Chapter 10: The Second Baby
I turned the photograph over again.
Sophie and Emily. My beautiful girls.
My hands went numb.
“Rachel only gave birth once,” I said.
Martin stared at the two newborns.
“Are you sure?””
“I was there.””
“Every minute?””
I looked at him.
“What kind of question is that?””
“A necessary one.””
I remembered the delivery.
Emergency C-section.
Rachel hemorrhaging.
Doctors pushing me into the hallway.
Forty minutes of terror before a nurse finally brought Sophie to me.
Forty minutes.
I had never questioned them.
Officer Ramirez took the photograph.
“These babies look nearly identical.””
“They’re twins,” Martin said.
“No.””
The word came out too fast.
I grabbed my phone and called Claire.
She answered immediately.
“Is Sophie okay?””
“She’s safe.””
“What happened?””
“Claire, did Rachel have twins?””
Silence.
My stomach dropped.
“Claire?””
“Daniel…”
“Answer me.””
She began crying.
That was my answer.
“You knew?””
“Not at first.””
“How long?””
“Since Sophie was three months old.””
I gripped the edge of the vault table.
“Where is Emily?””
“I don’t know.””
“Wrong answer.””
“I swear!””
“Rachel told you she had another daughter and you never told me?””
“She made me promise!””
“I was their father!””
“Daniel, listen. Rachel was terrified.””
“Of Thomas?””
“Yes.””
Claire took a shaking breath.
“Rachel told me one of the nurses came into recovery and said there had been a complication with the second baby.””
“What complication?””
“She wouldn’t tell me everything. She said Thomas had people at the hospital.””
My eyes moved to the letter.
Nathan had worked there.
“What happened to Emily?””
“Rachel believed someone took her.””
The vault seemed to close around me.
“Why didn’t she go to police?””
“She did.””
“And?””
“The hospital records showed one baby.””
Martin whispered, “Someone altered them.””
I thought of Nathan.
The fake death certificate.
His access to records.
“How could Rachel hide this from me?””
“She thought you would tear the world apart looking for Emily.””
“She was right!””
“And she believed Thomas would use that to get to Sophie.””
I slammed my palm against the table.
“For six years?””
Claire sobbed.
“I’m sorry.””
Ramirez stepped closer.
“Ask her whether Rachel ever identified where Emily went.””
I did.
“No,” Claire said.
“But Rachel suspected Thomas arranged a private adoption.””
“Why?””
“To control her.””
“That makes no sense.””
“It did to Thomas. Rachel said he wanted one granddaughter under his influence. He couldn’t control Rachel anymore, so he took Emily.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then why come for Sophie now?””
Martin looked at the flash drive.
“Because Rachel left Sophie control of Alder Creek.””
I suddenly understood.
Maybe Emily was never just a child to Thomas.
Maybe neither of them were.
They were heirs.
Pieces on a board.
My phone buzzed.
Another video.
Nathan.
This time his face appeared.
He stood in a hospital corridor.
“You have twenty-two minutes.””
I looked at Ramirez.
“We’re not taking Sophie.””
“Agreed.””
Nathan continued.
“Bring the key and bring the girl. No police.””
Then Vanessa screamed in the background.
Nathan smiled slightly.
“If you’re wondering whether I’m serious, ask Daniel what happened to his second daughter.””
The video ended.
Martin whispered, “He knows.””
“Of course he knows.””
I looked at Ramirez.
“We go to the hospital.””
“With a tactical team.””
“He said no police.””
Ramirez gave me a hard look.
“He also forged your death certificate.””
Fair point.
We left the bank.
The drive to St. Anne’s took twelve minutes.
Police surrounded the building discreetly.
Nathan’s phone had been traced to an older medical wing scheduled for renovation.
Ramirez stopped me near the entrance.
“You stay behind us.””
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“My daughter may be connected to whatever is in there.””
“And Sophie needs a living father.””
That shut me up.
We entered through a service corridor.
Dust covered the floor.
Plastic sheets hung over abandoned doorways.
Then we heard Vanessa.
“Help!””
I ran before Ramirez could stop me.
“Daniel!””
I followed the voice.
Room 314.
The door was locked.
Officers forced it open.
Vanessa was tied to a chair.
Alone.
She looked horrible.
Mascara streaked across her face.
Blood dried near her temple.
“Where’s Nathan?”” Ramirez asked.
“He left.””
“When?””
“Two minutes ago.””
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
I stared at her.
“Where is Emily?””
Vanessa’s eyes met mine.
“So you found the photograph.””
“Where is she?””
Vanessa looked at the police.
“I want immunity.””
I almost laughed.
“You hit my daughter, forged my signature, helped steal from her trust, and planned to drug me.””
“I never planned to kill you.””
“Then why was my death certificate ready?””
“Thomas ordered that.””
“And you obeyed?””
Her voice cracked.
“At first.””
“At first?””
She started crying.
“I was supposed to marry you, get access, and leave after the transfer.””
“And the drug?””
“Thomas said you needed to be unconscious long enough for Nathan to stage an accident.””
My blood turned cold.
“You knew.””
“I found out yesterday.””
“And you still walked toward the altar.””
“I was scared!””
“You slapped Sophie ten minutes before marrying me.””
Vanessa flinched.
“I know.””
“No. You don’t get to make yourself the victim.””
Ramirez cut her restraints.
“Where is Emily?””
Vanessa rubbed her wrists.
Then she whispered, “Closer than you think.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked directly at me.
“Daniel, Emily has been in your life for years.””
I stared at her.
“Who?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Thomas didn’t give her to strangers.””
“WHO?””
A gunshot exploded somewhere in the corridor.
Officers rushed toward the sound.
Vanessa screamed.
Ramirez pushed us behind the wall.
Then my phone rang.
Claire.
I answered.
“Daniel!””
“What?””
“Someone’s outside the house.””
My heart stopped.
“Take Sophie and lock yourselves in the safe room.””
“It’s not Sophie they’re asking for.””
“What?””
Claire’s voice trembled.
“There’s a woman at the door.””
May you like
“Who?””
“She says her name is Emily.””
