Chapter 5 - ELLIE'S SECRET
Ellie arrived at the hospital just before sunrise.
She looked like she hadn't slept.
Her hair was messy.
Her face was pale.
She walked into Mason's room and stopped when she saw me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
I stared at her.
“For what?”
She began crying.
“For everything.”
Thomas stood behind me.
“Ellie…”
She flinched when she heard his voice.
That reaction told me more than words could.
She was afraid of him.
Or afraid of what he represented.
I stepped between them.
“Ellie, sit down.”
She did.
I closed the door.
“Tell me the truth.”
She looked at Mason.
“I wanted to.”
“Then do it.”
She wiped her tears.
“The bruises weren't from Thomas.”
I froze.
“Who hurt him?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“I saw them after the visits.”
“What visits?”
“The people from the clinic.”
My stomach tightened.
“How many times?”
“Three.”
“Why didn't you stop them?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“The first time, I told Thomas I was calling the police.”
“What did he say?”
“He begged me not to.”
“Why?”
“They threatened Mason.”
I closed my eyes.
This was becoming a nightmare with no end.
“Who are they?”
“I don't know.”
“Do you know Richard Kane?”
Ellie nodded.
“He came to our apartment.”
“When?”
“Several times.”
“Did he touch Mason?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
She looked at me.
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
“I don't know her name.”
“What did she look like?”
Ellie hesitated.
“Late forties. Blonde. Expensive clothes. Always wore gloves.”
“Gloves?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She said she had a skin condition.”
That made no sense.
“What did she do?”
Ellie lowered her voice.
“She examined Mason.”
I felt sick.
“Like a doctor?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“She would photograph him.”
“His injuries?”
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Ellie.”
She looked at me.
“I think she was documenting them.”
“For what?”
“She said Mason was part of a study.”
My blood ran cold.
“What study?”
“I don't know.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don't know.”
Detective Reed entered.
“Actually, we may know.”
He held up his phone.
“We identified the woman.”
Ellie went completely still.
“Who?”
Detective Reed looked at her.
“Dr. Vanessa Hale.”
Ellie whispered:
“No.”
“You know her?”
Ellie nodded.
“She was the doctor who delivered Mason.”
My heart stopped.
“That means she had access to his medical records.”
“Yes.”
“And his birth.”
“Yes.”
“And his medical history.”
“Yes.”
Detective Reed's voice became quiet.
“She also signed the false emergency report six weeks ago.”
Thomas looked at Ellie.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She turned toward him.
“Because you were already working for them.”
Thomas recoiled.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
“No.”
“You knew what they were doing.”
“I didn't know.”
“You knew enough!”
Their voices rose.
Mason stirred.
Everyone fell silent.
Then his tiny cry filled the room.
Ellie immediately went to him.
She touched his forehead.
“I should have taken him and run.”
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you?”
She began crying again.
“Because they had my father.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“They've been holding him somewhere for months.”
Thomas looked shocked.
“Ellie…”
“I didn't tell you because they said they'd kill him.”
Detective Reed stepped closer.
“Where is your father?”
“I don't know.”
“Who took him?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how do you know he's alive?”
She looked at him.
“Because they send me photographs.”
My blood ran cold.
“Photographs?”
She nodded.
“Every Friday.”
Detective Reed extended his hand.
“Do you still have them?”
Ellie reached into her purse.
She pulled out her phone.
Her hands were shaking.
“I have every one.”
She opened the first photograph.
Then another.
Then another.
The detective stared at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?”
He took the phone.
“Where were these photographs taken?”
Ellie shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Detective Reed zoomed in.
Then he looked at me.
“Mrs. Russell…”
“What?”
He pointed at the background.
A familiar blue door.
A brass number.
A small flowerpot.
I recognized it instantly.
My own house.
The photographs of Ellie's missing father had been taken…
inside my home.
And whoever had taken them had been there recently.
Maybe even that morning.
I slowly looked toward the hospital window.
Someone was watching us.
Someone who knew everything.
Someone who had been inside my house.
And suddenly my phone buzzed.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE ONESIE ALONE.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
NOW YOU'RE PART OF THE STORY TOO.
