Chapter 4: The Call From a Dead Woman
My phone continued ringing.
*ISABELLA CARUSO.*
I stared at the screen, unable to move.
Eight months.
Eight months since my mother had told me my wife was dead. Eight months since I'd stood beside an empty coffin and listened to people tell me how strong I was for raising two newborn daughters alone.
And now her name was calling me.
"Answer it, Dominic," Elise whispered.
My thumb hovered over the screen.
My mother suddenly stepped forward.
"Don't you dare.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because whoever is calling you isn't Isabella.""
"How would you know?""
Victoria's mouth opened, but no answer came.
I pressed the green button.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Then I heard breathing.
A familiar, trembling breath.
"Dominic?""
My knees nearly buckled.
I grabbed the edge of the dresser.
"Isabella?""
A faint sob came through the speaker.
"Oh, God. Dominic.""
I closed my eyes.
It was her.
I knew that voice better than my own heartbeat.
"Where are you?"" I whispered.
"Where the hell are you?""
"Listen to me. You have to get the girls out of that house.""
I looked toward the cribs.
"What? Why?""
"Your mother knows you've found the recordings.""
Victoria took another step toward me.
"Give me the phone!""
I turned away.
"Isabella, I'm here. I'm listening. Tell me where you are.""
"I can't tell you yet.""
"Eight months, Isabella! I've spent eight months believing you were dead!""
"I know.""
"Do you know what that did to me?""
Her voice broke.
"I watched you leave the hospital with our babies. I wanted to run after you. I wanted to hold you. But I couldn't.""
"Why couldn't you?""
"Because they told me they'd hurt you if I tried.""
I looked at my mother.
She was standing perfectly still.
"Who told you that?""
There was a pause.
Then Isabella whispered, "Your mother.""
My entire body went cold.
Victoria shook her head.
"She's lying.""
I pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
"Dominic, please. You don't understand.""
"GET OUT!""
My mother backed away.
But before she disappeared into the hallway, she said something that made me even more suspicious.
"Ask your wife why she never told you about the third baby.""
Then she left.
I brought the phone back to my ear.
"Isabella, what third baby?""
Her breathing changed.
"You found the photograph?""
"Yes.""
"Then you know.""
"Know what? We had twins!""
"No, Dominic.""
Her voice was barely audible.
"We had three babies.""
I looked at Maisie and Rosie.
Three?
I remembered the delivery room. I remembered the doctors rushing around. I remembered someone saying there had been complications.
But I had been escorted out before the final examination.
My mother had told me Isabella needed emergency treatment.
She had told me the babies were safe.
She had told me everything.
"Where is our third child?"" I asked.
Isabella started crying.
"I don't know.""
"What do you mean you don't know?""
"They told me the baby died. But I saw the transfer papers. I saw the bracelet. They took our baby somewhere.""
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
"Who took the baby?""
"Dr. Reed.""
The name hit me.
My mother's personal physician.
The man standing behind Isabella in the hospital photograph.
"Why?""
"I don't know. I only know your mother signed the authorization.""
I heard a metallic sound on Isabella's end.
Then a door slammed.
"Isabella?""
Her breathing became frantic.
"Dominic, someone is coming.""
"Where are you?""
"I'll call again. But promise me something.""
"Anything.""
"Don't trust anyone who tells you the third baby is dead.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Then I heard a small sound behind me.
Maisie was crying.
I turned toward her crib.
Elise was already lifting her gently.
"Easy, sweetheart.""
But as she adjusted the baby's blanket, something slipped from beneath the mattress.
A tiny plastic hospital bracelet.
I picked it up.
The name printed on it wasn't Maisie.
It wasn't Rosie.
It read:
*BABY CARUSO — INFANT C.*
My fingers began trembling.
Elise looked at the bracelet.
Then she whispered something I would never forget.
"Mr. Caruso, Isabella told me there was a chance the third baby had been brought back to this house.""
I stared at her.
"Where?""
Before she could answer, the security alarm downstairs began screaming.
Someone had entered the mansion.
May you like
And the security system identified the visitor as a person who had been banned from the property eight months earlier.
*Dr. Samuel Reed.*
Related Stories
