Chapter 7: The Baby They Were Really After
I read Claire's message three times.
*Your daughter isn't the only child they're planning to take from you.*
My fingers went cold.
Rachel took my phone and read the message.
"What does she mean?""
"I don't know.""
Owen stood beside the kitchen island, staring at the photograph of the maternity room.
"There's something we haven't considered," he said.
I looked at him.
"What?""
He pointed toward the ultrasound photograph lying beside Frank's notebook.
"Your pregnancy.""
I frowned.
"What about it?""
"The fertility clinic. The embryo transfers. The genetic screening.""
Rachel shook her head.
"Owen, we already know they used Emily's eggs.""
"No. We know they claim they used her eggs.""
He opened the USB folder again.
"There are records here about genetic markers. What if the clinic wasn't interested in creating a child for Damon?""
I stared at him.
"Then what were they interested in?""
He didn't answer.
My phone rang.
Claire.
This time, I answered immediately.
"Tell me what you meant.""
Her breathing was uneven.
"Emily, are you somewhere safe?""
"Answer my question.""
"Is Owen with you?""
"Yes.""
"Then make him leave.""
Owen stepped closer.
"Put me on speaker.""
I did.
Claire went silent when she heard his voice.
"Claire," Owen said, "I've spent six months trying to find out what happened to our children. You owe both of us the truth.""
There was a long pause.
Then Claire whispered:
"Neither of you understands what Damon has done.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then explain it.""
"Not over the phone.""
"You have thirty seconds.""
She began crying.
"Emily, the baby you're carrying isn't just Damon's daughter.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"Your eggs were used in an experimental fertility program.""
Rachel looked at me.
"What program?""
Claire continued.
"They were studying inherited genetic conditions. Damon told me the clinic had discovered something unusual in your family medical history.""
I shook my head.
"My family medical history?""
"Your grandmother.""
I froze.
My grandmother had died when I was twenty-six.
She had been healthy until the final months of her life.
There had never been anything unusual about her medical history.
"What about her?""
Claire lowered her voice.
"She had a rare genetic mutation. A mutation that was passed down through your mother and then to you.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"I saw the report.""
"What report?""
"The one Damon showed me.""
I looked at Rachel.
She was already searching for something on her laptop.
Claire continued.
"The clinic believed your genetic material could help them develop a treatment for a neurological disorder.""
I swallowed.
"And the babies?""
"They wanted to study the embryos.""
"Study them?""
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
"Did you know?""
"Not at first.""
"How many times do I have to ask you? Did you know they were using my eggs without permission?""
Claire began crying harder.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a slap.
"How long?""
"From the beginning.""
I closed my eyes.
For twelve years, Claire had been my closest friend.
She had held my hand at my mother's funeral.
She had helped me choose my wedding dress.
She had slept beside me in a hospital chair when I had surgery.
And all that time, she had been willing to let someone use my body without my knowledge.
"Why?"" I whispered.
"Because Damon told me it was the only way.""
"The only way to what?""
"To save our daughter.""
I opened my eyes.
"Which daughter?""
Claire was silent.
Then she said:
"The one who was born with the mutation.""
My heart began pounding.
"Which baby?""
"I don't know.""
"You carried them. You delivered them. You know which one.""
"Emily, the hospital changed the identification records.""
I stared at Owen.
He looked horrified.
Claire continued.
"One baby was taken to Evelyn. The other was transferred to Northbridge. But the records were altered. We don't know which one inherited the mutation.""
I pressed my hand against my stomach.
"And my baby?""
"Your baby may carry it too.""
Rachel stepped closer.
"Who is conducting this research?""
Claire whispered a name.
"Dr. Adrian Mercer.""
I recognized it.
His name had appeared on the fertility clinic's brochure.
He was listed as the director of reproductive genetics.
"Where is he?""
"At Westbrook.""
I looked at the transfer document.
The private maternity facility.
"Why are they planning to transfer me there?""
Claire hesitated.
Then she said:
"Because Damon wants your baby tested before anyone else can see her.""
I felt something break inside me.
"He wants to experiment on my daughter?""
"He says it's for her protection.""
"Don't you dare repeat his excuses.""
Claire went quiet.
I took a breath.
"Where is the second baby?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"Then tell me why you said she wasn't the only child they wanted.""
Claire began speaking so quickly that I struggled to follow.
"Because Margaret has another child. A little boy. He was born through the same program.
His mother was another donor. But he wasn't supposed to survive.""
I looked at Rachel.
Another child?
Claire continued.
