Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Third Baby
“There were three babies that night.””
Dr: The Third Baby
“There were three babies that night.””
Dr. Whitmore's words kept repeating in Daniel's head.
He stood in the middle of. Whitmore's words kept repeating in Daniel's head.
He stood in the middle of his living room, staring at his phone as if the doctor might suddenly call his living room, staring at his phone as if the doctor might suddenly call back and explain that he had misunderstood.
Three babies.
Not two.
And somewhere in the middle of that confusion, someone back and explain that he had misunderstood.
Three babies.
Not two.
And somewhere in the middle of that confusion, someone had deliberately changed the records.
Daniel immediately called Michael.
“Find Dr. Whitmore. I want his current address, his professional history, and every connection had deliberately changed the records.
Daniel immediately called Michael.
“Find Dr. Whitmore. I want his current address, his professional history, and every connection he has to Vanessa.””
“Daniel, slow down. What happened?””
“The doctor just told me there were three newborns in the maternity ward that night.””
Michael went quiet he has to Vanessa.””
“Daniel, slow down. What happened?””
“The doctor just told me there were three newborns in the maternity ward that night.””
Michael went quiet.
“Three?””
“Yes. And he said Laura knew the third baby wasn't Rebecca's either.””
“Did he explain who the third mother was?””
“No. The call disconnected.””
“I'll investigate. But don't approach him alone. If.
“Three?””
“Yes. And he said Laura knew the third baby wasn't Rebecca's either.””
“Did he explain who the third mother was?””
“No. The call disconnected.””
“I'll investigate. But don't approach him alone. If he's involved, he may be dangerous.””
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“I don't care about anything except finding he's involved, he may be dangerous.””
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“I don't care about anything except finding out what happened to my wife and protecting my children.””
“Then let me do the investigating. Keep Ethan and Sophie somewhere safe.””
Daniel agreed.
But out what happened to my wife and protecting my children.””
“Then let me do the investigating. Keep Ethan and Sophie somewhere safe.””
Daniel agreed.
But before Michael could hang up, another call came through.
Patricia Mills.
“Mr. Carter, you need to listen carefully before Michael could hang up, another call came through.
Patricia Mills.
“Mr. Carter, you need to listen carefully,” she whispered.
“What's wrong?””
“I received a call from someone at St. Mary's. They told me the hospital is conducting an emergency review of the old maternity,” she whispered.
“What's wrong?””
“I received a call from someone at St. Mary's. They told me the hospital is conducting an emergency review of the old maternity records.””
“Who requested it?””
“Vanessa.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Why would she do that?””
“Because she records.””
“Who requested it?””
“Vanessa.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Why would she do that?””
“Because she knows you've found the documents. And she's trying to get ahead of you.””
Patricia paused.
Then she added:
“There's something I never knows you've found the documents. And she's trying to get ahead of you.””
Patricia paused.
Then she added:
“There's something I never told you about the third baby.””
Daniel gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
“That child wasn't born to a patient named Rebecca. She was born to a woman who died told you about the third baby.””
Daniel gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
“That child wasn't born to a patient named Rebecca. She was born to a woman who died during delivery.””
“Who was she?””
Patricia's voice cracked.
“Her name was Claire Donovan.””
Daniel searched his memory.
He had never heard that during delivery.””
“Who was she?””
Patricia's voice cracked.
“Her name was Claire Donovan.””
Daniel searched his memory.
He had never heard that name.
“Why was her baby involved?””
“Because Claire's family had a connection to Vanessa. A very powerful one.””
“What connection?””
Patricia took a shaky breath name.
“Why was her baby involved?””
“Because Claire's family had a connection to Vanessa. A very powerful one.””
“What connection?””
Patricia took a shaky breath.
“Claire was Vanessa's daughter.””
Daniel couldn't speak.
Vanessa had a daughter?
But Vanessa had always told him she had never been pregnant before their marriage.
“Claire was Vanessa's daughter.””
Daniel couldn't speak.
Vanessa had a daughter?
But Vanessa had always told him she had never been pregnant before their marriage.
Patricia continued.
“Claire was nineteen. She had been estranged from Vanessa for years. When she became pregnant, she came to St.
Mary's under a different surname. Vanessa found out.
Patricia continued.
“Claire was nineteen. She had been estranged from Vanessa for years. When she became pregnant, she came to St.
