Chapter 8 - The Detective With Arthur's Eyes.
The photograph trembled in Emma's hand.
The young woman beside Grandpa Arthur had dark hair, grey eyes, and the unmistakable Carter dimple Emma saw every time she smiled in a mirror.
A handwritten note ran across the back.
ELENA - SAFE FOR NOW.
Thomas stared at the image longer than anyone else.
"Arthur found her."
Emily looked confused.
"Then why didn't he bring her home?"
Vale answered from the chair.
"Because bringing her home would have gotten her killed."
Thomas turned on him.
"You don't get to sound concerned."
The footsteps outside stopped directly in front of the steel door.
Someone tried the handle.
The medical cart shuddered.
Vanessa's voice came through the door.
"Emma, sweetheart, open the door."
Emma felt hatred rise through her like heat.
Vanessa had never called her sweetheart unless someone important was listening.
"I know Emily has confused you."
Emily's face hardened.
"She used to say the same thing about you."
The door shook again.
Thomas searched the hidden records room and found a second exit behind shelving.
"Move."
They slipped through a narrow passage as Vanessa's people forced the steel door behind them.
Vale stumbled between Thomas and Dr. Mercer with his hands restrained.
The passage climbed through concrete service tunnels and ended behind an abandoned nurses' station one floor above.
Thomas carefully opened the panel.
A woman stood on the other side with a pistol aimed directly at him.
"Hands where I can see them."
Emma recognized her instantly from the photograph.
Detective Elena Ruiz looked about thirty-five.
Her hair was pulled into a tight knot, and the silver badge at her belt carried the city seal.
Thomas slowly lifted both hands.
"Arthur Carter."
Elena's expression changed.
Emma stepped out from behind him holding the photograph.
"Are you Elena Carter?"
The detective stared at Emma.
Then at Emily.
The color drained from her face.
"No."
It came too fast.
Emma held out the third identification bracelet.
Elena's gun lowered by an inch.
Thomas said nothing.
He did not need to.
Elena looked at the bracelet for several seconds before turning away.
"I was adopted."
Emily's voice was barely audible.
"So were we, basically."
Elena looked back at them.
Her eyes filled, but she did not cry.
"Arthur found me when I was twenty-three."
Emma's chest tightened.
"Why didn't Grandpa tell us?"
"Because I was already investigating the people who took me."
She pointed her weapon toward Vale.
"Including him."
Vale smiled weakly.
"Hello, Elena."
Elena crossed the space between them and struck him once across the face with the back of her hand.
"That was for falsifying my death certificate."
Dr. Mercer stared.
Elena looked toward Emma.
"Arthur kept you out of it because Vanessa was watching every person near the family."
Emma gripped the bunny tighter.
"Did Vanessa take all three of us?"
Elena's face became unreadable.
"Vanessa was only twenty-two when you were born."
"She didn't start this."
Emma felt the world tilt again.
"Then who did?"
Before Elena could answer, her radio crackled.
A dispatcher reported an armed disturbance near the old maternity elevators.
Then another voice broke over the channel.
"Detective Ruiz, we have Daniel Carter in custody."
Emma stopped breathing.
Elena grabbed the radio.
"Repeat that."
May you like
The response came through clear and terrible.
"Daniel Carter is alive, and he's asking for Vanessa Hale."
