Chapter 4: The Man Who Wanted My Daughter
Nia had spent seven months imagining what she would say if Ryan Whitmore ever came back.
She had rehearsed speeches in the shower, whispered accusations into the darkness while Lily slept, and imagined watching him beg for a second chance.
But she had never imagined standing inside a police station with her newborn in her arms, staring at a photograph of the man who had abandoned them while he threatened to take their daughter.
“I'm going to the research center,” Nia said.
Detective Hannah Brooks immediately shook her head.
“No. Absolutely not.””
“Then send someone who can get Brielle out.””
“We are already mobilizing officers,” Brooks replied.
“Ryan has made a direct threat involving a child. We are treating this as an urgent situation.””
“Urgent?”” Nia's voice cracked.
“He knows my signature. He knows where I live. He has documents claiming he can take Lily. What exactly are we waiting for?””
Officer Cole stood near the window, speaking quietly into his radio. His expression was grim.
When he finished, he approached Nia.
“The research center is about twenty minutes from here. A patrol unit is on its way to secure the perimeter.””
“And Brielle?””
“We're trying to locate her vehicle.””
Nia looked down at her daughter.
Lily's tiny fingers curled around the edge of her pink blanket. Her face was peaceful, her breathing soft and regular.
She had no idea that her grandfather might be trying to claim her, that her father had apparently used her existence to conceal millions of dollars, or that a single piece of paper might change the course of her life.
Nia kissed her forehead.
“I'm not letting them turn you into a transaction,” she whispered.
Brooks heard her.
Her expression softened.
“Then let us do this properly. If you walk into that building without protection, Ryan gets to control the situation again.””
Nia stared at the detective.
“What would you do if it were your daughter?””
Brooks didn't answer immediately.
Then she picked up her coat.
“I'd make sure the people threatening her never got close enough to touch her.””
The research center stood on the edge of a wooded property outside the city.
It was a modern building of glass and gray stone, surrounded by security cameras and an iron fence. A bronze plaque beside the entrance identified it as the Charles Whitmore Institute for Advanced Medicine.
A second plaque listed the names of its major donors.
Charles Whitmore's name appeared first.
Nia sat in the back of an unmarked police vehicle, watching officers approach the main entrance.
The building looked almost peaceful beneath the evening sky.
Too peaceful.
“Any sign of Brielle?”” she asked.
Brooks checked her phone.
“Her vehicle was last detected near the property. We haven't confirmed she's inside.””
“Can we go in?””
“Not until we establish the legal basis for entry.””
Nia let out a disbelieving laugh.
“My daughter is the reason we're here, and you're worried about paperwork?””
“I'm worried about keeping you alive long enough to get your daughter answers,” Brooks replied.
“Ryan is counting on you to act emotionally. We won't give him that advantage.””
The words stung because they were true.
Nia forced herself to breathe slowly.
Then her phone vibrated.
Another message from the unknown number.
Locker 214. Basement archive. Bring the original key.
She showed Brooks.
The detective studied the screen.
“That's useful. It confirms someone wants you inside the building.””
“Could it be Brielle?””
“Possibly. Or someone trying to lure you into a trap.””
A uniformed officer hurried toward them.
“Detective, we've located a service entrance. The building manager says the basement archive is accessible from the east corridor.””
Brooks looked at Nia.
“Stay here.””
But as the officers moved toward the entrance, Nia noticed something through the glass doors.
A woman stood in the lobby.
White dress.
Bare feet.
Dark hair falling loose over her shoulders.
Brielle.
She was alone, clutching a leather folder against her chest.
Nia pushed open the vehicle door.
“Nia, wait!”” Brooks shouted.
But Brielle had already seen her.
She hurried toward the glass and pressed one hand against it.
Her lips formed two words.
Help me.
Then the lights inside the building went out.
A second later, an alarm began screaming.
Officers rushed through the entrance.
Brooks grabbed Nia's arm and pulled her behind the vehicle as the lobby filled with shouting.
“Stay down!””
Nia could hear footsteps pounding across the marble floor.
Then a man's voice rose above the alarm.
“Find the baby!””
Her blood turned to ice.
That was not Ryan's voice.
It was older. Deeper.
And Nia recognized it from the few times she had spoken to Ryan's father.
Charles Whitmore.
The officers restored power within minutes, but the lobby was empty when they reached it.
Brielle had vanished.
So had Charles.
A security guard lay unconscious beside the reception desk. He was breathing, but a dark bruise was already swelling across his forehead.
Brooks crouched beside him.
“Sir, can you hear me?””
The guard groaned.
“Basement,” he whispered.
“They went downstairs.””
Brooks stood.
“Cole, take two officers and clear the lower level. Nobody goes alone.””
Nia caught her arm.
“What about Brielle?””
“We'll find her.””
“I saw her asking for help.””
“And we'll get her out.””
Brooks turned to the officers.
“Move.””
Nia stayed behind the police line, fighting the urge to follow them.
Then she noticed a small object near the reception desk.
A silver bracelet.
Brielle's wedding bracelet.
Nia picked it up carefully.
Something was engraved on the inside.
For my daughter, always. Love, Eleanor.
Nia frowned.
Brielle's mother had given her that bracelet.
Why would it be here?
She turned it over.
A tiny piece of folded paper was tucked beneath the clasp.
Nia opened it.
Three words had been written in hurried handwriting.
*Lily isn't his.*
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
What did that mean?
Ryan was Lily's biological father. Nia had never doubted it. Their relationship had ended abruptly, but there had been no other man, no hidden affair, no uncertainty about the timing.
Unless the note referred to something else.
A child's inheritance.
A guardianship.
A medical record.
Footsteps approached behind her.
Officer Cole emerged from the basement corridor, his face pale.
“We found the archive,” he said.
“And?””
“Locker 214 was open.””
Nia stared at him.
“What's inside?””
Cole hesitated.
“A medical file. Several photographs. And a sealed envelope addressed to you.””
He handed her the envelope.
Her name was written across the front in a familiar hand.
Ryan's.
Nia opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
If you're reading this, my father has already told you the lie he intends to use against you. Don't trust him. Don't trust Eleanor. And whatever happens, do not let them take Lily's blood.
Nia read the last sentence again.
Lily's blood.
“What does this mean?”” she whispered.
Cole looked toward the basement.
“I don't know.””
A loud crash echoed from below.
Then came a gunshot.
Every officer in the hallway reached for their weapon.
Nia stumbled backward.
Cole seized her shoulders.
“Get behind me!””
A second shot rang out.
Then silence.
From the basement stairwell, a woman screamed.
“Nia! RUN!””
May you like
It was Brielle.
And she was screaming for her life.
