Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THEY TRIED TO MOVE HIM
At two seventeen in the morning, Willa woke to the sound of wheels.
Not the soft squeak of a medication cart.
Heavy wheels.
A hospital transport stretcher.
She opened her eyes.
Two men in dark uniforms stood beside Everett's bed.
Whitfield was checking the monitors.
Mr. Crowley waited near the door.
Willa stood.
“What's happening?”
Whitfield didn't look at her.
“Mr. Kane is being transferred.”
“Where?”
“A specialized facility.”
“Which facility?”
Whitfield continued working.
“That's not your concern.”
Willa stepped between him and the bed.
“There's a court hearing tomorrow.”
Whitfield's expression hardened.
“Move.”
“No.”
Crowley approached.
“Mrs. Kane—”
Willa raised her voice.
“Everett has an independent medical evaluation pending. You cannot simply make him disappear.”
One of the transport workers hesitated.
Whitfield looked furious.
“She's interfering with medical care.”
Willa turned toward the worker.
“Please ask to see the transfer order.”
The man looked at Whitfield.
“Doctor?”
Whitfield stared.
“It's authorized.”
“By whom?”
“Mr. Kane's guardian.”
Willa pulled out her phone.
“Then we can confirm that with the court.”
Whitfield reached for her phone.
Willa stepped backward.
“Don't touch me.”
The room went silent.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“I wouldn't.”
Daniel Kane stood there with Rebecca Monroe and two police officers.
Sterling appeared behind them.
His face was white with fury.
“What is this?”
Rebecca held up a court order.
“An emergency stay preventing transfer until the court can review the medical concerns.”
Whitfield stared.
Daniel stepped toward Everett.
“I'm his brother.”
Whitfield's expression changed.
“Daniel.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Alan.”
The two men stared at each other.
Then Daniel said:
“Step away from my brother.”
Everett was transferred under independent medical supervision to a hospital.
Whitfield's medication records were secured for review.
Sterling protested.
Crowley disappeared into the hallway.
Willa stood beside the stretcher as Everett was moved.
She held his hand.
“It's okay,” she whispered.
“We're getting you out.”
His fingers moved.
May you like
One squeeze.
And for the first time in eight months, Everett Kane left the estate without Sterling deciding where he would go.
