Chapter 3 - The Papers Beneath the Bandages
Nurse Hannah moved first.
She stepped between Lily and the adults.
“Do not touch anything else.”
Mark remained on his knees with several papers clenched in his hands.
“These are private family documents.”
“They were hidden inside a patient’s medical dressing,” Hannah said. “Put them down.”
Diane recovered enough to force calm into her voice.
“This is a misunderstanding. Lily has been emotionally unstable since the accident.”
Lily stared at her.
“You said I couldn’t walk.”
“You should not be standing.”
“But I am.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
Hannah pressed the call button near the door.
“Security and the attending physician need to come here.”
Mark rose quickly.
“That isn’t necessary.”
“It is now.”
Lily clutched the document against her chest.
The top page showed a photograph of a house she recognized.
The small blue home where she had lived with her mother.
After Emily died, Diane told Lily the property had been sold to cover medical debts.
But the paper in Lily’s hand showed a transfer involving the Hart Family Property Trust.
Her own name appeared on one side.
A dark pencil line had been drawn through it.
Mark stepped toward her.
“Give me that.”
Lily jerked away.
Hannah blocked him.
“Do not approach the patient.”
Diane’s voice rose.
“She is my granddaughter.”
“She is also a minor patient who was apparently given false information about her physical condition.”
Footsteps approached outside.
Diane’s composure cracked.
She grabbed Lily’s arm.
“We are leaving.”
Lily pulled free.
The movement came so quickly that Diane stumbled against the bed.
Everyone saw it.
The supposedly paralyzed girl had enough control and strength to resist.
Dr. Arjun Patel entered with two hospital security officers.
His eyes went first to Lily’s feet.
Then to the bandages.
Then to the papers.
“What happened?”
Hannah answered before Diane could.
“The patient removed her dressing and stood without assistance. Documents were concealed inside the bandage.”
Dr. Patel’s face hardened.
“I never authorized this dressing.”
Mark lifted both hands.
“Her private specialist did.”
“What specialist?”
“Dr. Ross.”
Dr. Patel looked at Hannah.
“Is Ross credentialed here?”
She checked the tablet in her hand.
Her expression changed.
“No.”
Diane began speaking quickly.
“He was recommended through the family attorney. Lily required specialized nerve treatment.”
Dr. Patel crouched several feet from Lily.
“Do you have pain?”
“No.”
“Numbness?”
“No.”
“Can you lift your left foot?”
Lily did.
“Bend your knee?”
She obeyed.
“Any weakness?”
“Only because they wouldn’t let me walk.”
Dr. Patel stood slowly.
Whatever uncertainty remained on his face disappeared.
He turned toward Diane and Mark.
“Who told this child she was paralyzed?”
Diane looked at Mark.
Mark looked at the door.
Neither answered.
That silence frightened Lily more than the lie itself.
May you like
Because guilty adults often argued.
These two were calculating.
