by MJ Riley
Score one for Charlotte.
“So, you're really willing to double-cross Emerson like this?”
At the statement, Samson frowned, reaching down the front of his leather jacket to extract a dark, thin folder. When he held it out to Adeline, she merely stared at it for a moment.
David looked between them both.
“What? What is it?”
“Samson has executive access to a lot of files that I don't, including Charlotte's personal medical records. I asked him to check on her for me, to make sure they weren't doing anything…rash.”
The way Adeline eyed the folder spoke volumes about what she thought it contained; but, before David could snatch it, his mother unexpectedly plucked it from Samson's fingertips, opening it before he could protest. As the three of them looked on, her elderly eyes scanned the papers within, growing progressively wider and wider.
When she finally spoke, David thought his heart might burst with anticipation. “They're drugging her,” Miranda whispered, and Adeline gasped. “Twice a day. Sedatives in her food. Very powerful from the looks of it.”
Long ago, when their life had been different, Miranda Marscomb had worked as a nurse. She'd done a fair amount of volunteer work and been quite good when she put her mind to it. Now, she provided her knowledge to Adeline and Samson. “She's dehydrated,” she said, turning a page in disapproval. Then, all at once, she froze.
Adeline stared at her, her eyes huge. “What?”
Slowly, Miranda shut the folder, handing it back to Adeline as she looked up at her son. “David, you have to get her out of there as soon as you can. She's in a very dangerous situation.”
“No kidding, lady.” Adeline's voice was dry with sarcasm. “In case you haven't been following, Emerson Mathers is completely off his rocker.”
“No, I mean medically.” As Miranda continued, her face grew slightly paler. “You see, if they keep on slipping her the sedatives and don't increase her fluid intake, she could lose the baby.”
David's heart stopped.
No. No.
“The baby? What baby?” demanded Adeline.
Miranda winced. Then, she simply said, “Charlotte is pregnant.”
~~~
Connect with MJ Riley on Facebook
