Chapter 15 — The Appointment That Never Happened
Thursday arrived.
Nathan canceled every meeting.
"I'm finally hearing my baby's heartbeat."
Vanessa smiled nervously.
They drove toward the medical center.
Halfway there...
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her stomach.
Nathan panicked.
"What's wrong?"
"The cramps..."
"They're terrible..."
"We need to go home."
"What about the doctor?"
"I already called."
"They said to rest."
Nathan immediately turned the car around.
He stayed beside Vanessa all afternoon.
She insisted on sleeping.
That evening, after Nathan finally left to pick up dinner...
Ethan quietly slipped outside.
He rode his bicycle to the hospital listed on the ultrasound.
At the reception desk, he approached the information counter.
"My dad forgot which department my aunt visited today."
The receptionist checked the appointment schedule.
"What name?"
"Vanessa Whitmore."
The receptionist searched.
Then searched again.
"I'm sorry."
"We don't have anyone by that name."
"What about this morning?"
She shook her head.
"No appointments."
"Not today."
"Not this week."
Ethan thanked her politely.
As he turned to leave...
A familiar voice echoed from behind.
"Young man?"
He looked back.
It was Margaret Ellis.
The retired nurse.
She recognized him immediately.
"You've been asking questions."
Ethan nodded.
"I think someone is lying."
Margaret studied his frightened face.
Then quietly said,
"If you're searching for the truth..."
"...be careful."
"People who build lies this big rarely let them collapse without a fight."
Outside the hospital...
Neither of them noticed the black SUV parked across the street.
Inside, someone raised a camera.
Click.
A photograph captured Ethan and Margaret together.
Seconds later...
The driver picked up a phone.
"They're getting close."
May you like
A woman's voice answered calmly.
"Then it's time to stop the boy."
