Chapter 8: The Nurse Who Had Two Faces
I kept the back door locked.
Through the glass, the woman raised both hands.
“Daniel, please. I need to speak with you.””
Her voice was unmistakable.
It was the same voice I'd heard on the phone.
I looked at Rebecca.
“You said that was Helen.””
Rebecca nodded.
“She was Sarah's nurse.””
“Then why is she standing outside with Thomas?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My phone vibrated.
An incoming message from the unknown number.
*Don't trust Rebecca. She knows what happened in the delivery room.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
*Ask her why Sarah begged her to leave.*
I turned slowly.
Rebecca saw my expression.
“What?””
I held up the phone.
“Why did Sarah beg you to leave the hospital?””
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I made a terrible decision.””
“What decision?””
She looked toward Ari.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Sarah asked me to take her daughter and leave the hospital. She believed Margaret was planning to have the baby transferred somewhere else.””
I stared.
“Why didn't you?””
“I tried.””
Her voice broke.
“I took Ari to the nursery. But Thomas found me before I could leave.””
“What happened?””
“He told me the baby wasn't legally mine to take. He showed me documents bearing your father's signature.””
My father lowered his head.
Rebecca continued.
“Then Margaret arrived. She said if I didn't leave, she would have me arrested for kidnapping.””
Emily stepped forward.
“So you disappeared?””
Rebecca nodded.
“I was afraid. And I was ashamed.””
I looked toward the back door.
The woman outside knocked again.
“Daniel! I know Rebecca is telling you lies!””
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
“Don't let her inside.””
“Why?””
“Because that woman wasn't Sarah's nurse.””
The room fell silent.
I looked through the glass.
The woman was still holding her identification badge.
I zoomed in on the security camera image.
The name read HELEN MORRIS.
I turned toward Rebecca.
“Then who was she?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“Her name is Vanessa Cole. She was the hospital administrator's assistant.””
I felt sick.
“Why would she pretend to be a nurse?””
“Because she was the one who handled the paperwork after Sarah died.””
My father suddenly stood.
“That's enough.””
I turned toward him.
“Sit down.””
“Daniel, you need to listen to me. There are things you don't understand.””
“Then start explaining!””
Robert looked toward the window.
“Thomas and Margaret weren't acting alone.””
Rebecca nodded.
“That's true.””
My father took a shaky breath.
“Sarah had discovered that the trust documents had been altered. The person listed as the beneficiary wasn't the child. It was a company.””
“What company?””
He looked at me.
“Carter Family Holdings.””
My grandfather had created that company decades earlier.
It controlled several properties and investment accounts. I'd never paid much attention to it.
“Who owns it?””
“Your mother.””
I stared at him.
“And you helped her?””
Robert nodded.
“I was afraid of losing everything.””
Emily looked disgusted.
“So you sacrificed Sarah and Ari for money?””
My father covered his face.
“I didn't want anyone hurt.””
Ari tugged at my sleeve.
“Daddy?””
I knelt.
“What is it, sweetheart?””
She pointed toward the back door.
“The lady has Mommy's necklace.””
I looked up.
The woman outside was holding something between her fingers.
A small silver heart.
Sarah's necklace.
I recognized it immediately.
I'd given it to her on our first anniversary.
We'd buried her wearing it.
My blood ran cold.
“Where did she get that?””
Rebecca looked through the glass.
Then she whispered:
“Because she took it from Sarah's body.””
I couldn't speak.
The woman outside smiled again.
Then she mouthed two words.
*Ask Robert.*
I turned toward my father.
He was crying.
“Dad?””
Robert slowly reached inside his jacket and removed a small velvet pouch.
He opened it.
Inside was Sarah's wedding ring.
The ring we'd been told had disappeared during the hospital transfer.
“Why do you have that?”” I asked.
My father looked at me.
“Because I was the last person to see Sarah alive.””
I felt my heart pounding.
“You told me you were at home.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
Robert looked toward the woman outside.
“Because Sarah told me something before she died.””
I stepped closer.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“She told me that Ari wasn't your only child.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
My father began shaking.
“Sarah was pregnant with twins.””
The room became completely silent.
I looked at Rebecca.
She slowly nodded.
Then she said:
“One baby went home with you, Daniel.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“And the other?””
May you like
Rebecca looked toward the front window.
“Your mother took him.””
