Chapter 7 - The Security Footage
Melissa finally told me the truth.
Eleven years ago, two women arrived at Riverbend within twenty minutes of each other.
Rachel Mercer.
And Melissa Grant.
Both were pregnant.
Both had been brought in under emergency circumstances.
But only one baby left the hospital.
I stared at her.
“What happened to the other baby?”
Melissa's eyes filled with tears.
“She died.”
“Whose baby?”
“My daughter.”
I couldn't speak.
“You were pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“And Emma?”
“Rachel's.”
“Then why does Emma carry my genetic marker?”
Melissa looked at me.
“Because someone used my blood.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“The night of the fire, they took blood samples from everyone in the maternity wing.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
She looked away.
“Dr. Adrian Vale.”
The name meant nothing to me.
But Boone knew it.
When I told him, his face hardened.
“Vale.”
“You know him?”
“He was Rachel's commanding officer.”
I felt sick.
“Why would he be in a hospital?”
“Because he wasn't only military.”
Boone pulled out another file.
Vale had worked for the private contractor Rachel had been investigating.
The same company connected to the people hunting Emma.
Then the security officer called.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“We found something.”
He showed me footage from eleven years ago.
The fire.
A woman carrying a newborn ran through the hallway.
Rachel.
Behind her was me.
I was shouting.
“Go!”
Rachel disappeared through a service door.
Then someone grabbed me.
A man wearing a surgical mask.
The footage froze.
The man's face was hidden.
But his wrist wasn't.
A distinctive tattoo.
A black crow.
Boone stared at it.
“I know that tattoo.”
“Who?”
He looked at me.
“Adrian Vale.”
Then the hospital doors slammed shut.
Every security monitor went black.
A message appeared on the main screen.
YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
May you like
Underneath:
BRING EMMA TO THE OLD MATERNITY WING.
