One highlighted call.
Fifty-eight seconds.
That was all the time it took to turn a wedding night into a crime scene.
By noon, the hospital hallway outside Emily’s room had changed.
It was still the same hallway.
Same waxed floor.
Same nurses moving with clipboards.
Same vending machine humming by the waiting area.
But the air felt different.
Detective Ward had stationed an officer near the elevator.
Emily’s mother had stopped answering unknown numbers.
The hospital intake desk had been told not to release updates without permission.
At 12:17 p.m., Paul Mercer called Emily’s mother.
She let it go to voicemail.
At 12:19 p.m., Diane called.
Emily watched the phone vibrate on the tray table until it went still.
At 12:23 p.m., a text came through from Diane’s number.
Please call me before you listen to anyone.
Emily read it once.
Then again.
Before you listen to anyone.
