Chapter 6: The Girl in My Arms
I hung up.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The taxi moved through the city, headlights sliding across the windows.
Lily slept against me.
Her tiny hand was wrapped around one of my fingers.
I stared at her.
“That's impossible.””
Daniel looked at me.
“What did they say?””
I repeated the hospital's words.
His face tightened.
“Did they give you a record number?””
“Yes.””
“Call them back.””
I did.
The same woman answered.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes. I'm still here.””
“I'm sorry.””
“You said my daughter died six years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Show me the record.””
“I can't release protected medical information over the phone.””
“I am her father.””
“According to the system, you aren't.””
My voice dropped.
“Then who am I?””
Silence.
“Sir?””
“Who is listed as Lily's father?””
She hesitated.
“Michael Reeves.””
I looked at Daniel.
His face went white.
“What?””
“Michael Reeves.””
Daniel stared at me.
“That's my brother's name.””
I couldn't speak.
The hospital worker continued.
“Mr. Carter, are you still there?””
“Yes.””
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“The original record has been accessed tonight.””
“By who?””
“It was accessed using a physician's credentials.””
“Name?””
“Dr. Helen Brooks.””
Daniel suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Hang up.””
I ended the call.
“What?””
“We're not going to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“Because Helen Brooks died four years ago.””
The taxi driver glanced at us in the mirror.
I noticed.
“Keep driving,” I said.
He nodded.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I know a place.””
“Where?””
“An old motel outside town.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You don't trust me.””
“I don't trust anyone.””
“Good.””
He typed something.
“My sister taught me that.””
“Sarah?””
He nodded.
“She survived because she trusted nobody.””
I looked at Lily again.
“Then why did she trust me?””
“Because she loved you.””
The words landed harder than anything else that night.
I looked out the window.
“I don't remember loving her.””
“You don't have to remember.””
“I should.””
“Memory isn't the same thing as truth.””
I turned toward him.
“Tell me what happened.””
Daniel sighed.
“Six years ago, Sarah discovered your father's financial network. She found accounts tied to construction companies, shell corporations, and political donations.””
“Why was my name involved?””
“Your father used your identity for one of the accounts.””
“Without telling me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because if the account was discovered, he'd need someone else to take the blame.””
My hands tightened.
“And Sarah found it.””
“She found everything.””
“What happened?””
“She confronted your father.””
“And?””
“He threatened her.””
“With what?””
“Lily.””
I looked down.
Daniel continued.
“Your father had people watching the house. Sarah tried to take Lily and disappear.””
“Did she?””
“For a while.””
“What happened to me?””
“You went after them.””
“Why don't I remember?””
Daniel looked at the road.
“You were attacked.””
“By who?””
“Vanessa's brother.””
I stared at him.
“Vanessa has a brother?””
“She never told you.””
“What was his name?””
“Thomas.””
I felt something flicker in my memory.
A dark room.
A man's voice.
A needle.
Sarah screaming.
Then nothing.
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
“I remember…”
Daniel leaned closer.
“What?””
“Someone said my name.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
I closed my eyes.
A woman's voice.
Sarah.
Michael, stay awake.
Then another.
Vanessa.
He's not going to remember.
I opened my eyes.
“Vanessa was there.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“I thought she might be.””
“I heard her.””
“What did she say?””
I swallowed.
“She said I wasn't going to remember.””
Daniel looked out the window.
“Then the hospital records make sense.””
“What hospital?””
“The private clinic where they treated you.””
“Who owns it?””
Daniel didn't answer.
I already knew.
“Victor.””
“Yes.””
The taxi stopped.
Daniel handed the driver money.
“Wait here,” he said.
The driver shook his head.
“No chance.””
He drove away.
We stood outside an abandoned motel.
Most of the signs were broken.
A single light flickered above the office.
“This is your safe place?””
“It used to be.””
I carried Lily inside.
The room smelled like dust and old carpet.
Mason sat on the bed.
He looked exhausted.
“Dad?””
“I'm here.””
“Is Lily okay?””
“Yes.””
He looked at her.
“She's asleep.””
I sat beside him.
“Mason, I need to ask you something.””
He nodded.
“Did Vanessa ever tell you Lily wasn't her real daughter?””
His eyes widened.
“She said Lily was ours.””
“Did she ever say anything about Sarah?””
He hesitated.
“Once.””
“What?””
“She said Sarah was supposed to take Lily.””
“Take her where?””
“I don't know.””
“Did Vanessa ever call Lily by another name?””
Mason looked confused.
Then his face changed.
“Sometimes.””
“What name?””
“Emma.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“Emma?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know that name.””
My phone buzzed.
A text message.
No number.
Just words.
*Ask Lily about Emma.*
I stared at the screen.
Mason saw it.
“Dad?””
I didn't answer.
I looked at my sleeping daughter.
“Wake her.””
Daniel frowned.
“Michael—”
“I need to know.””
I gently touched Lily's shoulder.
“Baby.””
She stirred.
“Daddy?””
“Can you wake up for me?””
Her eyes opened halfway.
“I'm tired.””
“I know.””
I brushed her hair back.
“I need to ask you something.””
She nodded.
“Do you know anyone named Emma?””
Lily's eyes opened fully.
She stared at me.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
My heart stopped.
“Who is Emma?””
Lily looked toward the motel window.
Her little face became frightened.
“Mommy said I'm not supposed to tell.””
“Which mommy?””
She pointed at the door.
“Vanessa.””
“What did she say?””
Lily's lower lip trembled.
“She said if Daddy ever remembered Sarah…”
She stopped.
I leaned closer.
“What?””
Lily looked directly at me.
“She said you'd remember me too.””
Daniel went completely still.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Lily started crying.
“I don't want to go back.””
“You're not going back.””
“She said Emma would come get me.””
“Who is Emma?””
Lily whispered:
“Me.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
She pointed to the birth record still clutched in my hand.
“That isn't my name.””
The room seemed to tilt.
“What is your name, sweetheart?””
She wiped her eyes.
“Emma Sarah Carter.””
I couldn't breathe.
Then someone knocked on the motel door.
Three slow knocks.
Daniel stood instantly.
Mason froze.
Lily grabbed my shirt.
Another knock.
Then a woman's voice came from the other side.
“Michael?””
I knew that voice.
It was the voice from the recording.
The voice I'd spent six years believing belonged to a dead woman.
“Please open the door.””
Daniel whispered:
“Sarah.””
I moved toward the door.
My hand reached for the lock.
Then Sarah spoke again.
“Michael, don't let Vanessa find out that I'm alive.””
A pause.
“And whatever you do…”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“Don't let her take Emma back.””
