Chapter 7: My Daughter Was Taken Twice
For three seconds, I couldn't move.
I read Claire's message again.
Then I read it a third time.
*Margaret has taken Grace.*
James grabbed my phone.
"Call her!""
I dialed Claire immediately.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
"James, we have to find her.""
He was already calling the police.
"My mother has taken a six-year-old child from Claire Dawson's apartment. I need officers dispatched immediately.""
He gave them the address, then described Margaret's vehicle.
I stood by the front door, shaking so badly that I could barely hold my phone.
Six years.
For six years, Margaret had controlled where Grace lived, who knew about her, and which woman was allowed to call herself her mother.
And now she had taken her again.
James ended the call.
"They're sending a patrol car.""
"That's not enough.""
"Emily—"
"She has money, James. She has connections. By the time the police arrive, she could be anywhere.""
He looked at me.
For once, he didn't argue.
He called his family's security director, a man named Richard who had worked for the Sterlings for almost twenty years.
"Richard, I need you to locate my mother's vehicle.""
There was a pause.
James's face hardened.
"No, I don't care what she's told you. My mother has taken a child without permission. Find her.""
He ended the call.
I grabbed my coat.
"Where are we going?""
"Claire's apartment.""
We drove through the city in silence.
My phone kept lighting up with notifications, but none came from Claire.
When we arrived, two police officers were already outside the building.
A third was speaking to the building manager.
I ran upstairs.
Claire's apartment door was open.
A lamp lay broken on the floor.
A pink backpack had been overturned near the sofa.
A small pair of white sneakers sat beside the coffee table.
I recognized them from the photograph.
Grace's shoes.
I crouched and picked them up.
They were tiny.
So tiny.
"Where is she?"" I whispered.
An officer approached.
"Ma'am, we need you to step back.""
"That's my daughter.""
He looked at me carefully.
"Are you the biological mother?""
I nodded.
"According to the records, yes.""
He exchanged a glance with his colleague.
"Do you have documentation?""
James stepped forward.
"We're obtaining it. Margaret Sterling has been involved in an unauthorized custody arrangement. She removed the child without the legal guardian's consent.""
The officer nodded.
"We're treating this as an urgent child-safety matter.""
A woman from the neighboring apartment appeared in the hallway.
"I saw what happened.""
We turned.
She was holding a laundry basket.
"What did you see?"" I asked.
"A woman came with two men. They were carrying a little girl.""
"Was the child crying?""
The neighbor nodded.
"She was screaming for Claire.""
My knees weakened.
"What else?""
"She kept saying she wanted her mother.""
I covered my mouth.
The neighbor continued.
"The older woman told her that Claire wasn't her real mother and that she was taking her somewhere safe.""
James closed his eyes.
Margaret.
Even now, she was telling another child that the woman who raised her wasn't her mother.
The officer asked the neighbor for a description of the vehicle.
She remembered a black SUV.
I showed her Margaret's photograph.
She nodded.
"That's the woman.""
James received a call.
He answered immediately.
"Richard?""
A voice spoke rapidly through the phone.
James's expression changed.
"What do you mean you can't locate her?""
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
"She's at the old Sterling estate.""
I knew the property.
It was a large country house outside the city, where Margaret hosted family gatherings before Daniel died.
"Why would she take Grace there?""
James shook his head.
"She owns the property.""
I turned toward the officers.
"That's where she's taken my daughter.""
The officer immediately requested additional units.
We drove behind them.
The journey felt endless.
I kept imagining Grace alone in that enormous house.
Was she crying?
Was Margaret telling her lies?
Was she asking for me?
I remembered Lily's little voice.
I can share my pink hair clips.
I pressed my forehead against the window.
Please, I thought.
Let us get there in time.
When we reached the estate, the front gates were closed.
A security guard stepped out.
"Mr. Sterling.""
James got out of the car.
"Open the gates.""
"I'm sorry, sir. Mrs. Sterling instructed us not to allow anyone inside.""
James walked closer.
"There's a child inside.""
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"Sir, I have orders.""
"Those orders are finished. Open the gates.""
The guard hesitated.
Then the police vehicle pulled up behind us.
An officer approached him.
