Chapter 7: The Girl Who Came Before Maya
For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.
Vanessa.
Former Child Services Case Coordinator.
And beneath her name, Claire had written:
*She knows what happened to Emily.*
I read those words again.
Then I looked at Rebecca.
“Who is Emily Reed?””
Rebecca didn't answer immediately. She returned to the clinic records on her tablet and searched the name.
A few seconds later, she stopped scrolling.
“There's a limited record attached to that name.””
“What does it say?””
“Emily was eight years old when she received treatment through Northfield. Her mother was listed as the primary contact.””
“Was she admitted to a hospital?””
“Yes. Eleven months ago.””
“Why?””
Rebecca looked at the screen.
“The record references an adverse medical event, but we need the original documentation to understand what happened.””
I felt my hands tighten.
“Was Claire involved?””
“Her name appears in a visitor log.””
I stared at her.
“My wife visited this child?””
“It appears so.””
I looked toward Maya.
She was sitting quietly on her bed, holding the stuffed rabbit I'd brought from home.
“Sweetheart,” I said, “can you tell me anything else about Emily?””
Maya looked up.
“Mommy showed me her picture.””
“What did she look like?””
“Brown hair. Pink glasses.””
“Did you meet her?””
Maya shook her head.
“No. Mommy said she used to go to the same place I went.””
“What place?””
“The room with the white walls.””
I frowned.
“Northfield?””
Maya nodded.
“Mommy said Emily was naughty because she didn't follow the rules.””
Rebecca pulled her chair closer.
“What rules, sweetheart?””
Maya looked at the door.
“She wasn't supposed to tell people about the medicine.””
A cold silence settled over the room.
“Did Mommy say what happened to Emily?”” I asked.
Maya nodded slowly.
“She said Emily went away.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Then she added:
“She said Emily's daddy made everything worse.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She was already making another call.
A few minutes later, she returned.
“Daniel, I've requested that the appropriate authorities verify Emily's history. We also need to establish Vanessa's current role and whether she has any involvement in Maya's proposed placement.””
“Can we find her?””
“Not by confronting her ourselves. We'll follow the proper safeguarding process.””
I nodded.
I wanted to drive straight to Westbridge.
I wanted to find Vanessa and demand answers.
But Maya needed me here.
I sat beside her and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“I'm not going anywhere.””
She rested her head against my arm.
“Promise?””
“Promise.””
At 9:40 that evening, my phone rang.
It was my mother.
I almost ignored it.
Then I remembered the photograph she'd sent.
I answered.
“Mom?””
“Daniel, I need to tell you something.””
Her voice was trembling.
“I'm listening.””
“I found something in Claire's email. Something I should have told you before.””
“What?””
“It's about Emily.””
I stood and walked toward the window.
“What did you find?””
“A message Claire sent Vanessa last month.””
“Can you forward it?””
“I already did.””
My phone vibrated.
I opened the email.
The subject line was:
*Maya — Final Placement Preparation.*
The message was short.
Vanessa,
The father is becoming suspicious. He has started questioning the medication and the clinic.
My mother-in-law has signed the statement, but Daniel may challenge it.
We need the placement completed before the next review.
I cannot afford another situation like Emily.
I read the last sentence twice.
Another situation like Emily.
My mother was crying softly.
“Daniel, I didn't know she was planning to send Maya away.””
“Why did you sign the statement?””
“She told me Maya was in danger with you.””
“Did you believe her?””
“I wanted to believe her. She was so convincing.””
I pressed my forehead against the cold window.
“Mom, did you ever see Maya being mistreated by me?””
“No.””
“Did you ever hear me threaten her?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
My mother began sobbing.
“Because Claire said she had evidence. She showed me photographs of you looking angry. She said you were becoming obsessed with Maya's illness.””
I closed my eyes.
The photographs.
The documents.
The false medical consent.
Claire hadn't simply been hiding the medication.
She had been collecting pieces of a story.
A story designed to make everyone believe I was the danger.
“Mom,” I said quietly, “you need to tell the truth to the investigators.””
“I will.””
“And don't contact Claire about this.””
“Why?””
“Because we don't know what she'll do next.””
My mother fell silent.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel, there's something else.””
“What?””
“Vanessa called me yesterday.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did she say?””
“She asked whether I was still willing to testify.””
“Testify about what?””
“That you were emotionally unstable. That Maya needed to be removed from your home.””
I gripped the windowsill.
“Did you agree?””
“No. I told her I needed time.””
“Did she threaten you?””
My mother hesitated.
“She said if I changed my statement, I could be held responsible for what happened to Emily.””
I turned toward Rebecca.
She was watching me.
I repeated the last sentence.
Rebecca immediately wrote it down.
“Your mother needs to preserve that communication,” she said.
I relayed the instruction.
Then my mother whispered:
“Daniel, I think Claire is afraid of Vanessa.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because every time I asked Claire about Emily, she changed the subject. Once, she said Vanessa had helped her fix a problem that could have destroyed her life.””
I stared at the screen.
“What problem?””
“I don't know.””
The call ended a minute later.
I returned to Maya's bedside.
She was asleep.
Nia had left a small lamp on, casting a soft yellow circle across the blanket.
I looked at the pink backpack on the counter.
It no longer looked like a schoolbag.
It looked like a container for everything my wife had been trying to keep hidden.
And now there was another child.
Another family.
Another hospital admission.
I wondered whether Emily's father had ever sat in a room like this, holding his daughter and wondering how he had missed the signs.
The following morning, Rebecca received a call from the safeguarding authorities.
She listened for several minutes, then turned toward me.
“Daniel, we have located Emily's mother.””
“Where is she?””
“She's living outside the county. She has agreed to speak with the investigators.””
“Can I talk to her?””
“Not yet. We need to respect the investigation and her privacy.””
I nodded.
Then Rebecca's phone rang again.
This time, she answered and immediately put it on speaker.
A man's voice came through.
“Rebecca? This is Officer Harris. We've made contact with Vanessa.””
Rebecca straightened.
“What's happening?””
“She has agreed to provide information about the Westbridge arrangement.””
“Does she know about the documents?””
“Yes.””
There was a pause.
Then Officer Harris added:
“She also claims Claire was not the person who originally arranged the treatment program.””
I frowned.
“Who was?””
The officer hesitated.
Then he said:
“According to Vanessa, Claire was introduced to Northfield by someone who had already been involved in Emily's case.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Who?””
Officer Harris took a breath.
“Emily's father.””
I stared at the phone.
That made no sense.
Why would another child's father introduce my wife to a clinic?
And why would Claire need to hide it?
Then Officer Harris added:
“There's another detail. Emily's father has been looking for your wife for almost a year.””
My stomach dropped.
May you like
“Why?””
“Because he believes Claire knows what happened to his daughter.””
