Then whose is it?””
Monica looked at Calvin.
He didn't move.
Andre noticed.
“You know.””
Calvin said, “Yes.””
“Whose bottle?””
Calvin's eyes settled on Jasmine.
“His.””
Andre frowned.
“Whose?””
Calvin reached into his folder and removed a photograph.
He placed it on the cart.
Andre picked it up.
It showed a man standing outside a clinic.
Andre recognized the building.
But not the man.
Calvin said quietly, “That's the person who gave Monica the medication.””
Andre stared at the photograph.
“Why would he give my wife medication?””
Calvin's expression hardened.
“Because Monica wasn't supposed to survive what happened six months ago.””
Andre looked at Monica.
She was trembling.
“What happened?””
Monica didn't answer.
Calvin continued.
“She came to me because she was afraid.””
“Afraid of who?””
“The same person who has been watching your family.””
Andre's blood ran cold.
“You mean the person texting you?””
Calvin nodded.
Andre looked toward the locked door.
“How long?””
“Months.””
“Why?””
Calvin hesitated.
“Because they thought Jasmine had something.””
“What?””
“A record.””
Andre remembered the second document.
“The one in her backpack.””
Calvin nodded.
“That record proves something.””
“What?””
Calvin looked at Monica.
“You need to tell him.””
Monica shook her head.
“No.””
Calvin's voice became firm.
“Monica.””
“No.””
“You've hidden this long enough.””
Andre stepped toward his wife.
“What does the record prove?””
Monica began crying.
“I was wrong.””
“About what?””
She looked at Jasmine.
Then at Andre.
“I thought you weren't her father.””
Andre stared at her.
“And now?””
Monica couldn't answer.
Calvin stepped closer.
“The test wasn't completed.””
Andre frowned.
“What?””
“The sample was switched.””
Andre's face went blank.
“Switched?””
“Yes.””
“By who?””
Calvin looked toward the door.
Nobody moved.
Then he said:
“By someone inside this hospital.””
Tasha's expression changed.
The administrator immediately reached for his radio.
“What are you saying?””
Calvin pointed toward the hallway.
“The person who switched the sample is still here.””
A sharp knock came from the other side of the door.
Everyone froze.
Another knock.
Then a voice.
“Mrs. Hayes?””
Monica's eyes widened.
She knew that voice.
Andre looked at her.
“Who is it?””
Monica whispered:
“The doctor who told me Jasmine wasn't your daughter.””
The door handle slowly turned.
And Jasmine suddenly grabbed Andre's arm.
“Dad…”
He looked down.
She was staring at the prescription bottle.
“There’s a second name underneath Mom’s label.””
Andre picked it up.
He turned the bottle over.
A tiny strip of white paper had been taped beneath the first label.
He peeled it back.
May you like
A name was written underneath.
*CALVIN BROOKS.*
