Chapter 4 - Dr. Reed Takes Command
Dr. Reed had seen fear before.
Fear of test results.
Fear of surgery.
Fear of pain.
Fear of family members waiting outside with flowers and lies.
But Lena’s fear was different.
It was the fear of a person discovering her own body had been keeping records without her consent.
He kept his voice calm because somebody in the room had to.
“Dr. Shaw, lock the imaging access.”
Dr. Shaw nodded once.
The radiologist’s face remained controlled, but his finger shook when he reached for the tablet.
The officer watched every movement.
Lena tried to sit straighter.
Pain ripped through her spine.
She gasped and collapsed back against the pillows.
Dr. Reed moved instantly.
“Do not force yourself upright.”
Lena’s eyes filled again.
“I need to see it.”
He hesitated.
Then shifted just enough so she could see the screen without moving.
The scan glowed in blue-gray tones.
No labels readable.
No explanations printed.
But Dr. Shaw pointed to one area, then another, then another.
Not touching the screen too hard.
Not dramatizing.
Just showing what had been there before last night.
Lena stared until her vision blurred.
Her hand moved slowly to her back.
As if touch could explain what memory refused to give her.
Dr. Reed looked at the officer.
“Body camera on?”
The officer nodded.
Lena flinched at the confirmation.
Dr. Reed saw it.
“This protects the evidence,” he said.
She looked at him.
“And me?”
His expression hardened.
“Yes.”
That one word nearly broke her.
Not because it fixed anything.
Because it was the first answer that sounded like protection instead of performance.
Dr. Shaw placed another copy request into the system without revealing anything on screen.
The officer stepped closer to the doorway, scanning the hallway.
Lena noticed.
“Is someone outside?”
The officer did not answer immediately.
Dr. Reed’s jaw tightened.
“We are not allowing anyone into this room without medical approval.”
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That answer terrified her more than yes.
Read Chapter 5 👉 Because the doctors were not only reading Lena’s scan—they were building a wall around her before anyone could interfere.
