A g1rl acted strangely ar0und her dad 1n the cl1n1c, av01d1ng eye c0ntact and f1dget1ng nerv0usly 1n her cha1r.

At f1rst, the staff th0ught 1t was typ1cal app01ntment anx1ety, but when the d0ct0r perf0rmed an ultras0und, he stared at the screen 1n d1sbel1ef and began t0 pan1c.

The early even1ng a1r settled 0ver Santa R0sa, a m0dest c1ty nestled 1n S0ma C0unty, Cal1f0rn1a.

Dr Evan Laam glanced at h1s watch as he hurr1ed 0ut 0f the exam1nat10n r00m.

At 52, he had establ1shed h1mself as a respected fam1ly phys1c1an 1n the suburban ne1ghb0rh00d, and h1s 1ndependent cl1n1c 0pened just a few years ag0, was stead1ly bu1ld1ng a pat1ent base.

“R0sa,” Dr Laam called, appr0ach1ng the nurse stat10n.

“Th1s was left beh1nd by Mrs.Hernandez.

He handed 0ver a prescr1pt10n eyeglass case t0 the nurse 0n duty.

” “I’ll call her r1ght away,” R0sa repl1ed, tak1ng the case and plac1ng 1t 1n the desk drawer.

As Dr Laam turned t0 head back t0 h1s exam1nat10n r00m, he scanned the wa1t1ng area, n0w m0stly empty.

As cl0s1ng t1me appr0ached, h1s eyes landed 0n a pa1r seated 1n the c0rner, a st0cky man 1n a blue p0l0 sh1rt and a y0ung g1rl 1n a red h00d1e.

Rec0gn1t10n flashed acr0ss h1s face.

“Marc0,” Dr Laam called 0ut, walk1ng 0ver w1th a warm sm1le.

“Marc0 Halan, r1ght? I d1dn’t kn0w y0u were c0m1ng 1n t0day.

” Marc0 r0se t0 h1s feet, extend1ng h1s hand.

“Dr Laam, g00d t0 see y0u.

We’re ne1ghb0rs, Marc0.

Y0u can call me Evan 0uts1de the cl1n1c.

” He turned h1s attent10n t0 the g1rl wh0 kept her eyes f1xed 0n the fl00r.

“And th1s must be Luc1a.

I d0n’t th1nk we’ve pr0perly met bef0re, th0ugh I’ve seen y0u ar0und the ne1ghb0rh00d.

” Luc1a barely ackn0wledged h1m w1th a sl1ght n0d, never l1ft1ng her gaze.

We’ll be w1th y0u sh0rtly, d0ct0r, Laam assured them.

Just f1n1sh1ng up s0me paperw0rk.

Back 1n h1s exam1nat10n r00m, d0ct0r.

Laam settled beh1nd h1s desk, 0rgan1z1ng the charts fr0m h1s prev10us pat1ent.

A m0ment later, R0sa Delgat0, h1s nurse ass1stant, entered the r00m.

She began meth0d1cally san1t1z1ng the exam1nat10n table and equ1pment, prepar1ng f0r the next pat1ent.

Dr Dr Laam, R0sa sa1d 1n a l0wered v01ce, “There’s s0meth1ng strange ab0ut that father and daughter 0ut there.

” Dr Laam l00ked up fr0m h1s paperw0rk.

“What d0 y0u mean?” R0sa’s br0w furr0wed as she w1ped d0wn the ultras0und mach1ne.

“When I t00k the g1rl’s v1tals, her father w0uldn’t let her speak, n0t even t0 g1ve her 0wn name.

He kept answer1ng everyth1ng f0r her.

” She sh00k her head.

I had t0 keep rem1nd1ng h1m that I needed t0 hear fr0m her d1rectly.

And the g1rl, Luc1a, she w0n’t make eye c0ntact.

N0t 0nce.

Dr Laam leaned back 1n h1s cha1r.

I kn0w them, R0sa.

They l1ve just three h0uses d0wn fr0m me.

Marc0 can be a b1t auth0r1tat1ve.

S0me fathers are l1ke that.

I’m Mex1can, t00, d0ct0r.

Laam, R0sa repl1ed.

And th1s 1sn’t cultural.

Th1s 1s s0meth1ng else.

She paused, then shrugged.

But y0u kn0w them better than I d0.

Maybe 1t’s just h0w the1r fam1ly dynam1c w0rks.

She handed h1m the g1rl’s chart, and Dr Laam’s eyes w1dened as he rev1ewed the l1sted sympt0ms.

14 years 0ld w1th pregnancy sympt0ms, he murmured.

R0sa n0dded gr1mly.

That’s why I’m c0ncerned.

Send them 1n, d0ct0r, Laam sa1d, stra1ghten1ng h1s wh1te c0at and c0mp0s1ng h1s express10n.

The d00r 0pened and Marc0 gu1ded Lut1a 1nt0 the r00m w1th a f1rm hand 0n her sh0ulder.

The g1rl m0ved as 1f she were walk1ng 0n eggshells, her b0dy tense, her red h00d1e hang1ng l00sely 0ver her frame.

“Thank y0u f0r see1ng us, d0ct0r,” Marc0 sa1d, tak1ng the cha1r bes1de the exam1nat10n table, espec1ally th1s late.

“Of c0urse,” Dr Laam repl1ed, “What seems t0 be the pr0blem?” Marc0 cleared h1s thr0at, l00k1ng unc0mf0rtable.

“It’s n0t easy t0 say th1s, but my daughter 1s pregnant.

” Desp1te hav1ng seen 1t 0n the chart, hear1ng 1t stated s0 bluntly made Dr Laam’s st0mach t1ghten.

He l00ked at Luc1a, wh0 rema1ned s1lent, star1ng at her hands f0lded 1n her lap.

“I see,” Dr Laam sa1d carefully.

Luc1a, h0w have y0u been feel1ng? Bef0re she c0uld answer, Marc0 1nterjected.

She’s been hav1ng m0rn1ng s1ckness, fat1gue, and lately she’s been c0mpla1n1ng ab0ut abd0m1nal pa1n.

Dr Laam kept h1s f0cus 0n Luc1a.

“Luc1a, w0uld y0u prefer t0 answer these quest10ns y0urself?” The g1rl gave a barely percept1ble n0d.

“And h0w d1d th1s pregnancy 0ccur?” Dr Laam asked, d1rect1ng h1s quest10n t0 Luc1a aga1n.

Marc0 answered.

She has a b0yfr1end.

We d0n’t want t0 talk ab0ut h1m.

H1s t0ne made 1t clear the subject was cl0sed.

D0ct0r, Marc0 c0nt1nued, lean1ng f0rward.

We need th1s t0 stay c0nf1dent1al.

N0 0ne can kn0w ab0ut th1s.

N0t 0ur ne1ghb0rs, n0t any0ne.

Pat1ent c0nf1dent1al1ty 1s standard pr0t0c0l, Mr.

Halc0n.

D0ct0r, Laam assured h1m, th0ugh he f0und the emphas1s 0dd.

I can’t d1scuss any pat1ents case w1th 0thers.

G00d, g00d, Marc0 n0dded.

Dr Laam turned t0 Luc1a.

I’d l1ke t0 perf0rm an ultras0und t0 check 0n the baby and determ1ne h0w far al0ng y0u are.

Is that 0kay w1th y0u, Luc1a? She n0dded, st1ll n0t meet1ng h1s eyes.

R0sa w1ll help y0u 0nt0 the exam1nat10n table, Dr Laam sa1d, prepar1ng the ultras0und mach1ne.

Y0u’ll need t0 l1ft y0ur sh1rt just ab0ve y0ur abd0men.

R0sa gently gu1ded Luc1a t0 the table.

The g1rl w1nced as she lay back.

D0es that hurt? R0sa asked s0ftly.

Luc1a n0dded.

The abd0m1nal pa1n has been gett1ng w0rse, Marc0 expla1ned fr0m h1s cha1r.

Dr Laam appl1ed the gel t0 Luc1a’s abd0men, n0t1ng h0w she fl1nched at h1s t0uch.

He m0ved the transducer acr0ss her belly, watch1ng the screen 1ntently.

What he saw made h1m pause.

Th1s 1s, he began, adjust1ng the mach1ne f0r a better v1ew.

Luc1a, y0u appear t0 be appr0x1mately 28 weeks pregnant.

Marc0’s eyes w1dened.

That can’t be r1ght.

It hasn’t been that l0ng.

Dr Leam l00ked at h1m sharply.

Have y0u taken her t0 an 0bst1tr1c1an bef0re? N0, Marc0 sa1d.

Th1s 1s 0ur f1rst d0ct0r v1s1t.

Dr Laam c0nt1nued exam1n1ng the ultras0und 1mage.

It’s a g1rl, he sa1d, then fr0wned.

But I’m see1ng s0me c0ncern1ng s1gns.

Her abd0men d0esn’t match typ1cal gr0wth patterns f0r 28 weeks.

Th1s suggests what we call 1ntrauter1ne gr0wth restr1ct10n 0r IUGR.

What d0es that mean? Marc0 asked.

It means the baby 1sn’t gr0w1ng at a n0rmal rate.

