Chapter 12: The Daughter He Tried to Use as a Shield
"He's taking Brianna because he knows we're investigating him.""
Dad's voice was sharp.
Daniel immediately called the detective.
"Do not let that aircraft leave. There's a minor involved.""
The detective responded that officers were already moving toward the private terminal.
Dad looked at me.
"Rachel, take Lily upstairs.""
I shook my head.
"No! What's happening to Brianna?""
Dad knelt.
"She's going to be okay.""
"Uncle Thomas is bad?""
He hesitated.
"He's done some very bad things.""
I held Bunny tightly.
"Is Brianna in trouble because of Mommy?""
Dad gently shook his head.
"No, sweetheart. None of this is her fault.""
Meanwhile, at the airport, Thomas was walking toward the aircraft with Brianna beside him.
She wore a pink jacket and carried a small backpack.
"Uncle Thomas, where's Mommy?""
Thomas didn't look at her.
"Your mother is busy.""
"Can I call her?""
"Not now.""
Brianna stopped walking.
"I want to go home.""
Thomas tightened his grip on her backpack.
"We're going somewhere nice.""
"But I don't want to.""
He crouched and spoke through clenched teeth.
"Listen carefully. If you want your mother to stay out of trouble, you'll do exactly what I say.""
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
"Are you going to hurt Mommy?""
"No.""
"Then why are we leaving?""
Thomas stood.
"Because your mother made some terrible decisions.""
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Marcus?""
Thomas turned.
"Yes?""
"We need you to come with us.""
He smiled.
"Is there a problem?""
"We need to speak with you about an ongoing investigation.""
Thomas looked toward the aircraft.
"I have a flight to catch.""
"Not anymore.""
Two officers stepped closer.
Brianna immediately ran toward the security officer.
"I want my mommy!""
The officer crouched.
"You're safe, sweetheart.""
Thomas reached for her.
"She's coming with me.""
The officer stepped between them.
"Sir, do not touch the child.""
Thomas's expression changed.
For the first time, his confidence disappeared.
Back at Aunt Rachel's house, Dad received a call.
"They have him," the detective said.
"The child is safe.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Thank God.""
"There's another development. We found a folder in Thomas's briefcase containing travel documents and an identity card belonging to someone named Emily Carter.""
Dad looked toward the laptop.
"Emily Carter?""
"Yes. We believe the identity was used by Sarah after her transfer from the hospital.""
Dad turned toward Daniel.
"Thomas had Sarah's identity documents?""
The detective continued.
"There's also a handwritten list of payments made to a private medical facility. Some payments continued until last month.""
Dad felt his heart pounding.
"Why last month?""
"We're investigating. But it appears someone was still paying for Sarah's care while she was living under another name.""
Dad glanced toward me.
"Could someone have been monitoring her?""
"That's possible.""
After the call, Dad sat beside me.
"Sweetheart, Brianna is safe.""
I smiled.
"Can she come home?""
Dad looked surprised.
"You want Brianna to come here?""
I nodded.
"She's my sister.""
Dad wrapped his arms around me.
"You're a good girl, Lily.""
That afternoon, Brianna arrived with a social worker.
She looked frightened and exhausted.
The moment she saw me, she ran forward.
"Lily!""
I hugged her.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded, then started crying.
"I'm sorry.""
"For what?""
"For laughing at your shoes.""
I looked down.
"That's okay.""
"No, it isn't. Mommy told me not to be nice to you.""
I didn't know what to say.
Brianna wiped her cheeks.
"She said you were taking everything away from us.""
Dad approached.
"Brianna, none of this is your fault.""
She looked up at him.
"Is Mommy going to jail?""
Dad knelt.
"That's something the police and courts will decide. But you'll always be taken care of.""
Brianna hugged him.
"Will you still let me live here?""
Dad looked at Daniel.
Then he looked at me.
"Of course. You're a child, Brianna. You deserve to be safe.""
Later that evening, Daniel arrived with new information.
Thomas had been formally detained for questioning.
The investigators had also recovered financial records showing that he had diverted more than $6 million through shell companies over several years.
But the most disturbing discovery concerned my mother's hospital records.
Daniel placed a document on the dining table.
"Marcus, we found the original transfer authorization.""
Dad read it carefully.
His expression changed.
"What is it?""
Daniel pointed to the bottom.
"The signature authorizing Sarah's transfer was not Vanessa's.""
Dad looked closer.
It was Thomas's signature.
But beneath it was another name.
*DR. ALAN WHITMORE.*
Dad frowned.
"Who is he?""
Daniel explained that Dr. Whitmore had been the physician overseeing Sarah's treatment.
According to the records, he had authorized the transfer and signed the order that discontinued her emergency medication.
But he had also submitted a report claiming Sarah had died before the transfer could be completed.
Three conflicting documents.
One doctor.
One woman who had disappeared.
And one family member who had lied for years.
Dad called the detective.
"Where is Dr. Whitmore now?""
The answer was immediate.
"He's been practicing medicine in North Carolina.""
"Have you contacted him?""
"Yes. But he has refused to answer questions until he speaks with his attorney.""
Daniel examined another page.
"Marcus, there's something else. The doctor's professional license was temporarily suspended six months after Sarah's incident. The disciplinary report was sealed.""
Dad frowned.
"Why?""
"Because the hospital settled a complaint privately.""
"With whom?""
Daniel turned over the final page.
A payment record was attached.
The money had come from an account belonging to Thomas.
Dad stood.
"Thomas paid the doctor?""
Daniel nodded.
"More than $250,000.""
I looked at the photograph of Mommy on the table.
"Does that mean the doctor hurt her?""
Dad immediately pulled me close.
"We don't know everything yet, princess.""
Then his phone rang.
The detective was calling again.
"Mr. Marcus, we just received a call from Dr. Whitmore's attorney.""
"What does he want?""
"He says the doctor is willing to cooperate.""
Dad exhaled.
"Good.""
"But he has one condition.""
"What condition?""
The detective paused.
"He wants to speak directly to Sarah.""
Dad looked toward the living room, where my mother was resting.
"Why?""
The detective's next words made Daniel drop his pen.
"Because Dr. Whitmore claims Sarah wasn't the only patient involved in the incident that night.""
Dad went silent.
"Who was the other patient?""
The detective answered:
"Your daughter, Lily.""
I looked up.
Dad pulled me tightly against him.
May you like
And suddenly, the broken shoes I'd worn for months seemed like the smallest part of the nightmare we had uncovered.
*Because the hospital records suggested that someone had tried to make both my mother and me disappear that night.*
