Chapter 6: The Woman Who Wanted My Daughter
By sunrise, I understood one thing.
Vanessa hadn't been acting alone.
And whatever she wanted from Lily was important enough for her to risk everything.
At 7:30 a.m., I returned to the hospital.
Lily was awake.
A nurse was helping her eat scrambled eggs and toast.
She took one small bite, then looked toward the door.
“Daddy?””
I hurried to her bedside.
“I'm right here.””
She lifted her fork.
“Can I have more?””
My throat tightened.
“Sweetheart, you can have as much as you want.””
She looked uncertain.
“Even if I make a mess?””
I kissed her forehead.
“Even if you spill the whole plate.””
For the first time since I had walked through the front door the previous evening, Lily smiled.
It was small.
But it was real.
Mason sat beside her, peeling an orange.
“You want some?”” he asked.
Lily nodded.
He divided the orange into little pieces and placed them on her plate.
“Take as many as you want,” he said.
She smiled again.
I stood near the window, watching them.
These were the children Vanessa had treated like enemies.
Mason, who had protected Lily even when he was frightened.
Lily, who had learned to apologize for being hungry.
I promised myself neither child would ever feel that way again.
Then Detective Harris entered.
“Michael, we need to talk.””
I followed him into the corridor.
“Did you find out anything about Helen?””
He nodded.
“Rebecca gave us her full name and address. We've confirmed she has a connection to Vanessa's previous employer.””
“What kind of connection?””
“She was the company's former financial director.””
I stared at him.
“Was?””
“She left shortly before Vanessa was investigated.””
My mind raced.
“So they both worked at the insurance company?””
“Yes. And Sarah was employed there too.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Why didn't Sarah ever tell me?””
“Possibly because she was investigating something she didn't want to expose until she had enough evidence.””
Harris handed me a photograph.
It showed three women standing outside an office building.
Sarah was on the left.
Vanessa stood in the middle.
An older woman with silver-blonde hair stood beside her.
“Helen,” I whispered.
Harris nodded.
“Rebecca identified her.””
I studied the photograph.
Sarah looked serious.
Vanessa was smiling.
Helen was holding a folder.
“When was this taken?””
“About four years ago. Shortly before Sarah left the company.””
I stared at the image.
Then I noticed something.
Sarah was wearing the same necklace she had worn in her final family photograph.
A small silver heart.
I remembered giving it to her on our anniversary.
“Detective, I think I know where that necklace is.””
“Where?””
“Inside Lily's keepsake box.””
Harris looked confused.
“Why would that matter?””
“Sarah used to hide things in the little compartment behind the necklace's pendant.””
He raised his eyebrows.
“Could there be something inside?””
“I don't know.””
We returned to Lily's room.
I explained that I needed to look at something Sarah had left behind.
Lily nodded and pointed toward her backpack.
“Mommy put my special box inside.””
My heart tightened.
“Which mommy, sweetheart?””
“Mommy Sarah.””
She pointed toward the front pocket.
I opened the backpack and found a small pink box decorated with stars.
Inside were several photographs, a tiny bracelet, and Sarah's silver necklace.
I lifted it carefully.
The pendant had a small seam along the back.
I pressed it gently.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a tiny folded piece of paper.
My fingers trembled as I unfolded it.
There were six words written in Sarah's handwriting.
If anything happens, find Helen.
I looked at Detective Harris.
He took the paper.
“Michael, this changes things.””
I nodded.
Then I noticed a second object inside the compartment.
A tiny memory card.
Harris immediately called the evidence technician.
While we waited, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Michael Carter?””
“Who is this?””
“My name is Helen.””
I looked at Detective Harris.
He signaled for me to put the call on speaker.
Helen continued.
“I understand Vanessa has been arrested.””
“What do you want?””
“I want to make sure you don't make a terrible mistake.””
I stared at the phone.
“You mean protecting my daughter?””
A soft laugh came through the speaker.
“Your daughter has no idea what her mother left behind.””
“Then explain it.””
“I'd rather speak in person.””
“Not happening.””
Helen sighed.
“Michael, I knew Sarah very well. Better than you ever did.””
My jaw tightened.
“You knew her well enough to help ruin her life?””
There was a pause.
Then Helen said:
“Sarah ruined herself when she stole those files.””
Detective Harris leaned closer.
“What files?””
Helen ignored him.
“Listen carefully. Vanessa is not the person you need to worry about.””
“Then who?””
“Me.””
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Detective Harris immediately contacted his team.
“We need to locate Helen before she disappears.””
But my attention was on something else.
A message had appeared on my phone.
It was from Mason.
Dad, I remembered something.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
“What's wrong, buddy?””
“Dad, I think I know why Mom took Lily to Grandma Helen's house.””
“Tell me.””
Mason hesitated.
“Because Grandma Helen wanted to see if Lily still had the necklace.””
My blood ran cold.
“How would she know about the necklace?””
“Mom told her it was the only place Sarah could have hidden the key.””
I looked down at the silver pendant.
“The key to what?””
Mason's voice became barely audible.
“The safe deposit box.””
I froze.
“What safe deposit box?””
“The one Grandma Helen keeps talking about. Mom said if she found the key, they could finally get what Sarah left behind.””
Before I could respond, another message appeared.
This time from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Lily sleeping in her hospital bed.
The picture had been taken from inside the room.
Underneath it were eight words.
Stop looking into Sarah's death, or Lily disappears next.
I looked toward the hospital door.
The nurse who had been watching Lily was gone.
And the chair where Mason had been sitting was empty.
“Lily?””
I rushed into the room.
Her bed was empty.
Her stuffed rabbit lay on the floor.
And on the pillow was a folded note written in purple ink.
Bring the necklace to the blue house. Come alone.
I turned toward Detective Harris.
“Lock down the hospital.””
May you like
Then I read the name written at the bottom of the note.
Helen.
