Chapter 11: The Woman Who Raised My Sister
St. Mary's Medical Center had changed considerably since the day I was born.
The old maternity wing had been converted into administrative offices. The original nursery had become a storage room.
But the hospital still kept archived records in a secured basement.
Agent Hayes obtained emergency access just after midnight.
Catherine refused to leave my side.
Neither did Richard.
We descended through a narrow corridor lined with metal filing cabinets.
A hospital administrator named Dr. Lewis met us outside the archive room.
“I don't understand why federal agents need records from twenty-three years ago,” he said.
Agent Hayes showed him her credentials.
“Because we have reason to believe medical documents were falsified.””
Dr. Lewis looked uncomfortable.
“That is a serious accusation.””
“So is the disappearance of a newborn.””
He unlocked the room.
Inside, the air smelled of paper and disinfectant.
A technician began searching the archived maternity records.
I stood beside the table, staring at the photograph of my sister.
Her stuffed rabbit had one floppy ear.
I wondered whether she still remembered it.
I wondered whether she had grown up with someone who loved her.
I wondered whether she knew she had been taken.
After twenty minutes, the technician called us over.
“I found the original delivery register.””
Agent Hayes leaned forward.
“Read it.””
The technician adjusted her glasses.
“October fourteenth. Catherine Reed. Two female infants. Both delivered alive.””
Catherine covered her mouth.
The technician continued.
“Infant A transferred to neonatal observation. Infant B transferred to private custody following maternal authorization.””
I looked at my mother.
“You signed the papers.””
She nodded through tears.
“I was told it was temporary.””
The technician turned another page.
“There's an additional note.””
Agent Hayes moved closer.
“What does it say?””
The technician read silently before looking up.
“Infant B was discharged under the name Abigail Reed.””
I stared.
“Abigail.””
My sister's name.
The technician continued.
“Guardian listed as Margaret Ellis.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“God help us.””
I looked at him.
“You knew Margaret?””
“She worked for Daniel for years.””
“Did you know she had my sister?””
“No.””
His answer came quickly.
But something in his expression made me suspicious.
“Richard.””
He looked at me.
“Did you know?””
He swallowed.
“I knew Margaret had adopted a child. Daniel mentioned it once. He said the girl needed a safe home.””
My stomach tightened.
“And you never thought to ask who she was?””
“I didn't know.””
Agent Hayes interrupted.
“There's another note.””
She pointed to the bottom of the page.
A handwritten instruction had been attached to the record.
All future inquiries regarding infant B to be directed to Dr. Samuel Price.
I remembered the photograph.
The doctor who had delivered me.
The man who had declared my mother dead.
The man whose signature appeared on the falsified hospital records.
“Where is Dr. Price now?”” I asked.
Dr. Lewis checked the computer.
“He retired fifteen years ago.””
“Address?””
The administrator hesitated.
“His last registered address is in Westchester County.””
Agent Hayes wrote it down.
“We'll locate him.””
I turned toward the original register.
“There's something I don't understand. If Margaret adopted my sister, why did she pretend she didn't know anything?””
Catherine spoke quietly.
“Because Margaret was never supposed to raise her permanently.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“She promised to take Abigail somewhere safe until I recovered. But when I tried to get my daughter back, she refused.””
Catherine's voice trembled.
“She said Abigail was better off without me.””
I felt anger rising.
“Did Daniel know?””
“Yes. He tried to confront her.””
“What happened?””
Catherine looked toward the floor.
“He told me Margaret had been threatened.””
“By Thomas?””
She nodded.
“He said Thomas had something on her.””
Agent Hayes received a message.
She read it and immediately turned toward us.
“Margaret's vehicle has been located. We found her handbag in the trunk.””
“Was she inside?”” I asked.
“No.””
“Then where is she?””
Agent Hayes looked at the technician.
“Has anyone accessed this archive tonight?””
The technician nodded.
“One person. About forty minutes ago.””
“Who?””
He opened the security log.
A name appeared.
*Dr. Samuel Price.*
I stared.
“He was here?””
“According to the access record, yes.””
Agent Hayes immediately contacted the hospital security team.
“Lock down the building. Nobody enters or leaves without authorization.””
A loud alarm sounded somewhere above us.
Then the technician looked at the screen again.
“There's another access.””
Agent Hayes frowned.
“When?””
“Three minutes ago.””
“Who?””
The technician swallowed.
“Margaret Ellis.””
My blood ran cold.
“She was here?””
He nodded.
“She's in the building.””
Agent Hayes drew her weapon.
“Everyone stay together.””
We moved into the corridor.
The basement lights flickered.
At the far end, a door stood slightly open.
A shadow moved behind it.
“Margaret!”” I called.
The shadow stopped.
Then a familiar voice answered.
“Elena?””
I stepped forward.
Agent Hayes grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
Margaret emerged slowly.
Her gray hair was disheveled. There was blood on the sleeve of her coat.
She looked exhausted.
And frightened.
“Sweetheart,” she whispered.
I stared at her.
“You took my sister.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“You raised her.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you lie to me?””
She began crying.
“Because I loved her.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You loved her enough to steal her from her mother?””
“I was told Catherine would never be able to raise her.””
“By Thomas?””
Margaret nodded.
“He said Catherine was unstable. He said the baby would be safer with me.””
Catherine stepped forward.
“You knew I wanted her back.””
Margaret looked at her.
“I know.””
“You let me grieve for twenty-three years.””
“I was afraid.””
Catherine slapped her.
The sound echoed through the corridor.
Margaret didn't move.
Then she reached inside her coat.
Agent Hayes raised her weapon.
“Don't!””
Margaret slowly removed a small photograph.
It showed a young woman standing beside a blue car.
She was perhaps twenty-two.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
And a familiar scar above her left eyebrow.
My sister.
On the back was an address.
I took it.
“Where is she?””
Margaret looked at me.
“Her name is Abigail now.””
“Where?””
“She's a nurse.””
My heart tightened.
“Where does she live?””
Margaret whispered the address.
Then she added something that made Catherine collapse against the wall.
“She's been working at the hospital where your father died.””
I stared at her.
“Which hospital?””
Margaret swallowed.
“St. Mary's.””
The same hospital.
The same building where Daniel had died.
The same place where my mother had supposedly died.
The same place where my sister had been born.
Before I could ask another question, Margaret grabbed my hand.
“Listen to me. Abigail doesn't know who she is.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She believes her adoptive parents are her biological parents. She believes Margaret Ellis is just the woman who helped raise her.””
Catherine began sobbing.
“Where are her adoptive parents?””
Margaret looked away.
“Her father died five years ago. Her mother is in a care facility.””
I stared at the photograph.
My sister was alive.
She was close enough to have walked past me in the hospital corridor.
And she had no idea I existed.
Then Margaret whispered:
“There's one more thing you need to know.””
I looked up.
“Abigail wasn't adopted by accident.””
Her eyes moved toward Richard.
“She was placed with a family Thomas controlled.””
Richard stepped forward.
“What are you saying?””
Margaret's voice broke.
“Her adoptive father was Thomas Reed.””
Silence.
I looked at Richard.
Then at Margaret.
Then at the photograph.
Thomas had raised my sister.
The same man who had tried to control my inheritance.
The same man who had ordered Daniel's death.
And the same man who had disappeared from the estate less than an hour earlier.
Agent Hayes received another call.
She listened.
Then her face hardened.
“Thomas Reed has been located.””
“Where?”” I asked.
She looked directly at me.
“St. Mary's Medical Center.””
My phone vibrated.
May you like
A message from an unknown number.
*Elena, if you want to meet your sister, come alone. Thomas is waiting.*
