A doctor entered next, muttering something about “protocol,” his tone edging on defensive. The word carried cold finality. There needn’t be such protocols for minor issues; it seemed like they were covering for serious risks. Sandra’s pulse quickened as she imagined terrifying possibilities. What protocol removed a father moments after childbirth?
She caught faint radio static echoing from the hallway. It was official, rhythmic, and unmistakably authoritative. The sound chilled her. Police, she thought, or investigators. Her heart pounded painfully as she imagined Jake surrounded, questioned, and accused of something she couldn’t imagine. The silence felt like condemnation.