Th1s can happen due t0 pr0blems w1th the placenta, maternal health 1ssues, 0r fetal c0nd1t10ns.

Dr Leam m0ved the transducer aga1n, m0n1t0r1ng carefully.

I’m als0 detect1ng an 1rregular fetal heartbeat.

He turned t0 face Marc0 d1rectly.

Mr.

Halc0n, I str0ngly rec0mmend y0u take Luc1a t0 the h0sp1tal 1mmed1ately.

She needs spec1al1zed care that I can’t pr0v1de here 1n my cl1n1c.

Marc0’s face darkened.

“H0s, why can’t y0u just g1ve her s0me med1c1ne?” “Th1s requ1res advanced m0n1t0r1ng and p0ss1bly 1ntervent10n,” Dr Laam expla1ned pat1ently.

“The h0sp1tal has the equ1pment and spec1al1sts needed t0 m0n1t0r the baby’s devel0pment pr0perly.

They can perf0rm D0ppler stud1es t0 assess bl00d fl0w t0 the baby and check f0r any 0rgan under devel0pment.

” Marc0 l00ked res1stant, but Dr Laam c0nt1nued f1rmly.

I can g1ve y0u a prescr1pt10n f0r prenatal v1tam1ns, calc1um, and f0l1c ac1d t0 help w1th nutr1t10n, but that’s n0t en0ugh.

She needs t0 be seen at the h0sp1tal.

He wr0te 0ut the prescr1pt10n and handed 1t t0 Marc0.

The pharmacy next d00r 1s st1ll 0pen.

Y0u can f1ll th1s wh1le nurse R0sa helps clean up Luc1a.

Marc0 glanced hes1tantly between the d0ct0r and h1s daughter.

She’ll be f1ne, d0ct0r, Laam assured h1m.

We’ll just clean 0ff the gel and pr1nt 0ut the ultras0und 1mages.

She’ll j01n y0u at the pharmacy 1n a few m1nutes.

Marc0 reluctantly t00k the prescr1pt10n and left the r00m, l00k1ng back at Luc1a 0ne last t1me bef0re cl0s1ng the d00r.

As s00n as he was g0ne, R0sa began gently w1p1ng the gel fr0m Luc1a’s abd0men.

“Y0u’re g01ng t0 be 0kay, sweet1e,” she sa1d s0ftly.

Luc1a’s eyes suddenly welled w1th tears.

“She k1cks when she hears h1s v01ce,” she wh1spered.

“I hate that she l1kes h1m.

” Dr Laam and R0sa exchanged alarmed glances.

The statement hung 1n the a1r, pregnant w1th amb1gu0us mean1ng.

“Luc1a,” Dr Laam sa1d carefully.

“What d0 y0u mean by that?” But Luc1a had retreated back 1nt0 s1lence.

Her m0mentary 0penness van1shed.

Dr Laam tr1ed t0 make sense 0f her w0rds.

Perhaps she was upset ab0ut her pregnancy and pr0ject1ng th0se feel1ngs 0nt0 her father.

Or maybe Marc0 had been angry ab0ut the pregnancy and she was express1ng resentment.

“What’s d0ne 1s d0ne,” he sa1d gently.

“Y0ur father br0ught y0u here because he cares ab0ut y0ur health.

N0w, we need t0 f0cus 0n mak1ng sure y0u and the baby are 0kay.

That’s why 1t’s s0 1mp0rtant that y0u g0 t0 the h0sp1tal r1ght away.

” He handed Luc1a the pr1nted ultras0und 1mage and she t00k 1t, her gaze f1xed 0n the black and wh1te p1cture.

T0 her eyes, the 1mage l00ked m0re l1ke an abstract blur than anyth1ng rec0gn1zable.

Thr0ugh the glass panel 1n the d00r, Dr Laam c0uld see Marc0 return1ng fr0m the pharmacy.

The m0ment was l0st.

R0sa helped Luc1a s1t up and they prepared t0 leave.

Dr Laam watched as Marc0 c0llected h1s daughter, h1s hand f1rmly 0n her sh0ulder as they ex1ted the cl1n1c.

After Marc0 and Luc1a left, R0sa returned t0 the exam1nat10n r00m, her face tr0ubled as she gathered the rema1n1ng ultras0und pr1nt0uts.

9:00, she ann0unced, l00k1ng at her watch.

“That’s 1t f0r t0day, r1ght?” Dr Laam n0dded, st1ll d1sturbed by Luc1a’s crypt1c statement.

Yes, they were 0ur last pat1ents.

R0sa began shutt1ng d0wn the ultras0und mach1ne, her m0vements br1sk, but her express10n pens1ve.

That was strange, d0n’t y0u th1nk? She f1nally asked, the g1rl h1d1ng her pregnancy f0r 28 weeks.

And what she sa1d when her father left the r00m.

I kn0w, Dr Laam agreed, lean1ng aga1nst h1s desk, 1t was def1n1tely unusual.

What d0 y0u th1nk she meant? R0se pressed.

ab0ut the baby k1ck1ng when she hears h1s v01ce and her say1ng she hates that the baby l1kes h1m.

Dr Laam ran a hand thr0ugh h1s ha1r.

I’m assum1ng she must have h1dden the pregnancy fr0m her father all th1s t1me.

That’s why he 0nly just br0ught her 1n.

Maybe he was angry when he f0und 0ut and that’s why she’s express1ng th0se feel1ngs.

R0sa wasn’t c0nv1nced.

But she spec1f1cally sa1d the baby k1cks when she hears her father’s v01ce and she d0esn’t l1ke that.

D0esn’t that seem 0dd t0 y0u? It c0uld be teenage h0rm0nes c0ll1d1ng w1th pregnancy h0rm0nes, Dr Laam suggested, th0ugh the explanat10n felt 1nsuff1c1ent even t0 h1m.

M00d sw1ngs and em0t10nal v0lat1l1ty are c0mm0n 1n b0th.

R0sa n0dded sl0wly, th0ugh d0ubt l1ngered 1n her eyes.

I h0pe they g0 t0 the h0sp1tal l1ke y0u t0ld them t0.

Me t00, Dr Laam sa1d.

That baby needs pr0per m0n1t0r1ng.

They f1n1shed cl0s1ng the cl1n1c, turn1ng 0ff l1ghts and l0ck1ng cab1nets.

The 0ther staff had already departed, leav1ng just the tw0 0f them t0 secure the bu1ld1ng.

They walked 0ut t0gether 1nt0 the c00l n1ght a1r, the park1ng l0t nearly empty.

Have a g00d n1ght, d0ct0r, R0sa sa1d, head1ng t0ward her car.

Y0u t00, R0sa.

See y0u t0m0rr0w.

Dr Laam cl1mbed 1nt0 h1s sedan, the eng1ne humm1ng t0 l1fe as he pulled 0ut 0f the park1ng l0t.

H1s m1nd kept replay1ng the exam1nat10n, search1ng f0r clues 1n the 1nteract10n between father and daughter.

S0meth1ng felt 0ff, but he c0uldn’t qu1te place 1t.

As he turned 1nt0 h1s ne1ghb0rh00d, the street l1ghts cast l0ng shad0ws 0n the qu1et suburban street.

He sl0wed as he appr0ached the Halc0n res1dence, three h0uses away fr0m h1s 0wn.

The1r car was parked 1n the dr1veway.

They d1dn’t g0 t0 the h0sp1tal, he muttered t0 h1mself, a fl1cker 0f c0ncern 1gn1t1ng 1n h1s chest.

He c0nt1nued dr1v1ng t0 h1s h0use, pulled 1nt0 h1s dr1veway, and shut 0ff the eng1ne.

S1tt1ng 1n the darkness 0f h1s car, he debated w1th h1mself.

Maybe they d1dn’t understand the ser10usness 0f the s1tuat10n, the 1rregular heartbeat, the gr0wth restr1ct10n.

These weren’t m1n0r 1ssues, espec1ally f0r a 14-year-0ld m0ther.

he sh0uld just g0 1ns1de, have d1nner, and call 1t a n1ght.

It wasn’t h1s resp0ns1b1l1ty t0 chase d0wn pat1ents wh0 1gn0red h1s med1cal adv1ce.

But Luc1a’s w0rds ech0ed 1n h1s m1nd.

She k1cks when she hears h1s v01ce.

I hate that she l1kes h1m.

W1th a s1gh, Dr Laam g0t 0ut 0f h1s car and walked back d0wn the street t0 the Halc0n h0use.

The l1ghts were 0n 1ns1de, a warm gl0w emanat1ng fr0m the w1nd0ws.

He hes1tated, then kn0cked f1rmly 0n the fr0nt d00r.

After a m0ment, the d00r swung 0pen, and Marc0 st00d there, surpr1se flash1ng acr0ss h1s face bef0re he c0mp0sed 1t 1nt0 a neutral express10n.

Dr Laam, 1s everyth1ng 0kay? I was just check1ng 1n, d0ct0r, Laam sa1d, try1ng t0 keep h1s t0ne casual.

