Chapter 8: The Man Who Paid the Doctor
Marcus slipped the phone into his pocket.
He looked at Lily.
She was standing beside Caleb now, still clutching her flower basket.
His daughter.
His little girl.
Whatever blood relationship existed between them, Marcus knew one thing with absolute certainty.
He was not letting anyone touch her.
“Pastor,” Marcus said, “lock the doors.””
The pastor nodded.
“Everyone stays inside.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Marcus, what did they send you?””
“Nothing you need to worry about.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You're lying.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You taught me well.””
He walked toward the side exit.
Raymond grabbed his arm.
“Don't go alone.””
Marcus pulled free.
“If someone wants me outside, they're expecting me.””
Caleb stepped forward.
“Then let them expect you.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He looked toward Lily.
“Somebody has been watching my family for years. I'm done letting them decide what happens next.””
He opened the side door.
The parking lot was nearly empty.
Rain had started falling.
A black SUV waited near the church entrance.
Its headlights were off.
Marcus stepped outside.
The driver's window lowered.
A familiar face appeared.
Marcus stopped.
“Mr. Holloway?””
His employer smiled.
“Get in.””
Marcus stayed where he was.
“You sent the messages.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
Holloway sighed.
“Because you've uncovered something that should have stayed buried.””
Marcus looked toward the church.
“If you threaten my daughter again—”
“I didn't threaten her.””
“You said she wouldn't make it home.””
“I said she wouldn't if you forced my hand.””
Marcus stared at him.
Holloway opened the passenger door.
“Get in.””
Marcus didn't move.
Holloway's smile disappeared.
“Your daughter isn't the only person in danger.””
He held up his phone.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
Vanessa.
Inside a hospital room.
Six years earlier.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What is that?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
“That Vanessa wasn't the one who switched the babies.””
Marcus stared at the photograph.
“Then who did?””
Holloway looked toward the church.
“Ask Raymond.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You're protecting him?””
“No.””
“Then why mention him?””
“Because your story is wrong.””
Holloway leaned forward.
“Raymond didn't discover the switch.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Who did?””
Holloway said nothing.
Marcus turned toward the church.
Through the stained-glass windows, he could see silhouettes moving.
Then he saw Lily.
She was standing near the front doors.
Marcus suddenly noticed something.
A man was standing behind her.
Tall.
Black suit.
Unknown face.
Marcus sprinted back inside.
“Lily!””
The man grabbed Lily's wrist.
Caleb tackled him.
They crashed into the first pew.
Guests screamed.
The man shoved Caleb away and ran toward the rear doors.
Marcus reached Lily.
“Are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Did he say anything?””
Lily nodded.
“He said my name.””
“What else?””
“He called me Amelia.””
Marcus froze.
Vanessa began sobbing.
The stranger reached the doors.
Raymond blocked his path.
The man stopped.
Raymond stared at him.
“You.””
The stranger smiled.
“Hello, Raymond.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who is he?””
Raymond's face had gone pale.
“He was there the night Simone disappeared.””
The stranger laughed.
“You still blame me?””
Caleb moved toward him.
“What did you do to my mother?””
“I didn't touch her.””
“Then where is she?””
The man looked at Vanessa.
“She knows.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
The stranger pointed at her.
“She gave Simone the baby.””
Marcus stared.
“What baby?””
The man's eyes moved to Lily.
“Yours.””
Marcus stepped in front of Lily.
“You're lying.””
“No.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
“The hospital transfer.””
He tossed it onto the floor.
Marcus picked it up.
His eyes scanned the page.
Then his blood ran cold.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Vanessa.
Marcus looked at her.
“You signed this?””
Vanessa collapsed into a pew.
“I didn't know what I was signing.””
Raymond shouted, “You knew!””
“I was scared!””
“You sold your own sister's child!””
“No!””
Jordan stared at Vanessa.
“You sold me?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“No.””
Jordan's voice broke.
“Then what did you sell?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Marcus looked at the document again.
The transfer date was six years earlier.
The receiving facility was listed as:
*Saint Gabriel Children's Center.*
Marcus knew that name.
It was the orphanage where Lily's adoption records had originated.
He looked at Jordan.
Then Caleb.
Then Vanessa.
The pieces finally began connecting.
“Lily wasn't taken from the hospital.””
Vanessa looked up.
“No.””
“She was taken from Simone.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And Jordan?””
“He was taken from me.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Jordan was never supposed to survive.””
The church doors suddenly locked.
A deep metallic click echoed through the sanctuary.
Everyone turned.
The man in the black suit smiled.
“Now we're finally getting to the truth.””
He pulled out a phone.
On the screen was a live video.
A woman sat tied to a chair in a dark room.
Her face was bruised.
Marcus stared.
Vanessa screamed.
“Simone!””
The woman lifted her head.
Her eyes opened.
May you like
And she whispered through the screen:
“Vanessa… don't trust Raymond.””
