Chapter 7 - The Baby
The chirp became a steady warning tone.
Claire’s face drained of color.
A nurse rushed to the fetal monitor.
“Everyone out except medical staff.”
Richard grabbed Lily’s hand. Claire caught his wrist.
“Don’t let Grant near her.”
“I won’t.”
Grant raised his voice from the hall. “I’m the father. I have a right to know what’s happening.”
“You lost the right to make demands,” Richard said.
Doctors entered. Curtains were pulled. The fetal heart rate had dropped, then recovered, then dropped again.
Claire fought to stay calm.
“Is my baby okay?”
“We’re watching closely,” the obstetrician said. “Your body has been through a lot. We may need to deliver early.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Outside, Lily clung to Richard’s leg.
“Is Mommy going away?”
“No, sweetheart.”
“You promise?”
Richard looked through the narrow glass window in the door.
“I promise I’m doing everything I can.”
An hour later, the baby stabilized.
Claire refused medication until every dose was checked by two nurses in front of her.
Detective Bell returned with news from forensics.
“We opened part of the drive.”
Grant’s attorney had arrived by then, a sharp-faced man named Peter Vale, who immediately demanded that questioning stop.
Bell ignored him and spoke to Claire.
“There are copies of financial records, medical forms, and emails between Grant and someone using the initials V.R.”
Vanessa whispered, “No.”
Grant’s attorney turned to her. “Do not speak.”
Bell continued. “There’s also a draft guardianship petition dated three weeks from now.”
Claire stared at him.
“What does it say?”
“That after delivery, you suffered a severe psychiatric episode and became a danger to yourself and both children.”
Claire’s voice shook. “They wrote it before anything happened.”
“Yes.”
Richard’s face went stone-cold.
Bell looked toward Grant.
“But the most important file is a calendar.”
He slid a printed sheet across the table.
Dates. Times. Initials.
One entry was circled.
October 8 - induction window.
Beside it were three words.
REMOVE CLAIRE PERMANENTLY.
Claire read them twice.
Then she looked at Grant.
May you like
He was no longer smiling.
SOFT PINK
