Chapter 6 - The Patrol in the Waiting Room
The fluorescent lights of the Granby Medical Center waiting room flickered under the midnight hush, but the atmosphere inside was anything but quiet.
Richard Harrison paced the linoleum floor like a caged predator. His designer loafers clicked sharply against the tile, his phone gripped so tightly in his palm that his knuckles were stark white. Tyler sat on one of the vinyl chairs, slouched forward, staring intently at the floor while nervously picking at the stitching of his college varsity jacket. Eleanor sat two chairs down, her expensive leather handbag resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on the double doors leading into the trauma wing.
"This is ridiculous," Richard muttered, spinning around to face his wife. "Two hours! They’ve been keeping us out here for two damn hours! Caroline has no legal authority to lock us out of our own daughter’s room."
"Richard, keep your voice down," Eleanor whispered nervously, glancing toward the triage nurse at the desk. "People are staring."
"I don't care who’s staring!" Richard snapped. "Olivia is a minor. I am her father. If that little dramatic brat is throwing a tantrum and telling the doctors stories—"
"Mr. Harrison?"
A deep, commanding voice cut through the air.
Richard froze, turning toward the corridor. Walking toward them were two uniformed deputies from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, followed closely by two hospital security guards. Leading the group was Deputy Sheriff Rodriguez, a tall woman with a hard face and a heavy leather utility belt clanking at her waist.
Richard immediately straightened his tie, shifting into his polished, authoritative persona. "Officers. Thank God. My sister-in-law has somehow managed to restrict our access to my daughter’s trauma bay. I need you to inform the staff that—"
"Richard Harrison?" Deputy Rodriguez interrupted, her voice flat and completely devoid of warmth.
"Yes, that's me," Richard said smoothly. "And this is my wife, Eleanor, and my son, Tyler."
Deputy Rodriguez didn't offer a handshake. Instead, her eyes lingered on Tyler for a long, heavy second before shifting back to Richard. "Sir, we’ve been dispatched by dispatch following a direct call from Dr. Evelyn Patel, the attending trauma neurologist."
Richard’s brow furrowed, a faint flash of panic crossing his eyes before he quickly masked it with indignance. "Dr. Patel? Look, officer, my daughter had a minor spill down the stairs at our lake house. She’s always been clumsy, and frankly, she has a habit of exaggerating things for attention—"
"Mr. Harrison," Rodriguez cut him off again, stepping closer. "Dr. Patel didn't call us about a fall down the stairs. She called us because an MRI scan revealed evidence of a historical, unconditioned spinal fracture that healed improperly, alongside severe, multi-colored deep tissue trauma across your daughter's torso."
The air in the waiting room seemed to freeze.
Eleanor gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Tyler went completely stiff in his chair, his color draining until his face was the shade of chalk.
Richard’s posture flared with sudden, aggressive rage. "What are you implying? Are you accusing us of something? That is outrageous! My daughter is prone to self-harm—"
"Save it, sir," Rodriguez said coldly. She signaled to her partner. "Deputy Vance, stay here with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. Mr. Tyler Harrison, I need you to stand up, step away from your parents, and keep your hands where I can see them."
Tyler’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with sheer terror. "Me? Why me? I didn't do anything!"
"Tyler!" Eleanor shrieked, reaching for her son. "Officer, this is a mistake! Tyler is a student athlete! He’s on a full scholarship—"
"Ma'am, do not step forward," Deputy Vance commanded, placing a hand firmly on his holster.
Rodriguez stepped in front of Tyler, her hand resting on her cuffs. "Tyler, you are not under arrest at this exact second, but you are being detained as a person of interest in a mandatory state investigation regarding the felony abuse and physical assault of a minor. You’re going to walk with me down to the interrogation room near the station, or we can do this in handcuffs right here in front of everyone. Your choice."
Tyler looked frantically at his father. "Dad! Dad, do something!"
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For the first time in his life, Richard Harrison looked completely powerless. He stood frozen, his mouth open, watching as Deputy Rodriguez escorted his golden son through the double doors, leaving him and his wife standing in the blinding light of the lobby under the watchful glare of two hospital security guards.
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