Chapter 2 - WHAT THE BLOOD TEST FOUNDDr. Karen Lowell met Thomas inside a private consultation room.
Cassidy was thirty-four weeks pregnant. She had a placental injury consistent with a violent impact, fractured ribs, and bruising around both wrists.
“This was not a simple fall,” the doctor said.
Thomas looked through the glass toward Lydia, who sat with Nurse Hannah Blake and refused to release her elephant.
“Will Cassidy survive?”
“We’re stabilizing her. The baby is under severe distress.”
Dr. Lowell placed a toxicology report on the table.
Cassidy’s blood contained traces of a medication capable of stimulating uterine contractions. It had not been prescribed by the hospital or her obstetrician.
“Someone tried to force labor?” Thomas asked.
“We cannot determine intent yet. But the drug was administered recently.”
Thomas remembered Lydia mentioning a policeman at the house.
Deputy Mercer waited near the corridor doors, speaking quietly into his radio. When Thomas approached, Mercer ended the call.
“Did you go to Cassidy’s house before the ambulance?”
“No.”
“Lydia says you did.”
“She’s six and traumatized.”
“Children confuse details. They don’t usually invent uniforms.”
Mercer claimed Grant Hale—Cassidy’s husband—had called him earlier in the evening about a domestic argument. Mercer said he advised Grant to leave the house and cool down but never went there.
“Where is Grant now?”
“We’re looking for him.”
“Are you?”
Mercer’s jaw tightened.
Nurse Hannah hurried from Cassidy’s room.
“She’s awake for a few seconds.”
Thomas entered.
Cassidy’s skin looked gray beneath the hospital lights. She moved her lips, and Thomas leaned close.
“Grant wanted my phone,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“The ranch files.”
“What files?”
“Don’t let them sell it.”
Her monitor alarmed before she could continue. Dr. Lowell ordered Thomas back while staff adjusted medication.
Cassidy seized his wrist.
“Wade brought the needle.”
Thomas turned toward the corridor.
Mercer had disappeared.
Detective Rachel Monroe arrived from the county’s major-crimes unit. She listened to Thomas, then requested Mercer’s location history and patrol-camera footage.
Both were unavailable.
According to the sheriff’s system, Mercer’s vehicle tracker had malfunctioned between 11:58 p.m. and 12:39 a.m.
The same period during which Cassidy was attacked.
Monroe examined the toxicology report.
“Who benefits if Cassidy dies?”
Thomas answered immediately.
“Grant.”
Cassidy had inherited forty percent of Reed Valley Ranch from her late mother. Thomas held the remaining shares. Grant had been pressuring them to sell mineral access to a private extraction company called Frontier Meridian.
Cassidy refused.
If she died, Grant could claim temporary control of her marital estate while representing the unborn baby and Lydia.
Monroe looked toward Lydia.
“That gives him motive.”
Thomas nodded.
“But it doesn’t explain the deputy.”
Nurse Hannah approached carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside lay a hospital wristband and a capped syringe found beneath Cassidy’s clothing.
The syringe carried no pharmacy label.
But a tiny inventory sticker remained near the plunger.
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It belonged to the sheriff’s department medical-response cabinet.
👉 The drug inside Cassidy came from equipment controlled by Deputy Mercer’s own department.
