THE LITTLE RED WAGON
PART 2 — THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
The hospital doors closed behind Nathaniel Blackwood with a soft hydraulic hiss.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Rainwater dripped from the shoulders of his black wool coat onto the polished floor.
He looked completely out of place in Cedar Ridge Regional Hospital.
Too polished.
Too calm.
Too powerful.
His silver watch caught the fluorescent light as he slowly walked toward the reception desk.
Molly remained hidden underneath it.
Her small hands were pressed tightly over her mouth.
The sheriff stood between Nathaniel and the emergency-room corridor.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Sheriff Daniel Carter said.
Nathaniel stopped.
“Sheriff.”
His voice was smooth.
Almost friendly.
“What brings you here?”
Nathaniel glanced toward the treatment rooms.
“I heard there was an accident involving a woman and three children.”
“There was.”
“I came to make sure they're receiving proper care.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You know the family?”
Nathaniel hesitated.
Then he smiled.
“I know their mother.”
Under the desk, Molly's eyes widened.
The sheriff noticed.
He stepped slightly to the side, blocking Nathaniel's view.
“Her name is Elena Hayes.”
Nathaniel's expression changed for only half a second.
But it was enough.
“You've already identified her?”
“Yes.”
“And the children?”
“The twins are being treated.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“Good.”
Then his eyes moved toward the red wagon.
The faded quilt was gone.
The wagon was empty.
His face became noticeably colder.
“Where is the blanket?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Nathaniel looked directly at him.
“The quilt,” he repeated.
“Why are you interested in a blanket?”
Nathaniel gave a quiet laugh.
“Because it belongs to Elena.”
From beneath the desk came a tiny sound.
A frightened breath.
Nathaniel turned his head.
Daniel immediately moved.
“Stay where you are.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“Sheriff, I'm not here to cause trouble.”
“Then don't.”
Nathaniel's gaze drifted toward the emergency-room doors.
“I simply want to see the babies.”
“You can't.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not family.”
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
“I am family.”
The words hung in the air.
Daniel stared at him.
“What exactly does that mean?”
Nathaniel didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his coat.
The sheriff's hand immediately moved toward his weapon.
“Slowly.”
Nathaniel removed a photograph.
The same photograph Dr. Vivian Marsh had found inside the quilt.
Elena standing beside him.
Young.
Smiling.
Nathaniel looked at the photograph for several seconds.
“She promised she would never show this to anyone.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“You're the man in the picture.”
Nathaniel looked up.
“Yes.”
“What's your relationship with Elena?”
“That is private.”
“Not anymore.”
Nathaniel's eyes hardened.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.”
Daniel smiled without humor.
“That's what people say when they don't want the police asking questions.”
Nathaniel slipped the photograph back into his coat.
Then he said quietly:
“Elena stole something from me.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“What?”
Nathaniel looked toward the treatment room.
“My children.”
The sheriff froze.
“You're claiming the twins are yours?”
Nathaniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Yes.”
Under the desk, Molly shook her head violently.
No.
No.
No.
Her mother had warned her.
Never let him near the babies.
Never.
Even if he says he is their father.
Especially then.
The nurse beside Daniel noticed Molly's movement.
She crouched down.
“Molly?”
The little girl looked at her with terrified eyes.
“Don't let him take them.”
The nurse glanced toward Nathaniel.
“Why?”
Molly whispered:
“Because Mama ran away from him.”
Nathaniel heard it.
His head turned.
“Molly.”
The little girl screamed.
“NO!”
She crawled out from beneath the desk and ran toward the emergency corridor.
Nathaniel took one step after her.
Daniel blocked him.
“Don't.”
Nathaniel's expression remained strangely calm.
“Molly is frightened.”
“She has a reason.”
“She is seven years old.”
“And you're a stranger to her.”
Nathaniel stared at the sheriff.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“She knows exactly who I am.”
Daniel watched him carefully.
“Then why is she afraid of you?”
Nathaniel didn't answer.
Suddenly, a doctor rushed through the treatment-room doors.
“Sheriff!”
Everyone turned.
Dr. Vivian Marsh was pale.
“We have a problem.”
“What happened?”
“The smaller twin stopped breathing.”
Molly gasped.
Vivian continued.
“We've stabilized him, but he needs neonatal intensive care immediately.”
Nathaniel moved forward.
“I'll arrange the transfer.”
“No,” Daniel said.
Nathaniel stopped.
“I wasn't asking permission.”
“I wasn't giving it.”
For the first time, Nathaniel's calm expression disappeared.