I n0t1ced y0ur car was here, and I was c0ncerned s1nce I had rec0mmended y0u take Luc1a t0 the h0sp1tal r1ght away.

Marc0’s express10n sh1fted alm0st 1mpercept1bly.

Ah, yes.

Thank y0u f0r y0ur c0ncern.

Luc1a has g0ne t0 the h0sp1tal w1th her m0ther.

I stayed beh1nd t0 f1n1sh s0me w0rk.

Dr Laam bl1nked, caught 0ff guard by th1s 1nf0rmat10n.

Th1s was the f1rst ment10n 0f Luc1a’s m0ther be1ng 1n the p1cture.

I see, he sa1d carefully.

That’s g00d t0 hear.

I was w0rr1ed ab0ut the baby’s c0nd1t10n.

Yes.

Well, she’s 1n g00d hands n0w, Marc0 sa1d, h1s t0ne cl1pped.

Thank y0u f0r st0pp1ng by, d0ct0r, but 1t’s gett1ng late and I have w0rk t0 f1n1sh.

Of c0urse, Dr Laam n0dded.

S0rry t0 d1sturb y0u.

G00d n1ght, Mr.

Halc0n.

G00d n1ght.

The d00r shut f1rmly beh1nd h1m, leav1ng Dr Laam stand1ng 0n the p0rch w1th ann0y1ng unease 1n h1s gut.

As he made h1s way back h0me, Marc0’s explanat10n played 0ver 1n h1s m1nd.

He c0uld 0nly h0pe 1t had been the truth.

Ins1de h1s k1tchen, Dr Laam 0pened the refr1gerat0r and stared at 1ts c0ntents.

H1s appet1te d1m1n1shed by the nagg1ng sense that s0meth1ng was wr0ng w1th the g1rl.

He grabbed left0vers fr0m the prev10us n1ght’s d1nner, ch1cken pasta, and placed 1t 1n the m1cr0wave.

As he wa1ted f0r h1s f00d t0 heat, R0sa’s c0ncerns ech0ed 1n h1s m1nd.

The way Marc0 had c0ntr0lled the c0nversat10n, answer1ng quest10ns meant f0r Luc1a.

The g1rl’s reluctance t0 make eye c0ntact.

Her crypt1c c0mment ab0ut the baby.

And n0w Marc0’s cla1m that Lut1a had g0ne t0 the h0sp1tal w1th her m0ther.

The m1cr0wave beeped, but Dr Laam barely n0t1ced.

A real1zat10n struck h1m.

Desp1te l1v1ng just three h0uses away fr0m the Halcan0n fam1ly f0r 0ver a year, he had rarely seen Luc1a 0r her m0ther 0uts1de.

He knew Marc0 had a daughter, but the1r 1nteract10ns had been l1m1ted t0 the 0ccas10nal wave fr0m the dr1veway 0r br1ef exchanges at ne1ghb0rh00d gather1ngs, always w1th Marc0 al0ne.

As f0r h1s w1fe, he c0uldn’t even recall the last t1me he’d seen her.

He t00k h1s plate t0 h1s h0me 0ff1ce, a small r00m w1th a desk, c0mputer, and b00kshelves l1ned w1th med1cal texts.

Sett1ng h1s d1nner as1de, he 0pened h1s lapt0p and nav1gated t0 Faceb00k.

“Th1s pr0bably cr0sses s0me pr0fess10nal b0undar1es,” he muttered t0 h1mself.

“But s0meth1ng 1sn’t r1ght.

” He searched f0r Marc0 Halc0n and qu1ckly f0und h1s pr0f1le.

Marc0’s pr1vacy sett1ngs were m1n1mal, all0w1ng Dr Laam t0 br0wse thr0ugh h1s ph0t0s and 1nf0rmat10n.

He scr0lled thr0ugh the fr1end l1st, search1ng f0r s0me0ne wh0 m1ght be Lut1a’s m0ther.

“Dan1ela R1vera,” he read al0ud.

The name rang fa1ntly fam1l1ar, as 1f he’d heard 1t l0ng ag0.

Her pr0f1le p1cture tugged at s0meth1ng deep 1n h1s mem0ry.

The w0man’s face b0re a subtle resemblance t0 Lut1a, and he was alm0st certa1n he had seen her bef0re, s0mewhere 1n the past.

He cl1cked 0n the pr0f1le, scann1ng thr0ugh the l1m1ted 1nf0rmat10n v1s1ble t0 the publ1c.

Dan1ela’s page had few recent ph0t0s w1th Marc0 0r Lut1a.

In fact, scr0ll1ng thr0ugh her t1mel1ne, Dr Laam n0t1ced a d1st1nct absence 0f fam1ly ph0t0s f0r several years.

There were p1ctures 0f D1an1ela at w0rk events w1th fr1ends, but n0ne w1th her daughter.

If they’re d1v0rced, that w0uld make sense, he mused al0ud.

But then, why w0uld Marc0 say Luc1a went t0 the h0sp1tal w1th her? Dr Laam knew he was stepp1ng 0uts1de pr0fess10nal b0undar1es by 1nvest1gat1ng h1s pat1ents fam1ly th1s way.

But Luc1a’s well-be1ng and p0tent1ally her safety 0verr0de h1s hes1tat10n.

He cl1cked 0n the messenger 1c0n and began typ1ng a message t0 Dan1ela.

Hell0, Ms.

R1vera.

I ap0l0g1ze f0r c0ntact1ng y0u th1s way, but I’m Dr Evan Laam, a fam1ly phys1c1an wh0 saw y0ur daughter Luc1a t0day.

I just wanted t0 check h0w the h0sp1tal v1s1t 1s g01ng aga1n.

S0rry f0r the 1ntrus10n.

He hes1tated bef0re h1tt1ng send, aware that th1s message m1ght anger her 0r cause c0nfus10n.

But c0ncern f0r Luc1a, w0n 0ut, and he sent the message.

Dr Laam ate h1s d1nner wh1le 0ccas10nally glanc1ng at the screen f0r a resp0nse.

N0ne came.

He cleaned h1s plate, changed 1nt0 m0re c0mf0rtable cl0thes, and prepared f0r bed, check1ng h1s ph0ne 0ne last t1me bef0re turn1ng 1n.

As he lay 1n bed, star1ng at the ce1l1ng, h1s ph0ne ch1med w1th a n0t1f1cat10n.

He grabbed 1t qu1ckly, see1ng a message fr0m Dan1ela R1vera.

What h0sp1tal v1s1t? Is s0meth1ng wr0ng w1th Luc1a? Bef0re he c0uld type a resp0nse, h1s ph0ne began r1ng1ng.

A Faceb00k call fr0m D1an1ela.

He sat up 1n bed and answered.

Hell0, Dr Laam speak1ng.

D0ct0r, what’s g01ng 0n? Dan1ela’s v01ce was tense w1th w0rry.

What d0 y0u mean ab0ut a h0sp1tal v1s1t? I’m n0t at any h0sp1tal w1th Luc1a.

Dr Laam’s st0mach sank.

Ms.

R1vera, I saw y0ur daughter at my cl1n1c th1s even1ng.

She was br0ught 1n by her father, Marc0.

She’s pregnant, appr0x1mately 28 weeks al0ng.

There was a sharp 1ntake 0f breath 0n the 0ther end 0f the l1ne.

That’s 1mp0ss1ble, Dan1ela wh1spered.

I haven’t seen Luc1a 1n alm0st 3 years.

Marc0 and I have been d1v0rced f0r 10 years.

He has full cust0dy, and I’m n0t all0wed near her.

Dr Laam cl0sed h1s eyes, p1eces beg1nn1ng t0 fall 1nt0 place.

Ms.

R1vera, I need t0 expla1n the s1tuat10n clearly.

Luc1a came t0 my cl1n1c w1th Marc0 th1s even1ng.

She’s 1n the th1rd tr1mester 0f pregnancy w1th 1ntrauter1ne gr0wth restr1ct10n, wh1ch means the fetus 1sn’t gr0w1ng at a n0rmal rate.

Th1s can happen due t0 pr0blems w1th the placenta, maternal health 1ssues, 0r fetal c0nd1t10ns.

He paused t0 take a breath.

I als0 detected an 1rregular fetal heartbeat.

I adv1sed them t0 g0 t0 the h0sp1tal 1mmed1ately s0 spec1al1sts c0uld perf0rm D0ppler stud1es and assess the baby’s devel0pment.

If there’s 0rgan underdevel0pment, espec1ally 1n the lungs and bra1n, there are treatments that c0uld help bef0re 1t’s t00 late.

Dan1ela was s1lent f0r a l0ng m0ment bef0re resp0nd1ng.

“Oh my g0d,” she f1nally sa1d, her v01ce break1ng.

My baby.

She’s 0nly 14.

H0w c0uld th1s happen? Wh0 d1d th1s t0 her? Marc0 sa1d she has a b0yfr1end, Dr Laam repl1ed, th0ugh he was n0w quest10n1ng everyth1ng Marc0 had t0ld h1m.

I d0n’t kn0w what t0 d0, Dan1ela sa1d, s0und1ng 0verwhelmed.

I want t0 see her r1ght n0w, but I’m n0t all0wed anywhere near her.

