Chapter 2: The Doctor Who Buried My Daughter
I had imagined seeing Dr. Bennett again many times.
Usually, in my nightmares.
Five years earlier, he'd stood beside my hospital bed with a sympathetic expression and a hand resting on my shoulder.
“I'm so sorry, Mr. Mitchell. We did everything we could.””
I'd been too devastated to ask questions.
Sarah was gone.
Our baby was gone.
I'd spent three days in the hospital refusing food, staring at the empty bassinet beside my bed.
Now the same man was standing inside a secret passage in my bedroom.
And my wife was looking at him like a criminal waiting for her accomplice to speak.
“Get out,” I said.
Dr. Bennett didn't move.
“Ryan, you need to calm down.””
“Don't tell me to calm down.””
I held Lily tighter.
“Explain why there's a child behind my bedroom wall.””
Bennett glanced at Melissa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
That small movement told me everything.
They had rehearsed this.
They had discussed what would happen if I discovered the truth.
“Melissa,” I said slowly, “how long have you known?””
She wiped her face.
“Ryan, please. Lily needs medical attention. We should take her to the hospital first.””
“You don't get to change the subject.””
“She's been through so much.””
“BECAUSE YOU PUT HER IN A WALL!””
Emma was crying so hard she could barely stand.
I lowered my voice.
“Sweetheart, go to the living room. Take your blanket and stay there. Don't open the door for anyone except me.””
Emma hesitated.
“Daddy, are you going to let Mommy take Lily?””
“No.””
She ran out.
I turned back to Bennett.
“Tell me the truth.””
The doctor placed the photograph on a shelf.
It showed a newborn baby wrapped in a white hospital blanket.
On the back was a handwritten date.
The date Sarah had died.
My fingers began trembling.
“That's my daughter?””
Bennett nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell me she was dead?””
His jaw tightened.
“Because your wife asked me to.””
I stared at Melissa.
She looked as though she'd been slapped.
“Don't,” she whispered.
Bennett continued.
“Sarah survived the initial accident. She was unconscious when she arrived at the hospital, but the baby was delivered alive. Your wife was there that night.””
“My wife?””
“Melissa was Sarah's younger sister.””
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
Melissa had never mentioned visiting the hospital.
She'd always told me she'd arrived after Sarah was pronounced dead.
“You said you were with your parents,” I whispered.
“I was.””
“No. You were at the hospital?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
Melissa began crying harder.
“Sarah called me before the accident. She wanted me to promise I'd look after the baby if anything happened.””
“And you decided to hide her?””
“No!””
Bennett stepped forward.
“Ryan, the situation was complicated.””
I turned toward him.
“Every time you speak, you make it worse.””
He took a breath.
“Sarah had been experiencing complications during pregnancy. There were questions about the paternity of the child.””
I stared at him.
“What questions?””
Melissa looked down.
Bennett continued.
“Sarah had told your wife that you weren't the biological father.””
For several seconds, I couldn't process the words.
Then I laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because my mind couldn't find another response.
“That's impossible.””
“Ryan—”
“Sarah and I were married. We planned that baby together. I went to every appointment.””
Bennett shook his head.
“She had a private relationship before the pregnancy.””
I looked at Lily.
She was watching me with enormous frightened eyes.
“Are you saying she's not mine?””
Bennett didn't answer.
Melissa suddenly stepped forward.
“That's not true!””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
“Sarah never cheated on you.””
Bennett's expression hardened.
“Melissa, be careful.””
She looked at him with something close to hatred.
“You've lied enough.””
Then she faced me.
“Sarah told me the baby was yours. She said she had never been with anyone else.””
I could barely speak.
“Then why would he say that?””
Melissa closed her eyes.
“Because he wanted the baby.””
The silence that followed was deafening.
Bennett moved toward the passage.
“I'm leaving.””
I blocked his path.
“Not until you explain.””
He stared at me.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.””
“Then educate me.””
His eyes dropped to Lily.
For the first time, I saw something beneath his professional calm.
Fear.
“Some things are better left buried,” he said.
I tightened my arms around my daughter.
“Not anymore.””
Bennett suddenly reached for the photograph.
I caught his wrist.
“Don't.””
He pulled away, knocking a small wooden box from the shelf.
It hit the floor.
A handful of papers scattered across the carpet.
One document landed faceup.
I picked it up.
It was a birth certificate.
The child's name was Lily Sarah Mitchell.
Father: Ryan Mitchell.
Mother: Sarah Mitchell.
But the date of registration was three days after Sarah's funeral.
And beneath the signature was another name.
Melissa Mitchell.
I looked at my wife.
“You registered her?””
Melissa nodded slowly.
“I wanted her to have your name.””
“Then why hide her?””
Her lips trembled.
“Because Bennett threatened to take her away.””
The doctor laughed bitterly.
“Don't pretend you did this for the child.””
Melissa suddenly turned on him.
“You told me you'd destroy the records. You said nobody would ever find out!””
I looked from one to the other.
“What records?””
Bennett stepped backward into the passage.
Melissa grabbed my arm.
“Ryan, don't let him leave. He's the reason Sarah died.””
My heart stopped.
“What did you just say?””
She pointed at the doctor.
“He was there that night. And he knows the accident wasn't an accident.””
Before I could ask another question, Bennett pulled a small black phone from his pocket.
He pressed one button.
May you like
Then he said quietly:
“She's found out everything. Activate the second plan.””
