Chapter 6: The Girl in the Other Car
The message on Vanessa’s phone disappeared.
One second the photograph of Lily was there.
The next, the screen went black.
Daniel grabbed Vanessa by the wrist.
“Call her.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Who?””
“My daughter.””
“She isn't answering.””
“Call her!””
“I don't have her number.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
Vanessa’s face crumpled.
“Mrs. Carter has her.””
“Then call Mrs. Carter.””
“I don't have her number either.””
Harris was already pulling out his own phone.
“I do.””
He dialed.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then went straight to voicemail.
Harris lowered the phone.
“No.””
Daniel looked toward the window.
Mrs. Carter's car was gone.
“She left.””
Amelia's face hardened.
“How long?””
“Less than two minutes,” Harris said.
Daniel was already moving.
He grabbed his keys from the counter.
“I’m going after her.””
Harris caught his arm.
“Wait.””
“My daughter is gone.””
“We don't know that.””
“The photograph was taken outside my house.””
“That doesn't mean Lily was taken.””
Daniel turned on him.
“Then explain what it means.””
Harris didn't answer.
Amelia suddenly pointed toward the front window.
“Look.””
Everyone turned.
A white delivery van was parked across the street.
Engine running.
No company logo.
Darkened rear windows.
Daniel moved closer to the glass.
The van's driver's door opened.
Nobody got out.
Instead, the door shut.
The van pulled away.
Amelia whispered, “That’s the second car.””
Daniel turned.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“The second car was black.””
“That was what they wanted us to see.””
Harris was already heading for the door.
“Stay here.””
Daniel followed.
“Not happening.””
They rushed outside.
The air had cooled, and the street was nearly empty.
Daniel looked left.
Nothing.
Right.
The van had disappeared.
Harris scanned the road.
“Where did Mrs. Carter go?””
Daniel pointed.
“There.””
Three houses down, Mrs. Carter's sedan sat abandoned beside the curb.
The driver's door was open.
Daniel sprinted.
He reached the car first.
The engine was still running.
The driver's seat was empty.
A purse lay on the floorboard.
And on the passenger seat was Lily's pink birthday ribbon.
Daniel picked it up.
His hands began shaking.
“No.””
Amelia reached him.
“Daniel…”
“She was here.””
“I know.””
“She was in this car.””
Harris crouched near the driver's door.
There was a small dent in the metal.
Fresh.
He touched it.
“Impact.””
Daniel looked at him.
“With another vehicle?””
“Yes.””
Amelia scanned the street.
“No blood.””
“That's good,” Harris said.
“It doesn't mean she's safe.””
Harris stood.
“Correct.””
Daniel looked toward the intersection.
“We need cameras.””
“I'll contact dispatch.””
“No.””
Daniel pointed at the abandoned car.
“We're losing time.””
Amelia looked at Harris.
“How far is the motel?””
“Twenty minutes.””
“Room 317.””
Harris nodded.
“Maybe less if we take the highway.””
Daniel started toward his car.
Amelia followed.
Harris stopped Vanessa.
“You stay here.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“You're not trained.””
“I know where the service entrance is.””
“We'll find it.””
“You won't.””
Harris looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because it's behind a laundromat. The entrance isn't marked.””
Harris studied her face.
Then he nodded.
“Get in.””
Daniel looked back.
“She's coming?””
“She knows something we don't.””
Vanessa climbed into the back seat.
The moment they pulled away, Daniel's phone buzzed.
A video had arrived.
He opened it.
Lily appeared on the screen.
She was sitting in a room Daniel didn't recognize.
Her birthday dress was still on.
Her hair was messy.
But she was unharmed.
A man's voice came from behind the camera.
“Lily, wave to your daddy.””
She hesitated.
Then lifted one hand.
Daniel's entire body locked.
“Lily!””
She looked toward the camera.
“Daddy?””
Daniel pressed the phone closer.
“Baby, are you okay?””
The man laughed.
“She can't hear you.””
Daniel gripped the phone.
“What do you want?””
The man didn't answer.
Instead, he turned the camera.
A second little girl stood beside Lily.
Same height.
Same skin tone.
Same dark eyes.
Same round cheeks.
Same pink hair clips.
Daniel stared.
Amelia made a strangled sound.
“No.””
The two girls looked almost identical.
The second child wore a blue dress.