The restra1n1ng 0rder.

She br0ke 0ff.

Please, d0ct0r, make sure she’s 0kay.

If she’s n0t, call the p0l1ce.

I d0n’t care 1f Marc0 rep0rts me f0r v10lat1ng the 0rder.

Th1s 1s my daughter we’re talk1ng ab0ut.

I understand, d0ct0r.

Laam assured her.

But we need t0 be careful.

Luc1a 1s 1n a del1cate c0nd1t10n, and we d0n’t want t0 tr1gger premature lab0r by caus1ng her add1t10nal stress.

Y0u’re r1ght, Dan1ela agreed reluctantly.

What w1ll y0u d0? I’ll check 0n her aga1n, D0ct0r Leam pr0m1sed.

and I’ll keep y0u updated.

F0r n0w, 1t’s pr0bably best 1f y0u stay where y0u are.

After end1ng the call, d0ct0r accessed h1s cl1n1c’s electr0n1c med1cal rec0rds fr0m h1s lapt0p.

He pulled up the ultras0und 1mages fr0m Luc1a’s exam1nat10n, study1ng them carefully.

The 1mages c0nf1rmed h1s 1n1t1al assessment, restr1cted gr0wth, p0tent1ally c0mpr0m1sed placental funct10n, and c0ncern1ng 1nd1cat10ns 0f decreased bl00d fl0w t0 the fetus.

Th1s meant less 0xygen and fewer nutr1ents were reach1ng the baby, a s1tuat10n that c0uld rap1dly deter10rate.

The cl0ck 0n h1s beds1de table read 10:15 pm.

It was late f0r h0use calls, but the man had clearly l1ed t0 h1m wh1le h1s daughter needed med1cal attent10n.

Dr Laam dec1ded th1s c0uldn’t wa1t unt1l m0rn1ng.

By then, the man m1ght be at w0rk 0r c0me up w1th an0ther excuse.

Dr Laam qu1ckly changed back 1nt0 street cl0thes and headed 0ut 0f h1s h0use.

The n1ght had gr0wn c00ler, a l1ght f0g beg1nn1ng t0 settle 0ver the suburban ne1ghb0rh00d.

The Halc0n h0use st00d s1lh0uetted aga1nst the n1ght sky, 1ts w1nd0ws st1ll 1llum1nated.

He appr0ached the fr0nt d00r w1th determ1nat10n, prepared t0 c0nfr0nt Marc0 ab0ut h1s l1e and 1ns1st that Luc1a rece1ve 1mmed1ate med1cal care.

He kn0cked f1rmly, rehears1ng what he w0uld say when Marc0 answered.

But when the d00r 0pened, 1t wasn’t Marc0 wh0 st00d 1n the d00rway.

It was Luc1a.

Her eyes w1dened sl1ghtly at the s1ght 0f h1m.

“D0ct0r Laam,” she wh1spered, glanc1ng nerv0usly 0ver her sh0ulder.

“Luc1a,” he sa1d gently.

“D1d y0u g0 t0 the h0sp1tal?” She sh00k her head, her f1ngers f1dget1ng w1th the hem 0f her h00d1e.

“Luc1a, I need y0u t0 tell me the truth,” Dr Laam sa1d, keep1ng h1s v01ce l0w.

What’s happen1ng here? Why d1d y0u h1de y0ur pregnancy f0r s0 l0ng? Luc1a 0pened her m0uth t0 speak, but bef0re she c0uld say anyth1ng, Marc0’s v01ce b00med fr0m 1ns1de the h0use.

“Wh0 1s 1t, Luc1a? Is that the del1very guy? What’s tak1ng s0 l0ng?” Fear flashed acr0ss Luc1a’s face.

“Please g0,” she wh1spered, already cl0s1ng the d00r.

Please.

Dr Laam put h1s hand 0n the d00r t0 st0p 1t fr0m cl0s1ng c0mpletely.

Luc1a, I can help y0u.

Let me help y0u.

I can’t.

She breathed, push1ng the d00r shut.

Dr Laam st00d 0n the p0rch, t0rn.

Techn1cally, he had d0ne h1s duty.

He’d 1nf0rmed Marc0 0f the r1sks and urged h1m t0 seek h0sp1tal care.

He c0uldn’t f0rce them t0 f0ll0w h1s adv1ce.

But s0meth1ng ab0ut that h0use felt 0ff, deeply wr0ng, and he c0uldn’t br1ng h1mself t0 walk away.

He had made a pr0m1se t0 Dan1ela, and that pr0m1se st1ll held we1ght.

As he turned t0 leave, the fr0nt d00r swung 0pen aga1n.

Th1s t1me, Marc0 st00d 1n the d00rway, h1s express10n dark w1th ann0yance.

“Dr Laam,” he sa1d, v01ce t1ght.

“Why d0 y0u keep c0m1ng t0 my h0use? It’s late 1n the even1ng.

” “Mr.

Halcan, Dr Laam began, struggl1ng t0 keep h1s t0ne pr0fess10nal.

I’m c0ncerned ab0ut Luc1a’s c0nd1t10n.

Y0u t0ld me she had g0ne t0 the h0sp1tal w1th her m0ther, but I’ve just learned that’s n0t true.

Marc0’s jaw t1ghtened.

Y0u’ve been check1ng up 0n me.

Wh0 I take my daughter t0 see 1s n0ne 0f y0ur bus1ness.

As her phys1c1an, her health 1s my bus1ness, Dr Laam c0untered.

The baby’s c0nd1t10n 1s ser10us.

Delay1ng treatment c0uld lead t0 c0mpl1cat10ns 0r w0rse.

Marc0 glared at h1m, ab0ut t0 resp0nd, when a l1ght came 0n 1n the ne1ghb0r’s h0use next d00r.

A curta1n tw1tched, s0me0ne clearly watch1ng the late n1ght c0nfr0ntat10n unf0ld1ng 0n the p0rch.

Marc0’s demean0r sh1fted abruptly.

“Perhaps we sh0uld c0nt1nue th1s c0nversat10n 1ns1de,” he suggested, h1s v01ce suddenly c0ns1l1at0ry.

N0 need t0 d1sturb the wh0le ne1ghb0rh00d.

Dr Leam hes1tated, then n0dded.

Marc0 stepped back, all0w1ng h1m t0 enter the h0use.

The l1v1ng r00m was sparssely dec0rated w1th a w0rn c0uch, a c0ffee table, and a telev1s10n m0unted 0n the wall.

Lut1a sat 0n the edge 0f the c0uch, her hands f0lded 1n her lap, eyes f1xed 0n the fl00r.

“Luc1a,” Dr Laam sa1d gently.

“H0w are y0u feel1ng?” Marc0 1nterrupted bef0re she c0uld answer.

She’s f1ne, just t1red.

Pregnant w0men get t1red, r1ght, d0ct0r? Dr Laam turned t0 face Marc0 d1rectly.

Mr.

Halan, y0u need t0 understand the ser10usness 0f the s1tuat10n.

The ultras0und sh0wed 1ntrauter1ne gr0wth restr1ct10n and an 1rregular fetal heartbeat.

These c0nd1t10ns requ1re 1mmed1ate med1cal attent10n.

and we’ll get that attent10n, Marc0 repl1ed, h1s t0ne placat1ng but h1s eyes c0ld.

F1rst th1ng t0m0rr0w m0rn1ng.

Why wa1t? Dr Le 1mpressed.

Why n0t t0n1ght? Because 1t’s late, Marc0 sa1d, gestur1ng at the cl0ck 0n the wall.

Luc1a needs rest.

She’s exhausted, and dragg1ng her t0 an emergency r00m where we’ll s1t f0r h0urs 1sn’t what she needs r1ght n0w.

The baby c0uld be 1n d1stress.

Dr Laam argued, “Every h0ur c0unts 1n a s1tuat10n l1ke th1s.

” Marc0’s express10n hardened.

“The baby w0n’t d1e 0vern1ght.

” Dr Laam fl1nched at the call0usness 0f the statement.

Bef0re he c0uld resp0nd, the d00rbell rang.

Marc0’s sh0ulders relaxed sl1ghtly.

“That’ll be the del1very.

I 0rdered d1nner f0r us.

” He turned t0 Luc1a.

“Wa1t here w1th the d0ct0r.

I’ll get the f00d.

” As Marc0 walked t0 the d00r, Dr Laam t00k the 0pp0rtun1ty t0 m0ve cl0ser t0 Luc1a.

“Are y0u 0kay?” he asked s0ftly.

“Is there s0meth1ng y0u want t0 tell me?” Luc1a glanced t0ward the d00r where her father was pay1ng the del1very pers0n, l00k1ng f0r spare changes 1n h1s p0ckets.

Then qu1ckly, Luc1a reached 1nt0 her p0cket and pulled 0ut several f0lded ph0t0graphs.

She thrust them 1nt0 d0ct0r.

Laam’s hand just as Marc0 turned back t0ward them.

Dr Laam d1screetly sl1pped the ph0t0s 1nt0 h1s jacket p0cket w1th0ut l00k1ng at them.

Luc1a leaned cl0ser and wh1spered.

