Chapter 2
Eli stayed crumpled beside Claire’s bed, his small hands clutching the hem of his mother's thin hospital gown. His cheek bore an angry, crimson imprint of Luke's palm, and his entire body shook with silent, convulsive tremors.
"He's five years old, Luke!" Claire yelled, tears blurring her vision as she fought against the agonizing tug of her surgical stitches. She reached down, her trembling fingers tangling in Eli's messy brown hair. "You don't hit a child! What is wrong with you?!"
Before Luke could respond, the heavy wooden door swung open with a muffled thud. Nurse Camille Ross stepped into the room, wearing lavender medical scrubs, pristine latex gloves, and a laminated hospital identification badge pinned to her chest. In her right hand, she carried a handheld electronic identification scanner. Her sharp hazel eyes instantly registered the scene: the mother tangled in monitoring wires, the bruised child trembling on the floor, and the father standing aggressively over both of them.
"What is going on in here?" Camille demanded, her voice cutting through the heavy tension. "I heard shouting and a crash all the way down at the nursing station."
"Nothing," Luke said quickly, smoothing his sweater with trembling fingers and forcing a tight smile. "Just a family matter. My son threw a tantrum because of the new baby, and he slipped on the floor. Everything is under control."
"It is not under control!" Claire choked out, pointing a shaking finger at Luke. "Check the baby, Camille. Please, look at the baby!"
Luke stepped toward the bassinet, reaching for the metal push handle. "Claire, stop this embarrassing circus right now. I'll take Eli out to the car—"
"Do not touch that cart, sir," Camille ordered, stepping swiftly between Luke and the bassinet, physically blocking him with her body. Her medical shoes squeaked against the floor as she pivoted. "Mr. Mercer, take two steps back from the bassinet. Now."
Luke froze, his eyes narrowing with suppressed fury. "Excuse me? That is my daughter."
Camille didn't answer him. She leaned over the acrylic cot and pulled back the corner of the pink hospital blanket. The newborn was sleeping soundly, tiny chest rising and falling, a pale dusting of blonde hair visible beneath her knit cap. Camille slid her gloved fingers down to the baby's left ankle, searching for the newborn security bracelet.
Her eyebrows knitted together. Camille lifted the tiny foot into the bright light. The plastic identification band was turned upside down, and its locking clasp hung partly open, hanging loosely by a frayed hinge.
"This is impossible..." Camille murmured under her breath.
She lifted the handheld scanner and pressed the trigger, aiming the infrared beam at the miniature RFID chip embedded in the band. Instead of the reassuring green chime of a verified match, the scanner emitted a harsh, continuous buzz. The digital display flashed a violent, pulsing red: ERROR - ID MISMATCH / CODE INVALID.
Claire’s heart stopped. She stared at Luke, watching in real time as the blood completely drained from his face, leaving his skin the color of ash.
Camille turned her head toward Luke, her eyes narrowing, her voice grave with rising alarm. "This ID band... someone took it off."
Luke stepped forward impulsively, his arm reaching past Camille's shoulder toward the child. "Give her to me! The machine is broken, obviously!"
Camille slapped his hand away with the scanner casing, her voice rising with absolute authority. "Don't touch this bassinet, Mr. Mercer!"
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Eli stood up from the floor, his sneakers squeaking on the tiles. He grabbed Claire's wrist, then turned and pointed straight through the open doorway toward the dim hallway outside.
"I was there..." Eli cried, shaking with fear, his voice breaking but unwavering as he looked directly into Claire's horrified eyes. "I followed him, Mommy! I watched Dad switch the babies with some strange woman!"
