Chapter 12 - THE SECOND BABY
Daniel couldn’t speak.
Claire heard everything.
She stumbled forward.
“What did you say?”
Dr. Reed coughed.
“Your biological son survived.”
Claire began shaking.
“No.”
Daniel grabbed the stretcher rail.
“Where is he?”
Reed closed his eyes.
“Evelyn moved him.”
“WHERE?”
The medic tried to push Daniel back.
“He needs treatment.”
Daniel refused.
“Tell me.”
Reed whispered:
“Another family.”
Claire let out a broken sound.
Daniel stared.
“You told Claire he died.”
“Evelyn did.”
“Why?”
Reed’s face twisted with shame.
“Because your son was born with a heart defect.”
Daniel felt like he’d been punched.
“She didn’t want him?”
Reed looked at Claire.
“Your mother said a Whitmore heir couldn’t be sick.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Daniel’s eyes burned.
“So she stole a healthy baby.”
“Yes.”
“And gave ours away.”
Reed nodded.
“Where?”
“I don’t know the current address.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Name.”
Reed hesitated.
“Porter.”
Daniel remembered the safe.
Megan Porter.
He had seen that name.
Detective Mitchell pulled the evidence files.
Megan Porter had been told her healthy daughter died.
But another note in her file read:
EXCHANGE — WHITMORE MALE.
Daniel felt sick.
Evelyn hadn’t simply stolen children.
She had moved them like pieces on a board.
By noon, police traced Megan Porter.
She lived ninety miles away.
Small house.
Two jobs.
Single mother.
And according to school and medical records, she had a six-year-old adopted son named Noah.
Six?
Daniel frowned.
“That can’t be right.”
Mitchell checked again.
“You’re right.”
Noah was six months old.
A clerical display error.
Daniel almost laughed from the stress.
They drove there immediately.
Megan opened the door holding a baby.
Daniel knew before anyone spoke.
Same dark hair he had as a child.
Same deep-set eyes as his father.
Claire collapsed against the porch railing.
Megan backed away.
“What is this?”
Mitchell identified herself.
“We need to speak with you about Noah.”
Megan’s face changed.
“No.”
“Megan—”
“No.”
She held the baby tighter.
“You people aren’t taking my son.”
Daniel looked at Rosa.
Rosa looked back.
The pain on her face told him everything.
She understood Megan perfectly.
Claire stepped forward.
“He’s mine.”
Megan’s eyes filled with tears.
“No, he’s not.”
Claire froze.
Megan looked directly at her.
“Your mother brought him to me.”
Daniel stopped.
“You knew Evelyn?”
Megan nodded.
May you like
Then she said something none of them expected.
“She told me his parents didn’t want him.”