M0re 1n bedr00m.

I’ll help y0u, d0ct0r.

Laam pr0m1sed, keep1ng h1s v01ce l0w.

Y0u’re be1ng very brave.

Marc0 returned w1th a p1zza b0x.

What are y0u tw0 talk1ng ab0ut? Luc1a was tell1ng me she’s hungry.

Dr Laam 1mpr0v1sed sm00thly.

Wh1ch 1s g00d.

She needs pr0per nutr1t10n.

See, I’m a g00d father, Marc0 sa1d, plac1ng the p1zza 0n the c0ffee table.

I make sure she eats well.

He turned t0 d0ct0r Laam.

H1s demean0r sh1ft1ng fr0m defens1ve t0 d1sm1ss1ve.

N0w, I apprec1ate y0ur c0ncern, d0ct0r, but 1t’s gett1ng late.

As y0u sa1d y0urself, pregnant w0men need rest.

If she d0esn’t get pr0per sleep, that w0uld be bad f0r the baby, t00, w0uldn’t 1t? Dr Laam rec0gn1zed the d1sm1ssal.

Yes, rest 1s 1mp0rtant, he c0nceded.

But s0 1s med1cal care.

And she’ll get 1t f1rst th1ng t0m0rr0w m0rn1ng, Marc0 1ns1sted.

I pr0m1se.

See1ng n0 way t0 push further w1th0ut escalat1ng the s1tuat10n, d0ct0r.

Laam reluctantly headed t0ward the d00r.

I’ll check 1n t0m0rr0w t0 see h0w the h0sp1tal v1s1t went, he sa1d, a clear message that he w0uldn’t let th1s dr0p.

Of c0urse, Marc0 repl1ed, h1s sm1le n0t reach1ng h1s eyes.

G00d n1ght, d0ct0r.

As Dr Laam left, he glanced back thr0ugh the w1nd0w and saw Marc0 and Luc1a s1tt1ng at the table, the p1zza b0x 0pen between them.

Marc0 was talk1ng, h1s gestures an1mated, wh1le Luc1a sat m0t10nless, her eyes d0wncast.

Once back 1n h1s h0use, Dr Laam qu1ckly pulled the ph0t0graphs fr0m h1s p0cket.

What he saw made h1s bl00d run c0ld.

There were f0ur ph0t0s, each sh0w1ng Luc1a 1n var10us stages 0f undress 0n what appeared t0 be a bed w1th Marc0 clearly v1s1ble 1n the 1mages.

The ph0t0s d0cumented abuse 1n graph1c deta1l.

“My G0d,” Dr Laam wh1spered, h1s hands shak1ng w1th rage and d1sgust.

He qu1ckly placed the ph0t0s face d0wn 0n h1s desk, unable t0 l00k at them any l0nger.

Luc1a’s w0rds fr0m the cl1n1c ech0ed 1n h1s m1nd w1th h0rr1fy1ng new c0ntext.

She k1cks when she hears h1s v01ce.

I hate that she l1kes h1m.

The truth crashed d0wn 0n h1m l1ke a phys1cal we1ght.

Marc0 wasn’t just Luc1a’s father.

He was the father 0f her baby.

There was n0 b0yfr1end.

There was 0nly a predat0r and h1s v1ct1m l1v1ng just three h0uses away.

Dr Laam reached f0r h1s ph0ne and d1aled 911.

“Emergency serv1ces,” came the d1spatcher’s v01ce.

“What’s y0ur emergency?” “I need t0 rep0rt ch1ld abuse and endangerment,” Dr Laam sa1d, h1s v01ce steady desp1te the turm01l 1ns1de h1m.

“A 14year-0ld g1rl wh0 1s 28 weeks pregnant.

The father 1s the abuser and the g1rl and her unb0rn ch1ld need 1mmed1ate med1cal attent10n.

Wh1le wa1t1ng f0r the p0l1ce t0 arr1ve, Dr Laam’s m1nd raced.

The ph0t0s 1n h1s p0ssess10n were damn1ng ev1dence, but he needed t0 ensure they reached the pr0per auth0r1t1es.

He als0 needed t0 alert D1an1ela t0 what was happen1ng.

He t00k ph0t0s 0f the pr1nted ph0t0graphs w1th h1s ph0ne, mak1ng sure the 1mages were clear en0ugh t0 serve as ev1dence 1f the 0r1g1nals were s0meh0w l0st 0r destr0yed.

Then he sent them t0 D1an1ela thr0ugh Faceb00k Messenger al0ng w1th a br1ef message expla1n1ng that he had c0ntacted the p0l1ce and they were 0n the1r way t0 Marc0’s h0use.

H1s ph0ne rang alm0st 1mmed1ately.

D1an1ela call1ng back.

“I’m c0m1ng there r1ght n0w,” she sa1d, her v01ce raw w1th em0t10n.

that m0nster.

I’ll k1ll h1m myself.

D1an1ela, please let the p0l1ce handle th1s, Dr Laam urged.

They’re 0n the1r way.

The m0st 1mp0rtant th1ng r1ght n0w 1s gett1ng Luc1a safely 0ut 0f that h0use and t0 a h0sp1tal.

H0w c0uld th1s happen? Dan1ela s0bbed.

H0w c0uld he d0 th1s t0 h1s 0wn daughter? I knew s0meth1ng was wr0ng when he f0ught s0 hard f0r cust0dy, but I never 1mag1ned.

I never th0ught he w0uld.

I’m s0 s0rry, d0ct0r, Laam sa1d at a l0ss f0r m0re c0mf0rt1ng w0rds.

But Luc1a reached 0ut f0r help t0n1ght.

She was 1ncred1bly brave, and n0w we can get her away fr0m h1m.

I’m st1ll c0m1ng, D1an1ela 1ns1sted.

I need t0 be there f0r my daughter.

Of c0urse, Dr Laam agreed.

Just please let the p0l1ce d0 the1r j0b f1rst.

After hang1ng up, Dr Laam paced h1s l1v1ng r00m, check1ng the w1nd0w every few m1nutes f0r s1gns 0f p0l1ce arr1val.

It felt l1ke h0urs, th0ugh h1s cl0ck t0ld h1m 0nly 20 m1nutes had passed s1nce h1s call.

F1nally, he saw the flash1ng l1ghts 0f p0l1ce cru1sers turn1ng 0nt0 the1r street, m0v1ng sl0wly w1th0ut s1rens, a tact1cal appr0ach t0 av01d alert1ng Marc0.

Dr Laam hurr1ed 0uts1de t0 meet them.

Three p0l1ce cars parked a sh0rt d1stance fr0m the Halc0n h0use.

S1x 0ff1cers emerged and Dr Laam appr0ached the 0ne wh0 appeared t0 be 1n charge.

“D0ct0r Evan Laam,” he 1ntr0duced h1mself.

I made the call.

The 0ff1cer n0dded.

“Detect1ve M0rales, y0u have ev1dence 0f sexual abuse.

” “Dr Laam handed 0ver the ph0t0graphs.

” “These were g1ven t0 me by the v1ct1m less than an h0ur ag0.

She 1nd1cated there are m0re 1n the h0use.

” Detect1ve M0rales exam1ned the ph0t0s.

h1s express10n harden1ng.

And the g1rl 1s pregnant.

Yes.

28 weeks.

There are ser10us med1cal c0ncerns f0r b0th her and the baby.

She needs h0sp1tal care 1mmed1ately.

An0ther 0ff1cer appr0ached.

The h0use 1s qu1et, detect1ve.

L1ghts st1ll 0n 1ns1de.

All r1ght, Detect1ve M0rales sa1d, hand1ng the ph0t0s t0 an0ther 0ff1cer wh0 placed them 1n an ev1dence bag.

Dr Laam, please wa1t here.

w1ll appr0ach the h0use.

The 0ff1cers m0ved t0ward the Halcan0n res1dence, p0s1t10n1ng themselves strateg1cally ar0und the pr0perty.

Detect1ve M0rales and an0ther 0ff1cer went t0 the fr0nt d00r wh1le the 0thers c0vered p0tent1al escape r0utes.

Dr Laam watched as Detect1ve M0rales kn0cked f1rmly 0n the d00r.

N0 resp0nse.

He kn0cked aga1n, l0uder th1s t1me, ann0unc1ng p0l1ce presence.

St1ll n0th1ng.

The 0ff1cers exchanged glances.

Detect1ve M0rales sp0ke 1nt0 h1s rad10 and m0ments later, the 0ff1cers at the back 0f the h0use c0nf1rmed that they c0uld see m0vement 1ns1de, but n0 0ne appr0ach1ng the d00r.

After several m0re attempts, Detect1ve M0rales made a dec1s10n.

We’re g01ng 1n, he ann0unced t0 h1s team.

P0ss1ble endangered m1n0r 1ns1de.

One 0ff1cer br0ught f0rward a batter1ng ram.

They p0s1t10ned 1t aga1nst the d00r and w1th three s0l1d bl0ws, the d00r frame spl1ntered and gave way.

Dr Laam rema1ned at the per1meter as 1nstructed, stra1n1ng t0 see what was happen1ng.

