Chapter 3
The trauma room doors closed as Daniel was escorted into a nearby consultation room under guard.
Mara remained beside Sophie's bed, refusing to let go of her daughter's hand.
The phone lay on a stainless-steel tray.
Its screen illuminated again.
Raj looked at Mara.
"We should probably wait for the police."
Mara nodded.
"I know."
She paused.
"But if there's something on that phone that explains what happened to Sophie, we can't ignore it."
Raj hesitated only a moment before pressing the first recording.
Static crackled through the speaker.
Then came a frightened voice.
Sophie's.
"Please... I said I was sorry."
Silence.
A heavy footstep.
Then Daniel's unmistakable voice.
"If you tell your mother, she'll think you're lying. She'll always choose me."
Mara felt the blood drain from her face.
Another recording began automatically.
"Don't cry so loud."
A sharp impact echoed through the speaker.
Sophie's muffled sob.
Another impact.
Then complete silence.
No one in the room spoke.
Even the nurses looked away, unable to hide their horror.
Raj quietly stopped the recording.
"We've heard enough."
Mara shook her head.
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"I haven't."
She closed her eyes.
Every business trip.
Every overnight conference.
Every time Sophie had begged her not to leave.
Every headache.
Every panic attack.
Every oversized sweatshirt in the middle of summer.
She hadn't been protecting a shy teenager.
She'd been watching a child desperately hide abuse.
And she'd missed every sign.
A tear slid down Mara's cheek.
She leaned close to Sophie's ear.
"I'm here now."
Her voice broke.
"I promise... no one will ever hurt you again."
At that exact moment—
The heart monitor suddenly screamed.
BEEEEEEP!
Sophie's heartbeat crashed.
The trauma team exploded into motion.
"Epinephrine!"
"She's crashing!"
"Start compressions!"
Mara was gently pulled away as doctors surrounded the bed.
May you like
She could only watch.
Praying the little girl who had waited years for a family wasn't about to leave the only mother who had finally fought for her.
