Chapter 7: The Nurse Who Knew Too Much
I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing.
Camille’s face.
The warm smile.
The gentle voice.
The way she held June after the delivery and told me, “She’s perfect.””
At the time, those words had comforted me.
Now they haunted me.
Because if Camille had been involved, then she had been close enough to hurt my daughter.
Close enough to know every detail.
Close enough to know exactly when June was born.
Exactly where she was.
Exactly how vulnerable I was.
The next morning, Detective Harper arrived before I even finished my coffee.
I knew immediately something had changed.
Her expression told me.
“What happened?”” I asked.
She placed a file on the table.
“We brought Camille in for questioning.””
My heart tightened.
“And?””
“She admitted she knew Luke.””
I stared.
“Knew him how?””
Detective Harper opened the file.
“They attended the same college years ago.””
I felt my stomach drop.
Years ago.
Before me.
Before June.
Before everything.
“She never told me that.””
“No.””
The detective looked at me.
“She also never disclosed that connection to the hospital.””
I looked toward the nursery where June was sleeping.
How many secrets had been hiding around me?
How many people had been smiling while planning something behind my back?
“Is she guilty?””
Detective Harper was quiet.
“We don’t know yet.””
That answer frustrated me.
After everything, I wanted certainty.
I wanted someone to tell me exactly who had hurt my family.
But Detective Harper continued.
“What we do know is Camille accessed records she had no reason to access.””
My hands went cold.
“What records?””
“Your pregnancy file.””
I stopped breathing for a second.
“Why?””
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.””
I remembered every appointment.
Every time Camille greeted me.
Every time she asked how I was feeling.
I thought she was just being kind.
Now I wondered if she was collecting information.
“How long had she been watching me?””
Detective Harper didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Because I already knew.
Long enough.
Later that afternoon, I received a call from the hospital.
It was Camille.
I almost didn’t answer.
But something inside me needed to know.
“Emily.””
Her voice sounded different.
Not calm.
Not professional.
Scared.
“Why did you help him?””
Silence.
Long silence.
Then:
“I didn’t.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You knew Luke.””
“Yes.””
“You accessed my records.””
“Yes.””
“You were there when my daughter disappeared.””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then explain.””
Her voice broke.
“I was trying to stop him.””
I froze.
“What?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
I didn’t respond.
“Luke came to me months ago. He asked questions about hospital procedures. About newborn security. I thought he was just anxious.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
She started crying.
“Because I didn’t think he was dangerous.””
I looked away.
That excuse sounded familiar.
Everyone had underestimated him.
Everyone thought they knew Luke.
Everyone was wrong.
“What happened the night of the delivery?””
Camille took a shaky breath.
“When Luke came into the nursery, I followed him.””
“Why?””
“Because I suspected something.””
My heart pounded.
“And?””
“He wasn’t switching babies.””
The room became silent.
I remembered Detective Harper’s warning.
The swap was only a cover.
“What was he doing?””
Camille whispered:
“He was looking for something.””
“What?””
“I don’t know.””
I stood up.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
Her voice became desperate.
“Emily, you have to believe me. When I realized what he was planning, I tried to stop him.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
Her answer was immediate.
“I failed.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Because it sounded like someone carrying guilt.
Not someone hiding.
“Where was June taken?””
Camille went quiet.
Then she said:
“There was another person involved.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know her real name.””
My heart sank.
“Another woman?””
“Yes.””
“Margaret?””
“No.””
The answer shocked me.
“Then who?””
Camille whispered:
“The woman from the hospital board.””
I felt a chill.
The hospital board.
Someone powerful.
Someone protected.
Someone who could make problems disappear.
“Why would someone like that help Luke?””
Camille hesitated.
Then said:
“Because Luke wasn’t the mastermind.””
The words hit me harder than anything else.
“Then who was?””
Before she could answer, the call ended.
I stared at my phone.
A few seconds later, Detective Harper rushed into the room.
“We need to talk.””
I looked up.
“What happened?””
She held up her phone.
“Camille disappeared.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“She left the hospital ten minutes ago.””
“Was she arrested?””
“No.””
“Then where did she go?””
Detective Harper looked at me.
“That’s the problem.””
She showed me a message.
One sentence.
From Camille.
“I found the proof. They know I have it.””
I felt a cold wave move through me.
“They?””
Detective Harper nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who are they?””
She didn’t answer.
Because neither of us knew.
But one thing was becoming clear.
Luke had not created this nightmare alone.
He was only one piece.
And whoever was behind him was still watching.
That night, I checked every lock in the house.
Every window.
Every door.
I held June close.
And for the first time since bringing her home, I understood something terrifying.
May you like
The person who tried to take my daughter failed.
But they were not finished.
