Chapter 317: Hospitalized
"Where is Melanie Collins?"
The nurse looked up, startled by the sharp, authoritative voice that cut through the quiet hum of the reception area. Her fingers hovered mid-air over the keyboard as she blinked at the man in front of her, clearly taken aback by his intensity. After a brief pause, she turned to her screen, typed something quickly, and replied, "She’s in the emergency ward. Just go straight ahead and take the first left."
Adam didn’t wait for another word. His heart was pounding, his mind a storm of fear and confusion. Almost out of his mind with worry, he broke into a run, his footsteps echoing against the sterile hospital floors as he tore down the hallway. But just as he reached the bend leading to the emergency ward, he skidded to a stop.
Standing ahead were the Thomases, their faces grim and pale. Beside them stood two uniformed police officers, their expressions unreadable, their postures tense. The group turned toward him in eerie unison, as if they had been waiting.
Adam’s breath caught in his throat, but he didn’t bother to catch it. His voice came out rough, laced with dread as he forced the words out, "What happened?"
The taller of the two officers stepped forward, his badge clipped neatly to his chest. He glanced at the tablet in his hand before looking up at Adam.
"Are you Adam Collins? The victim’s husband?"
Adam’s mouth was dry, his mind barely able to process the words, as he nodded stiffly and bot out a,"Yes." All the while the word victim seemed to be echoing in his head as he tried to focus on what the officer had to say.
The officer gave him a curt nod in return, then said, "Your wife is currently in surgery. She sustained multiple lacerations along her right arm and some internal trauma. From what the medical team says, it appears she was thrown off a moving vehicle. And then she walked all the way here to the hospital. They’re doing what they can. She should be out soon, but we’ll need to speak with her first before you’re allowed to talk to her.
Adam’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he said nothing. He wanted to argue, to tell them that he didn’t give a damn about their procedures—that she was his wife and he had every right to see her—but he knew how this worked. Standard procedure. No interference until they were sure she was stable and the scene had been officially documented.