Chapter 2: The Name on the Chart
The ambulance doors slammed shut before Terrence could reach them.
“Wait!””
Charlotte's face appeared behind the small rear window.
She pressed her palm against the glass.
Terrence lifted his hand.
Then the ambulance pulled into traffic.
He stood in the rain for two seconds before the second patrol car stopped beside him.
Officer Lena Morales jumped out.
“What happened?””
“Father fled.””
“Which direction?””
“North alley. But forget him for thirty seconds.””
Terrence handed her the pharmacy printout.
“Look at this.””
Lena scanned it.
“Pediatric adverse event?””
“Eleven months ago.””
“Same doctor?””
“Same doctor.””
“Same medication?””
“I'm not sure yet.””
Lena looked toward the ambulance disappearing through the intersection.
“What's the girl's name?””
“Delilah Sinclair.””
Lena's eyes lifted.
“And the other?””
“Charlotte.””
She looked back at the paper.
“Twins?””
“Yes.””
Lena's expression tightened.
“Terrence, what's going on?””
“I don't know.””
He looked through the station windows.
The empty waiting area suddenly seemed different.
The chairs.
The old coffee machine.
The children's fingerprints on the glass door.
Every ordinary thing now felt like evidence.
“That's the problem,” he said.
“I think someone has been making sure nobody asks.””
Inside the station, the desk phone rang.
Lena answered.
“Central precinct.””
A man's voice came through.
“Is Officer Callahan there?””
Lena looked at Terrence.
“Who's asking?””
“My name is Daniel Sinclair.””
Terrence walked over.
“Put him on speaker.””
Lena did.
The voice was older than Douglas's.
Tired.
“Officer, I need to speak with you about my son.””
Terrence glanced at the pharmacy record.
“Are you related to Dr. Douglas Sinclair?””
“I am his father.””
“Where is Douglas now?””
Silence.
“I don't know.””
“Mr. Sinclair, your son was just at this station.””
“I know.””
“How?””
Another pause.
“Because he called me.””
Terrence and Lena exchanged a look.
“Why would he call you?””
“Because he knows I kept the records.””
Terrence's stomach tightened.
“What records?””
“The ones he thought I destroyed.””
The line went quiet.
“Mr. Sinclair,” Terrence said, “I need you to come to the station.””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because if Douglas knows I talked to you, he'll come after me.””
Lena pulled a notebook toward her.
“Is that a threat?””
“No,” Daniel whispered.
“It is a warning.””
Terrence leaned toward the speaker.
“What happened eleven months ago?””
Daniel breathed shakily.
“My granddaughter Lily got sick.””
“Lily Sinclair?””
“Yes.””
“Was she treated by Douglas?””
“He prescribed the medicine.””
“What medicine?””
Daniel hesitated.
“An experimental compound.””
Terrence's eyes hardened.
“Experimental?””
“He called it a treatment protocol. Said it would help children with severe abdominal inflammation.””
“Did Lily have that condition?””
“No.””
The answer came so quickly it sounded rehearsed.
Terrence sat down.
“Then why was it prescribed?””
“I don't know.””
“You're his father.””
“That doesn't mean he tells me the truth.””
Lena asked, “What happened to Lily?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Terrence heard something in the background.
A door closing.
Then Daniel whispered, “She died.””
Charlotte's words came back to him.
He said Mom did it.
Terrence looked at Lena.
“Mr. Sinclair, who was blamed for Lily's death?””
Daniel exhaled.
“My daughter-in-law.””
“Why?””
“Because Douglas told everyone she gave Lily the medicine.””
Terrence's hand tightened around the edge of the desk.
“And did she?””
“No.””
“Then why did he say she did?””
“I don't know.””
“You do know.””
Silence.
Daniel finally said, “Because she found out what he was doing.””
Terrence stood.
“What was he doing?””
A loud crash came through the phone.
Daniel gasped.
Someone shouted in the background.
Then the call ended.
“Mr. Sinclair?””
Nothing.
Terrence tried calling back.
Straight to voicemail.
Lena was already reaching for her coat.
“We need to find him.””
“Agreed.””
The station's side door suddenly opened.
Both officers spun.
A young woman stood there, soaked from the rain.
She was breathing hard.
She had no coat.
Her hair stuck to her face.
“Where are my daughters?””
Terrence stepped toward her.
“Who are you?””
“Emily Sinclair.””
He froze.
“I'm their mother.””
Lena immediately moved between Emily and the evidence area.
“Ma'am, your daughters are being transported to County General.””
Emily's face collapsed with relief.
“Are they alive?””
“Yes.””
“Are they conscious?””
“Delilah is being treated.””
Emily put a hand over her mouth.
“Oh God.””
Terrence studied her.
“Why didn't you come with them?””
“I didn't know where they were.””
“You weren't with them?””
“No.””
“Where were you?””
Emily looked toward the door.
Then back at him.
“Trying to get away from my husband.””
Terrence's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
Emily swallowed.
“Because he knows I remember.””
“Remember what?””
She stared at the pharmacy record on the desk.
Then she saw the name beneath it.
Lily.
Her face went white.
“You found it.””
Terrence didn't move.
“Found what?””
Emily whispered, “The first girl.””
Lena closed the station door.
Emily walked to the desk.
Her hands were shaking.
“Douglas told me Lily's death was an accident.””
Terrence said nothing.
Emily looked directly at him.
“It wasn't.””
“Then what was it?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
Before she could answer, the station radio crackled.
“Unit 12, urgent update. County General reports one pediatric patient has become unresponsive.””
Terrence grabbed the radio.
“Which patient?””
Static.
Then the dispatcher answered.
“Delilah Sinclair.””
Charlotte screamed from somewhere outside.
Terrence ran for the door.
May you like
And Emily Sinclair whispered behind him:
“That's exactly what happened to Lily.””
