Chapter 11: She Used My Name to Steal Another Child## Chapter 11: She Used My Name to Steal Another Child
“She told the adoption agency I was the adoptive father?””
Detective Morgan nodded.
“And apparently, she submitted
“She told the adoption agency I was the adoptive father?””
Detective Morgan nodded.
“And apparently, she submitted your identification documents.””
I stared at him.
“I never signed anything.””
“We know. That's why we need to establish how she obtained your information your identification documents.””
I stared at him.
“I never signed anything.””
“We know. That's why we need to establish how she obtained your information.””
“Richard Hayes.””
“That's our suspicion.””
I looked through the hospital window at Amara.
She was asleep, one hand resting beneath her cheek.
Vanessa had nearly poisoned her.
She had hidden my first wife.
She had falsified medical records.
And now she was using my name to acquire another child.
“How do we stop the adoption?””
“The agency.””
“Richard Hayes.””
“That's our suspicion.””
I looked through the hospital window at Amara.
She was asleep, one hand resting beneath her cheek.
Vanessa had nearly poisoned her.
She had hidden my first wife.
She had falsified medical records.
And now she was using my name to acquire another child.
“How do we stop the adoption?””
“The agency has been notified. We're also seeking authorization to secure the relevant records.””
“Then let's go.””
“Mr. Carter, you need to remain here until your daughter is discharged.””
I looked at him.
“Detective, that woman has been making decisions about my family for years. I'm done sitting in has been notified. We're also seeking authorization to secure the relevant records.””
“Then let's go.””
“Mr. Carter, you need to remain here until your daughter is discharged.””
I looked at him.
“Detective, that woman has been making decisions about my family for years. I'm done sitting in hospital corridors waiting for someone else to protect my child.””
He studied me.
“Then come with us. But you follow my instructions.””
I agreed.
Before leaving, I returned to Amara's room.
Lila was sitting beside her, holding her hand.
“Where are you going?”” she asked.
“To stop Vanessa.””
Lila looked frightened.
“Daniel, be careful. When Vanessa feels cornered, she becomes unpredictable.””
I looked at hospital corridors waiting for someone else to protect my child.””
He studied me.
“Then come with us. But you follow my instructions.””
I agreed.
Before leaving, I returned to Amara's room.
Lila was sitting beside her, holding her hand.
“Where are you going?”” she asked.
“To stop Vanessa.””
Lila looked frightened.
“Daniel, be careful. When Vanessa feels cornered, she becomes unpredictable.””
I looked at her.
“You knew she was capable of this?””
Lila lowered her eyes.
“I knew she was capable of hurting me. I never imagined she would hurt Amara.””
I kissed my daughter's forehead.
Then I turned to Lila.
“Don't let anyone take her anywhere without Rachel or me knowing.””
“I won't.””
The adoption agency occupied the third floor of a modern office building.
Its reception area had soft gray furniture, framed photographs of smiling families, and a children's play her.
“You knew she was capable of this?””
Lila lowered her eyes.
“I knew she was capable of hurting me. I never imagined she would hurt Amara.””
I kissed my daughter's forehead.
Then I turned to Lila.
“Don't let anyone take her anywhere without Rachel or me knowing.””
“I won't.””
The adoption agency occupied the third floor of a modern office building.
Its reception area had soft gray furniture, framed photographs of smiling families, and a children's play corner.
It looked harmless.
That made me angrier.
A woman named Patricia Cole greeted us.
When Detective Morgan identified himself, her smile disappeared.
“Is something wrong?””
“We need to discuss an adoption application submitted under Daniel Carter's name.””
Patricia glanced at me.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes.””
She opened a file.
“Your wife told us you were traveling for business and would be unavailable for the final meeting.””
I stared.
“My corner.
It looked harmless.
That made me angrier.
A woman named Patricia Cole greeted us.
When Detective Morgan identified himself, her smile disappeared.
“Is something wrong?””
“We need to discuss an adoption application submitted under Daniel Carter's name.””
Patricia glanced at me.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes.””
She opened a file.
“Your wife told us you were traveling for business and would be unavailable for the final meeting.””
I stared.
“My wife?””
“Vanessa Carter.””
