Chapter 8 - The Table Turns
Before Nathan could recover his voice or order the security guards to intervene, the heavy double doors of the loading dock burst open with a loud crash.
A squad of uniform police officers, led by a middle-aged detective with a badge pinned to his belt, poured into the basement facility, followed closely by Carlos, the shift-change van driver.
“Hold right where you are! Columbus Police Department!” the detective commanded, his hand resting casually on his utility belt as he surveyed the scene.
Nathan’s shoulders slumped entirely. The security guards immediately lowered their hands, stepping back and distancing themselves from Nathan and the Carver family payroll.
“Detective,” Mae stepped forward, flashing her senior nurse badge. “I’m Mae Rowland. I placed the emergency call. We have a patient who was unlawfully detained under false medical pretexts, and an attempted abduction of a newborn infant by unauthorized family members.”
The detective nodded grimly, walking straight past Nathan and stopping in front of Leah. He looked down at the bassinet, then up at Leah with a sympathetic, professional expression.
“Are you Leah Carver?” he asked gently.
“Yes,” Leah said, her voice steady and clear.
“You and your baby are safe now, ma’am,” the detective said, turning to look over his shoulder at Nathan. “Mr. Carver, step away from Mrs. Carver and put your hands where I can see them. You’re coming down to the precinct to answer some very serious questions regarding conspiracy, coercion, and falsification of medical records.”
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Nathan opened his mouth to protest, stuttering out a broken sentence about his mother, but the words died in his throat as the heavy steel cuffs clicked sharply around his wrists.
Across the room, Simone watched with a satisfied, triumphant smirk, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “Tell Doreen I said hello,” she called out as Nathan was led away in disgrace toward the waiting squad cars outside.
