Chapter 2 - THE BABY’S HEARTBEAT
The fetal monitor found my baby’s heartbeat within seconds.
Fast.
Strong.
Still there.
At the hospital, Dr. Priya Shah examined the bruising spreading across my abdomen. The ultrasound showed no immediate placental separation, but she warned that trauma could trigger delayed bleeding or premature labor.
“You remain under observation,” she said. “No arguments.”
I almost laughed.
Arguments were the least dangerous thing waiting outside.
Julian had been detained for questioning, not formally charged. Arthur and Beatrice remained inside the ballroom while agents executed warrants on the estate, company offices, and several vehicles.
Chloe left in an ambulance after claiming abdominal pain.
She announced to every paramedic that she was pregnant with Julian’s child.
Daniel Ross entered my room only after the medical staff allowed him.
He placed my damaged watch inside a clear evidence bag.
“The transmission captured the assault.”
“Did it capture the case?”
“Yes.”
“What was inside?”
“I cannot discuss that yet.”
“You entered exactly at two.”
“That was the warrant schedule.”
“Not the emergency signal?”
He studied me.
“The signal changed our entry speed.”
I had pressed the concealed button while Julian argued with Arthur before the kick. The watch transmitted audio and my location to Daniel’s team.
I had expected an arrest.
I had not expected Julian to attack our child.
Daniel asked whether Julian knew the watch could transmit.
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
“My attorney.”
The hospital door opened.
My attorney, Rachel Sloan, entered carrying two phones and a thick folder.
She looked at the bruise, then at me.
“You should have called the signal sooner.”
“I needed them to bring out the case.”
“And now you may deliver two months early.”
Her anger contained fear.
Daniel stepped away to take a call.
Rachel lowered her voice.
“The Vances are claiming the agents planted the case.”
“Did the cameras capture it?”
“The ballroom system stopped recording eleven minutes before entry.”
Of course it did.
Then Daniel returned.
“The case was empty.”
Arthur’s terror made no sense if nothing had been inside.
Rachel looked at me.
“What was supposed to be there?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel’s phone vibrated again.
He read the message and turned the screen away.
“Someone accessed the federal evidence schedule this morning.”
“Who?”
“The login came from Clara Vance.”
My name.
May you like
My credentials.
And I had never seen the schedule.
