Chapter 13: The Truth Beneath the Music Box
For several minutes, Emily didn't move.
She stood in the middle of Vanessa's brother's empty living room, staring at the message on my phone.
*Your biological mother is Vanessa Reed.*
It was impossible.
Vanessa was barely older than me. She had spent eighteen months pretending to be my girlfriend. She had lied about her relationship with Eleanor. She had helped us uncover the truth about Nia.
And now Eleanor claimed she had given birth to my sister.
Emily finally spoke.
"How old was Vanessa when I was born?""
I checked the date on the photograph.
"She would have been seventeen.""
Emily laughed bitterly.
"Seventeen?""
"That's what the dates suggest.""
"Then why did nobody tell me?""
I didn't know what to say.
Morgan stepped between us.
"Eleanor wants us confused. That's how she controls people. We cannot treat her statement as fact until we verify it.""
Emily wiped her face.
"She has lied about everything. Why would this be different?""
"Because this lie would hurt you more than any other.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Vanessa and the little girl at St. Agnes.
There was something written in tiny letters along the bottom.
*Room 214. October 17.*
Morgan photographed it.
"Let's find the hospital records.""
I shook my head.
"The message said the music box.""
Morgan looked at me.
"It's a trap.""
"Probably.""
"Then you're not going alone.""
We drove to Vanessa's apartment with two federal agents.
The building was quiet.
Her door stood slightly open.
Inside, the furniture had been overturned.
Someone had searched the place.
I went straight to the bedroom.
The floorboard beneath the wardrobe was loose.
I lifted it.
There was the wooden music box.
It was small, painted white, with a faded rose on the lid.
Emily stood behind me.
"I remember this.""
"From where?""
"My childhood. I used to hear a melody before I fell asleep.""
I opened the lid.
A delicate tune began playing.
Inside was a folded envelope and a small memory card.
The envelope had my name on it.
I opened it.
Marcus,
If you found this, Eleanor has probably told you something about Emily's birth. I wanted to tell you myself, but I was afraid you'd never believe me.
I was seventeen when Emily was born. Eleanor paid for the hospital, the doctors, and the adoption papers. She told me my baby had died during delivery.
Years later, I discovered the truth. Emily had been taken to St. Agnes under another name.
I tried to reach her. Eleanor threatened Daniel. She said if I ever exposed her, he would disappear.
I became her employee because it was the only way I could get close enough to help.
I know that doesn't excuse what I did to you. I know I hurt you.
But I never stopped looking for my daughter.
Vanessa.
Emily took the letter.
Her hands trembled.
"She knew.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"She watched me grow up.""
"Yes.""
"And she let me believe she was just a stranger.""
There was anger in her voice now.
Not disbelief.
Anger.
Morgan took the memory card.
"Let's see what's on this.""
One of the agents brought a laptop.
The file contained a video recorded eleven years earlier.
A young Vanessa sat in a hospital room, holding a newborn baby.
She looked terrified.
A woman entered.
Eleanor.
"She's beautiful," Eleanor said.
Vanessa began crying.
"Please. Let me keep her.""
"You are seventeen. You have no money, no home, and no future.""
"I'll work. I'll do anything.""
Eleanor smiled.
"That's precisely why I'm offering to help.""
She placed a document on the bed.
"Sign these papers, and your daughter will have everything.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't want money.""
"Then you want her to suffer?""
Vanessa looked down at the baby.
Eleanor leaned closer.
"You can see her again when you're ready to behave like an adult.""
The video ended.
Emily was crying silently.
I put a hand on her shoulder.
She moved away.
"Don't.""
I lowered my hand.
Morgan examined the file information.
"This video is authentic. It was recorded on the hospital's old system.""
She opened another file.
It contained a scanned birth certificate.
The mother's name had been changed.
But beneath the altered document was the original.
*Mother: Vanessa Reed.*
Emily stared at it.
Then she whispered:
"She gave me away.""
I sat beside her.
"She was seventeen. Eleanor manipulated her.""
"That doesn't change what happened.""
"No. It doesn't.""
Morgan closed the laptop.
"We need to move. Eleanor knows we've found the apartment.""
I looked at the second envelope.
Inside was a printed hospital record.
It showed another birth on the same night.
A male infant.
Mother: Grace Miller.
Father: James Carter.
I read it twice.
"That's me.""
Emily looked over my shoulder.
The two births had occurred within thirty-seven minutes of each other.
Then I noticed the final page.
A handwritten instruction had been attached.
*Transfer male infant to Eleanor Carter. Record female infant as deceased.*
My stomach turned.
"Eleanor didn't just take me from Grace.""
Morgan looked at the document.
"She arranged both births.""
Emily's voice was barely audible.
"She wanted us separated.""
I nodded.
"She wanted us to believe we had different lives.""
Then the apartment lights went out.
Morgan drew her weapon.
"Nobody move.""
A crash sounded in the hallway.
One of the agents shouted.
"Federal agents! Show yourself!""
Gunfire erupted.
I pulled Emily behind the bedroom wall.
Morgan fired twice.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
"Marcus!""
I recognized it.
Vanessa.
I ran toward the doorway.
She stood at the end of the hall, bruised and breathless.
Behind her was a young man.
Daniel.
"Vanessa!""
She looked at Emily.
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Vanessa whispered:
"My baby.""
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
But before she could answer, Daniel raised his hand.
"Get down!""
A red laser dot appeared on Vanessa's chest.
May you like
The shot rang out.
And Vanessa fell.
