Chapter 10
“Daniel,” I said, “don't chase him.”
“He's leaving!”
“And we don't know what he's done.
We need evidence, not a confrontation on an icy road.”
Daniel looked furious.
But he stayed.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number.
A text message appeared.
Commander Reynolds, do not trust the documents in the study.
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Your children are in danger if you continue asking questions.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I looked immediately toward the sitting area.
Noah.
Ethan.
Sophia.
Olivia.
All four were still with Lena.
A third message appeared.
Ask Margaret what happened to the fifth bracelet.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
The fifth bracelet?
I looked at Margaret.
She was standing near the staircase.
When she saw my expression, she stopped moving.
I crossed the room.
“What is the fifth bracelet?”
Her face went completely white.
For a moment, she seemed unable to breathe.
Then she whispered:
“Who told you about that?”
I showed her the message.
Her knees buckled.
Rebecca caught her before she fell.
Daniel hurried toward us.
“Mother!”
But Margaret was staring at me.
And the words that escaped her lips were barely audible.
“Robert promised me that bracelet had been destroyed.”
## THE FIFTH NAME ON THE HOSPITAL RECORD
I felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath me.
“Margaret,” I said slowly, “I gave birth to four children.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
“Four.”
“Yes.”
“Then explain why someone is asking about a fifth hospital bracelet.”
Margaret began crying.
“I don't know everything.”
“Then tell me what you do know.”
She looked toward Daniel.
He was staring at her with growing horror.
“Mother,” he whispered, “what have you done?”
Margaret shook her head.
“It wasn't supposed to happen.”
I grabbed the back of a chair.
“What wasn't?”
Her voice cracked.
“The night you delivered, there was confusion in the neonatal unit.”
I waited.
“A fifth infant had been admitted under an emergency temporary identification number.”
My heart pounded.
“That doesn't mean anything.
Hospitals care for many premature babies.”
“I know.”
“Then why does it matter?”
Margaret looked down.
“Because the temporary record was attached to your file.”
I stared at her.
“That could have been a clerical error.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“That's what Robert said.”
I felt cold all over.
“What else?”
Margaret pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“Robert told me the fifth bracelet had been issued by mistake.