My mom went silent for a moment after processing what I'd said.
She even lunged forward, trying to snatch my phone away.
I nodded firmly.
"Yes."
"And you're the one I suspect."
"What?"
Her eyes went wide with shock.
She pointed at me, her hand trembling violently. "Meryl! What nonsense are you spouting? How can you blame your child's death on me? I'm your mother! Your own mother!"
"Do you have any idea how much I've worried about you all these years?"
"From the moment you got pregnant, haven't I treated you like royalty every single day? And for what? All I wanted was for you and the baby to be safe! All I wanted was for my grandchild to be born healthy!"
"You lost the baby, and you're hurting—I understand that! But you can't throw accusations at your own mother! You're going to be the death of me!"
Arnold had recovered from his initial shock by now. His brow furrowed as he stepped between us, his tone reproachful.
"Meryl, you've gone too far. I've seen how Mom has treated you these past months."
"Maybe she's a little superstitious, always going on about New Year's Eve being auspicious, but she doesn't have a malicious bone in her body! She's the person who loves you most in this world! You shouldn't say things like that about her!"
I looked at Arnold and let out a mocking laugh.
"Why are you getting so worked up?"
"Or maybe... you're the one who killed my baby?"
The muscles in Arnold's face twitched.
"Meryl, do you even hear yourself? I wanted this child more than anything! I've been waiting for him for three years!"
"When he was born, I was right outside waiting! I didn't even get to see his face before they rushed him in for resuscitation! How could I have possibly killed him? Tell me!"
His frustration was obvious.
"I think Meryl's just been through too much. She's not in her right mind."
My mom wiped her face with her sleeve and gently patted my shoulder, her voice choked with tears.
"Sweetheart, I know you don't want to believe this was fate. But it was. We have to accept it. Stop overthinking. Just rest, and everything will pass. Mom's right here with you..."
That was when Captain Bryan Fletcher walked in.
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
My mom rushed to explain. "Officer, it's nothing, really. My daughter just gave birth, but the baby didn't make it."
"It was an accident—everyone here can confirm it! The baby was born without a heartbeat. There's really nothing to investigate. I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing..."
The doctor who had delivered my baby sighed and turned to Captain Fletcher. "Captain, the staff here are familiar with this patient's situation."
"This wasn't her first pregnancy. It was her fourth. The previous three children also... passed away shortly after birth."
"It's just... fate, I suppose. Every time, the baby is gone the moment it's born. We do everything we can, but there's nothing more to be done."
Murmurs of sympathy rippled through the room.
After all, my case was well known among the hospital's longtime staff.
Captain Fletcher pressed his lips together when he heard this. He turned to me with a look of resignation.
"We understand how you feel. But without evidence, we can't open a murder investigation. Please try to rest and take care of yourself..."
He turned to leave.
But then I shouted after them:
"I have evidence!"
"The baby was murdered!"
III
"Evidence?"
"What evidence?"