"Margaret has been collecting children connected to the research. Some were placed with families. Others were kept in private facilities.""
"Why?""
"Because their genetic profiles are valuable.""
I felt nauseated.
"How many?""
"I don't know.""
"How many, Claire?""
"At least six.""
The room fell silent.
Six children.
Six families.
Six lives potentially manipulated by the same people.
Owen stepped toward the phone.
"Where is our daughter?""
Claire sobbed.
"I can't tell you.""
"You told me she died.""
"I was told to say that.""
"By whom?""
She whispered:
"Margaret.""
Owen gripped the counter.
"Where is she?""
Claire finally answered.
"At Westbrook.""
I looked at the maternity transfer document.
"Which baby?""
"The second twin.""
I closed my eyes.
The child I'd been searching for was inside the very facility where they planned to take my newborn.
Then Claire said something else.
"Emily, there's something you need to know about the first twin.""
I waited.
"She's not with Evelyn anymore.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"Three weeks ago, Damon took her.""
I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward.
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
"Where did he take her?""
"I only know he said she needed another assessment.""
"Claire!""
She was crying uncontrollably now.
"I tried to stop him.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he threatened me.""
I closed my eyes.
"With what?""
"With the hospital records. He said he'd make it look like I sold both children.""
Owen's face twisted.
"Claire, you did sell one.""
She began sobbing.
Then the line went dead.
Michael arrived twenty minutes later.
He listened to the recording, read the documents, and immediately called an emergency contact at the county prosecutor's office.
"Nobody goes anywhere alone," he said.
He placed the transfer document inside a protective folder.
"We need to secure the original medical records, and we need a court order to prevent any unauthorized transfer of Emily's medical care.""
Rachel nodded.
"What about the babies?""
"That's more complicated. We need to establish where they are and who currently has custody.""
I looked at him.
"What if they're moving them tonight?""
Michael paused.
"Then we need to act tonight.""
He called the police.
Meanwhile, Rachel helped me contact my obstetrician.
Dr. Harris had delivered my sister's two children and had been treating me throughout my pregnancy.
When he answered, I explained everything.
He was silent for several seconds.
Then he said:
"Emily, I need you to come in immediately.""
"Is something wrong?""
"I reviewed a request to transfer your maternity care last week.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who requested it?""
"Your husband.""
"Did you approve it?""
"No.""
I exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"But there's something else.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"Someone requested copies of your prenatal genetic screening.""
"Who?""
"The request was submitted under your authorization.""
"I didn't authorize anything.""
"I know. The signature didn't match the one in your original file.""
I looked at Michael.
He was listening carefully.
Dr. Harris continued.
"Emily, your latest results showed something unusual.""
"What?""
"Your daughter has a genetic marker that wasn't present in your earlier screening.""
I went cold.
"Is she sick?""
"I don't know. It doesn't necessarily mean she has a disorder. We need further testing.""
"What kind of marker?""
He explained that the finding required specialist review.
It was not a diagnosis.
It was a reason for additional testing.
I felt tears gathering.
"Can Damon access those results?""
"Only with the authorization already on file. But I have suspended access while we investigate.""
"Thank you.""
After the call, Michael looked at me.
"We need to protect your medical privacy immediately.""
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unfamiliar number.
*Unknown:* Stop asking about the genetic report.
Another message followed.
*Unknown:* Your grandmother made the same mistake.
I stared.
My grandmother?
A third message appeared.
*Unknown:* She tried to expose Mercer twenty-seven years ago.
I looked at Rachel.
"Someone knows about my grandmother.""
Michael took my phone.
"Don't respond.""
But I was already thinking about something Frank had written.
The research.
The company.
The payments.
The name Margaret Hale.
And now my grandmother.
I opened the old letter again.
At the bottom, beneath Frank's signature, was a sentence I hadn't noticed.
Your grandmother's records are in the same place as the original research files.
I looked up.
"Michael, I need to find something.""
"What?""
"My grandmother's medical records.""
He frowned.
"Why?""
I showed him the message.
He read it.
Then his expression became serious.
"Emily, I think this investigation is much older than your marriage.""
My phone vibrated one more time.
This time, it was a message from a number I recognized.
Evelyn.
*Evelyn:* Lily is back at my house.
Then another.
*Evelyn:* Damon brought her home.
And finally:
*Evelyn:* Emily, please come quickly. He says he's taking her away again.
I looked at Rachel.
We both stood.
May you like
Because for the first time, I had a chance to see one of the children.
And I wasn't going to let anyone disappear her again.