“I haven't authorized an adoption.””
Patricia looked confused.
“But the documents—”
She turned the file toward us.
There was my full name.
My address.
My driver's license number.
And a signature that looked remarkably similar to mine.
I leaned forward.
“That's a forgery.””
Patricia went pale.
“Are you wife?””
“Vanessa Carter.””
“I haven't authorized an adoption.””
Patricia looked confused.
“But the documents—”
She turned the file toward us.
There was my full name.
My address.
My driver's license number.
And a signature that looked remarkably similar to mine.
I leaned forward.
“That's a forgery.””
Patricia went pale.
“Are you certain?””
“I would know if I signed an agreement to adopt a child.””
Detective Morgan photographed the documents.
“Who submitted these?””
Patricia checked the file.
“Mr. Richard Hayes. He identified himself as the family's legal representative.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.””
Patricia turned another page.
“The baby is scheduled to be placed with the family tomorrow morning.””
“Where is he now?””
“At a temporary care facility.””
“Which one?””
She hes certain?””
“I would know if I signed an agreement to adopt a child.””
Detective Morgan photographed the documents.
“Who submitted these?””
Patricia checked the file.
“Mr. Richard Hayes. He identified himself as the family's legal representative.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.””
Patricia turned another page.
“The baby is scheduled to be placed with the family tomorrow morning.””
“Where is he now?””
“At a temporary care facility.””
“Which one?””
She hesitated.
Detective Morgan interrupted.
“Please provide the address and the contact information for the caseworker.””
Patricia complied.
Then she looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, I need to ask something.””
“What?””
“Did you know the child was biologically related to Vanessa?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Patricia slowly closed the file.
“Because the application states thatitated.
Detective Morgan interrupted.
“Please provide the address and the contact information for the caseworker.””
Patricia complied.
Then she looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, I need to ask something.””
“What?””
“Did you know the child was biologically related to Vanessa?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Patricia slowly closed the file.
“Because the application states that Vanessa is the biological aunt of the child.””
I looked at her.
“That's not what the records say.””
“That's what she declared.””
Detective Morgan asked her to preserve every communication, document, and recording connected to the adoption.
As we left, Patricia called after me.
“Mr. Carter?””
I turned.
“There's something else.””
She retrieved Vanessa is the biological aunt of the child.””
I looked at her.
“That's not what the records say.””
“That's what she declared.””
Detective Morgan asked her to preserve every communication, document, and recording connected to the adoption.
As we left, Patricia called after me.
“Mr. Carter?””
I turned.
“There's something else.””
She retrieved a smaller envelope.
“Vanessa left this for you. She said you would understand when you saw it.””
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Vanessa holding a newborn baby boy.
On the back, she had written:
You wanted a family. I'm giving you the son you always deserved.
I crushed the photograph in my hand.
I had never asked for a son.
I had asked for honesty.
The temporary care facility was a quiet residential building with a fenced garden.
A caseworker named a smaller envelope.
“Vanessa left this for you. She said you would understand when you saw it.””
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Vanessa holding a newborn baby boy.
On the back, she had written:
You wanted a family. I'm giving you the son you always deserved.
I crushed the photograph in my hand.
I had never asked for a son.
I had asked for honesty.
The temporary care facility was a quiet residential building with a fenced garden.
A caseworker named Emily met us at the entrance.
She looked uncomfortable when she heard why we were there.
“Is the baby safe?”” I asked.
“Yes. He's been receiving proper care.””
“Can I see him?””
Emily looked at Detective Morgan.
He nodded.
She led us into a nursery.
A tiny boy lay in a white crib.
He was wrapped in a pale blue Emily met us at the entrance.
She looked uncomfortable when she heard why we were there.
“Is the baby safe?”” I asked.
“Yes. He's been receiving proper care.””
“Can I see him?””
Emily looked at Detective Morgan.
He nodded.
She led us into a nursery.
A tiny boy lay in a white crib.
He was wrapped in a pale blue blanket, sleeping peacefully.
I stood beside him.
His little fingers moved.
For a moment, I felt an unexpected sadness.
This child had done nothing wrong.
He was another innocent person trapped in Vanessa's lies.
