Chapter 2 - THE MISSING MEDICINEDiana arrived at a different hospital.
Bruised cheek.
No fracture.
Her attorney filed three complaints before sunset.
Assault.
Unlawful destruction of property.
Abuse of official authority.
She also produced an emergency placement order.
According to the order, Emma had been placed under Diana Harrington’s authority for seventy-two hours.
Reason:
PARENTAL ABANDONMENT DURING LAW-ENFORCEMENT CRISIS.
I had signed nothing like that.
I had signed a one-night respite agreement.
At 12:41 that morning.
From my patrol vehicle.
A veteran with a rifle had barricaded himself inside a farmhouse with his adult son.
My regular sitter had influenza.
Hopewell Respite Center was on the county emergency list.
I authorized Emma to stay there until 8:00 a.m.
Hopewell was licensed.
Staffed.
Air-conditioned.
Fifteen minutes from Mercy Children’s.
Diana’s private house was none of those things.
Then Dr. Patel returned.
She held Emma’s lab results.
“Her beta-blocker level is extremely low.”
“How low?”
“Consistent with at least two missed doses.”
“The medication went with her.”
“It was not among the belongings that arrived.”
I called Hopewell.
The director sounded confused.
“Sheriff Mercer, Emma never came here.”
“What?”
“County placement services canceled the reservation.”
“When?”
“1:52 a.m.”
“Who?”
“Malcolm Pierce.”
Director of emergency family placements.
I knew Malcolm.
Had known him fourteen years.
His children attended the same Fourth of July parade Emma loved.
He shook my hand at county meetings.
The official county file showed something else.
At 2:13 a.m., an emergency judicial order transferred Emma directly to Diana Harrington.
It included my electronic signature.
And a behavioral note.
FATHER REPORTS CHILD SOMETIMES EXAGGERATES CARDIAC SYMPTOMS TO AVOID DISCIPLINE.
I stared at the words.
Then read them again.
I had never described Emma as manipulative.
Not once.
Dr. Patel turned Emma’s monitor toward me.
“The first cardiac alarm began at 1:06 p.m.”
“What happened?”
“Someone manually silenced it.”
“For how long?”
“Two hours and forty-six minutes.”
May you like
The second alarm began at 3:52.
The moment I entered Diana’s yard.
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