Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew The Truth
The office door opened.
Everyone prepared for an attack.
But the person standing there was not holding a weapon.
She was holding a small suitcase.
An older woman.
Her hair was silver.
Her hands were trembling.
And the moment Vanessa saw her, all confidence disappeared.
“No.””
The woman looked at her.
“Yes, Vanessa.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“You’re supposed to be gone.””
The woman gave a sad smile.
“That’s what you told everyone.””
I looked between them.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“My name is Clara.””
She opened the suitcase.
Inside was a collection of photographs.
Documents.
And one small blanket.
A baby blanket.
“I was there when the third child was born.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew my child?””
Clara nodded.
“I held her before anyone else did.””
Vanessa’s voice became sharp.
“Don’t listen to her.””
Clara ignored her.
“She was beautiful. Healthy. She had your eyes.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She said nothing.
Clara placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Vanessa years earlier.
Holding a baby.
Standing beside a hospital employee.
The employee’s face was familiar.
Too familiar.
Agent Carter picked up the picture.
“That’s the doctor who signed the false records.””
I looked at Clara.
“How did you get this?””
She looked down.
“Because I helped create the records.””
The room became silent.
“You helped her?””
Clara nodded.
“I was afraid.””
Her voice cracked.
“Vanessa threatened my family. She told me if I refused, my own daughter would disappear too.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“You should have stayed quiet.””
Clara looked at her.
“I stayed quiet for years.””
She turned toward me.
“But I couldn’t anymore.””
She opened the suitcase and removed a small envelope.
“This belonged to your daughter.””
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a drawing.
A child’s drawing.
Three stick figures.
A man.
A woman.
A little girl.
And a sentence written in shaky handwriting.
*I hope my daddy finds me someday.*
I closed my eyes.
The pain was almost unbearable.
My daughter walked beside me.
She looked at the drawing.
“Was she waiting for him too?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
She reached for my hand.
“Then you have to find her.””
Those words came from the smallest person in the room.
But they gave me the strength I needed.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Where is she?””
Vanessa remained silent.
Agent Carter stepped forward.
“We already know the location.””
Everyone looked at him.
He opened the investigation file.
“The third child was placed under a different identity.””
“Where?””
He looked at the final page.
Then his expression changed.
“She wasn’t sent away.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What does that mean?””
He looked directly at Vanessa.
“She was kept close.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Clara whispered:
“She never wanted you to find the child because the child knew something.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
Clara looked at the old photographs.
“She saw what happened the night everything changed.””
The lights suddenly flickered.
A loud crash came from outside.
Security rushed to the windows.
A car was speeding away from the mansion gates.
Inside the car was a woman.
And sitting beside her was a young girl.
My daughter’s sister.
Agent Carter grabbed the radio.
“Stop that vehicle.””
But before anyone could move, my phone received a message.
Unknown number.
One photograph appeared.
It showed the girl inside the car.
May you like
Underneath it was a single sentence.
*If you want your daughter back, come alone.*
