Chapter 2 - The Race Against Time
The next forty-five minutes were the longest of my life. I paced the waiting room, my fingernails digging into my palms so hard they drew blood. Every time the heavy double doors of the ICU opened, my heart stopped. I prayed to a God I hadn't spoken to in years, promising anything and everything just to let my little girl survive.
Finally, Dr. Bennett emerged. His scrubs were rumpled, and sweat glistened on his forehead, but the grim expression he had worn earlier had softened marginally.
"We stabilized her," he said, his voice thick with exhaustion. "But Emily, it was incredibly close. Her heart stopped for a full two minutes. We managed to get her back, and we've put her on a heavy dose of broad-spectrum immunosuppressants to buy us time, but it's like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. She needs her specific medication. Without it, her organs will begin failing within forty-eight hours."
"Can't the hospital just issue more?" I begged, tears finally spilling over my eyelashes.
Dr. Bennett shook his head, looking disgusted. "The medication is highly restricted and manufactured in small batches. Daniel exploited his clearance as the senior pharmacist to alter the digital inventory. The system shows Lily received the full month's supply. Ordering a replacement flags an audit, which takes days. We don't have days."
"He stole it," I said, the reality of it settling into my bones. "He stole it to give to Vanessa."
"I've already contacted the hospital administration and the police," Dr. Bennett assured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "But Daniel is smart. He knows the system's loopholes. If we don't find physical proof that he diverted the drugs, he could claim a clerical error and tie this up in administrative red tape while Lily..." He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
"I need to go home," I said, my voice eerily calm.
"Emily, you should stay here with—"
"No," I interrupted, my eyes hardening. "Daniel keeps a physical ledger in his home office. He’s old-school; he doesn't trust digital clouds for his 'private' matters. If he forged a transfer or moved inventory, there will be a paper trail in his safe. I have to go now, before he realizes the police are involved and destroys the evidence."
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Dr. Bennett looked at me, seeing the absolute determination burning in my eyes. "Go," he said. "I won't leave her side. I promise."
I grabbed my purse and practically ran to the elevator. The terrified, weeping mother was gone. In her place was a woman on a warpath. I drove the fifteen miles to our suburban home in record time, my mind racing. Daniel had always been arrogant, convinced he was the smartest person in any room. That arrogance was going to be his downfall.
