DETACHED

Chapter 13: Cross Roads

Chief Marcus pulled into the parking lot of Saint Jones Hospital so abruptly that the tires screeched against the pavement. He barely waited for the engine to stop before throwing the driver's door open.His heart pounded as he hurried through the hospital entrance.

She was alive.

That was all he could think about.

Nothing else mattered.

Not the argument with Evelyn.

Not the empty house.

Not the sleepless night he had spent searching the town.Amara was alive.

He would bring her home.

The receptionist looked up from her desk as Marcus approached.

"I'm here for my daughter."

His voice was firm but hurried."Her name is Amara."

"I received a call saying she was admitted here."

The nurse typed quickly into the computer.

Her expression changed almost immediately.

She looked back at Marcus before forcing a professional smile.

"Please have a seat, sir."

Marcus frowned.

"I didn't ask for a seat."

"I asked to see my daughter."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"I'll need to notify the attending officer that you've arrived." The receptionist said not looking at him.

Marcus's patience immediately began to wear thin.

"Attending officer?, what officer?" He ask puzzled

Before the nurse could answer, familiar footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Marcus turned.

Grandma Ruth was walking toward him.

Relief crossed his face.

"Grandma Ruth."

He quickly closed the distance between them.

"How is she?"

"Is she awake?"

"Can I see her?" He asked not because he truly cared, how just wanted to take the child home.

Grandma Ruth sighed softly.

"She's stable."

Marcus closed his eyes briefly.

"Thank God." He said

He immediately turned toward the patient corridor.

"I'm going to see her."

He had barely taken two steps before Grandma Ruth's voice stopped him.

"Marcus."

He stopped.

"You can't."

Marcus slowly turned around.

"What do you mean I can't?" He asked

"I'm her father."

Grandma Ruth lowered her eyes.

"I know."

"But it's no longer that simple." Marcus stared at her in confusion.

Before he could ask another question, another voice interrupted.

"Mr. Marcus?" He turned toward the sound.

A neatly dressed woman carrying a brown case file walked toward him with measured steps.

She stopped in front of him and presented her identification.

"My name is Grace Adebayo."

"I'm a Child Protection Officer."

Marcus barely glanced at the badge before looking back into her eyes.

"What does Child Protection have to do with my daughter?" A hint of fear crossed his eyes.

Grace closed the file in her hands.

"Everything, Mr. Marcus."

"And before you see Amara..."

"We need to have a conversation." She said not smiling

Something was wrong

Very wrong and he knew it .

Marcus slowly turned to face the woman standing before him. She looked to be in her early forties, dressed in a navy blazer with an identification badge clipped neatly to her jacket. A brown case file rested against her arm.

Grace motioned toward a quieter corner of the hallway.

"I'd appreciate a few minutes of your time."

Marcus folded his arms, "I don't have a few minutes, "I've spent days looking for my daughter."

"I've finally found her."

"I want to see her."

"And you will." Grace's voice remained steady.

"But before that, there are several matters we need to discuss."

Marcus's patience was wearing thin

"I think you're forgetting something." Marcus said frustratedly

Grace waited.

"I'm her father,"I don't need anyone's permission to see my own daughter." He argued

"No one is questioning your relationship to Amara." Grace retorted

"Then step aside." Grace didn't move.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Marcus."

"I can't do that."

Marcus's eyes narrowed.

"And why not?"

Grace slowly opened the case file.

"When Amara was brought into this hospital, she underwent a full medical examination."

Marcus listened without speaking."The examination revealed a number of concerning findings."

She turned a page.

"Multiple bruises across different parts of her body."

Another page.

"Several older scars."

Another.

"Severe malnutrition."

Marcus's expression changed ever so slightly.

Grace continued.

"And internal injuries that required emergency surgery."

For a brief moment, Marcus simply stared at her.

Then he shook his head.

"No."

Grace remained silent.

"That's impossible." He gave a short, disbelieving laugh.

"There must be some mistake." He said acting like e didn't know what was going on

"There isn't." Grace replied

"You've mixed up her records."

"We confirmed her identity before beginning treatment."

Marcus shook his head again.

"No."

"My daughter wasn't like that."

"She couldn't have been." Marcus kept pretending

Grace gently closed the file.

"The doctors have documented every injury."

"The reports have also been reviewed by Child Protection Services."

Marcus's voice became firmer.

"I don't believe it."

"You expect me to believe my daughter suddenly appeared here covered in injuries?"

"Something happened before she came here."

"Someone must have attacked her."

Grace didn't respond immediately.

Instead, she asked quietly,

"When was the last time you saw Amara, Mr. Marcus?" Marcus hesitated.

"It..." He stopped himself, Grace noticed.

"Would you like to answer that?" She pushed

Before Marcus could speak, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Perhaps I can answer that."

Marcus turned.

Grandma Ruth stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him.

There was no kindness in them this time.

Only disappointment.

And anger.

Marcus's expression hardened the moment he saw her.

"You." Shouted as he pointed at here

Grandma Ruth walked past Grace until she stood directly in front of him.

"Yes. Me." She replied

Marcus let out a bitter laugh.

"So this is your doing."

"You called them."

"You filled their heads with lies."

Grandma Ruth's face remained calm.

"I didn't have to."

"The doctors did that themselves."

Marcus scoffed.

"You've only known that girl for a few days."

"And suddenly you know my family better than I do?"

"No." Grandma Ruth replied firmly.

"I know what I saw."

"I saw a little girl who collapsed on my doorstep."

"I saw a child who could barely stand."

"I saw bruises no child should ever have."

Marcus frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means..."

She took another step closer.

"It means you should know better, how you daughter got those bruises"

Marcus clenched his fists.

"I've always taken care of Amara."

Grandma Ruth's eyes flashed.

"Nobody said you didn't " she replied sarcastically

"But did you noticed she was starving."

"did you noticed she was wasting away."

"Did you noticed the fear in her eyes every time someone raised their voice." Grandma Ruth continued.

Marcus's breathing became heavier.

"Enough."

"No." Grandma Ruth's voice echoed through the corridor.

"Not this time."

"For too long, everyone in this town has kept quiet because you're the Chief."

"They bowed their heads."

"They looked the other way."

"They convinced themselves it wasn't their place."

"I won't." Grandma Ruth paused

Marcus stepped toward her.

"You have no right to interfere in my family."

"The moment a child is beaten until she ends up on an operating table..."

Grandma Ruth replied without backing away,

"...it stops being just your family."

"It becomes everyone's concern." She said and looked around the hallway everyone fell silent. Even the nurses behind the reception desk stopped what they were doing.

Marcus looked around and realized people were watching.

His pride stung.

"You think you've won?" He asked coldly.

Grandma Ruth slowly shook her head.

"There are no winners here."

She pointed toward the hospital ward, "there's only a little girl lying in a hospital bed..."

"...and a father who still refuses to ask himself why."

Marcus opened his mouth to respond.

Nothing came out.

Grace stepped forward once more, her voice calm but authoritative.

"Mr. Marcus, this investigation isn't based on opinions."

"It's based on medical evidence."

"And until it's complete..."

"Amara will remain under the protection of this hospital and Child Protection Services." Grace said looking him

Marcus's eyes narrowed

"And if I refuse?" He asked

Grace held his gaze.

"Then you'll leave us with no choice but to involve the police."

The words landed like a hammer.

For the first time since arriving...

Chief Marcus realized that inside these walls, infront of Grace

His title meant absolutely nothing.