Chapter 4: The Hospital That Didn't Exist
"That's not a hospital," David repeated.
"It's a private medical facility owned by Mark's business partner.""
I stared at him.
"How do you know?""
David turned toward James, his attorney.
"Explain it to her.""
James closed the laptop halfway.
"Mercer Women's Surgical Center was registered eighteen months ago. Officially, it's a specialized maternity and outpatient facility. But it has no publicly listed emergency department, no independent maternity accreditation that we've been able to verify, and its ownership is buried beneath several holding companies.""
"Who owns it?"" I asked.
"Victor Hale.""
The name meant nothing to me.
David's expression suggested it meant something to him.
"Victor and Mark have been business partners for years. They started investing in commercial properties together before Mark married you.""
"Why would Mark send me there?""
"That's what we're going to find out.""
I placed both hands over my stomach.
Our daughter moved gently.
"David, I don't want to deliver somewhere Mark controls.""
"You won't.""
He said it with such certainty that I finally allowed myself to breathe.
James immediately began making calls. He contacted the hospital where I had received most of my prenatal care and requested a complete review of my medical records.
Meanwhile, David called a private obstetrician he trusted.
Within forty minutes, we had an appointment scheduled at St. Mary's Women's Hospital for the following morning.
But the situation became more complicated when James received another call.
He listened without speaking.
Then he covered the phone.
"Sarah, there's a problem.""
"What now?""
"The clinic says someone submitted an emergency transfer request using your husband's authorization.""
"Transfer?""
"Your records, your insurance information, and your medical history. Everything.""
I shook my head.
"I never agreed to that.""
"I know. But the request was submitted as though you had.""
David stood.
"Cancel it.""
"They can't simply erase a request that's already entered into the system. They can flag it, investigate it, and prevent an unauthorized transfer.""
"Then do that.""
James returned to the call.
Five minutes later, he ended it.
"There's another detail. The transfer request includes a statement claiming Sarah has been experiencing severe anxiety and has expressed concerns about her ability to care for the baby.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"That's a lie.""
David placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We know.""
"I've never said anything like that.""
James nodded.
"That's why we need an independent medical evaluation. We also need to establish that you never authorized Mark to make these decisions for you.""
Vanessa, who had been sitting silently near the fireplace, finally spoke.
"There's something else.""
David turned.
"What?""
"Mark has been talking about Sarah's pregnancy for months. Not just the delivery. He was collecting information about her appointments, her medications, and even how much weight she was gaining.""
I frowned.
"Why would he care about my weight?""
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"He wanted to know whether the doctors had mentioned any complications.""
David's eyes narrowed.
"Did he ever ask about specific complications?""
"Yes. Twice.""
"What did he ask?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"He asked what would happen if Sarah developed high blood pressure or needed an emergency procedure.""
My stomach tightened.
I remembered those conversations.
Mark had suddenly become interested in my blood pressure after my seventh-month appointment.
He had asked whether stress could cause complications.
He had even suggested that I should stop driving because he was worried about the baby.
I had thought he was becoming protective.
Now those memories felt different.
James wrote everything down.
Then David looked at Vanessa.
"Why are you helping us?""
She stared at the carpet.
"Because I finally understand what I helped him do.""
"That's not an answer.""
Vanessa lifted her eyes.
"Mark promised me a promotion and a partnership in his new company. He said once the property transaction was completed, I'd become the operations director.""
"And in exchange?""
"He wanted me to handle the paperwork, coordinate with the clinic, and keep Sarah from asking questions.""
I felt something break inside me.
"You pretended to be my friend.""
Vanessa started crying.
"Yes.""
"You came to my baby shower.""
"I know.""
"You brought me that little silver bracelet.""
"I know.""
"And all that time, you were helping him take my house?""
She covered her face.
"I'm sorry.""
I stood slowly.
"Don't tell me you're sorry because you've been caught. Tell me why you waited until he started threatening me.""
Vanessa had no answer.
David stepped between us.
"Sarah, you don't have to deal with her right now.""
I sat down again.
I was exhausted.
But I wasn't finished asking questions.
"Vanessa, did Mark ever mention my brother's name?""
She nodded.
"Constantly.""
"What did he say?""
"He said David had too much influence over you. He said if David found out about the financial arrangements, everything would collapse.""
David exchanged a look with James.
Then Vanessa added something that made the room go silent.
"He also said David would be blamed if anything happened to you.""
David slowly turned toward her.
"Explain.""
"Mark told me he had been preparing documents suggesting you were interfering in Sarah's marriage. He said if Sarah ever disappeared or something happened during delivery, the police would discover messages supposedly showing that you had threatened Mark.""
My brother's expression became unreadable.
"Did you see those messages?""
Vanessa nodded.
"I did.""
"Where?""
"On Mark's laptop.""
James immediately asked her to identify the files.
She gave him the folder name.
Before he could investigate further, David's phone rang.
It was the police officer handling Mark's assault case.
David put the call on speaker.
"Mr. Collins, we need to inform you that Mark Mercer has been released pending further investigation.""
My heart dropped.
"Released?"" I repeated.
The officer heard me.
"Mrs. Mercer, he's been advised not to contact you directly while we review the incident. We also have your statement and witness accounts.""
"Can he come to your house?""
"He's not authorized to enter your residence if you establish a separate address and pursue the appropriate protective measures. We'll explain those options.""
David's voice was cold.
"Has he been told where Sarah is staying?""
"We haven't disclosed her location.""
"Good.""
The officer hesitated.
"There's one more issue. Mr. Mercer requested access to the documents recovered from his vehicle.""
James interrupted.
"Those documents are evidence in an ongoing investigation.""
"We've explained that.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my replacement phone vibrated.
A message from Mark.
You think your brother can protect you forever?
Another followed.
Ask him what happened to the last person who tried to interfere with my business.
I stared at the screen.
David took one look at the message.
His face changed.
"Sarah, don't answer him.""
"Who is he talking about?""
David didn't respond.
I looked directly at him.
"David. What does he mean?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"There's something I should have told you before.""
"What?""
He sat across from me.
"Three years ago, shortly before you married Mark, I investigated one of his business partnerships.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What did you find?""
"Financial fraud. Missing investments. A company that had collapsed after investors lost millions.""
"And?""
David looked at me.
"The person who reported it disappeared before he could testify.""
My mouth went dry.
"Who was he?""
David held my gaze.
"Victor Hale.""
The owner of the mysterious medical facility.
May you like
Mark's business partner.
And the man whose company now controlled the place where my husband wanted me to give birth.
