"Hello, welcome to the Metropolis Hospital, how may I help?" I looked up from the databases I had to sort through to see a lady wearing sunglasses, holding a big shopping bag. Shopaholic, I internally rolled my eyes. 

"Where is the nearest toilet?" She asked with an air of authority. Personally, I found that suspicious. The directional signs were right above her head, how could she not see them? Maybe she had rushed over without looking up? Maybe she had visual impairments, I would know since I do work in a hospital. 

I pointed over to the lavatory, "That way ma'am." 

"Thank you." She proceeded over. Humming a tune, I got back to sorting out patient records. 

Out of the corner of my eye, there was a blur of purple. Who wore purple? No one that I knew that worked in the maternity block. I turned my head back. Who could it be? They were in a rush. Hospital work is always rushed, especially A&E situations. 

The woman came across my vision once more, purple shopping bag in her hand. Ah, that was what the movement was all about. But that area was the opposite direction form where the toilet was. Didn't she go to relieve herself? 

Her bag. It looked... heavier? Or was my eyes just showing me the worst that could have happened? My head is just pounding, questions with no answers, weird theories that the lady could be a spy. Stop. Stop thinking of the weird woman you saw today, if not you may be ending up doing overtime. I buried my head in my hands, then continued to check my e-mails. 

As suspected, I could not keep my mind off that incident. She went to the toilet which was in the direction front of me, movement of what I am sure was her bag came from almost behind me, then came back with a heavier shopping bag. Could she have stolen something? If she did, what could it be? Hospital equipment? So many questions. If I typed them all out at size 16 on Google Docs, all question marks used could very well fill up a whole page by itself. 

Please, stop thinking about her. All she is to you right now is a distraction. Having been known as a master procrastinator back in my school days, I very well knew this was going to be very hard. 

Surprisingly, my mind complied. Might have gotten better at discipline. 

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the empty halls. Doctors and nurses were all in their respective rooms or labs, could this be another sneaky event that would never leave the forefront of my mind? 

"Hey, this is the Police Force. Somebody reported that her child was missing. Stolen. Stolen from this very hospital." I jumped. 

"What?" A stolen child?

"I need your camera feed at around 1400 hours for investigation purposes." The police officer continued. 

I hooked up the surveillance camera to the computer I was using and downloaded the tape into a spare USB drive lying in the corner, collecting dust. Once it finished downloading, I handed it up to him. 

"Thank you for your co-operation Ms. Hunt," He too out his hat to smooth his terribly greasy hair and walked away to where I suspect his policemen backups were. He should have known my name after doing research on the hospital after someone called him. 

A doctor came running out, "Corazon!" I turned to face her. 

"Have you heard, a baby was stolen from the nursing area this afternoon." You could hear the panic in her voice. 

"Yes, of course. Even the police came to take the CCTV feed from me."

"Thank goodness the police came. This is very serious. Not only will someone lose a child and possibly fall into depression, our reputation could be ruined and business gone. No one would want to come to a hospital that loses their baby." 

I nodded in agreement. She took in a deep breath, "Could we review the tapes now? I have some free time and maybe you could help and see?"

"Why have I never thought of that you genius with the doctorate and I'm doing receptionist work." Laughter of two women could be heard. 

We watched the video. No, it can't be. 

I gasped, "That stupid idiot of a woman that haunted my thoughts for a few hours, then left my mind and i never suspected her to be the one."

Narrowing her eyes, she asked me, "Who?"

"This lady that walked in. Very suspicious. Thought she stole hospital equipment, not a newborn. I could have stopped her. It's my fault." 

"No don't say that. She was the one who took the infant, not you. Don't beat yourself up because of this." She took my hands into hers. 

Reaching the door of my apartment, I heard the telltale sound of my brother watching the daily news, "A lady with brown hair, wearing sunglasses, a light blue dress and holding a shopping bag was found walking Metropolis hospital today." I paused at the main door. The newscaster continued, "A tape from the surveillance camera at the hospital shows her walk in, only to walk out a few minutes later with a heavier shopping bag than before. The police were only called a few hours later. With the report that a baby was stolen. If you see her..."

My fault she got away. All my fault. 

Story inspired by 
Prompt 2 of September Gemstone awards for Short Stories 
It was fun to write it I admit 

To see the prompt go to their ^^ profile :)