Chapter 8: The Baby Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
I couldn't breathe.
“What do you mean?”” I whispered.
Lily hugged her stuffed elephant.
“Daddy said there was a problem when we were born. He said the doctors told him one baby was sick.””
Mom stared at her.
“Which baby?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Detective Miller returned before Mom could ask anything else.
She had heard the last sentence.
“Lily, did your father ever tell you that one of you had died?””
Lily nodded.
“He said Emily died at the hospital.””
Mom stood.
“That is a lie.””
Lily looked frightened.
“I know that now.””
Detective Miller pulled a chair closer.
“Did he explain why he told you that?””
“He said it was easier for everyone.””
I looked at Mom.
“Why would he tell her I was dead?””
Mom sat down slowly.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
But I could see that she was beginning to understand something.
The detective took out her phone.
“The flash drive contains several encrypted files. Our technical team is working on them. Meanwhile, we found the address written inside the elephant.””
She showed Mom a photograph of the paper.
It was an old property on the outskirts of town.
Mom recognized it immediately.
“That's Daniel's father's house.””
Michael, who had followed us to the hospital, stepped into the room.
“What?””
Mom pointed at the address.
“He used to take us there when we were first married.””
Michael frowned.
“Dad sold that property years ago.””
“Then why does Daniel have access?””
Michael didn't answer.
Detective Miller made a note.
“We'll check ownership records and obtain the appropriate authorization before searching.””
Mom looked at her.
“If those are the original birth records, I want to know what happened.””
“So do we.””
The detective turned toward Lily.
“Sweetheart, would you be comfortable telling us a little more about your life with Laura?””
Lily looked at Mom.
Mom nodded gently.
“It's okay. You can tell them.””
Lily spoke slowly.
“Laura said she was my mother. But sometimes she called me by another name.””
“What name?”” Detective Miller asked.
“Grace.””
Mom looked confused.
“Grace?””
Lily nodded.
“She said it was my first name.””
I felt cold.
“Why would she call you that?””
“I don't know.””
Lily rubbed her eyes.
“She told me I was supposed to be named Grace, but Daddy changed it.””
Detective Miller wrote it down.
“Did Laura ever explain why?””
Lily shook her head.
Then she added something quietly.
“She also said Emily was the lucky one.””
Mom closed her eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Emily got to stay with the nice mother.””
Mom began crying.
I took Lily's hand.
“She doesn't know you,” I said.
“But she loves you.””
Lily looked at me.
“Does she love you more?””
I shook my head.
“She loves both of us.””
Mom pulled us into her arms.
“I never knew you were out there,” she whispered to Lily.
“If I had known, I would have come for you.””
Lily started crying.
“I wanted you.””
Those four words broke something inside me.
I had spent years complaining about ordinary things.
Not getting the newest phone.
Having to finish homework.
Being told to clean my room.
Meanwhile, my sister had grown up believing her mother didn't want her.
And my mother had spent years believing she had one child.
Detective Miller received a call.
She listened carefully.
Then she stepped toward the window.
When she returned, she looked serious.
“The property records show that Daniel's father transferred the old house into a family trust shortly before he died.””
Michael frowned.
“I thought Daniel was managing that trust.””
“He is. And there's something else. The property contains a locked storage building.””
Mom looked at Michael.
“What's inside?””
“I don't know.””
Detective Miller continued.
“According to the trust inventory, the building was supposed to be emptied before the property was transferred. But the records show no inspection was completed.””
Michael rubbed his forehead.
“Daniel kept the keys.””
Mom stood.
“Then that's where we need to go.””
Detective Miller shook her head.
“You're not going anywhere near that property.””
“But those records could prove everything!””
“We'll handle it.””
She turned toward Officer Harris.
“Get the warrant application started. And contact the hospital administration to verify both children's original birth records.””
A nurse entered the room.
“Excuse me. There's a call for Lily.””
Detective Miller frowned.
“From whom?””
“The caller identified herself as Laura Mitchell.””
Mom immediately stepped forward.
“Don't put her through.””
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
“She says she needs to speak to Lily urgently.””
Detective Miller took the phone.
“This is Detective Miller. Who am I speaking with?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Where is my daughter?””
“Your daughter is safe.””
“I need to speak to her.””
“Not until we've established the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.””
Laura's voice became sharp.
“Daniel is lying to you.””
Detective Miller paused.
“About what?””
“Everything.””
Mom stepped closer.
“Laura, I know you're listening. Why did you separate my daughters?””
Silence.
Then Laura spoke.
“Rachel, you have no idea what Daniel did.””
“Then tell me!””
“He didn't just steal Emily from me. He made me believe Lily was dead.””
Mom froze.
I looked at Lily.
Her stuffed elephant slipped from her lap.
“What?””
Laura's voice trembled.
“The hospital told me one baby hadn't survived. Daniel arranged everything. He showed me a death certificate. He told me the surviving baby was being adopted by you.””
Mom gripped the table.
“But Lily was alive.””
“I know that now.””
“Where have you been all these years?””
Laura began crying.
“Living in a lie.””
Detective Miller interrupted.
“Mrs. Mitchell, where are you right now?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel knows where I am.””
Mom grabbed the phone.
“Laura, listen to me. We can help you.””
But Laura's voice suddenly became urgent.
“Rachel, there's something in that old house you must find before Daniel does.””
“What?””
“The original hospital ledger.””
Detective Miller leaned closer.
“What does it contain?””
Laura took a shaky breath.
“The name of the person who signed the second baby's death certificate.””
Mom looked at me.
Then Laura whispered:
“It wasn't a doctor.””
The call disconnected.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Detective Miller immediately ordered officers to trace the call.
Michael looked at the detective.
“Do you think she's telling the truth?””
“I don't know.””
Mom was staring at Lily.
“Who signed the certificate?””
Lily looked frightened.
Then she remembered something.
“Daddy has a picture of it.””
“What picture?”” I asked.
She pointed toward her backpack.
“It's in the little pocket.””
The detective retrieved it carefully.
Inside was a photograph of a document.
The signature was partially blurred, but the name beneath it was perfectly clear.
*Rachel Carter.*
Mom staggered backward.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Mom?””
She shook her head.
“I never signed that.””
Detective Miller examined the photograph.
“Someone may have forged your signature.””
Mom stared at the document.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Unless Daniel used something I signed years ago.””
