Chapter 6: The Envelope in the Hallway
The hospital security officer arrived minutes later.
The hallway outside my room was crowded.
Nurses.
Security.
Detectives.
Everyone was moving quickly.
But I couldn’t move.
Because I knew.
That envelope was connected to my family.
Everything was.
The security officer held a plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a plain white envelope.
No name.
No address.
Nothing.
“Where was this found?”” the detective asked.
“Outside the maternity ward entrance,” the officer replied.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who left it?””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“The person ran before security reached them.””
The detective looked at me.
“Do you recognize the envelope?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
But deep down…
I was afraid I did.
The detective carefully opened it.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
He read it silently.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
He handed it to me.
The words were typed.
Not handwritten.
And only one sentence appeared.
*“Your mother was not the person who started this.””*
I stared at the message.
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?””
The detective didn’t answer.
Because he was reading the back.
There was another message.
A name.
A name that made Ethan step backward.
“Impossible.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He pointed at the paper.
The name was written clearly.
Richard Carter.
But underneath it was something else.
A date.
And a hospital room number.
My hospital room number.
The detective immediately called another officer.
“Find out who had access to this information.””
I looked around the hallway.
Suddenly every person walking past seemed suspicious.
Every stranger.
Every shadow.
Every sound.
Someone knew where I was.
Someone knew my baby was here.
Ethan grabbed my hand.
“We’re leaving this room.””
The nurse shook her head.
“She needs monitoring.””
“I’m not arguing,” Ethan said.
His voice was controlled.
“But my wife and daughter are not staying somewhere anyone can reach them.””
Before anyone could respond, a phone started ringing.
The detective answered.
“Yes?””
His face changed.
“What?””
Everyone watched him.
He listened for several seconds.
Then slowly looked at me.
“Mrs. Carter…”
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
He lowered the phone.
“We found Richard Carter.””
I held my breath.
“Where?””
The detective’s eyes were serious.
“He’s at the hospital.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Why?””
The detective looked toward the elevator doors.
“Because he requested to see you.””
The doors opened.
May you like
And standing inside…
Was the man who had been planning against my daughter before she was even born.
