She begged to see him, voice breaking as she pleaded for any news. But staff only shook their heads, murmuring “protocol” with rigid gentleness. The word felt like a brick wall. Sandra’s sobs filled the room as she imagined Jake already in custody, alone, accused, and unreachable.
The officers returned at last, their expressions gentler. One pulled a chair beside her and spoke quietly: a man using Jake’s full name, birthdate, and personal details had checked into another hospital earlier that day, the same identity tied to multiple crimes. Jake was detained only because his stolen information created a perfect match.