Chapter 12: The Mother Who Disappeared Twice
I drove back to the hospital so fast that Detective Morgan had to tell me twice to slow down.
When I reached Amara's floor, Rachel was standing outside the room.
Her face was white.
“Where is she?””
Rachel shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Where's Lila?””
“She said she was going downstairs to get coffee. That was twenty minutes ago.””
I looked through the glass.
Amara was awake.
She immediately reached for me.
“Daddy!””
I rushed inside.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“Where's Mommy?””
I forced myself to remain calm.
“She's coming back.””
Amara looked toward the empty chair.
“She promised she wouldn't leave.””
I sat beside her.
“I know, sweetheart.””
She took my hand.
“Did I make her get coffee. That was twenty minutes ago.””
I looked through the glass.
Amara was awake.
She immediately reached for me.
“Daddy!””
I rushed inside.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“Where's Mommy?””
I forced myself to remain calm.
“She's coming back.””
Amara looked toward the empty chair.
“She promised she wouldn't leave.””
I sat beside her.
“I know, sweetheart.””
She took my hand.
“Did I make her sad?””
“No.””
“Because she looked like she was crying.””
I swallowed.
“Sometimes grown-ups cry when they're worried. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.””
Detective Morgan entered with another officer.
“Mr. Carter, we reviewed the security footage.””
“And?””
“Lila left through the east entrance.””
“Was she alone?””
He hesitated.
“No.””
I stood.
“Who was with her?””
He showed sad?””
“No.””
“Because she looked like she was crying.””
I swallowed.
“Sometimes grown-ups cry when they're worried. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.””
Detective Morgan entered with another officer.
“Mr. Carter, we reviewed the security footage.””
“And?””
“Lila left through the east entrance.””
“Was she alone?””
He hesitated.
“No.””
I stood.
“Who was with her?””
He showed me a still image from the security camera.
A woman wearing a dark coat was standing beside Lila near the hospital parking garage.
Her face was partially obscured.
But I recognized the clothes.
The cream-colored coat.
The black handbag.
The same diamond earrings.
Vanessa.
“She took her,” I whispered.
Detective Morgan shook his head.
“We don't know that yet.””
I grabbed my phone.
I called Lila.
It went straight to voicemail.
Then I called again.
Nothing.
A text me a still image from the security camera.
A woman wearing a dark coat was standing beside Lila near the hospital parking garage.
Her face was partially obscured.
But I recognized the clothes.
The cream-colored coat.
The black handbag.
The same diamond earrings.
Vanessa.
“She took her,” I whispered.
Detective Morgan shook his head.
“We don't know that yet.””
I grabbed my phone.
I called Lila.
It went straight to voicemail.
Then I called again.
Nothing.
A text arrived.
From her number.
Daniel, please don't look for me. I need to finish something.
I stared at the screen.
“That isn't her.””
The detective frowned.
“What makes you say that?””
“Lila wouldn't leave Amara without saying goodbye.””
He looked at the message.
“Could someone else have her phone?””
I nodded.
“Vanessa.””
An officer reviewed the hospital's external security cameras.
At 10:42 a.m., Lila was seen entering a dark arrived.
From her number.
Daniel, please don't look for me. I need to finish something.
I stared at the screen.
“That isn't her.””
The detective frowned.
“What makes you say that?””
“Lila wouldn't leave Amara without saying goodbye.””
He looked at the message.
“Could someone else have her phone?””
I nodded.
“Vanessa.””
An officer reviewed the hospital's external security cameras.
At 10:42 a.m., Lila was seen entering a dark SUV.
Vanessa was already inside.
At 10:47, the vehicle left the parking lot.
Detective Morgan sent the license plate to dispatch.
It came back registered to Richard Hayes.
“Of course,” I muttered.
He turned toward me.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to stay with your daughter.””
“I need to find my wife.””
“We have officers searching for the vehicle.””
I looked at Amara.
She was watching us through the glass.
Her small fingers were wrapped around the stuffed SUV.
Vanessa was already inside.
At 10:47, the vehicle left the parking lot.
Detective Morgan sent the license plate to dispatch.
It came back registered to Richard Hayes.
“Of course,” I muttered.
He turned toward me.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to stay with your daughter.””
“I need to find my wife.””
“We have officers searching for the vehicle.””
I looked at Amara.
She was watching us through the glass.
Her small fingers were wrapped around the stuffed rabbit Rachel had brought.
I couldn't leave her.
Not again.
I returned to the room.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Is Mommy coming back?””
I sat beside her.
“I hope so.””
She looked down.
“Vanessa told me Mommy always leaves.””
My chest tightened.
“Vanessa was wrong.””
Amara stared at her rabbit.
“Can I tell you something?””
“Anything.””
“Yesterday, when she gave me the medicine, she showed me a picture.””
