Chapter 15: Two Babies, One Hidden Identity
I couldn't understand what Grant was saying.
“Two babies?””
He nodded.
“Claire delivered a girl. Sarah delivered a girl. But there was another newborn admitted that same night.””
Harris sat back down.
“Explain.””
Grant rubbed his forehead.
“The hospital had an arrangement with Helen. They were moving babies between temporary care records and private placements. The system was supposed to make certain children easier to adopt without attracting attention.””
I felt nauseated.
“Are you saying they were selling babies?””
“Not exactly. Some placements were legitimate. Others weren't.””
“Who controlled it?””
“Helen. With help from Dr. Hayes and Deputy Chief Lawson.””
Harris leaned forward.
“And the third baby?””
Grant looked down.
“I don't know where that child went.””
I stared at him.
“Then why did you say there were two babies involved?””
“Because the records show Sarah's daughter was never officially declared dead.””
My breathing stopped.
“What?””
Grant nodded.
“The hospital recorded the baby as deceased, but there was no burial certificate. No cremation record. No transfer to the hospital morgue.””
I felt the room spinning.
“Then where was Sarah's baby?””
Grant shook his head.
“That's what we never found out.””
Harris closed the folder.
“Who has the original records?””
Grant hesitated.
“Lawson.””
We left the station shortly after midnight.
I couldn't stop thinking about Sarah's daughter.
The baby I had never held.
The child I had mourned without knowing I was mourning her.
I called Emily to check on Lily and Mason.
Both children were asleep.
Emily assured me that Lily had eaten dinner and was resting comfortably.
I thanked her and ended the call.
Then Harris spoke.
“Michael, I want you to stay away from Deputy Chief Lawson.””
“Why?””
“Because if Grant is telling the truth, Lawson has been involved in a criminal operation for years.””
“And he knows I have the necklace.””
“Yes.””
“Then he'll come after Lily.””
Harris looked at me.
“Which is why we're moving your children to a secure location.””
I nodded.
But before we could leave the parking lot, my phone rang.
It was Rebecca.
“Michael, are you sitting down?””
“What happened?””
“I found the hospital's original birth register.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“Where?””
“Inside a box in Helen's storage unit. I photographed the pages.””
“Send them.””
“I already did.””
I opened the message.
There were three entries.
One for Sarah.
One for Claire.
And one for a woman named Margaret Ellis.
All three births had occurred within forty minutes of one another.
I looked at the dates.
Then I noticed the column marked newborn identification number.
Sarah's entry had been crossed out.
Claire's had been rewritten.
Margaret's was blank.
“What am I looking at?””
Rebecca whispered:
“The hospital recorded three babies, but only two were officially discharged.””
My throat tightened.
“Which one disappeared?””
“Margaret Ellis's baby.””
I stared at the screen.
“Who was Margaret?””
Rebecca took a shaky breath.
“She was a nurse at St. Mary's.””
I looked at Harris.
He immediately leaned toward the phone.
“Rebecca, do you know where she is?””
“She died five years ago.””
“Does she have family?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Rebecca paused.
Then she said:
“Her son.””
I looked at the name on the record.
*Daniel Ellis.*
Something about it felt familiar.
Then I remembered.
Daniel Ellis had been my business partner David's former assistant.
He had disappeared from our company three years ago.
I looked at Harris.
“Do you know this name?””
He nodded slowly.
“Daniel Ellis was questioned during the original investigation.””
“Why?””
“He was the person who discovered the hospital records had been altered.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where is he now?””
Rebecca whispered:
“He works at the hospital where Claire was kept.””
I froze.
“Willow Creek?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Harris.
“Then he might know what happened to Sarah's baby.””
We drove straight to Willow Creek.
The facility was quiet when we arrived.
A security guard recognized Detective Harris and let us inside.
We asked for Daniel Ellis.
The receptionist checked the employee roster.
“I'm sorry. Mr. Ellis doesn't work here anymore.””
“When did he leave?”” Harris asked.
“Yesterday.””
I stared at her.
“Where did he go?””
“I don't know. He didn't leave a forwarding address.””
Harris showed her a photograph.
“Have you seen this man?””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes. He came in yesterday afternoon.””
“Who?””
“David Miller.””
My blood turned cold.
“Was he with Daniel?””
The receptionist nodded.
“They left together.””
Harris immediately contacted his team.
But I was staring at the visitor log.
David had signed his name.
Beside it was another name.
*Margaret Ellis.*
I pointed.
“That's Daniel's mother.””
The receptionist shook her head.
“That's not possible.””
“Why?””
“Because that woman visited Claire last week.””
I felt my pulse racing.
“Describe her.””
“An older woman. Dark coat. Walking with a cane.””
Harris looked at me.
“Rebecca said Margaret died five years ago.””
The receptionist nodded.
“I know. That's why I remember it. I thought it was strange when she introduced herself as Claire's mother.””
I stared at the photograph of Sarah.
Then at the hospital register.
Three babies.
Two recorded discharges.
One missing child.
And a woman who was supposedly dead had visited Claire.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke quietly.
“Michael Carter?””
“Who is this?””
“My name is Daniel Ellis.””
I looked at Harris.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere David can't find me.””
“What do you know about the babies?””
Daniel took a shaky breath.
“I know what happened to Sarah's daughter.””
My heart pounded.
“Where is she?””
“She's alive.””
I closed my eyes.
“Tell me where.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
“Before I tell you, you need to understand something. The baby Sarah lost wasn't Claire's baby.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Claire's daughter was Lily. Sarah's biological daughter was taken somewhere else.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Then who raised Sarah's baby?””
Daniel's answer came slowly.
“Margaret Ellis.””
I gripped the phone.
“Margaret is dead.””
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
“No, Michael. The woman who died five years ago wasn't Margaret.””
Silence.
Then he added:
“The woman who visited Claire last week was your first wife's mother.””
My breath caught.
Sarah's mother.
I had attended her funeral.
I had watched the coffin lowered into the ground.
Daniel continued.
“And she's been alive this entire time.””
The call ended.
I stared at Detective Harris.
He looked equally stunned.
Then my phone received one final message.
It contained a photograph of a woman standing outside my house.
She looked older.
Her hair was gray.
But I recognized her immediately.
Sarah's mother.
And beside her stood Lily.
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The message underneath read:
You have one hour to bring me the necklace. After that, you'll finally learn which little girl is really yours.
