Chapter 2 - THE RECORDING IN THE CEILING
Julian watched the screen without blinking.
The video showed Nurse Madeline Price gripping my left arm.
Nurse Rebecca Cole held my shoulder against the mattress.
Dominic pushed the pen between my fingers.
I struggled.
My legs struck the bed rails repeatedly.
The impacts matched the bruises now visible beneath my gown.
Eleanor stood at the foot of the bed.
She did not touch me.
She did not need to.
“Hold her still,” she said on the recording.
“She always becomes dramatic when she loses control.”
Julian moved toward the television.
His face had become pale.
Dominic reached for the remote.
I pulled it against my chest.
“Do not touch it.”
“This recording may violate hospital policy,” he said.
“It was made inside the private suite legally assigned to me.”
“You had no right to record medical staff without consent.”
“We are in Illinois.”
“My attorney reviewed every recording law before the cameras were installed.”
Dominic’s confidence weakened.
The video continued.
Recorded Clara pushed the papers away.
“What are these?”
Dominic answered.
“Temporary guardianship authorization.”
“Medical power of attorney.”
“Consent to psychiatric observation.”
“I’m not signing.”
Eleanor leaned over the bed.
“You will sign voluntarily.”
“Or we will have you declared incapable before sunrise.”
Julian turned toward his mother.
“You said Clara requested help.”
“She did.”
“No.”
“She said no.”
Eleanor lifted her chin.
“She was exhausted.”
“She did not understand what she needed.”
Julian looked at me.
“Where is the baby?”
“In the nursery.”
“Why?”
“Eleanor told the doctor I was too unstable to hold her.”
Julian moved toward the door.
Dominic blocked him.
“You should calm down before making decisions.”
Julian stared at his cousin.
“Move.”
“This situation is legally sensitive.”
“You held my wife down.”
“I acted to protect your child.”
“You forced her hand across a custody form.”
Dominic’s eyes shifted toward the screen.
The recording showed the pen dragging across the page.
My signature appeared only as a broken line before I kicked the tray away.
Eleanor turned toward me.
“You will regret making this difficult.”
Julian looked at his mother.
“Did you say that?”
“You heard the recording.”
“Did you mean it?”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“I meant that Clara was creating unnecessary conflict.”
Julian stepped past Dominic.
Before leaving, he looked at me.
“I’m bringing our daughter back.”
Eleanor followed him.
“Julian, do not remove the baby from authorized care.”
He turned in the doorway.
“My wife is the authorized parent.”
“So am I.”
May you like
Then he looked directly at her.
“You are not.”
