Chapter 11: The Mother Sarah Never Mentioned
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph.
Sarah beside a hospital bed.
A newborn baby.
And the words written on the back.
Lily was never supposed to come home with us.
At 8:00 a.m., Detective Harris arrived at my house.
He had a folder in his hand.
“Michael, we've located Dr. Eleanor Hayes.””
“Where?””
“She lives outside town. She's retired, but she's agreed to meet us.””
I looked toward the living room.
Lily was sitting beside Mason, drawing pictures with colored pencils.
I had arranged for my sister, Emily, to stay with them.
Neither child needed to hear another frightening conversation.
“Did you verify Vanessa's claim about Claire?””
Harris nodded.
“There's a record of a woman named Claire Whitmore admitted to St. Mary's Hospital on the same day Sarah delivered.””
“Whitmore?””
“Yes.””
I remembered that surname.
Helen's maiden name.
“Was she Helen's daughter?””
“According to the records, yes.””
“What happened to her?””
Harris opened the folder.
“Her death was officially recorded at 6:42 a.m. But the medical report contains inconsistencies.””
“What inconsistencies?””
“The attending physician signed the death certificate before the recorded time of death.””
I stared at him.
“Meaning?””
“Meaning someone may have altered the records.””
My stomach tightened.
“Was Claire actually dead?””
“We don't know.””
I sat down.
“Then we need to find out.””
Dr. Eleanor Hayes lived in a small brick house surrounded by rose bushes.
She opened the door herself.
She was in her late sixties, with silver hair and tired eyes.
When she saw the photograph in Harris's hand, she immediately stepped backward.
“I knew this day would come.””
I felt my heart pounding.
“You knew Sarah?””
Dr. Hayes nodded.
“I delivered her baby.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
She looked toward the street.
“Come inside.””
We sat in her living room.
She placed a cup of tea on the table but didn't drink from it.
“Sarah had a difficult delivery,” she began.
“Her daughter was born prematurely. We tried everything, but the baby didn't survive.””
I looked down.
“And Claire?””
Dr. Hayes closed her eyes.
“Claire Whitmore was admitted that same night. She had delivered a healthy baby girl.””
“Lily?””
She nodded.
“Claire suffered severe complications afterward. Her condition deteriorated rapidly.””
“What happened?””
“She was transferred to intensive care.””
“And died?””
Dr. Hayes hesitated.
“That's what the records say.””
I leaned forward.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Detective Harris.
Then she said:
“Claire didn't die in the hospital.””
Silence.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Then where did she go?””
Dr. Hayes began crying.
“Helen took her away.””
I stood.
“What?””
“She told us Claire had suffered a mental breakdown. She said she was going to arrange private treatment.””
“Why would you let her?””
“Because Helen had influence. She funded several hospital programs. She threatened to destroy my career if I questioned her.””
Detective Harris opened his notebook.
“Did you know the baby's identity had been changed?””
Dr. Hayes nodded.
“I knew Sarah was raising Claire's daughter.””
“Did Sarah agree to it?””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Sarah believed Claire was dead. She had just lost her own baby. Helen offered to let her adopt the newborn privately.””
My chest tightened.
“But Claire wasn't dead.””
Dr. Hayes shook her head.
“No.””
I gripped the armrest.
“Did Sarah know?””
“Not initially.””
“Then when?””
Dr. Hayes wiped her eyes.
“Three months later. Sarah received a letter.””
“From whom?””
“I don't know. But she came to my office holding it. She was terrified.””
“What did the letter say?””
Dr. Hayes looked directly at me.
“It said Claire was alive and asking for her daughter.””
I couldn't breathe.
Sarah had known.
She had known Lily's biological mother was alive.
And she had never told me.
“Did Sarah try to contact her?””
“Yes. She wanted to return Lily to Claire, but Helen threatened her.””
“With what?””
“Evidence of the adoption arrangement. She told Sarah she would have her arrested for kidnapping.””
I shook my head.
“Why didn't Sarah come to me?””
Dr. Hayes looked away.
“Because she believed you would lose Lily too.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Rebecca.
Michael, I found something in Helen's old office. It's about Claire. Call me immediately.
I called her.
She answered in a whisper.
“Michael, I have the original hospital discharge report.””
“Where did you find it?””
“In a storage unit Helen rented under another name.””
“What does it say?””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Claire was transferred to a private rehabilitation facility. Not a morgue.””
I closed my eyes.
“Do you know where?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she said:
“She's alive, Michael.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where is she?””
“An assisted living facility in another state. She's been there for years.””
I couldn't speak.
Rebecca continued.
“Helen told everyone Claire died because she wanted control of the inheritance. Claire was declared legally incapacitated, and Helen became her financial guardian.””
I stared at Detective Harris.
He was already reaching for his phone.
“Rebecca, listen carefully. Don't go anywhere. Send me the address.””
She lowered her voice.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“Sarah visited Claire before she died.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“Two days before the accident.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Sarah had known Claire was alive.
She had visited her.
And somehow, she had died just two days later.
“Rebecca, do you have proof?””
“Yes. A visitor log.””
“Send it to me.””
She went quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Michael, Sarah wasn't alone when she visited Claire.””
“Who was with her?””
May you like
Rebecca answered:
“Vanessa.””
