Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN OUTSIDE
Ryan showed the message to Detective Torres.
She immediately ordered officers to secure the pediatric floor.
The hospital entrance was searched.
The parking garage was locked down.
Every visitor was asked for identification.
Evelyn was not found.
Maya remained beside Oliver’s bed.
Ryan refused to leave her alone.
At two in the morning, Oliver’s breathing finally became steady.
His fever began to drop.
The doctor reduced his oxygen.
Maya sat with one hand wrapped around his.
Ryan stood near the door, watching the hallway.
“You should sleep.”
Maya’s voice was weak.
“So should you.”
“I can’t.”
“Neither can I.”
Ryan pulled a chair beside her.
For several minutes, they listened to the rhythm of Oliver’s monitor.
Then Maya spoke.
“There is something else you need to know.”
Ryan turned toward her.
“Your mother offered me money.”
“When?”
“Six weeks ago.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
“To do what?”
“Leave you.”
Ryan stared at her.
“She said I could take the money and disappear.”
“She said Oliver would stay with you.”
“When I refused, she smiled.”
“She told me courts do not leave children with unstable women.”
Ryan felt his anger sharpening into something colder.
“Did she put the offer in writing?”
“No.”
“But I recorded part of the conversation.”
Maya pulled her damaged phone from an evidence bag on the bedside table.
“The screen is broken.”
“The recording might still be there.”
Detective Torres sent a technician to collect it.
At three fifteen, Claire arrived with her phone.
She looked exhausted.
Her mascara had streaked down both cheeks.
She stood outside Oliver’s room and stared at Maya’s injuries.
“Oh my God.”
Maya did not answer.
Claire handed the phone to Torres.
“I never thought she would hurt anyone.”
Ryan’s voice was quiet.
“You gave her the weapon she needed.”
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
The digital technician opened the notification archive.
Six preview images appeared.
The first showed Maya holding Oliver.
The second showed Evelyn entering the room.
The third showed Evelyn reaching into the emergency medicine box.
The fourth showed her slipping something into her coat pocket.
The fifth showed Maya grabbing Evelyn’s wrist.
The sixth showed Maya on the floor.
Evelyn stood over her.
Her hand was raised.
The picture was grainy.
But the violence was unmistakable.
Claire covered her mouth.
Ryan could not look away.
The technician enlarged the final image.
Behind Evelyn, the nursery door was open.
A second figure stood in the hallway.
Only one arm and part of a dark suit were visible.
Detective Torres leaned closer.
“Your mother was not alone.”
Ryan stared at the screen.
The sleeve looked familiar.
He had seen that suit earlier that night.
May you like
It belonged to Samuel Price.
Evelyn’s attorney.
