Chapter 11: Two Daughters, One Impossible Choice
Detective Harris turned the house into an operational command center.
Officers were assigned to locate Daniel's vehicle, monitor the roads around St. Mary's, and identify every address connected to the name Olivia.
Meanwhile, I sat in Thomas's living room, staring at the photograph of the little girl.
My daughter.
I had spent six years believing I had one child.
Now someone was telling me I had two.
And both were somewhere in the hands of a man who had spent years manipulating our family.
"Where is Maya?"" I asked.
Thomas looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"Then find out.""
"I'm trying.""
"No. You're going to tell me everything you know.""
Thomas lowered his head.
"Emily discovered the twin pregnancy during her second trimester.""
I looked up.
"She never told me.""
"She wanted to. But Daniel had already started threatening her.""
"Why would he care about her children?""
"Because he believed one of them carried a genetic marker connected to a family inheritance.""
I frowned.
"What inheritance?""
Thomas hesitated.
"Daniel's family owned several properties and a medical research company. There was a trust established for the next generation. The original beneficiary was supposed to be a child born into the Reed family.""
"Olivia?""
"Yes.""
"Why would he take Maya?""
"Because he didn't know which twin was biologically connected to the trust.""
I stared at him.
"You're telling me he switched two newborn babies over money?""
Thomas nodded.
"And power.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"What happened to Emily?""
Thomas looked away.
"She discovered the truth and threatened to expose him.""
"Then he killed her?""
"No.""
His answer came too quickly.
I looked at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I was with her the night she died.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
Thomas swallowed.
"Emily was frightened. She had received a message from Daniel. He told her he knew where the twins were.""
"Where were they?""
"One was with you. The other was with a family Daniel had selected.""
I stood.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She was afraid you'd try to confront him.""
"I should have confronted him!""
"And he would have used that against you.""
Thomas's voice cracked.
"Emily wanted to protect you, Marcus. She believed that if Daniel thought you knew nothing, he would leave Maya alone.""
I looked toward the hallway.
Detective Harris was speaking with another officer.
I lowered my voice.
"Did Daniel kill Emily?""
Thomas shook his head.
"Not directly.""
"What does that mean?""
"He arranged for her medication to be changed.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"What medication?""
"Emily had a heart condition. She took medication every day. Someone replaced her prescription.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Thomas looked toward Vanessa.
She was sitting in the corner, listening.
"Vanessa.""
I turned.
My wife immediately shook her head.
"No.""
Thomas continued.
"She delivered the medication to Emily's house.""
Vanessa stood.
"I didn't know what was in it!""
"Did you give it to her?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Daniel told me it was the same medicine. He said Emily was getting worse because she wasn't following her treatment.""
I felt sick.
"You watched her take it?""
Vanessa nodded.
"And she died.""
"I didn't know!""
I walked toward her.
"Did you ever tell the police?""
She shook her head.
"Daniel said he'd make sure Maya disappeared if I did.""
I stopped.
For a moment, I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked at Detective Harris.
"She needs to tell you everything.""
Harris nodded.
"She will.""
He received a call.
Then another.
His expression changed.
He turned toward us.
"We've located the vehicle.""
My heart jumped.
"Where?""
"Near the old railway station.""
"Is Maya inside?""
"We don't know yet.""
I grabbed my jacket.
Harris blocked the door.
"You're not going alone.""
"I wasn't planning to.""
We drove to the railway station with two police vehicles.
The building had been closed for years.
Its windows were covered with dust.
A row of abandoned cars stood beside the platform.
One black sedan was parked near the entrance.
Its rear door was open.
Detective Harris approached cautiously.
I followed behind him.
There was a pink hair clip on the ground.
Maya's.
I picked it up.
My hands started shaking.
"She's been here.""
An officer called from the far side of the building.
"Detective!""
We ran.
A small black bag lay beside an old bench.
Inside were children's clothes, a bottle of water, and two photographs.
One showed Maya.
The other showed Olivia.
On the back of each photograph was a name.
*MAYA ELLISON — THE CHILD WE COULD NOT KEEP.*
*OLIVIA BENNETT — THE CHILD WE COULD NOT LOSE.*
I stared at the second name.
Bennett.
I turned toward Thomas.
"Why does she have your surname?""
Thomas looked devastated.
"Because I arranged her placement.""
I stepped toward him.
"You?""
"I thought it was the safest option.""
"You gave my daughter to another family?""
"I didn't know she was your daughter at the time.""
"Who were the parents?""
Thomas hesitated.
"A couple who couldn't have children. They were good people.""
I grabbed his shirt.
"You let someone raise my daughter without telling them who she was!""
Detective Harris pulled me back.
"Marcus! Stop!""
Thomas looked at me.
"They loved her.""
"That's not the point!""
"I know.""
He looked down.
"Emily wanted Olivia to have a normal childhood. She believed that if she stayed hidden, Daniel would never find her.""
I released him.
Then I noticed something beneath the photographs.
A folded piece of paper.
I opened it.
There were directions to an address outside town.
And a sentence written in black ink.
*THE FATHER MUST CHOOSE WHICH DAUGHTER GOES HOME FIRST.*
I handed it to Harris.
He read it.
His expression hardened.
"He's playing games.""
My phone rang.
The unknown number.
I answered.
Daniel's voice was calm.
"Marcus.""
"Where are my daughters?""
"Together.""
"Let them go.""
"I will.""
"When?""
"After you make a decision.""
"What decision?""
"Olivia has spent six years with a family who loves her. Maya has spent six years with you. I can return one child without disturbing the other.""
I gripped the phone.
"They're sisters.""
"Biologically, yes.""
"They belong together.""
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before allowing Emily to hide one of them.""
I closed my eyes.
"You're the one who separated them.""
A pause.
Then Daniel laughed.
"You're beginning to understand.""
"What do you want?""
"The original Room 219 file. Bring it to the railway station at midnight.""
"And the girls?""
"You'll get one.""
"Both.""
"One first.""
I felt rage rising.
"If you hurt either of them—"
"Marcus, I'm not the one who should be worried about hurting children.""
His voice became colder.
"Ask Vanessa what happened to the third baby.""
I froze.
"What third baby?""
The call ended.
I turned toward Vanessa.
Her face had gone completely white.
Thomas stared at her.
Detective Harris noticed immediately.
"What is he talking about?""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"Vanessa. What third baby?""
She covered her mouth.
Then she whispered:
"Emily didn't have twins.""
I stared.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at me through tears.
"She had triplets.""
Nobody moved.
She continued.
"Two girls and a boy.""
I felt the world disappear beneath my feet.
"Where is the boy?""
May you like
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"Daniel took him.""
