Chapter 8: The Secret Behind My Daughter's Birth
The hospital went into lockdown.
Detective Morgan arrived within minutes.
He spoke to the nurses, checked the security cameras, and ordered the hospital's security team to review the footage.
Lily hadn't been taken for an examination.
Someone had removed her from the pediatric ward using a staff badge.
The person wore a medical mask and a blue uniform.
Nobody recognized him.
Morgan showed me a still image from the camera.
The man's face was partly hidden.
But I recognized his watch.
A silver watch with a black leather strap.
I'd bought it for Rick on his thirtieth birthday.
My husband had been inside the hospital.
I looked at Morgan.
"That's Rick.""
He studied the photograph.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes.""
"Did you see his face?""
"No. But I bought him that watch.""
Morgan immediately contacted the officers outside.
The hospital doors were being monitored.
Rick hadn't left through the main entrance.
Then another camera showed something.
A man carrying a child through the service corridor.
Lily's pink shoes were visible beneath the blanket.
I pressed my hand against the screen.
"That's my daughter.""
Morgan called for the building's security supervisor.
"Where does that corridor lead?""
"Loading area. There's a private vehicle entrance.""
"Get me the vehicle registration.""
The supervisor checked the footage.
A black SUV had left at 8:42 p.m.
I recognized it.
Rick's vehicle.
My husband had taken our daughter.
I felt my knees weaken.
Morgan caught my arm.
"Claire, look at me.""
I couldn't.
"He took her.""
"We're going to find her.""
"He took our little girl.""
"We're going to find her.""
He ordered a patrol team to Rick's home and another to the office building.
Then he turned toward me.
"There's something else.""
He held up the folded note.
*ASK YOUR MOTHER.*
"We need to establish what this means.""
I stared at the words.
"My mother?""
"Does she know about the school incidents?""
"No.""
"Has she been involved in Lily's care?""
"Not recently.""
Morgan waited.
I tried to remember the last time my mother had visited.
It had been almost three months earlier.
She'd arrived unexpectedly, brought a birthday present for Lily, and spent most of the afternoon looking uncomfortable around Rick.
At the time, I'd assumed they had argued about something.
But there had been another moment.
My mother had taken my hands in the kitchen and asked:
"Claire, are you absolutely certain Rick is Lily's biological father?""
I'd laughed.
"What kind of question is that?""
She'd looked toward the living room.
Then she'd said:
"Just promise me you'll never let him make decisions about her without you.""
I'd thought she was being dramatic.
Now I wanted to scream.
I called her.
She answered after two rings.
"Claire?""
"Mom, I need you to tell me the truth.""
Silence.
"What happened?""
"Did you know something about Rick?""
My mother began breathing unevenly.
"Where are you?""
"At the hospital.""
"Is Lily with you?""
I closed my eyes.
"No.""
She made a small sound.
Then she said:
"Don't tell Rick I spoke to you.""
I looked at Morgan.
"What do you know?""
My mother started crying.
"Claire, there are things I should have told you years ago.""
"What things?""
"About Lily's birth.""
I gripped the phone.
"What about it?""
"Come to my house.""
"Mom, my daughter has been taken. I don't have time.""
"Then listen carefully. Rick isn't the person you think he is.""
My chest tightened.
"Mom.""
"Your father and I knew something was wrong before you married him. But you were so happy. You wouldn't listen.""
"What did you find out?""
She whispered:
"Rick was at the hospital the night Lily was born.""
"Of course he was. He's her father.""
"No, Claire. He was there before you gave birth.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
My mother inhaled shakily.
"Do you remember the complications?""
I remembered.
The emergency surgery.
The doctors rushing around.
The hours I couldn't remember clearly.
"Yes.""
"Do you remember signing the additional consent forms?""
"No.""
"Exactly.""
My mother began crying harder.
"Your father found out later that Rick had signed paperwork you hadn't authorized.""
I looked at Morgan.
He motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
"What paperwork?"" I asked.
"Something related to the hospital's private research program.""
My blood ran cold.
"Research?""
"Rick said it was routine. He told us Lily would receive extra monitoring. He said it was for her safety.""
I sat down.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he convinced us you'd agreed.""
"Agreed to what?""
"I don't know everything. But your father found a document with your signature that didn't look right.""
I stared at the wall.
Another forged signature.
Another document.
Another lie.
"Where is it?""
"In the old filing cabinet. Your father kept copies.""
"Why?""
"He didn't trust Rick.""
I looked at Morgan.
He was already taking notes.
"Mom, did Dad ever tell you why Rick wanted those documents?""
My mother hesitated.
Then she said something that changed everything.
"Because Lily wasn't supposed to be the only child involved.""
I closed my eyes.
"The six children.""
"What six children?""
"The children from the school.""
My mother gasped.
"Claire, what school?""
I told her.
She went quiet.
Then she whispered:
"Oh, God.""
"What?""
"Rick told your father there were other families.""
I could barely speak.
"What did he tell him?""
"That the children had been selected because of their family medical histories.""
"Selected for what?""
"I don't know.""
My mother suddenly sounded frightened.
"Claire, you need to get Lily away from him.""
"I know.""
"No. You don't understand. Rick said something to your father before he died.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"My father died two years ago.""
"I know.""
"What did Rick say?""
My mother swallowed.
"He told him that if the project ever became public, Lily would be the first person blamed.""
I stared at the floor.
Then another thought struck me.
"Mom, why did the note say to ask you?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Finally, she said:
"Because I have something Rick has been looking for.""
"What?""
"A copy of the original hospital consent form.""
Morgan leaned closer.
"Where is it?""
My mother gave us her address.
Before ending the call, she whispered:
"Claire, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Your father found a second signature on that document.""
"Whose?""
She began crying again.
"Rick's mother.""
I froze.
Rick's mother had died when he was twenty-two.
I'd never heard her mentioned in connection with the hospital.
"Why would his mother sign anything?""
"Because she worked there.""
My head spun.
"She was a nurse?""
"No, Claire. She was one of the administrators who helped establish the original research program.""
I looked at Morgan.
He was already calling another officer.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Rick.
I have Lily. She's safe.
I typed:
Bring her back.
His response arrived immediately.
Come to the old clinic. Alone.
Morgan shook his head.
"No.""
Another message appeared.
Bring the recorder and the hospital paperwork.
Then:
And Claire? Don't bring the police if you want your daughter to come home.
I stared at the screen.
Morgan placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We're not letting you walk into this alone.""
I looked at him.
"What if he hurts her?""
"He won't get the chance.""
My phone vibrated one last time.
A photograph.
Lily was sitting on a sofa beside Rick.
Her eyes were open.
She was holding her stuffed rabbit.
But behind her, on the wall, was a framed photograph of a young woman in a nurse's uniform.
I recognized her.
It was Rick's mother.
And beneath the photograph was a brass plaque.
*BENNETT FAMILY RESEARCH CENTER — FOUNDED 1998.*
The same name as the company funding the school project.
I looked at Detective Morgan.
"That's where he's taking her.""
He stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then he said:
"Claire, I think we've just found the beginning of this.""
