Chapter 6: The Empty Hospital Bed
For one terrible second, I couldn't breathe.
"LILY!""
I ran into the room.
Rachel spun around.
"Michael!""
"Where is she?""
Rachel's face crumpled.
"She was right here. I stepped into the hallway to speak to the nurse, and when I came back—"
I looked beneath the bed, behind the curtains, and into the adjoining bathroom.
Nothing.
Her pink teddy bear was still lying on the pillow.
Her little shoes were beside the chair.
But my daughter was gone.
Danielle began screaming.
"My baby!""
Officer Harris rushed into the room.
"Nobody leaves this floor!""
She called hospital security while another officer checked the elevators.
I grabbed Rachel's shoulders.
"Did you see anyone?""
She shook her head.
"I heard a woman say she was taking Lily for another examination.""
"What did she look like?""
"White coat. Dark hair. She had a hospital badge.""
I turned toward the nurse's station.
"Who authorized the transfer?""
The nurse checked the computer.
"No transfer was scheduled.""
"Then who took my daughter?""
The nurse looked frightened.
"There's something else. A staff member reported seeing someone enter the service elevator with a child.""
Officer Harris immediately radioed the security team.
"Lock down the service exits. Check every camera.""
Danielle grabbed my arm.
"Michael, we have to find her.""
"I know.""
"No, you don't understand. Collins used that clinic to move me. He has connections everywhere.""
I looked at her.
"Then tell me everything you know.""
Danielle took a shaky breath.
"After my accident, I woke up in a private room. Collins told me you had died.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"He said Jonathan had arranged an accident for you too. He showed me a photograph of a wrecked car and claimed it was yours.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you check?""
"I tried. They took my phone. I wasn't allowed visitors. When I threatened to contact the police, Collins told me Lily would be next.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I spent months pretending to cooperate. Eventually, a nurse helped me escape. But I couldn't find you without exposing Lily's location.""
I looked at the empty bed.
"And now they've taken her.""
Danielle nodded.
Officer Harris returned.
"We found the service elevator footage.""
She turned a tablet toward us.
The video showed a woman pushing a wheelchair.
A small child sat underneath a blanket.
Lily.
The woman wore a medical uniform and carried a clipboard.
"Can you identify her?"" Officer Harris asked.
Rachel leaned closer.
"That's not a nurse.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I've seen her before.""
I turned.
"Where?""
Rachel swallowed.
"At your house. She visited Vanessa twice while you were traveling.""
Danielle stared at the screen.
Then her face went white.
"That's Dr. Collins's assistant.""
Officer Harris immediately enlarged the image.
"What's her name?""
"Emily Foster.""
I remembered the name from the hospital paperwork.
She had been listed as the person who handled Danielle's supposed discharge after her accident.
"Where did the wheelchair go?"" I asked.
Officer Harris tapped the screen.
"There's another camera at the loading entrance.""
The next footage showed a black SUV waiting outside.
The woman pushed the wheelchair toward it.
A man stepped out.
Jonathan.
He opened the rear door himself.
Then he looked directly toward the security camera.
And smiled.
I felt rage rising inside me.
Officer Harris immediately contacted the police dispatch.
"Send units to the vehicle's last known location. We have a child abduction.""
Danielle clutched my arm.
"Michael, there's something you need to know.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She stared at Jonathan's frozen face on the screen.
"He's not doing this because of the money.""
"Then why?""
Danielle took a breath.
"Because Lily inherited something from my father.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
"My father established a trust before he died. It contains several properties and a substantial investment portfolio. Lily is the sole beneficiary.""
I stared at her.
"How much?""
"Approximately twelve million dollars.""
My mouth went dry.
"And Jonathan knows?""
Danielle nodded.
"He discovered the trust three years ago. He tried to gain control of it through forged documents, but my father had included a clause requiring both parents' consent for certain changes.""
I understood.
Jonathan hadn't simply wanted Danielle gone.
He had wanted access to Lily's inheritance.
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?""
"Because I was afraid someone would use Lily to get it.""
I turned toward Officer Harris.
"Can he legally access the trust?""
"No," she replied.
"Not without authorization. But if he can obtain forged guardianship documents or convince someone that both parents are unavailable, he may try.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
"Where is my daughter?""
Jonathan's voice came through.
"Relax, Michael. She's perfectly safe.""
"Put Lily on the phone!""
A small voice sounded in the background.
"Daddy?""
My heart nearly stopped.
"Lily! Baby, are you okay?""
"Daddy, I'm scared.""
I closed my eyes.
"I'm coming, sweetheart. Stay strong.""
Jonathan interrupted.
"Listen carefully. I want the original trust documents and Danielle's evidence. Bring them to the old clinic in one hour.""
"Let me speak to my daughter again.""
"Not until we make a deal.""
"If you hurt her—"
"Don't threaten me, Michael. You have no idea how much I've already sacrificed to make this happen.""
I heard a door close.
Then Jonathan lowered his voice.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
"What?""
"Vanessa wasn't the person who arranged Danielle's disappearance.""
I glanced at Danielle.
Jonathan continued.
"Your wife was only following instructions. The person who signed the original order was someone you trusted long before you met Vanessa.""
"Who?""
He laughed.
Then he said a name that made Danielle collapse into the nearest chair.
"Your own father, Michael.""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
My father had died five years earlier.
And according to Jonathan, he had been involved in the conspiracy before Danielle's accident.
Then Officer Harris looked at the screen again.
"Mr. Carter, we just received another piece of information.""
She turned the tablet toward me.
A photograph showed an old document bearing my father's signature.
At the bottom was a handwritten instruction.
If Danielle refuses to cooperate, use the child.
May you like
And beneath it was a date.
Three months before Lily was born.
