Chapter 4: The Price of Getting Rid of My Daughter
"Marcus, give me that paper.""
Vanessa's voice was barely recognizable.
I stood in the middle of our living room, holding the printed email Noah had taken from her bedroom. The birthday decorations still hung from the ceiling. Blue balloons floated above the dining table. Half-eaten cupcakes sat beside expensive presents.
Everything looked normal.
Except nothing in my house was normal anymore.
I read the email again.
*Once Marcus signs the guardianship transfer, we can finally remove Lily from the household permanently.*
Below that sentence was a proposed payment of $25,000.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who was paying you?""
She shook her head.
"Nobody was paying me.""
"Then explain the twenty-five thousand dollars.""
"It's not what you think.""
"Then tell me what it is.""
She glanced toward Noah.
"Can we discuss this privately?""
"No.""
"Marcus, please.""
I held up the paper.
"You were arranging to transfer custody of my daughter without my knowledge.""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"My mother was trying to help.""
"Help with what?""
"With Lily.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"She's not a problem to be solved.""
Vanessa raised her voice.
"You don't understand what it's like living with a child who isn't yours!""
The room went silent.
Even Noah stopped moving.
I stared at my wife.
"She's your stepdaughter. You knew that when you married me.""
"I thought I could handle it.""
"You promised to love her.""
"I promised to love you!""
The words came out so loudly that Noah flinched.
Vanessa immediately softened her voice.
"Marcus, I was overwhelmed. You were always working. I had two children to look after. Noah needed attention too.""
I looked toward the birthday table.
Noah had twelve friends at his party, a giant cake, expensive presents, and a rented inflatable castle.
Lily had a garbage bag.
"Your son got a birthday party," I said.
"My daughter got locked in a laundry room.""
Vanessa looked away.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Two police officers entered, followed by a woman carrying a small medical bag. Rachel came downstairs with Lily in her arms.
One officer introduced himself as Officer Bennett.
"Mr. Hale?""
"Yes.""
"We received your call. Can you explain what happened?""
I handed him the email and showed him the security footage.
Officer Bennett watched several seconds without speaking.
His partner, Officer Lewis, asked Vanessa to step into the kitchen.
She refused.
"I haven't done anything illegal.""
Officer Bennett remained calm.
"Ma'am, we're investigating a report involving a young child being confined and deprived of food. We need you to cooperate.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Tell them this is a misunderstanding.""
I didn't answer.
The female responder approached Lily.
"Hi, sweetheart. My name is Emily. Can I sit with you?""
Lily nodded.
Emily crouched beside her.
"Have you eaten today?""
Lily pointed toward the kitchen.
"Daddy gave me chicken.""
"That's good. Are you hungry now?""
Lily looked at me before answering.
"Can I have some?""
Emily's expression changed.
"Of course, sweetheart. You can have something whenever you're hungry.""
Lily slowly nodded.
Then she asked a question that made Rachel turn away and cry.
"Will Mommy lock the door if I eat too much?""
Officer Bennett looked toward Vanessa.
"Ma'am, I need to ask you something. How long has this been happening?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"It hasn't been happening.""
I played the footage again.
Officer Bennett paused it at the moment Vanessa locked Lily inside.
"Is that you?""
Vanessa stared at the screen.
"Yes.""
"Why did you lock the child in that room?""
"She was misbehaving.""
"How old is she?""
"Four.""
"And you believed locking a four-year-old in a laundry room was appropriate discipline?""
Vanessa started crying again.
"I gave her food!""
Officer Lewis looked at the cardboard box.
"Crackers and bread on a concrete floor?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
The officers separated us and began documenting the room. Emily examined Lily and asked several gentle questions.
I sat beside my daughter, holding her little hand.
Every few seconds, Lily looked toward the hallway.
I wanted to tell her she was safe.
But I realized that words weren't enough anymore.
She needed proof.
Then Officer Bennett returned with another piece of paper.
"Mr. Hale, we found this in the laundry room.""
It was a photocopy of a legal document.
At the top were the words:
*VOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP TRANSFER.*
My name appeared on the signature line.
The date was two weeks earlier.
I stared at it.
"I never signed this.""
Officer Bennett nodded.
"We noticed the signature doesn't appear consistent with your identification documents. We'll need to investigate.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She had stopped crying.
Her expression was now cold.
"You weren't supposed to find that," she said.
"Who signed my name?""
She remained silent.
Officer Lewis asked her to answer.
Vanessa looked at the floor.
"My mother handled the paperwork.""
I felt sick.
"Your mother forged my signature?""
"She said it was just preparation.""
"Preparation for what?""
Vanessa finally looked at me.
"She wanted Lily to live with her.""
"Then why the twenty-five thousand dollars?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
Before she could answer, my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Marcus, this is Patricia.""
Vanessa's mother.
I looked at my wife.
She had gone completely still.
Patricia continued.
"I heard the police are at your house. I think we need to talk before you make any decisions you'll regret.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you forge my signature?""
A pause.
Then she said something I would never forget.
"Marcus, you should be thanking me. I was trying to take Lily before something much worse happened.""
"What does that mean?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Because Vanessa wasn't the one who came up with the original plan.""
The call ended.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Officer Bennett looked at me.
"What did she say?""
I stared at Vanessa.
"She says someone else planned this.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
And then, for the first time, she said a name.
"Daniel.""
My stomach tightened.
Daniel was Lily's biological grandfather.
My father's name.
May you like
A man who had been dead for three years.
Or so I had believed.
