Chapter 13 - THE FALSE AMBULANCE
At thirty-four weeks, I went into early labor.
Dr. Collins admitted me under a false name.
Federal agents guarded every entrance.
Daniel remained in recovery.
Noah and Lily stayed with Nathan at a protected apartment.
Michael testified before a grand jury.
Tyler entered witness protection.
Jason was held without bail.
Every known threat appeared contained.
That was exactly when Dr. Cross moved.
My contractions began at 2:10 a.m.
Dr. Collins checked the monitor.
The baby’s heartbeat remained steady.
Then the hospital fire alarm sounded.
No smoke.
No flames.
A system malfunction.
Staff began transferring critical patients away from the affected wing.
An ambulance crew entered my room wearing county uniforms.
Their identification passed security.
One paramedic looked at my chart.
“Transfer order.”
Dr. Collins read it.
“I did not authorize this.”
The paramedic reached toward the bed rail.
She slapped his hand away.
“Step back.”
His expression changed.
The second paramedic pulled a syringe.
Federal agents entered from the hallway.
The first man drew a gun.
Dr. Collins overturned the medication cart and pulled me behind it.
Gunfire struck the wall.
The nurse activated the lockdown.
The false paramedics tried to retreat.
One was captured.
The other escaped through a service elevator.
Inside their ambulance, agents found restraints, memory-suppressing drugs, and a portable fetal surgical kit.
Dr. Cross had planned to perform the delivery inside the vehicle.
The captured man carried a live audio device.
Nathan spoke into it.
“Evelyn, it is over.”
Dr. Cross answered through the speaker.
“No.”
Her voice was close.
Too close.
The examination-room television activated.
A live feed showed Noah and Lily inside Nathan’s protected apartment.
Both were tied to chairs.
The guards lay unconscious on the floor.
Dr. Cross stood behind them.
Daniel appeared in the doorway of my hospital room.
He saw the screen.
“Mother.”
She looked into the camera.
“Bring Sarah to St. Augustine.”
“No,” Daniel said.
“Then choose which child survives.”
Noah stared at the camera.
He tried not to cry.
Lily did not look away.
I gripped the bed rail through another contraction.
Dr. Collins said, “You cannot travel.”
I looked at Daniel.
He already knew my answer.
“I am going.”
Nathan entered with tactical agents.
“We do not trade hostages.”
“She took my children.”
“We create another plan.”
“There is no time.”
Dr. Cross lifted a syringe near Noah’s neck.
“Forty minutes.”
The feed ended.
My next contraction was stronger.
Dr. Collins examined me.
“You are five centimeters.”
Daniel looked at me.
“If we move you, you may deliver on the road.”
May you like
I pulled off the monitor straps.
“Then bring the doctor.”