The 0ff1cers entered the h0use, the1r v01ces call1ng 0ut, “P0l1ce, Santa R0sa, P0l1ce Department.

” Ne1ghb0rs had begun t0 emerge fr0m the1r h0mes, drawn by the c0mm0t10n.

The c0uple next d00r t0 Marc0, an 0lder pa1r wh0 had watched the earl1er c0nfr0ntat10n fr0m the1r w1nd0w, appr0ached Dr Laam.

“What’s happen1ng?” the w0man asked, clutch1ng her r0be cl0sed at the neck.

Bef0re Dr Laam c0uld answer, sh0uts erupted fr0m 1ns1de the h0use, f0ll0wed by 0ff1cers rush1ng upsta1rs.

Then came m0re sh0ut1ng, th1s t1me fr0m 0uts1de the h0use.

“There 0n the r00f,” s0me0ne yelled.

Dr Laam l00ked up t0 see Marc0 cl1mb1ng 0ut 0f an att1c w1nd0w 0nt0 the r00f ab0ve the garage.

He was pull1ng Luc1a beh1nd h1m, h1s gr1p t1ght 0n her wr1st as she struggled t0 ma1nta1n her balance 0n the steep sl0pe.

“Stay back,” Marc0 yelled as he saw the 0ff1cers bel0w.

“I’ll push her 0ff 1f y0u c0me any cl0ser.

We’re a fam1ly.

If I’m g01ng d0wn, we’re all g01ng d0wn t0gether.

” Luc1a was cry1ng, her free hand pr0tect1vely c0ver1ng her pregnant belly.

Please d0n’t,” she begged, her v01ce carry1ng 1n the n1ght a1r.

“Please help me.

” The p0l1ce bel0w 1mmed1ately backed 0ff, rad101ng f0r add1t10nal supp0rt.

Dr Laam heard them request1ng paramed1cs and what s0unded l1ke an 1nflatable land1ng pad.

“Marc0,” Dr Laam called 0ut, stepp1ng f0rward desp1te the 0ff1cer’s warn1ng.

“D0n’t d0 th1s.

The p0l1ce have the ph0t0graphs.

They kn0w everyth1ng.

” Marc0’s face c0nt0rted w1th rage.

“She gave y0u th0se p1ctures, y0u l1ttle b1tch?” he spat at Luc1a.

“After everyth1ng I’ve d0ne f0r y0u, y0u d0n’t deserve t0 l1ve.

” A car screeched t0 a halt at the edge 0f the p0l1ce per1meter.

D1an1ela leapt 0ut, rush1ng t0ward the h0use bef0re an 0ff1cer 1ntercepted her.

“That’s my daughter,” she screamed, f1ght1ng aga1nst the 0ff1cer’s restra1nt.

“Luc1a, I’m here, baby.

I’m here.

” Luc1a’s tear streaked face turned t0ward her m0ther’s v01ce.

M0m.

The m0mentary d1stract10n was en0ugh f0r Marc0 t0 pull Luc1a cl0ser t0 the edge 0f the r00f.

The 0ff1cers bel0w had managed t0 depl0y a large 1nflatable safety cush10n, p0s1t10n1ng 1t beneath where they st00d.

“Marc0 Halan,” Detect1ve M0rales called thr0ugh a megaph0ne.

“Th1s 1s Detect1ve M0rales w1th the Santa R0sa P0l1ce Department.

Release the g1rl and surrender y0urself.

There’s n0where f0r y0u t0 g0.

Dr Laam c0uld see 0ff1cers n0w p0s1t10n1ng themselves at the att1c w1nd0w, ready t0 apprehend Marc0 fr0m beh1nd, but Marc0 saw them, t00.

“Stay back!” he sh0uted, yank1ng Lut1a cl0ser t0 the edge.

“I’ll jump w1th her 1f I have t0.

” D1an1ela br0ke free fr0m the 0ff1cer h0ld1ng her back.

“Please, Marc0, she’s 0ur daughter.

D0n’t hurt her.

She’s m1ne.

Marc0 snarled.

Y0u never deserved her.

Y0u never deserved e1ther 0f them.

In that m0ment, Dr Laam real1zed w1th h0rr0r that Marc0 was referr1ng t0 b0th Luc1a and her unb0rn ch1ld as h1s p0ssess10ns, h1s t0 c0ntr0l, h1s t0 destr0y.

The 0ff1cers at the att1c w1nd0w began t0 emerge 0nt0 the r00f.

Marc0, see1ng h1s escape r0ute bl0cked and the auth0r1t1es cl0s1ng 1n, made h1s dec1s10n.

“N0!” Dr Laam sh0uted, but 1t was t00 late.

Marc0 sh0ved Luc1a 0ff the r00f.

She fell w1th a terr1f1ed scream, land1ng 0n the 1nflatable safety cush10n bel0w.

Off1cers 1mmed1ately rushed t0 her a1d wh1le 0thers surged t0ward Marc0, wh0 attempted t0 jump 1n a d1fferent d1rect10n t0 escape.

He d1dn’t make 1t far.

Tw0 0ff1cers tackled h1m m1d leap, br1ng1ng h1m d0wn 0nt0 the r00f surface w1th en0ugh f0rce t0 kn0ck the w1nd fr0m h1m.

They qu1ckly handcuffed h1m and began the pr0cess 0f br1ng1ng h1m d0wn safely, th0ugh w1th c0ns1derably less gentleness than they had sh0wn Luc1a.

“Dr Laam rushed t0 where Luc1a lay 0n the safety cush10n, paramed1cs already check1ng her v1tal s1gns.

I’m her d0ct0r,” he expla1ned, kneel1ng bes1de her.

“Luc1a, can y0u hear me?” Her eyes fluttered 0pen, tears stream1ng d0wn her face.

“The baby,” she wh1spered.

“Is the baby 0kay?” Dr Laam placed a gentle hand 0n her abd0men, feel1ng f0r m0vement.

“Let’s get y0u t0 the h0sp1tal t0 make sure, but I th1nk she’s g01ng t0 be just f1ne.

” Y0u were very brave, Luc1a.

Very brave.

The n1ght a1r f1lled w1th the flash1ng l1ghts 0f p0l1ce cars and ambulances.

Off1cers led a handcuffed Marc0 t0ward a wa1t1ng cru1ser, h1s face c0nt0rted w1th rage.

As they passed D1an1ela, wh0 st00d anx10usly watch1ng the paramed1cs tend t0 Luc1a.

Marc0 spat 1n her d1rect10n.

“Th1s 1s y0ur fault,” he snarled.

“Y0u were never a real m0ther t0 her.

” D1an1ela lunged f0rward, her c0mp0sure shatter1ng.

“Y0u m0nster.

What y0u d1d t0 0ur daughter, y0u’re n0t human.

” An 0ff1cer stepped between them, gu1d1ng D1an1ela back wh1le h1s c0lleagues pushed Marc0 t0ward the p0l1ce car.

“He sh0uld r0t 1n pr1s0n f0rever,” D1an1ela s0bbed as Dr Laam appr0ached her.

“I always knew s0meth1ng was wr0ng w1th h1m, but th1s “Y0u c0uldn’t have kn0wn,” Dr Laam sa1d gently.

“Predat0rs l1ke Marc0 are experts at h1d1ng the1r true nature.

” The paramed1cs had stab1l1zed Luc1a 0n a stretcher and were prepar1ng t0 l0ad her 1nt0 the ambulance.

Dr Laam gu1ded D1an1ela t0ward them.

“She needs y0u n0w,” he sa1d.

“F0cus 0n Luc1a, n0t h1m.

” D1an1ela n0dded, w1p1ng tears fr0m her face as she appr0ached the stretcher.

When Luc1a saw her m0ther, her eyes f1lled w1th fresh tears.

“M0m,” she wh1spered, reach1ng 0ut a trembl1ng hand.

I m1ssed y0u.

D1an1ela t00k her daughter’s hand, k1ss1ng 1t as tears streamed d0wn her face.

I m1ssed y0u, t00, baby, s0 much.

I’m here n0w, and I’m never leav1ng y0u aga1n.

Dr Laam appr0ached the lead paramed1c.

I’m her phys1c1an.

I’d l1ke t0 acc0mpany y0u t0 the h0sp1tal 1f that’s all r1ght.

The paramed1c n0dded.

We c0uld use y0ur 1nput 0n her c0nd1t10n, d0ct0r.

As they l0aded Lut1a 1nt0 the ambulance, Detect1ve M0rales appr0ached Dr Laam.

“D0ct0r, we’ll need t0 speak w1th y0u at the h0sp1tal.

” “And y0u, t00, ma’am,” he added t0 Dan1ela.

“But f0r n0w, g0 w1th y0ur daughter.

We’ll meet y0u there.

” D1an1ela cl1mbed 1nt0 the ambulance al0ngs1de Luc1a, never lett1ng g0 0f her daughter’s hand.

Dr Laam f0ll0wed, s1tt1ng 0pp0s1te them as the paramed1cs c0nt1nued m0n1t0r1ng Luc1a’s v1tal s1gns.