“What rabbit Rachel had brought.
I couldn't leave her.
Not again.
I returned to the room.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Is Mommy coming back?””
I sat beside her.
“I hope so.””
She looked down.
“Vanessa told me Mommy always leaves.””
My chest tightened.
“Vanessa was wrong.””
Amara stared at her rabbit.
“Can I tell you something?””
“Anything.””
“Yesterday, when she gave me the medicine, she showed me a picture.””
“What picture?””
“A picture of Mommy standing next to a big gate.””
I leaned closer.
“What kind of gate?””
“An iron gate. There was a sign.””
“What did it say?””
Amara thought carefully.
“Something like Green... Green something.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
“Greenfield?””
Amara nodded.
“Maybe.””
The detective immediately made a note.
“There's a Greenfield estate outside the city. It picture?””
“A picture of Mommy standing next to a big gate.””
I leaned closer.
“What kind of gate?””
“An iron gate. There was a sign.””
“What did it say?””
Amara thought carefully.
“Something like Green... Green something.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
“Greenfield?””
Amara nodded.
“Maybe.””
The detective immediately made a note.
“There's a Greenfield estate outside the city. It belonged to a medical foundation years ago.””
I stood.
“Let's go.””
The estate was surrounded by tall trees and an old stone wall.
A security camera hung above the entrance.
Detective Morgan arranged for additional officers to accompany us.
The main building belonged to a medical foundation years ago.””
I stood.
“Let's go.””
The estate was surrounded by tall trees and an old stone wall.
A security camera hung above the entrance.
Detective Morgan arranged for additional officers to accompany us.
The main building looked abandoned.
But fresh tire tracks marked the driveway.
One officer approached the front door.
He knocked.
No answer.
Then he tried the handle.
Unlocked.
We entered.
The smell of old furniture and disinfectant filled the hallway.
“Police!”” Detective Morgan called.
“Is anyone here?””
A faint sound came from upstairs.
A woman's voice.
“Daniel?””
I ran toward the staircase.
“Lila!””
Detective Morgan followed.
We found her in a small bedroom.
She was sitting on the floor, her wrists secured with plastic ties.
Her cheek looked abandoned.
But fresh tire tracks marked the driveway.
One officer approached the front door.
He knocked.
No answer.
Then he tried the handle.
Unlocked.
We entered.
The smell of old furniture and disinfectant filled the hallway.
“Police!”” Detective Morgan called.
“Is anyone here?””
A faint sound came from upstairs.
A woman's voice.
“Daniel?””
I ran toward the staircase.
“Lila!””
Detective Morgan followed.
We found her in a small bedroom.
She was sitting on the floor, her wrists secured with plastic ties.
Her cheek was bruised.
I dropped to my knees.
“Lila!””
She began crying.
“Daniel, Amara?””
“She's safe.””
I cut through the ties with a pocketknife an officer handed me.
Lila grabbed my arms.
“Vanessa has the records.””
“What records?””
“The original hospital records. The ones proving who gave birth to which child was bruised.
I dropped to my knees.
“Lila!””
She began crying.
“Daniel, Amara?””
“She's safe.””
I cut through the ties with a pocketknife an officer handed me.
Lila grabbed my arms.
“Vanessa has the records.””
“What records?””
“The original hospital records. The ones proving who gave birth to which child.””
I helped her stand.
“Where is she?””
“She's downstairs.””
A loud crash came from the corridor.
An officer shouted.
Then another voice answered.
“Don't move!””
We hurried toward the stairs.
Vanessa was standing near the front door, holding a leather folder.
Two officers had blocked her exit.
She looked at me.
Then at Lila.
Her face twisted.
“You always get everything, don't you?””
I stepped forward.
“Put the folder down.””
Vanessa laughed.””
I helped her stand.
“Where is she?””
“She's downstairs.””
A loud crash came from the corridor.
An officer shouted.
Then another voice answered.
“Don't move!””
We hurried toward the stairs.
Vanessa was standing near the front door, holding a leather folder.
Two officers had blocked her exit.
She looked at me.
Then at Lila.
Her face twisted.
“You always get everything, don't you?””
I stepped forward.
“Put the folder down.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You still don't understand.””
“I understand that you kidnapped my wife.””
“She wanted to come with me.””
Lila shook her head.
“You dragged me here.””
Vanessa pointed at her.
“You owe me!””
“For what?””
“For giving you the life you wanted!””
Lila stared at her.
“You gave me five years of nightmares.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
Then she turned toward me.
“Daniel, I can still fix this.””
“There's nothing left to fix.””
She opened the folder and removed.
“You still don't understand.””
“I understand that you kidnapped my wife.””
“She wanted to come with me.””
Lila shook her head.
“You dragged me here.””
