Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Door
I stood six feet from the door.
Roy's voice came again.
"Vanessa, open the door.""
I looked at Mason.
He shook his head.
Tessa was still gripping my wrist.
"Who is with him?"" I whispered.
She swallowed.
"I don't know.""
"Then how do you know?""
"Because I saw him this morning.""
"Who?""
"The man who gave me the paperwork.""
My pulse accelerated.
"Daniel Mercer?""
She nodded.
I moved toward the blinds.
Mason caught my arm.
"Don't.""
"Why?""
"Because if they're watching the building—"
"I need to know.""
I lifted one slat.
Down in the parking lot, Roy stood beside his car.
And beside him was a tall man in a gray suit.
I had never seen him before.
But he was holding something.
A black leather folder.
Tessa whispered behind me.
"That's him.""
I lowered the blinds.
"What does he look like?""
"Gray suit. Balding. About fifty.""
"Name?""
"Daniel Mercer.""
Mason's face tightened.
"Daniel Mercer isn't his real name.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
"Because I saw the security footage.""
"When?""
"Yesterday.""
"After I called you?""
"No.""
He hesitated.
"Before.""
My eyes narrowed.
"What aren't you telling me?""
Mason sighed.
"Roy asked me to investigate the fertility clinic two months ago.""
I stared at him.
"Two months?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"Roy specifically asked me not to.""
I laughed bitterly.
"So both of you decided I was safer knowing nothing.""
"Vanessa—"
"Open the door.""
Mason stared at me.
"What?""
"Open it.""
Tessa shook her head.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"You're the one who brought me into this.""
"I brought you here because I didn't know who else to trust.""
"And now my husband is outside.""
"That's why I'm scared.""
I walked to the door.
Mason whispered, "If you open it, stay behind me.""
He unlocked the door.
Roy stepped inside.
His eyes immediately found me.
"Are you okay?""
"Yes.""
His gaze moved to Tessa.
Then to Mason.
"What is she doing here?""
Tessa stepped forward.
"Trying to tell your wife the truth.""
Roy's jaw tightened.
"What truth?""
"That the baby—"
I raised my hand.
"Enough.""
Everyone stopped.
I looked at Roy.
"Are you investigating the fertility clinic?""
He closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
"Are you investigating the altered surgical records?""
"Yes.""
"Does Daniel Mercer exist?""
Roy looked at Mason.
Then at me.
"No.""
"Who is he?""
"I don't know.""
"That's not good enough.""
Roy stepped closer.
"Vanessa, I need you to trust me.""
"I did.""
He flinched.
I hated that I saw it.
"I still do," I said quietly.
"But trust isn't the same as blindness.""
Roy looked at Tessa.
"What did they tell you?""
Tessa answered, "That you're the father.""
Roy shook his head.
"I've never donated sperm.""
Tessa pulled up the consent form.
"Your signature says otherwise.""
Roy looked at it.
His face changed.
"I've seen this.""
"Where?""
"In the investigation.""
Mason stepped closer.
"Roy?""
Roy pointed at the signature.
"That's not my signature.""
I stared.
"But it looks exactly like yours.""
"Because someone copied it.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
Then Roy said something that made the room go silent.
"But I know when they got it.""
"How?""
"Because six months ago, my office was broken into.""
I frowned.
"You never told me.""
"I didn't think anything was missing.""
"What happened?""
"I thought they were looking for drugs or surgical equipment.""
He looked at Tessa.
"They were looking for my old consent forms.""
Tessa's eyes widened.
"Why?""
Roy looked at her stomach.
"I think they needed my DNA.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Mason's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He turned the phone toward us.
It was a message from hospital security.
*Emergency lockdown initiated.*
Then another message arrived.
*Chief Surgeon Roy Callahan is suspended pending investigation into patient-record fraud.*
Roy stared at the screen.
"What?""
Mason's phone rang again.
This time, it was the hospital director.
Roy answered.
"Dr. Callahan.""
A woman's voice screamed through the speaker.
"Where are you?""
"What's happening?""
"They found evidence in your office.""
"What evidence?""
"A vial.""
Roy went completely still.
"What vial?""
"Your DNA.""
The call ended.
Tessa covered her mouth.
I looked at Roy.
"Someone planted it.""
"I know.""
"Then why does the hospital believe it?""
"Because whoever did this has been preparing for months.""
Roy looked at me.
"And now they're going to make me look like the person behind everything.""
I thought about the altered records.
The fake donor.
The pregnancy.
The copied signature.
Then I remembered the message on my phone.
*You should have listened to your husband.*
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Roy.
"What did you mean last night when you said it was dangerous for me?""
He hesitated.
"Because they know who you are.""
"What does that mean?""
"They don't just know you're my wife.""
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a folded piece of paper.
And handed it to me.
I opened it.
It was a photograph.
A picture of me walking into the hospital.
Taken from across the street.
On the back, someone had written:
*Dr. Vanessa Callahan — next.*
I looked up.
Roy's eyes were wet.
"They've been watching you.""
A loud crash came from the hallway.
Everyone jumped.
Mason moved toward the door.
Then came a second crash.
Someone was running.
Roy grabbed my hand.
"Stay behind me.""
The door burst open.
A security officer stumbled inside.
Blood ran from his forehead.
"Dr. Callahan...""
Roy caught him.
"What happened?""
The officer gasped.
"They're in the records department.""
"Who?""
The man looked directly at me.
Then whispered:
"They're looking for your patient file.""
"My patient file?""
He nodded.
"Your medical file, Dr. Callahan.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Why would anyone want my medical file?""
May you like
The security officer looked at Roy.
"Because someone has already changed it.""
