Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew What Happened at the Hospital
I didn't sleep that night.
Lily slept beside Rachel in the guest bedroom while I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the hospital photograph.
Vanessa was upstairs.
Every few minutes, I heard her moving around.
At 2:13 a.m., I received a text from Daniel.
*You're making this much harder than it needs to be. Stop digging into Emily's past.*
I didn't respond.
Another message arrived.
*Think about Lily. Some truths destroy children.*
I took a screenshot.
Then I called my attorney.
By eight the next morning, I had arranged for Lily to be examined by a pediatrician and documented the injuries. Rachel agreed to stay with her while I visited Claire Morgan.
Before leaving, I checked the front door camera.
At 6:42 a.m., Vanessa had gone outside.
At 6:49, Daniel's car had pulled into our driveway.
He'd been there for seven minutes.
I watched the footage twice.
Then I saved it.
When I entered the kitchen, Vanessa was making coffee.
She wore a fresh white blouse and had applied makeup.
"Where are you going?""
"To see someone.""
"Who?""
"Someone who knows what happened at St. Mary's.""
Her coffee cup stopped halfway to her mouth.
"Marcus, don't.""
I looked at her.
"You've had eighteen months to tell me the truth.""
"Daniel said he would explain everything.""
"Daniel has explained enough.""
I picked up my keys.
Vanessa suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
"Please. If you find out what happened, you won't be able to undo it.""
I pulled my arm away.
"Neither will Lily.""
I left.
Claire lived in a small brick house twenty minutes outside the city.
The curtains were closed when I arrived.
She opened the door after checking through the window.
She was in her late fifties, with short gray hair and tired eyes.
"Mr. Williams?""
"Yes.""
"Come inside.""
Her living room smelled of old books and lavender. A stack of medical folders covered the coffee table.
She locked the door behind me.
"Did you come alone?""
"Yes.""
She nodded.
"Good.""
I sat down.
"Tell me what happened.""
Claire placed two hospital photographs in front of me.
The first showed Emily holding a newborn baby.
The second showed another woman holding a different baby.
Both photographs were stamped with the same date.
"These were taken within an hour of each other," Claire explained.
"Your wife delivered at 11:42 p.m. The other mother, Katherine Reed, delivered at 12:19 a.m.""
I looked at the pictures.
"Where was Daniel?""
"Your brother arrived shortly after midnight. He claimed he was bringing medication and personal belongings for Emily.""
"That sounds like him.""
Claire shook her head.
"He wasn't there for Emily.""
She opened a folder.
"Daniel had been communicating with Katherine's family for several months.""
"Why?""
"Because Katherine's husband had died before the baby was born. Daniel had convinced her he could help her financially.""
I stared at her.
"Help her how?""
"By arranging a private adoption.""
I leaned forward.
"But Katherine's baby wasn't adopted.""
"No.""
Claire pointed to the two photographs.
"Someone switched the identification bracelets.""
My hands went cold.
"You're saying Lily was switched?""
Claire nodded.
"According to the original records, Emily gave birth to a girl named Baby Williams. Katherine gave birth to a girl named Baby Reed.""
She opened another document.
"But the discharge records were changed. The baby who left with Emily was listed as Baby Reed.""
I stared at the papers.
"Why?""
"Because Daniel wanted the other child to disappear from Katherine's life.""
"Where did that baby go?""
Claire looked at me.
"That's what I've spent six years trying to establish.""
She removed a small USB drive from an envelope.
"I saved copies of the original identification logs before the hospital administration ordered the files corrected.""
I stared at the drive.
"Why would the hospital do that?""
"Because someone paid them.""
"Who?""
Claire hesitated.
Then she showed me a bank transfer.
The sender's name was Daniel Williams.
The amount was $85,000.
I felt physically sick.
"He paid the hospital?""
"That's what the transaction suggests.""
I looked at the date.
It was two days after Lily's birth.
"Did Emily know?""
Claire's expression changed.
"Yes.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Emily discovered the discrepancy before she was discharged. She came to me crying.""
My throat tightened.
"What did she say?""
Claire took a breath.
"She told me that Daniel had admitted the babies were switched. He wanted her to keep the other child because Katherine was supposedly unfit to raise a baby.""
I couldn't speak.
"Emily refused," Claire continued.
"She said she wanted her biological daughter returned.""
"And?""
"Daniel threatened her.""
I stood up.
"What did he threaten?""
Claire looked down.
"He told her that if she exposed the switch, he would make sure she lost both children.""
My knees weakened.
"Both?""
"Daniel had already arranged for the other baby to be taken somewhere else. He had documents claiming he was the child's legal guardian.""
I stared at the USB drive.
"Why didn't Emily tell me?""
"She tried. She called you repeatedly.""
I remembered those missed calls.
I had been at a construction site that night. Daniel had told me Emily was exhausted and needed rest.
I'd called her the following morning.
She'd sounded distant.
I'd assumed she was struggling with motherhood.
Claire opened another envelope.
"There's something else.""
Inside was a photocopy of a handwritten note.
I recognized Emily's handwriting immediately.
The note was dated three days before her death.
Marcus, if anything happens to me, don't trust Daniel with our daughter. He knows where the other baby is. He has been lying to everyone.
My vision blurred.
I sat down.
"She knew she was in danger.""
Claire nodded.
"She was terrified.""
"How did she die?""
Claire looked toward the window.
"The official report said complications following surgery.""
"Was that true?""
"I don't know. But I know she requested an independent review of her medical records before she died.""
I stared at her.
"Did anyone investigate?""
"Not properly.""
Claire pushed another document toward me.
It was a copy of an email sent from Daniel's account to a hospital administrator.
The subject line read:
*Katherine Reed — Final Placement.*
I opened it.
The email contained a sentence that made my blood freeze.
*The biological mother must never be allowed to contact the child again. Once Emily is gone, Marcus will believe the matter is closed.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Claire.
"Where is Katherine now?""
Claire hesitated.
"I don't know.""
I stood.
"Then help me find her.""
Claire opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, her landline rang.
She looked at the number.
Then all the color drained from her face.
"That's impossible.""
"What?""
She slowly lifted the receiver.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through loudly enough for me to hear.
"Claire. I told you to destroy those records.""
Daniel.
Claire dropped the phone.
I grabbed the USB drive and stood up.
Then I heard a car door slam outside.
Claire rushed to the window.
"He's here.""
I looked through the curtains.
Daniel was standing beside his black SUV.
And he wasn't alone.
A woman in a dark coat was sitting in the passenger seat.
May you like
Claire whispered a name.
"Katherine.""