Vanessa pointed at her.
“You owe me!””
“For what?””
“For giving you the life you wanted!””
Lila stared at her.
“You gave me five years of nightmares.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
Then she turned toward me.
“Daniel, I can still fix this.””
“There's nothing left to fix.””
She opened the folder and removed a document.
“Look at this.””
I didn't move.
“Read it.””
Detective Morgan took the paper from her.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at Lila.
“Mrs. Carter, is this your signature?””
Lila stared.
Her face went completely pale.
“No.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Tell him what you signed five years ago.””
Lila shook her head.
“I never signed that.””
The detective studied the document.
It was a document.
“Look at this.””
I didn't move.
“Read it.””
Detective Morgan took the paper from her.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at Lila.
“Mrs. Carter, is this your signature?””
Lila stared.
Her face went completely pale.
“No.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Tell him what you signed five years ago.””
Lila shook her head.
“I never signed that.””
The detective studied the document.
It was a parental consent form.
It stated that Lila had voluntarily surrendered all parental rights to her newborn daughter.
And beneath the signature was a witness's name.
*Daniel Carter.*
I stared.
“I never signed this.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You did.””
“No, I didn't.””
“You signed it in the hospital.””
“I was never shown this document!””
She smiled.
“Then perhaps you should ask Richard why he used your signature.””
a parental consent form.
It stated that Lila had voluntarily surrendered all parental rights to her newborn daughter.
And beneath the signature was a witness's name.
*Daniel Carter.*
I stared.
“I never signed this.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You did.””
“No, I didn't.””
“You signed it in the hospital.””
“I was never shown this document!””
She smiled.
“Then perhaps you should ask Richard why he used your signature.””
Detective Morgan immediately radioed for Richard's location.
But Lila was staring at another page in the folder.
She reached for it with trembling fingers.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
She pointed to a section near the bottom.
“Look at the child's name.””
I leaned closer.
The document didn't list Amara.
It listed another name.
*Sophie Hart.*
Lila's voice broke.
“That was the nameDetective Morgan immediately radioed for Richard's location.
But Lila was staring at another page in the folder.
She reached for it with trembling fingers.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
She pointed to a section near the bottom.
“Look at the child's name.””
I leaned closer.
The document didn't list Amara.
It listed another name.
*Sophie Hart.*
Lila's voice broke.
“That was the name I chose for my daughter before she was born.””
I looked at her.
“Why would Vanessa use that name?””
Lila shook her head.
Then she whispered:
“Because she knows something we don't.””
Detective Morgan turned another page.
It contained a hospital transfer record.
A newborn girl had been moved from St. Mary's to a private facility on the same night Lila disappeared.
The destination was listed as:
*GREENFIELD CHILDREN'S HOME.*
I looked around I chose for my daughter before she was born.””
I looked at her.
“Why would Vanessa use that name?””
Lila shook her head.
Then she whispered:
“Because she knows something we don't.””
Detective Morgan turned another page.
It contained a hospital transfer record.
A newborn girl had been moved from St. Mary's to a private facility on the same night Lila disappeared.
The destination was listed as:
*GREENFIELD CHILDREN'S HOME.*
I looked around the abandoned estate.
“Is that what this place used to be?””
The detective nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Then Lila grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, five years ago, Vanessa told me my baby had died.””
She began sobbing.
“But I remember hearing two babies cry that night.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“What are you saying?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“I'm saying Amara might not be the only daughter we lost.””
An officer the abandoned estate.
“Is that what this place used to be?””
The detective nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Then Lila grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, five years ago, Vanessa told me my baby had died.””
She began sobbing.
“But I remember hearing two babies cry that night.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“What are you saying?””
She looked directly into my eyes.
“I'm saying Amara might not be the only daughter we lost.””
An officer hurried downstairs.
“Detective! We found something in the basement.””
Morgan turned.
“What?””
“A room full of medical files. And there's a child listed in the most recent records.””
“Who?””
The officer looked at the page.
Then he read the name aloud.
“Amara Carter.””
I stopped breathing.
The record was dated three weeks earlier.
Beside her name was a scheduled appointment.
**TRANSFER TO NEW GUARD hurried downstairs.
“Detective! We found something in the basement.””
Morgan turned.
“What?””
“A room full of medical files. And there's a child listed in the most recent records.””
“Who?””
The officer looked at the page.
Then he read the name aloud.
“Amara Carter.””
I stopped breathing.
The record was dated three weeks earlier.
Beside her name was a scheduled appointment.
*TRANSFER TO NEW GUARDIAN — NOVEMBER 6.*
And beneath that, in Vanessa's handwriting, were four words:
The replacement is ready.
IAN — NOVEMBER 6.**
May you like
And beneath that, in Vanessa's handwriting, were four words:
The replacement is ready.
