Chapter 6 - Two Ambulances
The emergency teams separated Claire and Daniel.
Both were taken to Saint Marlowe Medical Center because it was the nearest major trauma hospital.
Thomas rode behind them with Margaret, who had arrived in a second car.
During the journey, Daniel regained enough awareness to ask where Claire was.
A paramedic told him she was in another ambulance.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Thomas interrupted.
“Focus on yourself.”
At the hospital, the trauma department was already overwhelmed by storm-related accidents. Dr. Marcus Cooper led the team receiving Claire.
He recognized her name.
Northstar Patient Systems had recently helped Saint Marlowe detect duplicate medical records. Claire had personally trained several departments on document verification.
Dr. Cooper scanned her identification.
A warning appeared.
Verified directive on file. Full treatment requested. Family members Thomas and Margaret Whitmore are not authorized decision-makers.
Minutes later, Thomas presented a paper DNR order.
“This is newer,” he said.
Dr. Cooper examined it.
The document contained a recent date, Claire’s apparent signature, and Margaret’s witness statement.
Yet several details were wrong.
The hospital form had been updated six months earlier. Thomas’s version used an older template.
The identification number belonged to a different medical department.
Most importantly, the signature looked copied rather than naturally written.
“Where did you obtain this?” Dr. Cooper asked.
“Our family attorney prepared it.”
“I need the attorney’s name.”
Thomas hesitated.
Margaret stepped forward.
“Please. Daniel is also injured. He has a medical condition. He needs immediate priority.”
“Both patients are receiving appropriate care.”
“There may not be enough blood available,” Thomas said.
Dr. Cooper’s eyes narrowed.
“That is a clinical decision. Not yours.”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Claire would want her brother saved.”
The doctor looked through the glass toward Claire’s bed.
“She filed instructions saying she wants full treatment.”
“She changed her mind.”
“Then we will confirm that with her when she can communicate.”
Thomas’s composure cracked.
“You do not understand. Daniel is our son.”
Dr. Cooper looked directly at him.
“And Claire?”
Thomas did not answer.
That was the moment Dr. Cooper contacted hospital security.
It was also the moment the hospital’s document verification system sent an automatic fraud alert to Northstar’s legal contact.
Leah Morgan received the notification at 11:18 p.m.
She tried Claire’s phone.
A police officer answered.
Within minutes, Leah was driving toward Saint Marlowe with the DNA report, copies of the photographed documents, and a sealed emergency request prepared for law enforcement.
She also called Evelyn Hale.
Evelyn answered on the fourth ring.
“This is Leah Morgan. I represent a woman named Claire Whitmore.”
There was a pause.
“I don’t know that name.”
“You may know her original one.”
Leah explained the preliminary DNA result.
For several seconds, Evelyn said nothing.
Then she asked, “Where is she?”
“Saint Marlowe. Trauma bay three.”
May you like
Evelyn’s voice changed.
“I am on my way.”
