Frustration bubbled beneath when she said nothing else.
Think, Kasmine.
I needed another approach.
I reached into my bag, pulling out a neatly folded piece of paper I had prepared in case of resistance.
“This is a signed request from our family lawyer. I’m not asking for detailed medical records, just a confirmation of whether or not he completed his therapy.”
Melissa barely glanced at it. “That won’t be enough,” she said flatly.
I expected that… I sighed, lowering my voice. “Look, I know there are rules. But I’m not just here out of curiosity. My brother’s mental health is a matter of serious concern. There have been… incidents. And if he didn’t complete his therapy, it could explain a lot.”
She didn’t react immediately, but I saw a small crack in the wall of indifference.
“You’re saying he’s a danger to himself and others?” She asked carefully.
I hesitated It wasn’t exactly what I meant, but I could tell that was the angle that might get the what I needed.
“I’m saying,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “that if something happens because this hospital refuses to confirm basic information, there will be consequences.”
She inhaled slowly, then picked up the paper. This time, she actually read it.
The seal from the family lawyer was legitimate. More than that, it implied that if the hospital refused to cooperate, they could be dragged into legal trouble.
Before coming here, I had gone to the family lawyer’s office under the pretense of handling unrelated legal matters for the pack-something I was well within my right to do. While there, I had casually inquired about past legal documents concerning Kester, mentioning that I was working on updating our family’s private records.
The lawyer, accustomed to dealing with delicate pack affairs, hadn’t questioned it. He had prepared the request, stamped with the official seal, assuming it was merely another administrative task.
I watched her closely, pressing just a little more.
“Do you know what it’s like to watch someone unravel?” ked quietly. “To wonder if you could have stopped it if you had the right Information?”
Her jaw tensed.
That did it.
She sighed, setting the paper aside. “Wait here.”
And then she disappeared through the double doors.
The moment she was gone, unease settled in my stomach. But now, the unease twisted to a feverish point.
Why was it taking so long?
The reception area was nearly empty, save for a few outdated magazines strewn across a side table and the faint hum of the overhead lights. I paced, the soles of my shoes thudding softly against the floor.
Something wasn’t right.
I stole a glance at the door she had vanished through, my pulse drumming against my throat. What if she was stalling? What if she had gone to make a call?
Gods, Kasmine, stop overthinking. This isn’t a movie.
But no matter what happened, I wasn’t leaving without those records.
Just as the thought settled, the doors pushed open again. The receptionist walked in with her face carefully blank and a single file clutched in her hands.
It didn’t look as bulky as I expected it to look. It was way too scanty to hold the kind of reports I expected.
Where were the in-depth assessments, the notes detailing every step of his supposed progress, and the follow-up sessions?
She stopped in front of me, extending it. “Here you go.”
I looked around as if someone could be watching me before receiving it from her.
“It took you so long, ma’am,” I said with a forced smile, but my eyes searched hers.
She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a polite smile. This is from ten years ago, Miss…” She trailed off, waiting.
“Kasmine,” I supplied..
She nodded, already dismissing me as she returned to her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard.
I exhaled, moving to a seat in the comer where I could keep an eye on the room.
I flipped open the file, my fingers running over the thin stack of papers.
Something about this felt off.
And I had a feeling I wasn’t ready to find out why.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I called out, stepping back up to the desk.
She exhaled, rolling her eyes like I was the biggest inconvenience of her day. “Yes, Kasmine,” she drawled, her voice laced with exhaustion. “What now?”
I dropped the file on the desk between us. “These records aren’t… sufficient.” I tapped the thin folder with my fingertips, keeping my voice steady even as irritation licked at my nerves. “Some vital information seems to be missing. Is there a mix-up somewhere?”
She didn’t even pretend to care. Her eyes flicked to the file, then back to me, her expression blank with careful disinterest.
“This is all there is on Kester Hamilton’s records,” she said flatly. “I’m sorry.”
The apology was false, lacking any real sincerity. It only fueled the slow burn of frustration rising in my chest. I leaned in slightly. “I’d like to speak to someone else. A doctor. Someone who was actually in charge of his case.”
I was also losing my patience. I didn’t know what game she was playing, but I wouldn’t let her win.
“You have to leave, or I’ll call security on you, ma’am,” Her tone turned unfriendly.
There it was. The shift.
She wasn’t just annoyed anymore. She was… nervous. Her fingers twitched slightly as she glanced around, her eyes darting toward the nearest security guard stationed near the exit.
Why?
I met her gaze, watching closely. And that’s when I saw it fear.
It was almost as if they had been compelled to keep Kester’s records hidden from any other person who wasn’t him.
Why did I feel there was more to this woman’s behavior than meets the eye?
Someone didn’t want these records seen.
The realization sent a sharp pulse of adrenaline through me, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. Another perfect idea slipped into my head.
I flicked a glance at the clock on the wall. 1 PM.
Perfect.
Four more hours until the close of work.
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