Chapter 4 - The Night Before
The evening before Chloe’s procedure, Arthur sat beside her hospital bed reading a book about a dragon who was afraid of flying.
Chloe barely listened.
Her attention kept moving toward the doorway.
“Are you waiting for someone?” Arthur asked.
“No.”
“You’ve looked at the door twelve times.”
“Maybe I like doors.”
“You have never liked doors.”
Chloe smiled weakly.
Her procedure was scheduled for early the next morning. The doctors were confident, but Arthur could not control the fear pressing against his chest.
Sarah arrived carrying flowers.
Richard followed with a bag of expensive gifts.
Chloe immediately pulled Barnaby beneath the blanket.
Sarah noticed.
“I thought Barnaby could stay at your house tonight,” she said. “Hospitals are full of germs.”
“He stays with me,” Chloe replied.
Sarah placed the flowers near the window.
“Of course.”
Richard handed Arthur a folder.
“Updated fundraiser statements,” he said.
Arthur opened it.
Every page showed large totals, complicated categories, and professional headings.
The final balance appeared to be more than three hundred thousand dollars.
Arthur studied him.
“The hospital said the account had insufficient funds.”
“A technical restriction. It has been corrected.”
Arthur looked at the statements again.
He wanted to believe them.
Chloe watched Richard from the bed.
Dr. Levin entered a few minutes later.
His eyes moved immediately to Sarah and Richard.
“We need to prepare Chloe for tomorrow,” he said. “Visiting time is over.”
Sarah hugged Chloe.
Chloe remained stiff.
Richard touched the top of Barnaby’s head.
Chloe pulled the bear away.
After they left, Arthur noticed Dr. Levin lock the door.
“Is something wrong?” Arthur asked.
Dr. Levin looked at Chloe.
Chloe gave a small nod.
The doctor sat beside Arthur.
“Some questions have been raised about the fundraiser.”
Arthur’s stomach tightened.
“What questions?”
“Financial questions. People are investigating.”
“Sarah gave me statements.”
“Do not confront her tonight.”
Arthur stood.
“If she stole money from Chloe, I’m not waiting.”
“You need to trust me.”
“Why?”
“Because Chloe trusted me.”
Arthur looked at his daughter.
She was crying silently.
Arthur returned to the bed.
“What happened?”
Chloe took Barnaby from beneath the blanket and pressed him into Arthur’s hands.
“Daddy, if I don’t wake up, listen to Barnaby.”
Arthur’s heart seemed to stop.
“You are going to wake up.”
“He knows what they did.”
“Who?”
Chloe looked toward the door.
“Sarah and Richard.”
Arthur stared at Dr. Levin.
The doctor placed a hand on Arthur’s shoulder.
“Chloe overheard conversations. She recorded them.”
Arthur looked down at the teddy bear.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because investigators were verifying the evidence, and we needed to keep Chloe safe.”
“Safe from my own sister?”
Before Dr. Levin could answer, an alarm sounded in another room.
A nurse opened the door and called for him.
Dr. Levin stood.
“I have to go. Do not leave Chloe alone. Detective Ortiz is on her way.”
He hurried into the hallway.
Several minutes passed.
Then Sarah returned.
She was no longer carrying flowers.
“I forgot my phone,” she said.
Arthur looked at the empty table beside the window.
“There’s no phone there.”
Sarah stared at Barnaby in Arthur’s hands.
Chloe whispered, “Daddy.”
Arthur moved between Sarah and the bed.
“You need to leave.”
Sarah’s expression remained calm.
“Arthur, you’re exhausted.”
“Leave.”
She stepped backward.
“All right.”
But as she turned, Chloe saw Richard standing at the far end of the corridor near the administrative offices.
May you like
He was watching Dr. Levin walk away.
And he was holding a hospital access card.
