Chapter 13: ## Chapter 13: The Woman Claiming to Be Noah's Grandmother
"Do: The Woman Claiming to Be Noah's Grandmother
"Do not let her near my son!""
My voice echoed through the abandoned not let her near my son!""
My voice echoed through the abandoned hallway.
The nurse sounded frightened.
"Mrs. Mitchell, she's hallway.
The nurse sounded frightened.
"Mrs. Mitchell, she's already inside the pediatric ward. She has identification documents, a signed authorization form, and a photograph of Noah already inside the pediatric ward. She has identification documents, a signed authorization form, and a photograph of Noah with her.""
"That's impossible. My son's grandmothers are both deceased.""
There was a brief silence with her.""
"That's impossible. My son's grandmothers are both deceased.""
There was a brief silence.
Then the nurse whispered, "She knows his birthday. She knows his favorite food. She even knew.
Then the nurse whispered, "She knows his birthday. She knows his favorite food. She even knew which arm was injured.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Get us to the hospital. NOW.""
He immediately called the officers stationed which arm was injured.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Get us to the hospital. NOW.""
He immediately called the officers stationed outside the building.
"Possible attempted child abduction at the hospital. Secure the pediatric ward. Nobody outside the building.
"Possible attempted child abduction at the hospital. Secure the pediatric ward. Nobody releases Noah to anyone.""
Mark grabbed my hand.
"Sarah, let's go.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"Wait.""
She releases Noah to anyone.""
Mark grabbed my hand.
"Sarah, let's go.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"Wait.""
She looked terrified.
"Whoever is doing this isn't just pretending to be family looked terrified.
"Whoever is doing this isn't just pretending to be family. They're using the original family records.""
"What does that mean?"" I demanded.
Rebecca opened the folder she'd been carrying.
"They created false. They're using the original family records.""
"What does that mean?"" I demanded.
Rebecca opened the folder she'd been carrying.
"They created false identities for people who could approach the children without raising suspicion. Sometimes they used identities for people who could approach the children without raising suspicion. Sometimes they used former employees. Sometimes they used people connected to the families.""
I stared at her.
"You're telling me this woman might actually former employees. Sometimes they used people connected to the families.""
I stared at her.
"You're telling me this woman might actually know my son?""
Rebecca nodded.
"She probably knows more about him than some relatives would.""
We know my son?""
Rebecca nodded.
"She probably knows more about him than some relatives would.""
We rushed outside.
During the drive, Detective Harris received another call.
He listened for several seconds before speaking.
"Keep rushed outside.
During the drive, Detective Harris received another call.
He listened for several seconds before speaking.
"Keep the doors locked. Do not confront her without backup.""
He hung up.
"What happened?"" Mark the doors locked. Do not confront her without backup.""
He hung up.
"What happened?"" Mark asked.
"The woman showed the hospital staff a document claiming Sarah had voluntarily surrendered temporary custody.""
My stomach tightened.
asked.
"The woman showed the hospital staff a document claiming Sarah had voluntarily surrendered temporary custody.""
My stomach tightened.
"I never signed anything.""
"We know.""
"Then why are they considering it?""
"Because the document carries an electronic"I never signed anything.""
"We know.""
"Then why are they considering it?""
"Because the document carries an electronic verification number from the hospital's records system.""
I stared at him.
"Someone accessed my medical records?""
"Apparently.""
When we reached verification number from the hospital's records system.""
I stared at him.
"Someone accessed my medical records?""
"Apparently.""
When we reached the hospital, two uniformed officers were standing outside the entrance.
One approached immediately.
"Detective, she's the hospital, two uniformed officers were standing outside the entrance.
One approached immediately.
"Detective, she's on the seventh floor.""
"Has anyone touched Noah?""
"No. The head nurse refused to release him.""
I nearly on the seventh floor.""
"Has anyone touched Noah?""
"No. The head nurse refused to release him.""
I nearly collapsed with relief.
We hurried upstairs.
Through the glass doors of the pediatric ward, I saw Noah sitting on his bed collapsed with relief.
We hurried upstairs.
Through the glass doors of the pediatric ward, I saw Noah sitting on his bed.
A woman stood beside him.
