Chapter 3: The Woman Who Knew
Sarah tried the nearest exit.
Locked.
She pulled again.
Nothing.
Maya stood behind her, clutching the edge of her coat.
“Mom?””
“Stay behind me.””
Evelyn walked toward them.
“Sarah.””
“Don't.””
“Who was on that phone?””
Sarah turned.
“I don't know.””
“You recognized the voice.””
“No.””
“You did.””
Sarah's eyes flashed.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Then stop asking questions in front of Maya.””
Maya looked up.
“I don't like when you whisper.””
Sarah crouched beside her.
“Sweetheart, I need you to do something for me.””
“What?””
“Stay right here.””
“But—”
“Right here.””
Sarah stood and walked toward Evelyn.
Maya watched from several feet away.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“You knew that number.””
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.””
“Whose is it?””
“The man who helped make you believe your daughter was dead.””
Evelyn stared at her.
“His name.””
Sarah looked toward the locked doors.
“Daniel.””
Evelyn's expression changed instantly.
“Daniel Cross?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
“You know exactly who he is.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Daniel died.””
Sarah gave a bitter laugh.
“That is what they told you.””
Evelyn's hand tightened around her phone.
“Daniel was my husband's attorney.””
“I know.””
“He handled the hospital paperwork.””
“I know.””
“He was there the night my baby died.””
Sarah looked at her.
“He was the reason she disappeared.””
Evelyn's breathing became uneven.
“What are you saying?””
Sarah reached for the document.
“This.””
She unfolded it.
Evelyn moved closer.
Maya could see only the edge of the yellowed paper.
There were several official stamps.
A hospital letterhead.
A handwritten signature.
And a date from twenty-nine years earlier.
Evelyn stared.
“I've seen this.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You saw a different version.””
Evelyn looked at Sarah.
“What did you change?””
“I didn't change anything.””
Sarah pointed to the bottom.
“Read the signature.””
Evelyn leaned closer.
Her lips moved silently.
Then she froze.
“That's not a doctor's signature.””
“No.””
“That's Daniel's.””
“Yes.””
Evelyn stepped backward.
“He couldn't have signed a medical record.””
“He did.””
“Why?””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your baby wasn't dead.””
The words seemed to echo through the empty ballroom.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Behind them, Maya whispered, “Mom?””
Sarah turned immediately.
Maya was staring at the paper.
“Was I the baby?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
Evelyn looked at Maya.
Then at Sarah.
“Answer her.””
Sarah's lips trembled.
“Maya…”
“Was I the baby?””
Sarah couldn't speak.
Maya's face crumpled.
Evelyn stepped toward her.
“Maya.””
Maya backed away.
“You're the lady who threw water at me.””
Evelyn stopped.
“Yes.””
“You said I didn't belong here.””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I was wrong.””
Maya shook her head.
“You don't know me.””
Evelyn swallowed.
“No.””
She looked at the locket.
“But I think I've been looking for you my whole life.””
Maya stared at her.
Sarah wiped her cheek.
“There are things you need to know.””
“Tell me.””
Sarah looked at Evelyn.
“Not here.””
The lights suddenly flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the ballroom went dark.
Maya screamed.
Sarah grabbed her.
“I'm here!””
Evelyn's phone flashlight snapped on.
“Everybody stay still.””
A sound came from the far end of the ballroom.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming across the marble.
Sarah's face went white.
Evelyn whispered, “Daniel?””
No answer.
The footsteps stopped.
A man's voice came from the darkness.
“Evelyn.””
Maya clung to Sarah.
Evelyn raised the phone.
“Show yourself.””
The emergency lights blinked red.
For a split second, a silhouette appeared behind the grand staircase.
Then vanished.
Sarah pulled Maya toward Evelyn.
“We have to move.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.””
Sarah looked at her.
“What?””
“I've spent twenty-nine years being afraid of that man.””
She handed the hospital document to Evelyn.
“Not anymore.””
Evelyn looked down at the paper.
At the bottom was another handwritten note.
She hadn't noticed it before.
Four words.
*ASK WHO HELD HER.*
Evelyn stared.
“Sarah…”
“What?””
Evelyn turned the document around.
“Who held the baby?””
Sarah went completely still.
Her eyes filled with terror.
Before she could answer, a man's voice came from directly behind Maya.
“I did.””
Maya slowly turned.
A man stood at the ballroom entrance.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Wearing a black tuxedo.
Daniel Cross smiled faintly.
And in his hand was a second silver locket.
May you like
The exact same locket.
“Now,” he said, “let's tell the girl what really happened.””
