Chapter 4 - The Locked Drawer
Ryan left the hospital at dawn with Detective Brooks and came back two hours later carrying a cardboard file box.
"I went home with a warrant team," he said.
Margaret had been released pending further questioning because toxicology was not finished.
But the police had searched the guest room she used whenever she stayed with us.
Inside a locked drawer they found copies of my prenatal records.
My appointment dates.
My blood type.
The name of my obstetrician.
And a printed document titled TEMPORARY FAMILY GUARDIANSHIP PLAN.
My name was on the first page.
So was Ryan's.
Neither signature was ours.
My stomach went cold.
"Guardianship of who?"
Ryan turned the page.
"Our baby."
I stared at the forged signatures.
The document said that if I experienced an "acute postpartum psychiatric event," Margaret Carter would temporarily assume decision-making authority for our child while Ryan managed an emergency business transition.
"This is insane."
Jessica went silent.
Ryan noticed.
"What?"
She looked at the floor.
"That language. Acute postpartum psychiatric event."
"What about it?"
Jessica reached into the box and pulled out Anna Mercer's twenty-six-year-old admission summary.
The same phrase appeared halfway down the page.
Ryan stopped breathing for a second.
"She used the same words."
Detective Brooks nodded.
"And maybe the same plan."
A nurse entered with the toxicology update.
She explained that the liquid contained several plant-based compounds plus a prescription sedative that should never have been administered without medical supervision.
Ryan's jaw locked.
"Where would Margaret get the prescription drug?"
Brooks said, "That's one of the questions we're asking."
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Something made me answer.
A woman's voice whispered, "Emily Carter?"
"Yes."
"Don't let Margaret take the baby."
My skin prickled.
"Who is this?"
May you like
The woman began to cry.
"My name is Anna."