In the ambulance, Dr Laam used h1s steth0sc0pe t0 l1sten t0 the baby’s heartbeat.

“The heartbeat 1s st1ll 1rregular, but 1t’s str0ng,” he t0ld Luc1a.

“The fall d0esn’t seem t0 have caused any 1mmed1ate trauma, but the h0sp1tal w1ll d0 a m0re th0r0ugh exam1nat10n.

” The ambulance sped thr0ugh the qu1et streets 0f Santa R0sa, s1ren wa1l1ng.

Dr Laam watched as D1an1ela str0ked Luc1a’s ha1r, wh1sper1ng reassurances.

Desp1te the years 0f separat10n, the1r b0nd rema1ned, a testament t0 the res1l1ence 0f fam1ly t1es 1n the face 0f m0nstr0us 1nterference.

They arr1ved at the h0sp1tal where an 0bstetr1c emergency team was wa1t1ng.

Dr Laam br1efly expla1ned the s1tuat10n t0 the attend1ng phys1c1an, Dr Elena Vasquez, a spec1al1st 1n h1gh-r1s1sk pregnanc1es.

28 weeks w1th IUGR and fetal arrhythm1a, he summar1zed as they wheeled Luc1a 1nt0 an exam1nat10n r00m.

Als0 p0tent1al trauma fr0m a fall th0ugh she landed 0n an 1nflatable safety cush10n.

Dr Vasquez n0dded.

We’ll take 1t fr0m here.

D0ct0r Laam, thank y0u f0r y0ur qu1ck act10n t0n1ght.

As the med1cal team began the1r w0rk, Dr Laam j01ned D1an1ela 1n the wa1t1ng area.

Detect1ve M0rales arr1ved sh0rtly after, acc0mpan1ed by an0ther 0ff1cer and a w0man wh0 1ntr0duced herself as Rebecca M1ller fr0m Ch1ld Pr0tect1ve Serv1ces.

“We need t0 understand exactly what happened t0n1ght,” Detect1ve M0rales began.

“Dr Laam, please start fr0m the beg1nn1ng.

” “Dr Laam rec0unted the events 0f the even1ng, fr0m Luc1a’s v1s1t t0 h1s cl1n1c t0 h1s gr0w1ng c0ncerns and eventual d1sc0very 0f the truth thr0ugh the ph0t0graphs.

Marc0 cla1med the baby’s father was a b0yfr1end, he expla1ned.

But Luc1a’s c0mment at the cl1n1c ab0ut the baby k1ck1ng when she heard h1s v01ce takes 0n a h0rr1fy1ng new mean1ng n0w.

Detect1ve M0rales n0dded gr1mly.

We f0und a h1dden r00m 1n the basement just as y0u suspected fr0m what Luc1a t0ld y0u.

It appears t0 be where much 0f the abuse t00k place.

There were cameras, rec0rd1ng equ1pment, and 0ther 1tems.

D1an1ela c0vered her m0uth, st1fl1ng a s0b.

H1s bedr00m c0nta1ned hundreds 0f ph0t0graphs 0f Luc1a, the detect1ve c0nt1nued.

“S0me dat1ng back several years.

Th1s has been 0ng01ng f0r a l0ng t1me.

” “H0w c0uld th1s happen?” D1an1ela asked, her v01ce break1ng.

“H0w c0uld n0 0ne n0t1ce?” “Predat0rs l1ke Marc0 are sk1lled at 1s0lat10n and man1pulat10n,” Ms.

M1ller fr0m CPS expla1ned.

They gradually sever the1r v1ct1m’s t1es t0 supp0rt systems, fr1ends, fam1ly, even sch00l.

We’ll have a clearer p1cture 0nce Luc1a 1s able t0 share her statement.

Detect1ve M0rales turned t0 D1an1ela.

M1ss R1vera, we need t0 understand h0w Marc0 ga1ned cust0dy 0f Luc1a.

It m1ght help us bu1ld a str0nger case aga1nst h1m.

D1an1ela w1ped her eyes, her express10n pa1ned.

I’m n0t pr0ud 0f what happened.

After Marc0 and I d1v0rced 10 years ag0, I was a s1ngle m0m w0rk1ng n1ghts at a cas1n0.

We were struggl1ng f1nanc1ally.

She drew 1n a steady1ng breath bef0re c0nt1nu1ng.

I started attend1ng undergr0und p0ker games, th1nk1ng I c0uld stretch my paychecks and g1ve Luc1a a better l1fe, but 1t qu1ckly sp1raled 1nt0 an add1ct10n.

One n1ght, the h0use was ra1ded.

And that’s when the p0l1ce f0und 0ut I’d left Luc1a, just 7 years 0ld at the t1me, h0me al0ne.

Tears streamed d0wn her face.

Marc0 se1zed the 0pp0rtun1ty.

He p0rtrayed h1mself as the stable, resp0ns1ble parent.

The c0urt gave h1m cust0dy and I was 0nly all0wed superv1sed v1s1tat10n.

Then he m0ved t0 Santa R0sa and g0t a restra1n1ng 0rder, cla1m1ng I was unstable and a bad 1nfluence 0n Luc1a.

He systemat1cally 1s0lated her.

Ms.

M1ller n0dded.

It’s a c0mm0n tact1c.

I’ve spent the last 3 years rebu1ld1ng my l1fe and m0v1ng t0 th1s ne1ghb0rh00d.

D1an1ela sa1d, “I have a stable j0b n0w and an apartment w1th a sec0nd bedr00m ready f0r Luc1a.

I’ve been sav1ng every penny I c0uld t0 f1ght f0r cust0dy aga1n, but Marc0 shut d0wn every attempt I made t0 reach her.

” Dr Vasquez emerged fr0m the exam1nat10n r00m bef0re any0ne c0uld resp0nd.

They all turned t0 her expectantly.

“Luc1a 1s stable,” she rep0rted.

The baby’s heartbeat rema1ns 1rregular, but we’ve started her 0n med1cat10n t0 help w1th that.

We’ve als0 begun ster01d 1nject10ns t0 accelerate fetal lung matur1ty, wh1ch 1s cruc1al 1n cases 0f IUGR.

She’s severely maln0ur1shed and sh0w1ng s1gns 0f l0ng-term stress and trauma, but phys1cally she sh0uld rec0ver.

And the baby, Dan1ela asked, “We’re m0n1t0r1ng the s1tuat10n cl0sely.

” Dr Vasquez sa1d the next 48 h0urs w1ll be cr1t1cal.

The fall d0esn’t appear t0 have caused any placental abrupt10n, wh1ch 1s g00d news, but the pre-ex1st1ng c0nd1t10ns, the gr0wth restr1ct10n, and heart 1rregular1t1es rema1n c0ncern1ng.

Can we see her? Dr Laam asked.

Dr Vasquez n0dded.

She’s ask1ng f0r her m0ther.

And y0u t00, Dr Laam.

She says y0u saved her l1fe.

The h0sp1tal r00m was d1mly l1t.

The steady beep1ng 0f m0n1t0rs creat1ng a rhythm1c backdr0p.

Luc1a lay pr0pped up 0n p1ll0ws, an IV 1n her arm, and fetal m0n1t0rs strapped acr0ss her sw0llen abd0men.

Desp1te everyth1ng she had endured, there was s0meth1ng d1fferent ab0ut her n0w, a spark 1n her eyes that hadn’t been there bef0re.

The we1ght 0f her secret had been l1fted.

D1an1ela appr0ached her daughter’s beds1de, her steps tentat1ve, as 1f afra1d Luc1a m1ght d1sappear.

Luc1a, she wh1spered gently tak1ng her daughter’s hand.

My brave, beaut1ful g1rl.

Luc1a’s eyes welled w1th tears.

“M0m,” she sa1d, her v01ce str0nger than 1t had been earl1er.

“Y0u came back f0r me.

” “I never st0pped try1ng t0 c0me back,” Danella assured her, perch1ng carefully 0n the edge 0f the bed.

y0ur father.

He made 1t 1mp0ss1ble, but that’s 0ver n0w.

He can never hurt y0u aga1n.

Dr Laam st00d respectfully at the f00t 0f the bed, g1v1ng m0ther and daughter space f0r the1r reun10n.

Detect1ve M0rales and M1ss M1ller fr0m CPS wa1ted near the d00r, understand1ng the del1cacy 0f the m0ment.

After a few m1nutes, Luc1a l00ked up at D0ct0r Leam.

Thank y0u, she sa1d s1mply, f0r bel1ev1ng me, f0r help1ng us.

Y0u’re the brave 0ne, Luc1a, Dr Leam repl1ed.

Y0u f0und the c0urage t0 reach 0ut f0r help, and that’s what saved y0u and y0ur baby.

Detect1ve M0rales stepped f0rward.

Luc1a, I kn0w th1s 1s d1ff1cult, but we need t0 ask y0u s0me quest10ns t0 help bu1ld 0ur case aga1nst y0ur father.

W0uld that be 0kay? Luc1a glanced at her m0ther, wh0 squeezed her hand reassur1ngly.

“It’s y0ur ch01ce, sweetheart.

Whatever y0u dec1de, I’m r1ght here w1th y0u.

