Chapter 5: The Man I Called My Brother
I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.
Jonathan was standing outside a playground, holding Lily's hand.
The date was six months earlier.
At the time, I had been in Chicago attending a business conference.
I remembered that day.
Vanessa had told me she took Lily to visit her grandparents.
But Jonathan was not supposed to be anywhere near my daughter.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked Danielle.
"From a private investigator.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know whether you were working with him.""
I stared at her.
"You really believed I could help someone destroy my own family?""
Danielle lowered her eyes.
"I was shown documents with your signature, Michael. I was told you had accepted money in exchange for my disappearance.""
I shook my head.
"Those signatures were forged.""
"I know.""
"How long have you known?""
"About two months.""
Two months.
She had been back in Atlanta for two months, and I hadn't known.
I looked toward Lily.
She was watching us from Rachel's arms.
"Sweetheart, can you stay with Aunt Rachel for a little while?""
Lily nodded.
"Will Mommy stay?""
I looked at Danielle.
"Yes, baby. Mommy is here.""
Danielle knelt and kissed her daughter's forehead.
"I won't disappear again without telling you.""
Lily touched the scar on her mother's jaw.
"Does that hurt?""
Danielle smiled through her tears.
"Not anymore.""
I stepped into the hallway with Officer Harris.
"We need to find Jonathan.""
"We're already working on that," she replied.
"But we need evidence connecting him to the threats and the financial transfers.""
Danielle joined us.
"I have something.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small USB drive.
"These are copies of the original company records. Jonathan used fake vendors to move money. I found more than four million dollars missing.""
I stared at the drive.
"Four million?""
"Over three years.""
Officer Harris took a note.
"Where are the originals?""
Danielle hesitated.
"At the old clinic.""
I looked at her.
"Why would company records be at a clinic?""
"Because that's where Dr. Collins kept the documents proving the hospital had falsified my death.""
A cold silence settled over us.
Before Officer Harris could respond, my phone rang.
Jonathan.
I looked at Danielle.
She shook her head urgently.
"Don't tell him I'm here.""
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Michael! Where have you been, brother?""
Jonathan sounded cheerful.
Too cheerful.
"Busy.""
"I heard there was some trouble at your house. Vanessa called me.""
I glanced toward Officer Harris.
"What did she tell you?""
"That you've been making accusations and involving the police. Come on, man. Whatever happened, let's handle it privately.""
I almost laughed.
"Why were you visiting Lily six months ago?""
The silence lasted only a second.
"Excuse me?""
"I have a photograph of you with my daughter.""
Jonathan sighed.
"Michael, I was helping Vanessa. She said Lily needed a father figure when you were traveling.""
"You are not her father.""
"I've known that child since she was born.""
"Why were you meeting her without telling me?""
His voice became colder.
"You're getting emotional. We should talk face-to-face.""
"Where?""
"The office. Tonight.""
I looked at Danielle.
She shook her head again.
"Fine," I replied.
"I'll come.""
Jonathan laughed softly.
"Good. And Michael?""
"What?""
"Bring the documents Danielle stole.""
My blood ran cold.
He knew she was alive.
The call ended.
Officer Harris immediately took the phone details.
"Don't go anywhere alone," she warned.
I nodded.
But before we could make a plan, a nurse approached.
"Mr. Carter? I'm sorry, but there's a problem with your daughter's visitor records.""
I turned.
"What problem?""
She held a tablet.
"Someone used your authorization code to request Lily's medical information and arrange a transfer to another facility.""
"Who?""
The nurse showed me the request.
It carried my electronic signature.
But I hadn't authorized anything.
Then I saw the destination.
A private children's clinic owned by Dr. Richard Collins.
I looked at Officer Harris.
"Someone is trying to move my daughter.""
She immediately called hospital security.
Danielle grabbed my hand.
"Michael, that's exactly what they did to me.""
I turned toward her.
"What do you mean?""
"After my accident, Collins transferred me to a private facility. He told everyone I had died.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from an unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Lily was asleep in her hospital bed.
The picture had been taken from inside the room.
Beneath it were eight words.
Stop asking questions, or she'll disappear like Danielle.
I looked toward the hospital room.
The door was open.
May you like
Rachel was standing inside.
But Lily's bed was empty.
