Chapter 5: The Signature On The Prescription
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I just stared at the signature.
Daniel Carter.
My husband.
The man who had slept beside me every night.
The man who had painted Lily’s nursery himself.
The man who had dropped to his knees beside me when Rachel kicked me.
The man who had promised me, “I’ll protect you.””
His name was on the prescription.
“Emma…”
Daniel’s voice broke.
I pulled my hand away.
He looked like someone had punched him.
“Wait.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Emma, listen to me.””
“No.””
My voice came out louder than I expected.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I looked around the room.
“Listen to me. Trust me. I didn’t know.””
My eyes filled with tears.
“And every single time, I find out they were lying.””
Daniel looked devastated.
“I swear to you, I didn’t sign that.””
Detective Harris stepped between us.
“We need to be careful.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You think I did this?””
“I think we need answers.””
The detective pointed to the document.
“Mr. Carter, did anyone else have access to your medical authorization?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Only Emma and I.””
My chest tightened.
That was the problem.
He was right.
The only people with access were us.
Dr. Mason looked uncomfortable.
“Maybe someone copied his signature.””
Everyone turned.
The doctor continued.
“Your family has resources. They could have obtained documents.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“That’s possible.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Emma, please.””
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to.
Because if Daniel was involved…
then the last safe place in my life disappeared.
A memory flashed through my mind.
Two weeks earlier.
Daniel standing in our kitchen.
Talking quietly on the phone.
I had asked who it was.
He had smiled.
“Work.””
I had believed him.
Now I wondered.
Detective Harris took the prescription.
“We need to verify the handwriting.””
A nurse entered and handed him another folder.
“Detective, there’s more.””
The room went silent again.
I almost laughed.
Every time someone said those words, my life became worse.
“What now?””
The nurse looked at Daniel.
“We found security footage from the hospital entrance.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why?””
“Because someone accessed Emma’s patient file after visiting hours.””
Detective Harris looked interested.
“When?””
“Last night.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
The nurse opened the folder.
“We’re still identifying the person.””
She placed a printed image on the table.
A blurry security photo.
A person wearing a hood.
Standing outside my hospital room.
Watching.
I leaned closer.
The figure looked familiar.
Too familiar.
Daniel whispered.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You know them?””
He didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
His face went pale.
“It can’t be.””
Detective Harris stepped closer.
“Who is it?””
Daniel swallowed.
“That jacket.””
“What about it?””
He looked at me.
“My father gave that jacket to my brother years ago.””
I froze.
Daniel’s brother.
Michael.
The man who had been missing from our family gathering.
The man who had texted Daniel after the attack saying he was “out of town.””
The detective immediately made a call.
“We need to locate Michael Carter.””
My breathing became shallow.
“How is Daniel’s brother connected?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was thinking the same thing.
The Carter family.
My family.
The people around me.
The people who were supposed to protect me.
Everyone seemed connected.
But Daniel looked more terrified than anyone.
“Emma.””
I looked at him.
“I need to tell you something.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
He looked at Detective Harris.
Then at me.
“I lied to you.””
The room became silent.
“About what?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“About why Michael disappeared.””
I waited.
“Because he didn’t leave town.””
A cold feeling spread through my body.
“Then where was he?””
Daniel looked at the security photo.
“He was here.””
My voice shook.
“Here?””
Daniel nodded.
“He came to our house three days before the attack.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
Daniel’s face filled with regret.
“He said he needed to warn me.””
“Warn you about what?””
He looked at my stomach.
May you like
And whispered the words that made my blood run cold.
“He said your baby was never supposed to survive.””
