Chapter 7: The Third Baby
Michael read Daniel's message four times.
Three infants.
Two girls.
One recorded as deceased.
He looked at Emily, who was standing beside the dining table with her arms wrapped around herself.
"Dad, what does that mean?""
Michael wanted to tell her it was a mistake.
He wanted to tell her that some hospital employee had entered the wrong information, that the records were confused, that none of this had anything to do with her.
But after everything he'd discovered, he couldn't bring himself to offer another comfortable lie.
"I don't know yet, sweetheart.""
Robert was already dialing Daniel's number.
It went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"He's not answering," Robert said.
Michael grabbed his jacket.
"Then we're going to find him.""
Robert hesitated.
"There's something you should know before we leave.""
Michael turned.
"What?""
"The original delivery report was not included in the records I received after Sarah died. I have never seen it.""
"Why?""
"Because it was classified as a confidential neonatal incident.""
Michael stared.
"What kind of incident?""
Robert lowered his voice.
"The kind that normally triggers a formal investigation.""
Emily pulled out a chair.
"Could the third baby have been someone else's child?""
"Possibly," Robert replied.
"Then why was it in Mom's records?""
Robert didn't answer immediately.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
They drove to Boston.
During the journey, Emily barely spoke.
She sat in the passenger seat, holding Sarah's locket in her palm.
Michael glanced at her repeatedly.
Finally, she spoke.
"Do you think Mom knew?""
"About what?""
"That there were three babies.""
Michael tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I don't know.""
"Do you think she knew one of them died?""
He glanced at her.
"Your mother loved you more than anything.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Michael swallowed.
"No, sweetheart. I don't think she would have hidden something like that without a reason.""
Emily looked out the window.
"Everyone keeps saying Mom was protecting me. But nobody tells me what she was protecting me from.""
Michael reached across the console and squeezed her hand.
"I promise we're going to find out.""
They arrived at Daniel's office shortly after four.
The building was an old medical complex near the river.
Most of the windows were dark.
A handwritten notice was taped to the front door.
*PRACTICE TEMPORARILY CLOSED.*
Robert knocked.
No response.
He knocked again.
A security guard appeared from the hallway.
"Can I help you?""
"I'm Robert Hayes. I'm here to see Dr. Daniel Brooks.""
The guard shook his head.
"Dr. Brooks hasn't been here in months.""
"Where can we find him?""
"Can't help you.""
Robert held up his identification.
"This concerns a medical investigation involving a patient named Sarah Carter.""
The guard's expression changed.
He glanced toward the hallway.
"Wait here.""
He disappeared.
Michael looked at Robert.
"Something's wrong.""
"I know.""
A minute later, the guard returned.
"There's someone inside who wants to speak with you.""
They followed him down a narrow corridor.
At the end was a small office.
A woman in her early sixties stood behind a desk.
She wore a hospital identification badge.
"Mr. Hayes?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Linda Parker. I worked with Dr. Brooks.""
Michael stepped forward.
"Where is he?""
Linda glanced at Emily.
Then she closed the office door.
"Before I answer that, I need to know what you've been told.""
Michael placed the photograph of the three-infant report on her desk.
"That my wife gave birth to twins, and that a third baby was somehow registered.""
Linda studied the document.
Her hands began trembling.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Daniel.""
She looked up sharply.
"You spoke to him?""
"Briefly.""
Linda sat down.
"Then he finally decided to tell you.""
"Tell me what?""
She removed her glasses.
"Your wife gave birth to three babies that night.""
Michael felt his stomach drop.
"How is that possible?""
"Sarah had a rare pregnancy complication. The original ultrasound showed two babies, but a third fetus was discovered during the final examination.""
Robert leaned forward.
"Triplets?""
Linda nodded.
"Three girls.""
Emily gripped the back of a chair.
"Three?""
Linda looked at her gently.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Michael felt dizzy.
He remembered Sarah's stomach.
He remembered the doctors warning about complications.
But he'd never been told there were three children.
"What happened to the third baby?""
Linda opened a cabinet and removed a folder.
"According to the original report, all three infants were delivered alive.""
Michael stared.
"All three?""
"Yes.""
"Then why was one recorded as deceased?""
Linda's eyes filled.
"Because someone changed the record.""
She placed three photographs on the desk.
The first showed a newborn with a small hospital bracelet.
The second showed another baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
The third showed a tiny infant lying beneath a warming lamp.
Emily approached slowly.
"Which one is me?""
Linda pointed to the second photograph.
"Emily Carter. Infant A.""
Then she pointed to the first.
"Charlotte Carter. Infant B.""
Finally, she touched the third photograph.
"And this was Infant C.""
Michael stared at the tiny face.
"What's her name?""
Linda hesitated.
"Her original name was Grace.""
Emily whispered it.
"Grace.""
"Your mother chose all three names before you were born," Linda said.
Michael closed his eyes.
He could almost hear Sarah saying them.
