My Michael... My Son

Chapter 4: The Men in the Hallway

Michael moved before fear could catch up.

He sent Thomas into Lily's room and told the nurse to lock the side door. Then he stepped into the hallway.

Three men stood near the reception desk.

They did not look like relatives.

One wore a dark coat. Another had a scar near his jaw. The third smiled too easily.

"We're here for Thomas Reed and the child," the smiling man said. "Family matter."

Michael folded his arms. "This is a hospital. Not a hunting ground."

The man's smile faded.

"Doctor, you don't know what you're involved in."

Michael looked at the security guard from earlier. The same guard who had refused them entry now avoided his eyes.

That was when Michael understood.

They had been expected.

"Who sent you?" Michael asked.

The man stepped closer. "Someone who should have cleaned up this family a long time ago."

Behind Michael, Lily began coughing again.

Thomas came out despite Michael's order. "Leave her alone."

The scarred man laughed. "Daniel should have listened too."

Michael turned sharply. "You know where Daniel is?"

The men said nothing.

Then a voice came from the hospital speakers.

"Dr. Reed, this is Chief Administrator Crane. Please escort your visitors to the private conference room."

Michael went cold.

Crane was the man who had protected his career for years. His mother's old friend. The man who helped pay for Michael's medical school after Vivian died.

Thomas whispered, "Crane was your grandfather's lawyer."

Michael slowly turned toward him.

"What?"

Thomas nodded. "He buried the fire records."

The hallway suddenly felt smaller.

Michael took Lily's chart from the nurse and wrote three words on the back:

Call federal police.

Then he looked at the men.

"Fine," he said. "Conference room."

He led them down the hall, but not to the conference room.

To the old records wing.

The place where every file Crane had ever hidden might still have a trace.

As Michael opened the locked archive door, Lily's weak voice came from behind him.

"Uncle Michael?"

He turned.

The little girl stood there holding a folded paper.

"Daddy said to give you this if Grandpa found you."