Chapter 2: The Doctor Who Came After Midnight
My father didn't move.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Zora as if he hadn't understood the words.
Then he lowered himself to her eye level.
"Sweetheart, what doctor?""
Zora rubbed her palms against her sweatshirt.
"His name is Dr. Adrian Cole.""
Monica shook her head violently.
"She's confused. She's been watching too many television shows.""
Zora flinched.
My father noticed.
"Monica, stop talking.""
"But Richard—"
"I said stop.""
His voice was quiet, but it carried enough anger to silence the room.
He turned back to Zora.
"Tell me everything. You aren't in trouble.""
My sister looked toward the staircase.
"He comes after you leave for work trips. Sometimes he comes at night.""
"How many times?""
"I don't know. Maybe six. Maybe more.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I asked.
Zora looked at me with watery eyes.
"Because Monica said you'd think I was making things up.""
I felt sick.
"What did he do when he came here?""
"He asked me questions. He checked my arms. He took pictures of my face and gave Monica envelopes.""
My father slowly stood.
"What kind of questions?""
Zora hesitated.
"He asked whether I felt dizzy. Whether I got headaches. Whether I was sleeping too much.""
Monica finally interrupted.
"Richard, this is a complete misunderstanding. Adrian is a family physician. I arranged routine checkups because you were always traveling.""
My father looked at her.
"Then why were you hiding him?""
"I wasn't hiding anything!""
"Why did you tell me Zora had already eaten?""
Monica opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I picked up the sealed envelope.
There was no name on the front, only a handwritten date.
October 14.
I turned it over.
The flap had been carefully sealed, but a small piece of paper was sticking out.
I pulled it free.
It was a payment receipt.
*A. Cole Medical Consulting — $2,500.*
Below that was a handwritten note.
Continue monitoring the child's condition. Do not discuss the previous results with Richard.
I read it twice.
Then I handed it to my father.
His jaw tightened.
"What's this?""
Monica reached for the paper.
"Give me that.""
He moved it behind his back.
"Explain it.""
"It's a medical expense.""
"Why does it say not to discuss the results with me?""
"Because you never listen!""
The excuse sounded ridiculous even to her.
My father pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Monica's expression changed instantly.
"No!""
She lunged toward him.
He stepped back.
"Why not?""
"Because this is a private family matter.""
"Private?""
His voice cracked.
"My daughter fainted at school. You've been locking away her food. A doctor has been coming to my house behind my back. And you want to call this private?""
Monica began crying.
Not the quiet, helpless crying I'd seen from her before.
This was loud and theatrical.
"After everything I've sacrificed for this family, you believe a child over your wife?""
My father didn't answer.
He dialed the school nurse instead.
While he spoke, I guided Zora into a chair and placed a glass of water in front of her.
She drank slowly.
I noticed how carefully she watched Monica.
"Zora," I whispered, "what else do you know?""
She leaned toward me.
"I found something in her bedroom.""
"What?""
"A little notebook.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Where is it?""
"Under the loose floorboard beside her closet.""
Before I could ask another question, Monica stopped crying.
Her eyes had moved toward the staircase.
"What did you say?""
Zora went completely still.
My father ended his call.
"Monica, sit down.""
"I need to get my things.""
"You're not going anywhere until we understand what's happening.""
She laughed bitterly.
"You can't keep me here.""
"No one is keeping you here. But you will not destroy anything.""
At that moment, a car horn sounded outside.
Monica glanced through the window.
A black sedan had pulled into the driveway.
Zora immediately grabbed my sleeve.
"That's him.""
My father turned toward the window.
"Who?""
"The doctor.""
The doorbell rang.
Three sharp presses.
Monica's face went white.
My father walked toward the entrance, but I caught his arm.
"Wait.""
I looked through the narrow glass panel beside the door.
A man in his late forties stood outside wearing a charcoal coat. He carried a leather medical bag in one hand.
He looked directly into the house.
Then he raised his phone.
My father's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Richard? This is Dr. Cole. We need to speak immediately.""
My father stared at the doctor through the glass.
"You're standing outside my house. Speak.""
There was a pause.
Then the doctor said something that made my father grip the phone harder.
"Your wife has failed to follow the agreement. If Zora has started talking, you need to get her to the hospital before—"
The call disconnected.
My father slowly lowered the phone.
Before anyone could move, Monica whispered:
"Adrian, you idiot.""
May you like
And from upstairs, Zora screamed.
"Ethan! The notebook is gone!""
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