David: How is she doing, doctor? Is my granddaughter going to pull through this?
Doctor Vance: She's currently stabilized in the intensive care unit, but she's still unconscious.
David: Thank God. The paramedics said her heart stopped for nearly a full minute.
Doctor Vance: It did. And the blunt force trauma to her temple is deeply concerning to our staff.
David: She hit the floor when she collapsed, but... her grandmother struck her first.
Doctor Vance: We documented the facial bruising during her intake exam. Child protective services has been notified.
David: Good. Martha has terrorized that girl ever since she came to live with us after her parents passed.
Doctor Vance: Abuse of a minor with a known cardiac condition is a felony offense in this state.
David: I should have stopped Martha years ago instead of letting her rule this household with an iron fist.
Doctor Vance: Regret won't fix Emma's ribs right now, Mr. Miller. Rest is the only prescription she needs.
David: Can I sit by her bedside for a few minutes while she's sleeping?
Doctor Vance: Of course. Just ring the nurse's station immediately if her heart monitor starts beeping irregularly.
David walked slowly down the sterile hospital hallway, his boots clicking softly against the polished white linoleum tiles.
The door to room 304 stood slightly ajar, revealing the quiet hum of medical machinery inside.
Emma lay motionless against the raised hospital bed, her face pale and bruised beneath a clear oxygen mask.
David: Oh, sweetie... grandpa is so sorry he didn't protect you from her temper.
A soft electronic beep chimed steadily from the bedside monitor, reassuring the anxious old man that she was fighting.
David: You're going to live with your aunt in the city as soon as you're discharged. I promise you that.
The heavy oak door behind him clicked open softly as a uniformed police officer stepped into the private room.
Officer Hayes: Mr. David Miller? I need to ask you a few formal questions regarding the incident at your ranch.
David: Ask whatever you need, officer. I'm ready to sign any statement you put in front of me.
Officer Hayes: We've already placed Mrs. Miller under formal arrest at the county booking facility.
David: Did she try to deny hitting Emma when the deputies questioned her?
Officer Hayes: She claimed it was a gentle correction, but the paramedic's dashcam footage caught the entire strike.
David: Thank heavens for that dashcam. Martha has lied her way out of trouble for forty years.
Officer Hayes: Her lies won't help her before a federal judge this time around. The charges are very severe.