Chapter 2 - “Those Are My Children”
Michael slapped one palm against the glass.
“Open the door.”
I did not.
Instead I pressed the intercom button.
“Step away from the entrance, sir.”
His face hardened.
“Those are my daughters.”
“I understand.”
“Then open the door.”
“Step back.”
Emma crouched behind the counter beside Olivia.
Michael could see part of her cardigan.
He pointed.
“Emma! Come here.”
She disappeared completely.
That answered more than any argument he could have made.
Michael struck the glass again.
Not enough to break it.
Enough to make Olivia cry.
“Daddy mad.”
Emma whispered:
“It’s okay.”
I radioed:
“Need another unit to front entrance.”
Michael heard none of that through the glass.
He pulled out his phone.
Called the station.
The desk line rang.
I answered.
“Police.”
“This is Dr. Michael Carter. My daughters ran away from me. One of them is medically unstable.”
“Which one?”
“Olivia.”
“What condition?”
“Functional abdominal pain with anxiety-related episodes.”
That sounded rehearsed.
“What medication did you give her today?”
Silence.
Then:
“That is confidential medical information.”
“She is seven.”
“I’m her father and a physician.”
“Medical information stops being a shield when the patient walks into a police station saying she was forced to swallow something.”
His voice changed.
Not much.
Enough.
“Emma exaggerates.”
I looked behind the counter.
Emma was holding Olivia’s hand.
“Stay outside.”
“You don’t have authority to keep my children from me.”
“We’ll sort authority out after Olivia is evaluated.”
He disconnected.
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Thirty seconds later, backup pulled into the lot.
Michael finally stepped away from the door.
