Chapter 13: The Child Who Was Never Dead
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at the handwritten sentence at the bottom of the birth certificate.
*She was never dead.*
My mother pressed a hand over her mouth.
Daniel looked at the document from across the courtroom.
"That's impossible.""
Judge Reynolds looked toward the clerk.
"Mrs. Carter, may I see that?""
I walked to the bench and handed it over.
He studied the certificate.
"Clerk, contact the hospital listed on this record.""
The clerk picked up the phone.
Daniel shook his head.
"This is another lie.""
I turned toward him.
"You've lied about my company.""
He said nothing.
"You lied about Lily.""
His jaw tightened.
"You lied about Claire.""
"Emily—"
"And now you're telling me this is a lie?""
He looked away.
Judge Reynolds interrupted.
"Mr. Carter, you will remain silent until I ask you to speak.""
The clerk hung up.
"Your Honor.""
"Well?""
"The hospital confirmed the record number.""
My heart hammered.
"And the third child?""
The clerk hesitated.
"The original record was amended the day after the birth.""
"Amended how?""
"The infant was listed as deceased.""
My mother whispered, "That's what Daniel told me.""
I turned.
"What?""
She was crying.
"After the birth, Daniel told me one of the babies hadn't survived.""
"Which baby?""
"I didn't know.""
"You didn't see her?""
"No.""
I looked at Daniel.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
My mother continued.
"Your father suspected Daniel had arranged something, but by the time we realized what happened, the records had already been changed.""
Michael stepped forward.
"Who signed the amendment?""
The clerk looked at the document.
"Dr. Thomas Vale.""
Michael's expression changed.
"That name...""
"What?""
"He was Daniel's personal physician.""
Daniel's attorney stood.
"Your Honor, we're entering territory based entirely on speculation.""
Judge Reynolds nodded.
"Then let's replace speculation with evidence.""
He instructed the clerk to contact the state medical board and the hospital archives.
Daniel suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
"You really think you're going to uncover some secret child after eleven years?""
I stared at him.
"Why eleven?""
He stopped laughing.
I stepped closer.
"Why did you say eleven?""
"I meant nothing.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You knew.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"You're obsessed.""
"You knew there was another baby.""
His silence was enough.
Michael moved beside me.
"Daniel, where is she?""
Daniel looked at him.
"Go to hell.""
Michael stepped closer.
"You took my daughter.""
"I didn't take anything from you.""
"You took Claire.""
"I gave her a life.""
"You paid someone to take her.""
Daniel's face twisted.
"Because I had no choice.""
I stared at him.
"You always say that.""
He looked at me.
"What?""
"Every terrible thing you've done.""
I pointed at him.
"You always call it something you had to do.""
Daniel's eyes filled with anger.
"You don't know what your father did.""
"My father protected me.""
"He destroyed me.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You destroyed yourself.""
The courtroom doors opened.
A uniformed investigator entered carrying a sealed evidence box.
He approached Judge Reynolds.
"Your Honor, we recovered these from the Carter Development records facility.""
The judge examined the box.
"Where?""
"Behind a false wall.""
Michael's face tightened.
"What was inside?""
The investigator opened it.
Three baby bracelets.
One read *LILY*.
One read *CLAIRE*.
The third had no name.
Just a number.
*C-3.*
I touched the plastic bracelet with trembling fingers.
"She was real.""
The investigator nodded.
"There was also a photograph.""
He handed it to the judge.
The judge looked at it.
Then his expression softened.
He turned the photograph toward me.
Three newborn babies lay side by side.
Two had tiny hospital bracelets.
The third had none.
My mother began sobbing.
"That's them.""
I stared.
"Lily.""
Then Claire.
Then the unnamed baby.
Michael whispered, "Three sisters.""
Daniel suddenly stood.
"Give me that.""
The bailiff blocked him.
Judge Reynolds looked at Daniel.
"Sit down.""
Daniel didn't.
"That photograph is private.""
"Not anymore," the judge said.
Daniel's eyes darted toward the courtroom doors.
For the first time, I noticed something.
He wasn't looking at the evidence.
He was looking at an empty seat.
Margaret's seat.
She was gone.
I turned toward the doors.
"Where is his mother?""
The investigator checked his phone.
"She left ten minutes ago.""
Michael looked at me.
"Emily...""
The investigator's phone rang.
He answered.
Then his face changed.
"Detective Harris?""
He listened.
"Yes.""
Another pause.
"What address?""
I watched him write it down.
Then he looked at me.
"We have a problem.""
"What?""
"Margaret Carter just contacted police.""
My heart sank.
"What did she say?""
May you like
The investigator swallowed.
"She knows where the third daughter is.""