She wore a beige coat, had neatly styled silver hair, and carried.
A woman stood beside him.
She wore a beige coat, had neatly styled silver hair, and carried a leather handbag.
She was holding a photograph.
Noah looked uncomfortable.
"Sweetheart!"" I called.
He turned.
a leather handbag.
She was holding a photograph.
Noah looked uncomfortable.
"Sweetheart!"" I called.
He turned.
"Mommy!""
I rushed into the room.
The woman stepped backward.
"Sarah," she said calmly"Mommy!""
I rushed into the room.
The woman stepped backward.
"Sarah," she said calmly.
"I'm glad you've arrived.""
I placed myself between her and Noah.
"Who are you?""
She smiled.
"My name is Helen Mitchell.
"I'm glad you've arrived.""
I placed myself between her and Noah.
"Who are you?""
She smiled.
"My name is Helen Mitchell.""
"You're not his grandmother.""
She tilted her head.
"That's a very hurtful thing to say.""
Detect.""
"You're not his grandmother.""
She tilted her head.
"That's a very hurtful thing to say.""
Detective Harris entered behind me.
"Ma'am, step away from the child.""
Helen held up her identification.
"I have legal authorization.""
"Putive Harris entered behind me.
"Ma'am, step away from the child.""
Helen held up her identification.
"I have legal authorization.""
"Put it down.""
She slowly placed the documents on the bedside table.
I looked at the photograph in her hand.
It showed Noah as a baby, sitting it down.""
She slowly placed the documents on the bedside table.
I looked at the photograph in her hand.
It showed Noah as a baby, sitting in a blue blanket.
I recognized the picture.
It had been taken at our house.
But the woman standing beside him had in a blue blanket.
I recognized the picture.
It had been taken at our house.
But the woman standing beside him had been cut out.
"Where did you get that?""
Helen smiled.
"Family photographs have a way of traveling.""
been cut out.
"Where did you get that?""
Helen smiled.
"Family photographs have a way of traveling.""
"Answer the question.""
She looked at Noah.
"Your mother seems very upset, sweetheart.""
Noah moved closer to me.
"Mommy, she"Answer the question.""
She looked at Noah.
"Your mother seems very upset, sweetheart.""
Noah moved closer to me.
"Mommy, she said Daddy told her to come.""
Mark stepped into the room.
"I never contacted you said Daddy told her to come.""
Mark stepped into the room.
"I never contacted you.""
Helen's smile disappeared.
For the first time, her eyes revealed something unpleasant.
"Mark..""
Helen's smile disappeared.
For the first time, her eyes revealed something unpleasant.
"Mark. It's been a long time.""
He froze.
"Do I know you?""
She sighed.
"Apparently, your memory It's been a long time.""
He froze.
"Do I know you?""
She sighed.
"Apparently, your memory is worse than I thought.""
Detective Harris approached her.
"Name and identification.""
"Helen Mitchell.""
"Real name.""
She hesitated.
Then Rebecca entered is worse than I thought.""
Detective Harris approached her.
"Name and identification.""
"Helen Mitchell.""
"Real name.""
She hesitated.
Then Rebecca entered the room.
The woman dropped her handbag.
Rebecca stared at her.
"Marianne?""
Helen's the room.
The woman dropped her handbag.
Rebecca stared at her.
"Marianne?""
Helen's face went white.
Mark turned.
"Who is Marianne?""
Rebecca took a trembling breath face went white.
Mark turned.
"Who is Marianne?""
Rebecca took a trembling breath.
"She worked at Rebecca House.""
The woman immediately stepped toward the exit.
Two officers blocked her.
Rebecca.
"She worked at Rebecca House.""
The woman immediately stepped toward the exit.
Two officers blocked her.
Rebecca continued.
"She was the woman who told my parents I had been transferred. She was also the person who brought me continued.
"She was the woman who told my parents I had been transferred. She was also the person who brought me documents to sign when I was a child.""
Helen's expression hardened.
"Rebecca, you should be careful about documents to sign when I was a child.""
Helen's expression hardened.
"Rebecca, you should be careful about making accusations.""
Rebecca moved closer.
"You told me my brother had forgotten me.""
Helen said nothing.