” Luc1a n0dded sl0wly.

“I want t0 tell the truth, all 0f 1t.

” “Take y0ur t1me,” M1ss M1ller sa1d gently.

“And 1f y0u need t0 st0p at any p01nt, just say s0.

” Luc1a t00k a deep breath and began t0 speak, her v01ce ga1n1ng strength as she c0nt1nued.

“There was never any b0yfr1end,” she c0nf1rmed what they already suspected.

“My father, he’s the father 0f my baby, t00.

” She descr1bed h0w Marc0 had begun abus1ng her sh0rtly after ga1n1ng full cust0dy.

H0w he had systemat1cally 1s0lated her fr0m the 0uts1de w0rld.

He pulled me 0ut 0f sch00l, say1ng he w0uld h0mesch00l me, but there were never any real less0ns, just en0ugh s0 I c0uld answer bas1c quest10ns 1f any0ne asked.

The abuse had escalated 0ver the years.

Whenever any0ne came t0 the h0use, he w0uld l0ck me 1n the basement.

There’s a h1dden r00m there that he bu1lt.

That’s where where m0st 0f 1t happened.

Dr Laam th0ught 0f the ev1dence the p0l1ce had f0und 1n that basement r00m and felt a wave 0f nausea.

When I g0t pregnant, Luc1a c0nt1nued, he was angry at f1rst.

He talked ab0ut f0rc1ng me t0 have an ab0rt10n, but then he changed h1s m1nd.

He became pr0tect1ve 0f the baby.

He sa1d 1t was 0urs.

She shuddered at the mem0ry.

The baby started k1ck1ng a few m0nths ag0.

I n0t1ced she w0uld k1ck whenever she heard h1s v01ce.

It made me s1ck.

I hated that she resp0nded t0 h1m.

Luc1a placed a pr0tect1ve hand 0ver her belly.

But 1t’s n0t her fault.

She’s 1nn0cent 1n all th1s.

Of c0urse she 1s, D1an1ela assured her.

I started feel1ng really s1ck ab0ut 2 weeks ag0, Luc1a expla1ned.

Bad st0mach pa1ns and d1zz1ness.

At f1rst, he 1gn0red 1t, but when I c0uld barely get 0ut 0f bed, he f1nally dec1ded t0 take me t0 a d0ct0r.

That’s when we went t0 Dr Laam’s cl1n1c.

Detect1ve M0rales n0dded, tak1ng n0tes.

The ph0t0graphs y0u gave t0 Dr Laam.

H0w d1d y0u manage t0 get th0se? My father.

He t00k p1ctures all the t1me, she sa1d s0ftly.

He kept them 1n a b0x 1n h1s cl0set.

I snuck s0me 0ut wh1le he was 1n the sh0wer th1s even1ng bef0re we left f0r the cl1n1c, kn0w1ng he w0uld be 0ut 0f the h0use t0 take us there.

It’s been a really l0ng t1me s1nce he let me g0 0uts1de.

I d1dn’t kn0w what t0 d0 w1th the p1ctures, wh0m t0 trust, but when Dr Laam came t0 0ur h0use, I th0ught maybe he c0uld help.

Y0u d1d exactly the r1ght th1ng, Dr Laam assured her.

Dr Vasquez returned t0 check 0n Luc1a and evaluate the fetal m0n1t0r1ng str1ps.

The med1cat10n seems t0 be help1ng w1th the heart 1rregular1t1es, she rep0rted.

And y0ur 0wn v1tal s1gns are stab1l1z1ng, Luc1a.

That’s excellent news.

What happens n0w? Luc1a asked, l00k1ng between the adults 1n the r00m.

Ms.

M1ller stepped f0rward.

Y0u’ll stay 1n the h0sp1tal unt1l y0u’re med1cally cleared t0 leave.

After that, we’ll need t0 determ1ne the best l1v1ng s1tuat10n f0r y0u and y0ur baby.

She’s c0m1ng h0me w1th me, D1an1ela sa1d f1rmly.

I’ve prepared f0r th1s f0r years.

I have a r00m f0r her, sav1ngs f0r her care, everyth1ng.

M1ss M1ller n0dded.

G1ven the c1rcumstances, that seems l1ke the m0st appr0pr1ate placement.

We’ll need t0 c0nduct a h0me evaluat10n, but as l0ng as everyth1ng checks 0ut, I d0n’t f0resee any 1ssues w1th Luc1a be1ng placed 1n y0ur care.

And what ab0ut my father?” Luc1a asked hes1tantly.

“He’s 1n cust0dy,” Detect1ve M0rales assured her.

G1ven the ev1dence we’ve already c0llected, the ph0t0graphs, the h1dden r00m, y0ur test1m0ny, he’ll be fac1ng mult1ple fel0ny charges: ch1ld abuse, sexual assault, 1ncest, ch1ld endangerment, and m0re.

He w0n’t be gett1ng 0ut 0f pr1s0n f0r a very, very l0ng t1me.

Luc1a n0dded, a m1x 0f em0t10ns cr0ss1ng her face.

Rel1ef, sadness, and s0meth1ng l1ke cl0sure.

“What ab0ut the baby?” she asked, turn1ng t0 Dr f0r Vasquez.

W1ll she be 0kay? We’re d01ng everyth1ng we can.

Dr Vasquez pr0m1sed the next few weeks w1ll be cruc1al.

We’ll c0nt1nue the ster01d 1nject10ns t0 help her lungs devel0p, m0n1t0r her heart cl0sely, and f0cus 0n 1mpr0v1ng y0ur nutr1t10n t0 g1ve her the best chance p0ss1ble.

I want t0 keep her, Luc1a sa1d qu1etly, surpr1s1ng every0ne 1n the r00m.

I kn0w I’m y0ung, but she’s n0t resp0ns1ble f0r h0w she came 1nt0 th1s w0rld.

I d0n’t want her t0 suffer f0r what he d1d.

Dan1ela squeezed her daughter’s hand.

We’ll ra1se her t0gether, she pr0m1sed.

Y0u, me, and y0ur daughter.

She’ll be l0ved and pr0tected always.

As the n1ght deepened, Detect1ve M0rales and Ms.

M1ller departed, pr0m1s1ng t0 return the f0ll0w1ng day.

Dr Vasquez c0mpleted her exam1nat10n and left t0 check 0n 0ther pat1ents.

Dan1ela settled 1nt0 the cha1r bes1de Luc1a’s bed, unw1ll1ng t0 leave her daughter’s s1de even f0r a m0ment.

Dr Laam prepared t0 leave as well, h1s pr0fess10nal dut1es fulf1lled, but h1s heart st1ll heavy w1th the we1ght 0f everyth1ng he had w1tnessed.

“Dr Laam,” Luc1a called as he reached the d00r.

“Thank y0u f0r l1sten1ng, f0r see1ng that s0meth1ng was wr0ng.

” He turned back t0 her, struck by the res1l1ence 1n her y0ung face.

“I’m just glad I c0uld help.

” “Y0u d1d m0re than help,” D1an1ela sa1d.

“Y0u saved them b0th when every0ne else l00ked away.

” As Dr Laam dr0ve h0me 1n the early h0urs 0f the m0rn1ng, the streets 0f Santa R0sa qu1et and empty, he reflected 0n the events 0f the n1ght.

H1s dec1s10n t0 f0ll0w h1s 1nst1ncts, t0 push past pr0fess10nal b0undar1es when a ch1ld’s welfare was at stake, had made all the d1fference.

The ne1ghb0rh00d was s1lent when he returned.

The Halcan H0use, n0w a cr1me scene, yell0w p0l1ce tape mark1ng 1ts b0undar1es.

Ne1ghb0rs w0uld wake t0 a changed street.

A c0mmun1ty f0rced t0 reck0n w1th the h0rr0r that had ex1sted 1n the1r m1dst, unn0t1ced f0r years.

Dr Laam entered h1s h0me, exhausted, but at peace w1th the ch01ces he had made.

In the med1cal pr0fess10n, the mandate was clear.

F1rst, d0 n0 harm.

But s0met1mes d01ng g00d requ1red m0re than just av01d1ng harm.

It requ1red act10n, c0urage, and the w1ll1ngness t0 see what 0thers m1ssed.

As he f1nally lay d0wn t0 rest, Dr Laam th0ught 0f Luc1a and her unb0rn daughter, b0th v1ct1ms 0f unspeakable cruelty, b0th n0w w1th a chance at a new beg1nn1ng.

The1r r0ad t0 heal1ng w0uld be l0ng and d1ff1cult, but they w0uld n0t walk 1t al0ne.

S0met1mes, he reflected as sleep f1nally cla1med h1m.

The m0st 1mp0rtant d1agn0s1s was the 0ne that went bey0nd med1cal sympt0ms.

The 0ne that rec0gn1zed the human suffer1ng beneath the surface, the s1lent cr1es f0r help that came 1n the f0rm 0f averted eyes, crypt1c w0rds, and brave acts 0f desperate trust.

In the end, 1t wasn’t just med1cal kn0wledge that saved l1ves.

It was c0mpass10n, attent10n, and the c0urage t0 act when 0thers turned away.