“You don't understand how serious this is.”
Vivian looked at him.
“Then explain.”
Nathaniel's eyes hardened.
“These children are in danger.”
Molly suddenly screamed from across the room.
“YOU'RE THE DANGER!”
Silence.
Every nurse turned.
Nathaniel stared at the little girl.
Molly was crying now.
“Mama told me!”
“Told you what?” Daniel asked.
Molly looked at Nathaniel.
“She said he would come.”
Nathaniel's face went pale.
“When?”
“After she couldn't protect us anymore.”
Vivian slowly approached Molly.
“What else did your mother say?”
Molly looked at the brass key in her hand.
“She said the key would prove everything.”
Nathaniel saw the key.
His expression changed completely.
“Where did you get that?”
Molly immediately closed her fist around it.
“Mama.”
Nathaniel took a step forward.
Daniel drew his weapon.
“Don't move.”
Nathaniel stopped.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the hospital's security alarm suddenly sounded.
A red light began flashing above the emergency entrance.
One of the nurses ran toward the security station.
“What happened?”
“Someone forced open the ambulance entrance.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“Lock down the hospital.”
The nurse froze.
“Sir?”
“Now!”
The hospital doors automatically locked.
Metal security shutters began descending over the entrances.
Patients and visitors stared in confusion.
Nathaniel looked toward the doors.
“They're here.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Who?”
Nathaniel's eyes moved to Molly.
“The men who searched Elena's house.”
Molly began crying harder.
“How do you know?”
Nathaniel looked at her.
“Because I know what they're looking for.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What?”
Nathaniel hesitated.
Then he whispered:
“The twins.”
A crash echoed from somewhere near the ambulance bay.
Everyone jumped.
Then another.
The sound of glass breaking.
Security officers shouted from the hallway.
Daniel grabbed his radio.
“Units to the emergency entrance. Nobody enters or leaves.”
Nathaniel suddenly turned toward Vivian.
“Where are the babies?”
“NICU.”
“How many exits?”
“Two.”
“Seal both.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You seem very familiar with hospital security.”
Nathaniel ignored him.
Instead, he looked toward Molly.
“Molly.”
She backed away.
“What?”
“Your mother was right about one thing.”
“What?”
“You cannot trust everyone.”
Molly's face hardened.
“I don't trust you.”
Nathaniel nodded slowly.
“You shouldn't.”
Daniel looked at him sharply.
Nathaniel continued.
“But you also shouldn't trust the sheriff.”
The room became completely silent.
Daniel's expression changed.
“What did you just say?”
Nathaniel pointed toward the brass key.
“That key doesn't open a door.”
Molly looked down.
“Then what does it open?”
Nathaniel stared directly at her.
“A safety deposit box.”
Daniel's face tightened.
“How do you know?”
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
“Because I put it there.”
Molly looked confused.
“But Mama gave it to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Nathaniel's smile disappeared.
“Because Elena knew I would come looking for it.”
A loud gunshot suddenly echoed through the hospital.
People screamed.
The lights flickered.
Then went out.
Emergency lights illuminated the hallway in dim red.
Molly grabbed the nurse's hand.
“Where are my brothers?”
Vivian immediately ran toward the NICU.
Daniel followed.
Nathaniel remained still.
Then, from somewhere in the darkness, a man's voice whispered:
“Blackwood.”
Nathaniel slowly turned.
A shadow stood at the end of the corridor.
The man stepped into the emergency light.
He had a scar running down his cheek.
The same scar Molly had described.
He smiled.
“Nathaniel.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Drop to the floor!”
The scarred man laughed.
“You still don't understand, Sheriff.”
He pointed toward the NICU.
“We aren't here for Blackwood.”
Daniel's radio suddenly crackled.
A terrified nurse screamed through the speaker:
“Sheriff! Someone is inside the neonatal unit!”
Molly froze.
The brass key slipped from her hand.
It hit the floor.
Clink.
Nathaniel looked down.
Then at Molly.
And for the first time since he entered the hospital, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
“Molly…”
“What?”
Nathaniel whispered:
“Your mother didn't send you here to save the babies.”
Molly stared at him.
“Then why?”
Nathaniel looked toward the dark NICU corridor.
“She sent you here to make sure they never found what was hidden inside them.”
Molly's face went white.
“What is inside my brothers?”
Nathaniel didn't answer.
Because at that exact moment, the NICU doors slammed open.
A nurse stumbled into the hallway.
Blood covered her uniform.
She looked directly at Molly.
Then whispered:
“They found the mark.”
And collapsed.
