Chapter 10: The Daughter I Had Never Met
The doctor's hand remained on the door handle.
I stared at him.
“What did you just say?””
He looked at the officers surrounding the room, then at the little girl sleeping beneath the white blanket.
“I'm Dr. Samuel Bennett. I've been treating this child for several months.””
“Her name is Ava.””
“No,” he replied quietly.
“Her name is Amelia.””
I stepped toward him.
“Don't tell me what my daughter's name is.””
Detective Hayes moved between us.
“Doctor, explain why this child has the same identification details as Marcus Reed's daughter.””
Bennett opened his folder.
“Six years ago, Richard Lawson arranged an illegal embryo implantation using genetic material from Eleanor Reed and himself. The pregnancy resulted in two viable embryos. One developed normally. The other was placed in a surrogate.””
I stared at him.
“Two children?””
He nodded.
“Twins. But Richard arranged for their identities to be separated immediately after birth.””
My mouth went dry.
“Which one came home with me?””
“Amelia was intended to remain in the medical program. The other child was transferred to Danielle.””
I gripped the edge of the bed.
“So Ava isn't my biological daughter?””
Bennett hesitated.
“She is biologically related to you. But the child you've raised isn't the child listed on the original medical records.””
I felt as though the floor had disappeared.
For six years, I had carried Ava on my shoulders, kissed her scraped knees, and read her bedtime stories.
I knew how she liked her sandwiches cut.
I knew which stuffed animals she couldn't sleep without.
I knew the sound of her laughter.
And now a stranger was telling me that the little girl I'd raised wasn't the baby I'd been shown in the hospital.
“Where did the other child come from?”” I asked.
Bennett lowered his eyes.
“Richard arranged a second transfer through a private adoption network. The child was born to an unidentified woman who died shortly after delivery.””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Richard wanted a child who could be raised without questions about the medical program.””
Hayes looked furious.
“Are you telling me two newborns were deliberately switched?””
“Yes.””
“Who carried out the transfer?””
Bennett looked toward the sleeping child.
“Richard's wife.””
I froze.
“Richard was married?””
Bennett nodded.
“Her name was Margaret Lawson. She died last year.””
I remembered the photograph from the basement.
The woman holding the newborn.
The woman I'd assumed was Eleanor.
“Was Margaret the woman who switched the babies?””
“Yes.””
My phone was still connected to Danielle.
I heard her crying.
“Marcus?””
I pressed it against my ear.
“I'm here.””
“Bring my daughter home.””
I looked at Amelia.
Then at the doorway.
“I'm going to bring both girls home.””
Before I could say anything else, the lights went out.
Hayes shouted.
“Everyone down!””
A crash sounded from the corridor.
The doctor dropped his folder.
I heard running footsteps.
Then a gunshot.
When the emergency lights flickered on, Bennett was gone.
The door stood open.
Hayes rushed outside with two officers.
I stayed beside the bed.
Amelia began stirring.
Her eyes opened slowly.
She looked at me.
“Daddy?””
My heart broke.
I crouched beside her.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
She reached for my hand.
“Did Richard send you?””
“No.””
“Are you going to take me back to him?””
I swallowed.
“Never.””
She studied my face.
Then she whispered something I would never forget.
“Richard said my real daddy didn't want me.””
I touched her cheek.
“He lied.””
She began crying.
I held her carefully.
For the first time, I was holding a daughter I had never known.
And somehow, I loved her immediately.
Hayes returned several minutes later.
“Bennett escaped through the loading bay.””
“Find him.””
“We're trying.””
I looked at Amelia.
“Can she leave with us?””
Hayes nodded.
“We'll arrange protection and have a medical team examine her.””
As an officer helped us toward the exit, Amelia caught my sleeve.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Can I see my sister?””
I stopped.
“Your sister?””
She nodded.
“The little girl in the other house. Richard showed me pictures of her.””
My chest tightened.
“Ava?””
“Yes. He said she was my sister, but I wasn't allowed to talk to her.””
I knelt.
“Would you like to meet her?””
She nodded eagerly.
“Can I tell her something?””
“What?””
Amelia leaned close.
“Richard said he was going to take her away because she wasn't the real Ava.””
I felt cold.
“What else did he say?””
She looked toward the parking lot.
“He said the real Ava has something inside her that he needs.””
Before I could ask another question, Hayes's radio crackled.
“Detective, we have a problem.””
Hayes lifted it.
“What?””
A voice answered.
“Richard Lawson has entered the Reed residence.””
My blood ran cold.
“Where's Danielle?””
The radio went silent.
Then the officer spoke.
“Detective, we have confirmation.””
“What confirmation?””
“There's been a second kidnapping.””
I grabbed the radio.
“Who?””
May you like
The officer answered.
“Danielle Reed.””