"You told me my parents had stopped looking.""
"That's enough making accusations.""
Rebecca moved closer.
"You told me my brother had forgotten me.""
Helen said nothing.
"You told me my parents had stopped looking.""
"That's enough.""
"You told me I was unwanted.""
Detective Harris looked at Helen.
"You're coming with us.""
She suddenly laughed.
"You.""
"You told me I was unwanted.""
Detective Harris looked at Helen.
"You're coming with us.""
She suddenly laughed.
"You think arresting me changes anything?""
He took the documents from the table.
"These documents appear to contain fraudulent custody think arresting me changes anything?""
He took the documents from the table.
"These documents appear to contain fraudulent custody authorization.""
Helen's smile returned.
"Then check the verification number.""
The detective examined the paperwork.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" I authorization.""
Helen's smile returned.
"Then check the verification number.""
The detective examined the paperwork.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He looked toward the hospital administrator.
"The authorization was processed using an internal hospital account.""
The administrator frowned.
"Which account asked.
He looked toward the hospital administrator.
"The authorization was processed using an internal hospital account.""
The administrator frowned.
"Which account?""
Detective Harris read the name.
*DR. ELEANOR PRICE — EMERGENCY FAMILY ACCESS.*
Mark stepped forward.
"She?""
Detective Harris read the name.
*DR. ELEANOR PRICE — EMERGENCY FAMILY ACCESS.*
Mark stepped forward.
"She doesn't work here!""
The administrator immediately called hospital security.
Helen began laughing again.
"You doesn't work here!""
The administrator immediately called hospital security.
Helen began laughing again.
"You still don't understand.""
She looked directly at Rebecca.
"Your brother wasn't the only one who signed the original agreement.""
Rebecca went still don't understand.""
She looked directly at Rebecca.
"Your brother wasn't the only one who signed the original agreement.""
Rebecca went pale.
"Stop.""
Helen reached into her coat.
An officer grabbed her wrist.
A small photograph fell to pale.
"Stop.""
Helen reached into her coat.
An officer grabbed her wrist.
A small photograph fell to the floor.
I picked it up.
It showed a much younger Rebecca standing beside a woman in a white medical coat.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*R-01. ORIGINAL CONSENT WITNESS.*
the floor.
I picked it up.
It showed a much younger Rebecca standing beside a woman in a white medical coat.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*R-01. ORIGINAL CONSENT WITNESS.*
Rebecca began shaking.
Mark caught her before she fell.
"Rebecca, what's wrong?""
She stared at Helen.
Then she whispered:
"IRebecca began shaking.
Mark caught her before she fell.
"Rebecca, what's wrong?""
She stared at Helen.
Then she whispered:
"I didn't tell you everything.""
I turned toward her.
"What do you mean?""
Rebecca looked at Mark.
"Your father wasn't didn't tell you everything.""
I turned toward her.
"What do you mean?""
Rebecca looked at Mark.
"Your father wasn't the only person who signed my admission papers.""
She swallowed.
"The second signature belonged to someone who raised the only person who signed my admission papers.""
She swallowed.
"The second signature belonged to someone who raised me.""
Mark frowned.
"Who?""
Rebecca looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Your mother me.""
Mark frowned.
"Who?""
Rebecca looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Your mother.""
The room went silent.
Mark's mother had been dead for years.
But Rebecca wasn't finished.
She pointed at Helen.
"She was there when my mother signed.""
Then she.""
The room went silent.
Mark's mother had been dead for years.
But Rebecca wasn't finished.
She pointed at Helen.
"She was there when my mother signed.""
Then she looked at me.
"And she has something else. Something that proves why Noah was selected.""
Helen suddenly stopped smiling.
"Rebecca, don't.""
looked at me.
"And she has something else. Something that proves why Noah was selected.""
Helen suddenly stopped smiling.
"Rebecca, don't.""
Rebecca stepped closer.
"Tell them about the original experiment.""
Helen looked toward the officers.
Then she said quietly:
"YouRebecca stepped closer.
"Tell them about the original experiment.""
Helen looked toward the officers.
Then she said quietly:
May you like
"You have no idea what you're about to uncover.""
have no idea what you're about to uncover.""