"Open the gates, please.""
The guard finally stepped aside.
We entered the property.
The house looked exactly as I remembered it.
White stone walls.
Tall windows.
A perfectly trimmed garden.
A place that had once seemed elegant now looked like a prison.
The front door opened before we reached it.
Margaret stood inside.
She wore a navy dress and held a cup of tea.
She looked completely calm.
"James," she said.
"I was wondering when you'd arrive.""
I pushed past him.
"Where is Grace?""
Margaret took a slow sip.
"She's upstairs.""
"Bring her down.""
"She's tired.""
"BRING HER DOWN!""
Margaret's expression hardened.
"Don't shout in my house.""
James stepped forward.
"Mother, the police are here. You need to release the child.""
Margaret placed her cup on a small table.
"I haven't kidnapped anyone.""
"You removed a child from her legal guardian.""
"Claire was never her legal guardian.""
"Then who was?""
Margaret didn't answer.
An officer entered the foyer.
"Mrs. Sterling, we need to speak with you about the whereabouts of Grace Dawson.""
Margaret smiled faintly.
"Grace is a member of my family.""
"That doesn't answer the question.""
She turned toward me.
"Emily, you should be grateful. I have taken care of this child for six years.""
I stared at her.
"You paid Claire to disappear.""
"I paid her to provide stability.""
"You told her family that Grace had no right to exist!""
Margaret's face tightened.
"Sarah was never going to be a suitable mother.""
"And what makes you suitable?""
"I have resources. I have a home. I have influence.""
I stepped closer.
"Do you know what Grace needs?""
Margaret lifted her chin.
"Everything I can give her.""
"She needs her mother.""
Margaret looked at me with cold eyes.
"Which one?""
The question nearly broke me.
Before I could answer, a small voice came from the staircase.
"Grandma?""
We all turned.
Grace stood on the landing.
She wore a yellow cardigan and held a stuffed rabbit.
Her eyes were red.
She looked directly at me.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then she asked:
"Are you the lady from the picture?""
I felt tears roll down my cheeks.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
She gripped the rabbit.
"Claire said you were my first mommy.""
I took one slow step toward her.
"She was right.""
Grace looked at Margaret.
"Grandma said you gave me away.""
I shook my head.
"No, baby. I never gave you away.""
Margaret stepped toward the staircase.
"Grace, come back inside.""
The little girl moved backward.
"Grandma, you said you were taking me to see Daddy.""
James looked confused.
"What?""
Grace looked at him.
"She said my daddy was coming.""
Margaret's expression changed.
"That's enough.""
But Grace continued.
"She said he was waiting in the garden.""
James looked at his mother.
"Who told her that?""
Margaret said nothing.
An officer moved toward the staircase.
"Mrs. Sterling, please remain where you are.""
Grace suddenly looked at me again.
"Are you going to take me away?""
I crouched.
"Only if you want to come with me. Nobody is going to force you.""
She hesitated.
Then she asked the question I had feared.
"Will Claire come too?""
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart. Claire loves you. We aren't going to make you lose someone you love.""
Grace slowly descended the stairs.
When she reached the bottom, she stopped in front of me.
She examined my face.
Then she lifted one tiny hand and touched my cheek.
"You have my eyes.""
I began crying harder.
"Yes, I think I do.""
She leaned forward.
I wrapped my arms around her carefully.
She smelled of strawberry shampoo and baby powder.
For six years, I had imagined holding this child.
I hadn't imagined that she would be frightened of me.
But I held her anyway.
And then Margaret spoke.
"You're making a mistake, Emily.""
I looked up.
An officer was standing beside her.
"Mrs. Sterling, we need you to accompany us.""
Margaret's face hardened.
"You cannot arrest me.""
"We're not discussing arrest at this moment. We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's removal.""
James moved closer.
"Mother, let this end.""
She looked at him.
Then she smiled.
"You're still missing the most important part.""
James frowned.
"What?""
Margaret looked directly at me.
"Grace isn't the only child whose identity I changed.""
My arms tightened around the little girl.
"What are you talking about?""
May you like
Margaret's smile disappeared.
"Ask the hospital why Lily's medical records were changed when she was three months old.""
