Chapter 7: The Shadows of the Hospital
Chapter 7: The Shadows of the Hospital
Back in the dining room, Officer Ortiz didn't waste another second. She walked up to Vanessa, who was now deathly pale.
"Vanessa Hale, stand up, turn around, and place your hands behind your back."
The metallic click of the handcuffs echoing through the house was interrupted by the sharp ringing of Marcus’s cell phone. It was the hospital.
Marcus answered with a hollow voice.
"This is Sergeant Hale."
"Sergeant, this is Dr. Aris at the emergency room," a grave voice responded. "Your mother is stable, but I need to be frank with you. She has three fractured ribs, a severe orbital fracture near her left eye, extreme dehydration, and signs of chronic malnutrition. She is incredibly lucky you walked through that door when you did. Another few weeks of this... and her body would have given out."
Marcus closed his eyes, a single tear cutting through the dust on his cheek.
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"Thank you, Doctor. I’m on my way."
He hung up and looked at Vanessa as the police escorted her out the front door. She tried to catch his eye, her lips parting to offer one last plea, but Marcus turned his back on her completely.