“What's his blanket, sleeping peacefully.
I stood beside him.
His little fingers moved.
For a moment, I felt an unexpected sadness.
This child had done nothing wrong.
He was another innocent person trapped in Vanessa's lies.
“What's his name?”” I asked.
“His birth records list him as Noah Hayes.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“Hayes?””
Emily nodded.
“That's the surname provided on his original medical paperwork.””
I stared at the sleeping baby.
Richard Hayes's son.
Vanessa's son.
And the child she had planned to introduce into my home as mine.
A nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
“Mr. Carter?””
I turned.
She looked at Detective Morgan.
“We received a call from the laboratory. They need to correct something in the preliminary DNA report.””
My heart began racing.
“What correction?””
She handed the phone to the detective.
He listened.
His expression changed.
Then name?”” I asked.
“His birth records list him as Noah Hayes.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“Hayes?””
Emily nodded.
“That's the surname provided on his original medical paperwork.””
I stared at the sleeping baby.
Richard Hayes's son.
Vanessa's son.
And the child she had planned to introduce into my home as mine.
A nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
“Mr. Carter?””
I turned.
She looked at Detective Morgan.
“We received a call from the laboratory. They need to correct something in the preliminary DNA report.””
My heart began racing.
“What correction?””
She handed the phone to the detective.
He listened.
His expression changed.
Then he looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, the laboratory found a sample identification discrepancy.””
“What does that mean?””
“The sample attributed to Amara may have been mislabeled before the initial analysis.””
I stared at him.
“So the result might be wrong?””
“They're conducting a new test using independently collected samples.””
I looked at Noah.
Then at the detective.
“Do it again.””
He nodded.
“And this time,” I added, “I want he looked at me.
“Mr. Carter, the laboratory found a sample identification discrepancy.””
“What does that mean?””
“The sample attributed to Amara may have been mislabeled before the initial analysis.””
I stared at him.
“So the result might be wrong?””
“They're conducting a new test using independently collected samples.””
I looked at Noah.
Then at the detective.
“Do it again.””
He nodded.
“And this time,” I added, “I want every sample witnessed and documented.””
As we left the nursery, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
Vanessa's voice came through.
“Did you meet my son?””
I stopped walking.
“Where are you?””
She laughed softly.
“That's not important.””
“You forged my signature.””
“You should be thanking me.””
“For what?””
“For giving you the family you always wanted.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
He motioned for me to keep her talking.
“Vanessa, why are every sample witnessed and documented.””
As we left the nursery, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
Vanessa's voice came through.
“Did you meet my son?””
I stopped walking.
“Where are you?””
She laughed softly.
“That's not important.””
“You forged my signature.””
“You should be thanking me.””
“For what?””
“For giving you the family you always wanted.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
He motioned for me to keep her talking.
“Vanessa, why are you doing this?””
Her voice became cold.
“Because Lila took everything from me.””
“Lila didn't take anything from you.””
“She had the husband. She had the daughter. She had the perfect life.””
“And what did Amara do?””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Amara was never supposed to stay.””
The line disconnected.
Detective Morgan immediately began tracing the call.
But before he could speak, a message appeared on my phone.
It contained a you doing this?””
Her voice became cold.
“Because Lila took everything from me.””
“Lila didn't take anything from you.””
“She had the husband. She had the daughter. She had the perfect life.””
“And what did Amara do?””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Amara was never supposed to stay.””
The line disconnected.
Detective Morgan immediately began tracing the call.
But before he could speak, a message appeared on my phone.
It contained a photograph of Lila sitting beside Amara's hospital bed.
Taken less than five minutes earlier.
Underneath it was a sentence.
You should be more careful about who you leave alone with your daughter.
I called the hospital.
Rachel answered.
“Daniel?””
“Where's Lila?””
“In Amara photograph of Lila sitting beside Amara's hospital bed.
Taken less than five minutes earlier.
Underneath it was a sentence.
You should be more careful about who you leave alone with your daughter.
I called the hospital.
Rachel answered.
“Daniel?””
“Where's Lila?””
“In Amara's room.””
“Put her on the phone.””
A pause.
May you like
Then Rachel whispered:
“Daniel, she's gone.””
