Chapter 13: The Woman Who Never Came Home
For several seconds, Martha couldn't move.
She stared at the photograph in her hands.
David lay in a hospital bed, his face bruised and exhausted. Beside his wrist was another hospital band.
ANNA REED.
The mother of Emily.
The woman David had loved before marrying Laura.
The woman who had supposedly died two years earlier.
Martha slowly looked at Thomas.
“You knew Anna?””
Thomas nodded.
“She was my younger sister.””
Martha's fingers tightened around the photograph.
“Your sister?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Thomas lowered his head.
“Because I was afraid you'd ask questions I couldn't answer.””
Clint stepped closer.
“Start answering them now.””
Thomas looked toward the empty street where Laura's car had disappeared.
“Anna was a nurse. She met David when he was recovering from an earlier motorcycle accident. They became close before he met Laura.””
Martha shook her head.
“David never told me he had another relationship.””
“He didn't want to hurt you. Anna became pregnant shortly after they separated. David wanted to take responsibility, but Anna didn't want to destroy his marriage.””
“Did Laura know?””
Thomas nodded.
“She found out when Emily was born.””
Martha closed her eyes.
“And she hated Anna.””
Thomas gave a bitter laugh.
“Hate doesn't begin to describe it.””
Clint examined the hospital photograph.
“Why was Anna admitted the same night David died?””
Thomas took a breath.
“Because she was trying to get to him.””
“What happened?””
“Laura called her and told her David was dying. She said he wanted to see Emily's mother one last time.””
Martha looked up.
“Then why did Anna die?””
Thomas's eyes filled.
“Because Laura lied.””
He explained that Anna had arrived at St. Catherine's shortly after midnight. She had brought a folder containing documents David had sent her.
She intended to hand them to the hospital's legal department.
But she never made it upstairs.
“She was found unconscious in a hospital stairwell,” Thomas said.
“The official report said she suffered a medical emergency.””
Clint frowned.
“Was there an investigation?””
“Not a serious one. Laura told the hospital that Anna had a history of health problems.””
“Did she?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No. Anna was healthy.””
Martha pressed a hand against her mouth.
“What about Emily?””
“I took her home that night. I told her mother had gone away.””
Thomas began crying.
“I thought I was protecting her.””
Clint's voice hardened.
“Did Laura have anything to do with Anna's death?””
Thomas looked at him.
“I believe she did.””
“Belief isn't evidence.””
“I know.””
Thomas reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded document.
“This is Anna's original hospital discharge record.””
Clint examined it.
“This says she was transferred.””
Thomas nodded.
“That's what they told me.””
“Transferred where?””
“Somewhere outside the city. I called every hospital I could find. Nobody had a record of her.””
Martha looked at the paper.
“Then how do you know she died?””
Thomas swallowed.
“Three days later, Laura called me. She said Anna was gone and I should stop asking questions.””
Clint's expression darkened.
“Did you see a death certificate?””
“No.””
“Did you see a body?””
Thomas shook his head.
Martha looked at him.
“Then how can you be sure she's dead?””
Thomas stared at the floor.
“Because Laura sent me a funeral photograph.””
Clint went still.
“Do you still have it?””
Thomas nodded.
He took out his phone and opened an old folder.
The photograph showed a small funeral service.
A closed coffin.
A wreath of white flowers.
And Laura standing beside Susan.
Martha recognized the church.
It was the same church where David's funeral had been held.
She also recognized the date.
October twenty-second.
Three days after David died.
“Anna was buried here?”” Martha whispered.
Thomas shook his head.
“No. The photograph was taken at a private service. Laura told me Anna had been cremated.””
Clint enlarged the picture.
Something caught his eye.
A man stood in the background near the church entrance.
Dr. Henry Caldwell.
“Why was he there?””
Thomas looked.
His face went pale.
“I don't know.””
Clint saved the photograph.
“We're taking this to the authorities.””
Thomas nodded.
“I'll cooperate.””
Martha looked toward the car.
“Where is Emily now?””
“With Michael and Susan.””
“Then we need to get her somewhere safe.””
They drove back to the blue house.
Michael was waiting outside.
When he saw Martha, he hurried toward her.
“Mom, you need to see something.””
He led them inside.
Rachel sat on the sofa with Emily beside her.
Susan stood near the window, holding a cup of tea she hadn't touched.
“What happened?”” Martha asked.
Michael handed Clint a sheet of paper.
“Someone delivered this twenty minutes ago.””
It was a printed hospital document.
The heading read:
*ST. CATHERINE'S MEDICAL CENTER — PATIENT TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION.*
The patient's name was Anna Reed.
The date was October nineteenth, twelve years earlier.
Underneath was a handwritten authorization.
*TRANSFER APPROVED BY DR. HENRY CALDWELL.*
Clint looked at Michael.
“Where did you get this?””
“It was left at the front door.””
Martha studied the document.
“Who delivered it?””
Michael shook his head.
“A woman in a gray coat.””
Rachel stood.
“Grandma, there's something else.””
She reached into her bag and removed a small envelope.
“Mom called me.””
Clint immediately looked up.
“What did she say?””
Rachel swallowed.
“She said she wants to meet me tonight.””
“No,” Martha replied immediately.
Rachel looked at her.
“She said she'll tell me where Anna was taken.””
Michael frowned.
“Why would she tell you now?””
Rachel opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a little girl standing beside a woman in a hospital gown.
Emily stared at it.
“That's Mommy.””
Martha knelt beside her.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Emily pointed to the woman's face.
“She looks sick.””
Rachel turned the photograph over.
There was a message.
Come alone. Bring the locket. If you want to know what happened to your mother, ask me about Room 309.
Clint read it twice.
“Room 309.””
Susan suddenly dropped her teacup.
It shattered against the floor.
Everyone turned.
Martha looked at her sister.
“Susan?””
Susan's face had gone white.
“What do you know about Room 309?””
Susan began shaking.
“I thought it had been demolished.””
Clint stepped toward her.
“What's Room 309?””
Susan looked at Martha.
Then she whispered:
“It's the room where Anna was kept after she arrived at the hospital.””
Martha's blood ran cold.
“Was she alive?””
Susan closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
Emily began crying.
“Where is my mommy?””
Nobody answered.
Then Susan added something that made Clint reach for his phone.
“Anna wasn't transferred to another hospital.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“She was moved into a private wing that didn't appear on the public records.””