Mary's under a different surname. Vanessa found out and came to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“She wanted custody of the baby.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“And the baby?””
“Disappeared from the records and came to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“She wanted custody of the baby.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“And the baby?””
“Disappeared from the records.””
That afternoon, Daniel arranged for Ethan and Sophie to stay with his mother.
Margaret welcomed them with open arms.
Ethan immediately.””
That afternoon, Daniel arranged for Ethan and Sophie to stay with his mother.
Margaret welcomed them with open arms.
Ethan immediately ran to the kitchen.
“Grandma, can we make pancakes?””
Margaret smiled.
“Of course, sweetheart.””
Sophie reached for her grandmother's necklace.
ran to the kitchen.
“Grandma, can we make pancakes?””
Margaret smiled.
“Of course, sweetheart.””
Sophie reached for her grandmother's necklace.
Margaret kissed her tiny fingers.
Daniel watched them from the doorway.
For the first time in days, he felt a little relief.
But when Margaret noticed his expressionMargaret kissed her tiny fingers.
Daniel watched them from the doorway.
For the first time in days, he felt a little relief.
But when Margaret noticed his expression, her smile faded.
“Daniel, what's happened now?””
He told her about Claire Donovan.
Margaret slowly sat down.
“Oh,, her smile faded.
“Daniel, what's happened now?””
He told her about Claire Donovan.
Margaret slowly sat down.
“Oh, my goodness.””
“You know her?””
Margaret looked away.
“I knew Vanessa had a daughter. She told me the child had been adopted years my goodness.””
“You know her?””
Margaret looked away.
“I knew Vanessa had a daughter. She told me the child had been adopted years ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because she said it was a painful subject. I didn't want to upset her.””
Daniel rubbed ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because she said it was a painful subject. I didn't want to upset her.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Mom, Vanessa has lied about almost everything.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she said something unexpected.
“There's another reason Laura was afraid of Vanessa.””
Daniel turned.
his forehead.
“Mom, Vanessa has lied about almost everything.””
Margaret nodded.
Then she said something unexpected.
“There's another reason Laura was afraid of Vanessa.””
Daniel turned.
“What reason?””
Margaret glanced toward the kitchen to make sure the children couldn't hear.
“Laura discovered that Vanessa had been using a different identity.””
Daniel“What reason?””
Margaret glanced toward the kitchen to make sure the children couldn't hear.
“Laura discovered that Vanessa had been using a different identity.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
“Before she married you, Vanessa sometimes used her mother's maiden name. Laura found documents connecting her to Claire's birth.””
“Why didn't frowned.
“What?””
“Before she married you, Vanessa sometimes used her mother's maiden name. Laura found documents connecting her to Claire's birth.””
“Why didn't Laura tell me?””
“She planned to. But she wanted proof first.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Do you still have those documents?””
Margaret Laura tell me?””
“She planned to. But she wanted proof first.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Do you still have those documents?””
Margaret hesitated.
“I might.””
She disappeared into the study and returned carrying an old storage box.
Inside were photographs, letters, and several hesitated.
“I might.””
She disappeared into the study and returned carrying an old storage box.
Inside were photographs, letters, and several medical documents Laura had apparently given her.
Margaret removed a yellow envelope.
“This was delivered to me two medical documents Laura had apparently given her.
Margaret removed a yellow envelope.
“This was delivered to me two days before Laura died.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Margaret,
I have discovered that Vanessa has been communicating with someone at the hospital.
*She believes days before Laura died.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Margaret,
I have discovered that Vanessa has been communicating with someone at the hospital.
She believes I know nothing about Claire's baby, but I have seen the records.
There are three girls involved.
One is ours.
I know nothing about Claire's baby, but I have seen the records.*
There are three girls involved.
One is ours.
One belongs to Rebecca.
And the third belongs to Vanessa.
If anything happens to me, please remember that the truth is not necessarily the same as whatOne belongs to Rebecca.*
And the third belongs to Vanessa.
If anything happens to me, please remember that the truth is not necessarily the same as what the hospital papers say.
Daniel read the final sentence twice.
Do not trust the woman who claims she is saving the the hospital papers say.
Daniel read the final sentence twice.
Do not trust the woman who claims she is saving the children.
His hands trembled.
Laura had known about all three babies.
And she had been trying to warn his family.
At 6:15 children.*
His hands trembled.