Emily.
Charlotte.
Grace.
Three names he'd never known.
"Where is Grace?"" he asked.
Linda looked down.
"She was transferred to intensive care.""
"Why?""
"She was premature and had breathing difficulties.""
"Did she die?""
Linda didn't answer.
Michael leaned over the desk.
"Did she die?""
Linda shook her head.
"No.""
The room went silent.
Emily covered her mouth.
Michael stared at her.
"She's alive?""
Linda nodded.
"At least, she was when I last saw her.""
Robert immediately asked, "Where was she transferred?""
"St. Mary's had a private neonatal arrangement with a specialist facility. Grace was moved there under a separate medical authorization.""
"Who signed it?""
Linda looked at the paperwork.
Then she turned the page.
Michael saw the signature.
Richard Carter.
His father's name.
"Of course," Michael whispered.
Linda continued.
"Mr. Carter arranged the transfer. But the authorization was unusual. It included a request to restrict family access.""
Michael's voice shook.
"Why would my father do that?""
Linda looked at him.
"Because someone told him the baby wasn't expected to survive.""
Michael stared at the third photograph.
"Was that true?""
"No.""
"Then who lied?""
Linda took a breath.
"Dr. Brooks believed the baby had been deliberately separated from the family.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"By whom?""
Linda looked toward the office door.
"Vanessa.""
Emily began crying.
Michael wrapped an arm around her.
Linda continued.
"She was working with the hospital administration at the time. She had connections through your father's company.""
"Was she a doctor?"" Michael asked.
"No. She had previously worked as a medical records coordinator. She had no authority to make clinical decisions.""
Robert examined the form.
"Yet she signed as an attending physician.""
Linda nodded.
"That was one of the irregularities Daniel tried to report.""
Michael stared at the document.
"Why didn't he go to the police?""
"Because his family was threatened.""
"By whom?""
Linda looked at him.
"Your father.""
Michael felt sick.
Then Linda opened another file.
"This is the part Daniel never wanted to tell you.""
Inside was a copy of a letter written by Sarah.
It was dated November 12, 2020.
Two days before her death.
Michael recognized her handwriting.
He began reading.
I know about Grace.
I know she is alive.
I know Richard has arranged for her to remain somewhere I cannot reach.
I have asked Vanessa to help me find her.
But Vanessa says I must choose.
Michael stopped.
"Choose what?""
Linda pointed to the next paragraph.
She says I can keep Emily and Charlotte safe if I agree to let Grace disappear from our lives.
Michael looked up.
"Why would Sarah agree to that?""
Linda's eyes filled.
"She didn't.""
Michael continued reading.
I told Vanessa that I would never abandon one of my daughters.
I told her I would rather lose everything than let another person decide which of my children deserved a family.
The letter ended abruptly.
Michael looked at the date.
November 12.
Two days before Sarah died.
He looked at Linda.
"Was this letter ever sent?""
"No. Daniel found it among Sarah's personal belongings after she was transferred.""
"Why didn't I receive it?""
Linda looked away.
"Because Richard collected Sarah's belongings before you arrived.""
Michael's hands began shaking.
"My father took my wife's final letter?""
Linda nodded.
"And he made sure it never reached you.""
Emily looked at the three photographs.
"Where is Grace now?""
Linda stood and walked to a filing cabinet.
She removed a document.
"Daniel kept a separate record of her transfer.""
She placed it on the desk.
The destination was a residential medical facility in Connecticut.
But the patient name was different.
*Grace Bennett.*
Michael frowned.
"Why a different surname?""
Linda looked at him.
"Because the person who adopted her didn't want her biological family to find her.""
Robert checked the date.
"Is the facility still operating?""
Linda nodded.
"Yes.""
Michael looked at Emily.
"We're going there.""
Emily wiped her cheeks.
"Can I meet my sisters?""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
But Linda suddenly reached for his arm.
"Mr. Carter, there's something else.""
He turned.
"What?""
She pointed to a small handwritten note attached to the back of the file.
It contained a phone number.
And a name.
*Current legal guardian: Vanessa Carter.*
Michael stared.
"What?""
Linda looked genuinely confused.
"According to these records, Vanessa became Grace's legal guardian three months ago.""
Emily's face went white.
"She's been taking care of Grace?""
Linda nodded.
"Yes.""
Michael stepped backward.
The woman who had thrown Emily onto the lawn had apparently been raising one of her sisters in secret.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
From Vanessa.
*If you're going to Connecticut, don't go to the facility. Go to the house at 18 Willow Lane. And whatever you do, don't let Grace see your father.*
Michael looked at Robert.
"What house?""
Robert examined the address.
Then he recognized it.
"That's the Whitmore property.""
The family who had supposedly adopted Charlotte.
Michael's blood ran cold.
Because suddenly he understood.
Vanessa hadn't been visiting one of Emily's sisters.
May you like
She had been living with both of them.
And neither girl had known the other existed.
