Chapter 10 — The Woman in Room 312
Chapter 10 — The Woman in Room 312
Detective Bennett stared at the report for several long seconds.
Daniel broke the silence.
"Who checked into the hospital?"
The detective looked up.
"I don't know why they're here."
"But the fingerprint belongs to a woman named Rebecca Nolan."
No one recognized the name.
My mother frowned.
"Who is she?"
Detective Bennett shook her head.
"We're trying to find that out."
The second detective hurried back into the room.
"I just confirmed it."
"Rebecca Nolan checked into the cardiac unit forty-five minutes ago."
Daniel looked confused.
"The cardiac unit?"
"Yes."
"She's here as a patient."
My mother blinked.
"So... she's sick too?"
"We don't know her condition."
"But hospital records show she arrived by ambulance."
The doctor folded his arms.
"If she's a patient, any interview will have to wait until she's medically cleared."
Detective Bennett nodded.
"I've already requested permission."
The room fell quiet again.
I shifted slightly in bed.
The movement pulled at the IV in my arm.
A nurse noticed immediately.
"Easy."
"Don't rush it."
I took a careful breath.
It still hurt.
But every breath came a little easier than the last.
The nurse smiled.
"You're improving."
"I know it doesn't feel that way."
"But you are."
Daniel pulled his chair closer.
"You scared all of us."
I managed a weak smile.
"I scared... myself."
He laughed softly.
"I believe it."
My mother looked at me.
"I owe you an apology."
I looked into her eyes.
"I should've listened."
"I should've called for help the first time you said you couldn't breathe."
She wiped away another tear.
"I kept thinking you were exaggerating."
"I wasn't paying attention."
"I'm so sorry."
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally, I reached for her hand.
My fingers were weak.
But they found hers.
She squeezed them gently.
"I don't expect you to forgive me today."
"I just want the chance to earn it."
I nodded once.
It wasn't forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
A knock interrupted the moment.
Another nurse stepped inside.
"Emma?"
"I have good news."
She handed the doctor an updated chart.
He reviewed it carefully.
Then smiled.
"We're reducing your oxygen again."
Daniel grinned.
"That's progress."
"It is."
The nurse carefully adjusted the tubing beneath my nose.
"Take a slow breath."
I inhaled.
It wasn't easy.
But I didn't panic.
The doctor watched the monitor.
"Ninety-six."
"Excellent."
Caleb smiled for the first time in days.
"I knew she'd get better."
My mother wrapped an arm around him.
"So did I."
Daniel glanced at her.
Neither of them said anything.
But for the first time since the ambulance left the house, they looked like they were standing on the same side.
Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She stepped into the hallway.
Less than a minute later, she returned.
"The hospital approved the interview."
"With Rebecca?"
"Yes."
Daniel stood.
"Can we come?"
"I'm afraid not."
"This needs to be conducted privately."
She looked toward me.
"Emma, before I go..."
"Have you ever heard the name Rebecca Nolan?"
I searched my memory.
Nothing.
I slowly shook my head.
"No."
The detective nodded.
"That's what I expected."
She and the second detective disappeared down the hallway.
The room felt strangely empty.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
Golden afternoon sunlight broke through the clouds.
It streamed across the hospital floor.
The doctor returned.
"I think it's time."
Daniel looked up.
"Time for what?"
He smiled.
"Let's see if Emma can stand."
The nurse lowered the bed.
She helped me swing my legs over the side.
My muscles trembled immediately.
"I don't think I can."
"You don't have to walk."
"Just stand."
Daniel moved closer.
"So did I."
The nurse laughed.
"That's not helping."
With one hand on the bedrail and another on the nurse's arm, I slowly pushed myself upright.
The room spun.
I closed my eyes.
"Breathe."
I nodded.
After several seconds, the dizziness faded.
"You did it," Caleb whispered.
I looked down.
For the first time since collapsing in the kitchen...
I was standing.
Only for a few seconds.
But it felt like climbing a mountain.
The nurse carefully helped me sit back down.
"Tomorrow will be easier."
"I hope so."
She smiled.
"It usually is."
The ICU door opened again.
Detective Bennett returned.
This time...
She looked completely different.
Daniel stood immediately.
"What happened?"
The detective took a slow breath.
"I spoke with Rebecca Nolan."
"And?"
"She admitted she knows Ray."
My mother's eyes widened.
"How?"
"They worked together years ago."
Daniel frowned.
"Did she explain the fingerprints?"
"Yes."
The detective looked directly at me.
"She said she handled the vitamin bottle..."
"...because Ray asked her to deliver it to your house."
The room fell silent.
My heart monitor sped up.
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Did she know what was inside?"
Detective Bennett slowly shook her head.
"She insists she believed it was an unopened bottle."
"She says she never imagined anyone would get hurt."
My mother whispered,
"Do you believe her?"
The detective didn't answer right away.
Instead, she removed a folded piece of paper from her notebook.
"Rebecca gave us something."
"What is it?" Daniel asked.
"A receipt."
She unfolded it carefully.
"It shows that two days before Emma collapsed..."
"...Ray purchased a brand-new bottle of the same vitamins."
Daniel stared at the paper.
"Then where did the other bottle come from?"
Detective Bennett looked at him.
"That's exactly the question."
She slid the receipt back into the folder.
"And according to Rebecca..."
"...Ray told her he was trying to protect Emma."
The words hung in the air.
Protect her?
After everything that had happened...
None of it made sense.
Not yet.
But somewhere between the hospital room...
The mysterious bottle...
And Ray's desperate voicemail...
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The truth was still waiting to be uncovered.
End of Chapter 10