She was crying.
Lily reached for her hand.
“It's okay,” Lily whispered.
The man behind the camera spoke again.
“Now you understand.””
The video ended.
Daniel stared at the black screen.
Amelia was shaking.
“That girl…”
“I know.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Harris kept his eyes on the road.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then Daniel turned to Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa's voice was barely audible.
“I suspected.””
“You knew there was another girl.””
“I saw her.””
“When?””
“After the crash.””
“Where?””
“In the warehouse.””
“What happened to her?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I am not lying!””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“I saw two girls.””
Amelia turned around.
“Two?””
“One was Lily.””
“And the other?””
“She was sedated.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“What did Marcus call her?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then:
“Replacement.””
Amelia gripped the seat.
“Replacement for what?””
Vanessa stared at her.
“For you.””
The car went silent.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Marcus said Lily needed a mother.””
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
“I was her mother.””
“He said you wouldn't be coming back.””
“And he planned to put someone in my place?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“The girl's identity was being changed.””
Daniel whispered, “Into Lily's?””
Vanessa nodded.
Harris finally spoke.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked out the window.
“Because someone needed Lily to disappear without anyone noticing.””
Daniel frowned.
“She didn't disappear.””
“She did that night.””
“No. Lily was here.””
“Your daughter was.””
The distinction made his blood run cold.
Amelia understood first.
“You're saying…”
Vanessa nodded.
“The child they took from the second car wasn't the girl we thought.””
Daniel's heart pounded.
“What are you saying?””
Vanessa looked directly at him.
“I'm saying the girl raised here after the crash…”
She paused.
“She may not be Lily.””
Daniel slammed the brakes.
The car swerved.
Harris grabbed the dashboard.
“Daniel!””
He stopped on the shoulder.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Daniel turned slowly.
“My daughter is seven.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
“I was there when she was born.””
“I know.””
“I watched her take her first steps.””
“I know.””
“I know her face.””
“I know.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“You're telling me I don't know my own child?””
Vanessa cried silently.
“I'm telling you someone spent three years making sure you never asked.””
Amelia stared at her.
“Then why did she call me Mom?””
“Because she believes you are.””
Amelia shook her head.
“No.””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Harris looked at Daniel.
“We need a DNA test.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You think I need a test to know my daughter?””
“No.””
Harris's voice was gentle.
“I think somebody wants you to doubt what you know.””
Amelia reached for Daniel's hand.
He let her take it.
Then his phone buzzed again.
Another video.
This time, there was no image.
Only audio.
A little girl's voice.
“Mom?””
Amelia froze.
The voice continued.
“Why did you leave me?””
Amelia's eyes widened.
She looked at Lily's missing birthday ribbon in Daniel's hand.
“That isn't her.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
Amelia shook her head.
“That's not Lily's voice.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You're sure?””
“I carried her for nine months.””
She closed her eyes.
“I know my child's voice.””
The recording continued.
“Mom, he said you were coming.””
Then a man's voice.
“Tell her who you really are.””
Silence.
Then the girl whispered:
“I'm not Lily.””
The recording ended.
Nobody breathed.
Harris turned the car around.
“We're not going to Room 317.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Where?””
“The warehouse.””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“No.””
Harris looked at her.
“That's where they took the second girl.””
“No.””
“Why are you afraid of it?””
Vanessa's breathing became rapid.
“Because that's where Marcus keeps the records.””
“Records of what?””
She stared at him.
“Every identity they've changed.””
Daniel looked at Amelia.
“Then that's where we go.””
Harris accelerated.
The highway lights flashed across their faces.
For the first time, Amelia noticed something strange.
Daniel's phone was still connected to the car's Bluetooth.
The call they thought had ended was not fully disconnected.
A tiny green icon showed the microphone was still active.
Someone was listening.
Daniel noticed it too.
His eyes met Amelia's.
Neither spoke.
Then Harris silently pointed beneath the dashboard.
A second phone had been taped under the steering column.
It was recording everything.
Daniel reached for it.
The screen lit up.
A live call was already in progress.
And on the other end, someone whispered:
“Good.””
The voice was unmistakable.
Marcus.
Then came the sentence that made Amelia's blood run cold.
“Bring her to the warehouse.””
May you like
A pause.
“And make sure Daniel doesn't learn which girl is actually his.””
