Chapter 9: Room 214
I knew it was a trap.
The message was too convenient.
It arrived moments after Richard mentioned three children, and it instructed me to come alone to the exact location written in his letter.
But if there was even a small chance that my brother was waiting for me, I couldn't ignore it.
Daniel disagreed.
"Absolutely not.""
I paced across the guesthouse living room.
"Daniel, what if he's really there?""
"Then we go together.""
"The message specifically said to come alone.""
"That's exactly why you shouldn't.""
Eleanor sat silently on the sofa.
Her face had grown pale since Victor's call.
"I can arrange security," she offered.
I turned toward her.
"How do I know the security team isn't working for Victor?""
She looked hurt.
"Emily, I know you don't trust me. But I would never put Lily in danger.""
I glanced at my daughter, who was sleeping in Daniel's arms.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"Then don't believe my words. Look at what I do.""
She took out her phone.
"Give me an hour.""
She called a private investigator she had used during the original search for me.
His name was Samuel Reed.
He arrived forty minutes later carrying a laptop and a small leather briefcase.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair and a scar across his chin.
"Mrs. Whitmore," he greeted Eleanor.
Then he looked at me.
"Miss Carter.""
I showed him the message.
He examined the photograph.
"Where did this come from?""
"An unknown number.""
Samuel studied the background.
"The hospital logo is St. Agnes.""
"Can you find out whether the photograph is recent?""
He connected his laptop to his phone.
"Give me a few minutes.""
While he worked, Eleanor explained the history of Margaret Bell.
Samuel listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he closed his laptop.
"I investigated Margaret's disappearance twenty-two years ago.""
I leaned forward.
"What did you find?""
"Not much. Her car was found near the river. Her apartment was emptied. Her bank account was closed.""
"Was she dead?""
"No.""
I stared at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I found a transaction six months after her disappearance. A withdrawal from an account in another state.""
Eleanor looked stunned.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"I did. Mr. Victor told me the transaction was unrelated.""
I felt anger rising.
"Victor knew?""
Samuel nodded.
"He paid my agency to close the investigation.""
The room went silent.
Daniel stood.
"How much did he pay you?""
Samuel looked ashamed.
"Enough for me to believe the case was finished.""
"Did you know he was hiding a child?""
"No.""
Samuel turned his laptop around.
"I checked the photograph. It was taken at St. Agnes three days ago.""
My heart began racing.
"Then someone there has my brother.""
"Possibly.""
"Can we go?""
Samuel nodded.
"But we need to be careful. The home has been under private management for years. Victor's company has funded several renovations.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Of course it has.""
We arrived at St. Agnes just after sunset.
The building looked nothing like the grand Whitmore mansion.
It was an old brick institution with narrow windows, a rusted fence, and a faded sign above the entrance.
A receptionist sat behind a glass partition.
"Good evening.""
I stepped forward.
"I'm looking for someone named Thomas Bell.""
Her expression changed.
"Do you have an appointment?""
"No. I'm his sister.""
She looked at the computer.
Then she shook her head.
"We don't have a resident by that name.""
I placed the photograph on the counter.
"He's been here.""
She glanced at it.
Then she quietly closed the folder in front of her.
"Please wait.""
She disappeared through a side door.
Samuel leaned toward me.
"Something's wrong.""
A minute later, a woman in her sixties emerged.
She wore a navy cardigan and carried a clipboard.
"I'm Margaret Shaw, the administrator.""
I showed her the photograph.
"Do you know this boy?""
She studied it for several seconds.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Who told you to come here?""
"My mother.""
The woman's expression tightened.
"Your mother?""
"Margaret Bell.""
She closed her eyes.
"Oh, dear.""
My heart began pounding.
"Is she here?""
Margaret Shaw shook her head.
"No.""
"Then where is Thomas?""
She looked toward the corridor.
"He's not Thomas anymore.""
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
"What do you mean?""
"His name was changed when he was transferred.""
"Transferred where?""
She hesitated.
Then she looked at Samuel.
"Are you police?""
"No.""
"Then I can't tell you.""
I pulled out the photograph of Margaret holding me as a baby.
The administrator stared at it.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my father.""
She slowly sat down.
"Margaret was here.""
I stepped closer.
"When?""
"Eleven years ago.""
"Was she pregnant?""
The woman nodded.
"She came with a little boy and a newborn baby.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Two children?""
"Yes.""
"Where are they now?""
Margaret Shaw looked toward the security camera above the reception desk.
Then she lowered her voice.
"One was taken away by Victor Whitmore.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Which one?""
She looked at me.
"The baby.""
I could barely breathe.
"What about the other child?""
"Thomas was adopted.""
"By whom?""
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, a fire alarm began ringing.
The receptionist shouted from the hallway.
"Everyone outside! Now!""
People began moving toward the exits.
Samuel grabbed my arm.
"Emily, stay close.""
We were pushed into the courtyard with the other residents.
I turned toward the administrator.
She was standing near the doorway, looking frightened.
Then she slipped something into my hand.
A small brass key.
"Room 214," she whispered.
I looked down at it.
"What's inside?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Everything Margaret left behind.""
Before I could ask another question, a security guard approached her.
"Mrs. Shaw, you need to come with me.""
She looked at me one final time.
Then she whispered:
"Your mother didn't abandon you. She came back for you.""
The guard led her away.
Samuel examined the key.
"Room 214 is on the second floor.""
Daniel looked toward the building.
"We're not going inside while the alarm is going off.""
But I couldn't wait.
I ran toward the staircase.
The hallway was empty.
Room 214 was at the far end.
I inserted the key.
The lock turned.
Inside was a small room with a metal bed, a wooden dresser, and a wardrobe.
Dust covered everything.
On the wall hung a photograph of Margaret holding three children.
Me.
Thomas.
And a baby I had never seen.
I stepped closer.
A handwritten note was pinned beneath it.
*My three beautiful children. If you are reading this, I failed to bring you home together.*
I felt tears running down my face.
I opened the dresser.
Inside were dozens of letters, medical documents, and three small birth bracelets.
One belonged to me.
One belonged to Thomas.
The third had a name engraved on it.
*LILY BELL.*
My daughter's name.
I dropped the bracelet.
Daniel rushed toward me.
"Emily?""
I pointed at the engraving.
Lily.
The baby Victor had taken.
The baby Margaret had warned me about.
My phone began ringing.
Unknown number.
I answered with trembling fingers.
A woman's voice whispered:
"Emily, it's Margaret.""
I almost collapsed.
"Where are you?""
"I'm nearby. I've been trying to reach you.""
"Why did you tell me not to let anyone take Lily?""
There was a long silence.
Then Margaret spoke.
"Because Lily isn't just your daughter, Emily.""
I looked at Daniel.
His face had gone completely white.
Margaret continued.
"Victor knows who her biological father really is.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What are you talking about?""
May you like
Then she said the one thing I had never imagined hearing.
"Daniel isn't Lily's father.""
