*Chapter 15: The Bribed Lab Tech
1075 Words
The hospital records room smelled like old paper and bleach.
Ada moved slow. Too slow. 20 weeks pregnant, IV mark still on her arm, and Baby B’s monitor beeping from her wrist. But she couldn’t sleep. Not after Nurse Amaka’s whisper at 9pm: “Miss, come to storage at 11pm. I found something about your DNA test.”
11pm now. Nurse Amaka unlocked the door with her master key. “2 minutes, Miss. If Daniel’s guard walks by, I’ll pretend you’re getting files for doctor.”
Ada nodded. Heart pounding. Not from running. From fear.
Rows of shelves. Boxes marked 2024, 2025, 2026. Nurse Amaka pulled one labeled `Okafor D - Paternity`.
“Look,” Nurse Amaka said, pulling out a yellowed invoice. “This was mixed with your file by mistake. See the date?”
Ada’s eyes scanned it. `MediLab Diagnostics. DNA Paternity Test. Client: Daniel Okafor. Rush Processing: 24 Hours. Fee: 5,000,000 Naira. Paid: Cash. Signed: D. Okafor.`
Her hands shook. “5 million? For 24-hour result? Normal tests take 2 weeks…”
“Exactly,” Nurse Amaka whispered. “I’ve worked here 12 years. No one pays 5M for rush unless they want a specific answer. And look…” She pulled out another envelope. Sealed. `Okafor D2 - Paternity Test`.
Ada tore it open with trembling fingers. Inside: DNA result. `Subject: David Okafor. Result: Sample degraded. Inconclusive. Recommendation: Retest.`
“Degraded?” Ada whispered. “So Daniel’s test came back 99.99% in 24 hours, but David’s test was ‘degraded’? That’s not coincidence.”
Nurse Amaka looked scared now. “Mr. Daniel is powerful, Miss. If he paid the lab to say he’s father… if Mr. David is actually—”
The door handle turned.
Both women froze. Footsteps. Heavy. Security boots.
“Hospital rounds,” a deep voice said outside. “Who’s in there?”
Nurse Amaka shoved the files back in Ada’s hands. “Hide! Under the table! I’ll handle this!”
Ada dropped to her knees, 7 months of twins making it hard to move fast. She shoved the envelope and invoice into her maternity dress pocket just as the door opened.
Daniel’s head guard, Musa, filled the doorway. Tall. Scar on his cheek. Eyes that missed nothing.
“Miss Ada,” he said flatly. “You’re supposed to be on bed rest. Doctor’s orders.”
“I… I needed my medical file,” Ada stammered, standing slowly. “For my mother. She wants to see the twins’ growth chart.”
Musa’s eyes swept the room. Saw the open box. Saw Nurse Amaka’s guilty face. Then landed on Ada’s pocket. It bulged slightly. Paper corner sticking out.
“What’s in your pocket, ma?” he asked. Voice neutral. Dangerous.
Ada’s blood turned to ice. Baby B kicked weakly. Stress.
“Nothing,” she said, but her voice cracked.
Musa stepped forward. “Mr. Daniel said no stress for you or the babies. Lying causes stress. Let me see your pocket.”
Nurse Amaka stepped between them. “She’s my patient! You can’t search her without consent!”
“I can when Mr. Daniel says so,” Musa said, hand reaching out.
Ada backed up until she hit the shelves. Paper crinkling in her pocket. Evidence. Proof Daniel bribed the lab. Proof David might be the father.
The door opened again before Musa could touch her.
Daniel stood there. Shirt sleeves rolled up. No tie. He’d been woken up. His eyes were dark. Not angry. Worse. Disappointed.
“What’s going on here?” he asked quietly. Too quietly.
Musa straightened. “Miss Ada was accessing files after hours, sir. Refusing search.”
Daniel looked at Ada. Really looked. From her pale face, to her shaking hands, to the bulge in her pocket.
He walked in slowly. Closed the door behind him. Click.
The room got smaller. Hotter. More dangerous.
“Ada,” Daniel said softly. Using her name like a threat. “What are you looking for?”
Ada swallowed. Choice time. Lie and he’ll know. Tell truth and war starts with Baby B unstable.
She pulled the envelope from her pocket slowly. Held it up. “The truth,” she whispered. “I was looking for the truth about who the father really is.”
Daniel didn’t blink. Didn’t react for 5 seconds. Then he smiled. Small. Cold.
“The truth,” he repeated. He took the envelope from her without touching her fingers. Read it. DNA: Inconclusive. David Okafor.
He looked up at her. Eyes unreadable. “And what did you find, Ada?”
“That you paid 5 million naira for a 24-hour DNA test,” Ada said, voice shaking but strong. “While David’s test was ‘degraded’. Did you make the lab lie, Daniel? Are these babies even yours?”
Silence. Nurse Amaka stopped breathing.
Daniel folded the envelope. Put it in his own pocket. Then he stepped closer to Ada until only 10cm separated them.
“If I made the lab lie,” he said quietly, only for her ears, “would you leave me? Would you run to David with my children?”
Ada met his eyes. “Yes.”
Daniel nodded once. Like he expected that answer. Then he turned to Musa. “Escort Miss Ada back to her room. Double her nurse shift. And Nurse Amaka?”
Nurse Amaka went pale.
“You’re transferred to night shift. Permanent. Away from Miss Ada. Starting tonight.”
Ada gasped. “No! She was just helping me—”
“Helping you commit to hospital records?” Daniel cut her off, still calm. “That’s a crime, Ada. I’m being generous. She keeps her job. She loses access to you.”
He walked to the door, then paused. Didn’t turn around.
“For the record,” he said quietly. “I didn’t make the lab lie. I paid for speed because I needed to know if I was protecting another man’s children or my own. But Ada… even if David is the father, you’re still staying in my estate. Still under my protection. Because I don’t lose what I claim.”
He left. Door closed.
Musa grabbed Ada’s arm gently but firmly. “Let’s go, ma.”
As they walked down the hall, Ada realized: Daniel knew. He’d always suspected. And he didn’t care if David was the father. He was keeping her anyway.
Baby B’s monitor beeped faster. Beep…beep…beep.
Stress. War. No escape.
- Writer