Laura had known about all three babies.
And she had been trying to warn his family.
At 6:15 p.m., Michael called.
“I found something.””
Daniel stepped outside.
“What?””
“Dr. Whitmore resigned from St. Mary's six months ago. He p.m., Michael called.
“I found something.””
Daniel stepped outside.
“What?””
“Dr. Whitmore resigned from St. Mary's six months ago. He moved to a private clinic in Connecticut.””
“Can we contact him?””
“Not yet. His office says he's unavailable.””
“Michael, someone moved to a private clinic in Connecticut.””
“Can we contact him?””
“Not yet. His office says he's unavailable.””
“Michael, someone needs to make him talk.””
“I know. But there's something more important. I found Claire Donovan's death certificate.””
Daniel waited.
“According to the certificate needs to make him talk.””
“I know. But there's something more important. I found Claire Donovan's death certificate.””
Daniel waited.
“According to the certificate, Claire died at 11:04 p.m. But the hospital's newborn records show her daughter was discharged at 8:20 the following morning.””
“Who took, Claire died at 11:04 p.m. But the hospital's newborn records show her daughter was discharged at 8:20 the following morning.””
“Who took her?””
Michael paused.
“Vanessa.””
Daniel stared at the garden.
“She took her own daughter's baby?””
“That's what the records suggest. But here's the problem: her?””
Michael paused.
“Vanessa.””
Daniel stared at the garden.
“She took her own daughter's baby?””
“That's what the records suggest. But here's the problem: the discharge authorization was signed by a woman named Laura Carter.””
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
“Laura?””
“Yes.””
“That's impossible. Laura was dead.””
“According the discharge authorization was signed by a woman named Laura Carter.””
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
“Laura?””
“Yes.””
“That's impossible. Laura was dead.””
“According to the hospital's official records, she was pronounced dead before midnight. But the authorization was processed the next morning.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Someone had used to the hospital's official records, she was pronounced dead before midnight. But the authorization was processed the next morning.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Someone had used Laura's name after she died.
Or someone had lied about when she died.
“Michael, get me the original death report.””
“I've requested it.””
Daniel Laura's name after she died.
Or someone had lied about when she died.
“Michael, get me the original death report.””
“I've requested it.””
Daniel looked toward the house.
Ethan was helping Sophie walk across the living room.
The little girl stumbled, then grabbed her brother's hand.
looked toward the house.
Ethan was helping Sophie walk across the living room.
The little girl stumbled, then grabbed her brother's hand.
Ethan laughed.
“Come on, Soph. One more step.””
Daniel smiled sadly.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Vanessa standing outside Margaret's house.
She was looking directlyEthan laughed.
“Come on, Soph. One more step.””
Daniel smiled sadly.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Vanessa standing outside Margaret's house.
She was looking directly at the camera.
Beneath the picture was a message.
*You should have left the past buried.*
Daniel immediately ran inside at the camera.
Beneath the picture was a message.
*You should have left the past buried.*
Daniel immediately ran inside.
“Mom! Get the children upstairs!””
Margaret looked startled.
“What happened?””
“Now!””
He rushed toward the front window.
A black SUV.
“Mom! Get the children upstairs!””
Margaret looked startled.
“What happened?””
“Now!””
He rushed toward the front window.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Its headlights switched on.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered.
“Where are you?””
Her voice was was parked across the street.
Its headlights switched on.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered.
“Where are you?””
Her voice was calm.
“Looking at what you love most.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Don't go near my children.””
Van calm.
“Looking at what you love most.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Don't go near my children.””
Vanessa laughed softly.
“Then stop asking questions.””
The call ended.
Daniel looked outside again.
The SUV was gone.
And whenessa laughed softly.
“Then stop asking questions.””
The call ended.
Daniel looked outside again.
The SUV was gone.
And when he turned toward the hallway, Margaret was standing there with a terrified expression.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“What?””
She held up a small envelope.
“I think he turned toward the hallway, Margaret was standing there with a terrified expression.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“What?””
She held up a small envelope.
“I think I know who the third baby really was.””
Inside was a photograph of three newborn girls.
On the back, Laura had written:
**One I know who the third baby really was.””
Inside was a photograph of three newborn girls.
On the back, Laura had written:
May you like
*One of them was never supposed to survive.*
of them was never supposed to survive.**
