Page 70 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

“That’s not weird to you, though? To have an autopsy report hidden away? Look, I’ll show you.”

She pulled open the top drawer, and her heart sank when all she saw was undergarments.

“Where is it?” she whispered to herself. “Nyair, it was in here! He moved it! He had to!”

“Just calm down,” Nyair said, taking a step in her direction.

Alani pulled out the few items that occupied the drawer. “It was here!”

“Alani, baby…” Ethic’s voice brought instant tears to her eyes as she looked to the door, where he suddenly appeared. “Everything okay in here? You’re screaming.”

“Did you take it?” The question came out like an accusation, and she swallowed hard as a cry built inside her.

“Take what?” Ethic asked, genuinely confused. Alani’s eyes bore into his.

“I found Kenzie’s autopsy report, Ethic.”

“Lenika…” Ethic stood there, holding her child, their child. The only one she had left.

“Why did you have it?” she asked.

“I don’t have it, baby,” Ethic said as he glanced at Nyair. “I’ve never had it. You never ordered an autopsy, Alani.”

Alani’s eyes shifted from Ethic to Nyair, and it cut him that she needed confirmation from someone else to find truth in his words.

“He’s right. There was no autopsy, La,” Nyair confirmed.

Mara appeared at the doorway. “Excuse me. I’m sorry, but your blood pressure,” she said, holding up her phone to show the app that gave her 24-hour access to Alani’s vitals. “I got an alert. Whatever this is about… We should probably table it. Please get back in bed.”

“Tell them, Mara! She saw the autopsy, too. Don’t tell me it doesn’t exist,” Alani shouted. “It feels like everyone in this house is telling half-truths!”

Mara’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“Mara, tell them. I showed you the autopsy!” Alani insisted.

“I’m sorry, Alani. You were frantic about it. You went on and on about your daughter’s death, but I didn’t see an autopsy report.” Mara turned to Ethic. “This is what I was telling you about. The paranoia.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Alani asked, bewildered. “It was here. Ethic, I swear it was here. Nyair, please, listen to me!”

“I’m listening, La,” Nyair reasoned, his tone full of heartbreak and sympathy. She was unraveling in front of their eyes. “You need rest. Some sleep.”

“Yes, you do,” Mara agreed. “Your sleep score is very low. Your mind is playing tricks on you. Without rest, you can’t heal fully.”

“I’m not crazy! There was an autopsy. You were hiding an autopsy from me!” Alani shouted the accusation so viciously that it ripped through him.

“She may need some sedation,” Mara whispered, turning toward Ethic. “She has to calm down. Her brain is still healing. This is dangerous. Her mental health is fragile, and postpartum psychosis is very real.”

“Get out,” Ethic said. “Everybody, get out.”

Nyair turned to Ethic.

“This is a slippery slope. She’s hysterical,” Nyair whispered.

“She’s right here!” Alani scoffed, in annoyance and sarcasm, as she paced back and forth.

“I got her,” Ethic said. Nyair glanced back at Alani, and then to Ethic. He was in a tough spot. He didn’t want Alani to feel trapped and abandoned in her new life, but he also didn’t want to overstep. The last time he had gotten in between Ethic and Alani, he and his brother had come to blows. He hadn’t known Ethic well back then. They were family now, and Nyair was positive that Ethic would handle her gently. He nodded before he and Mara left the room.

When they were alone, Ethic placed True in her bassinet. Alani sighed, and when he took a step in her direction, she held out a defensive arm.