Chapter 14 - The Woman Who Was BuriedPolice officers were waiting when we landed.
They boarded the aircraft before anyone was allowed to leave. The man in Row 14 was handcuffed after officers found several false identification documents in his bag.
Victoria was escorted off separately.
She did not resist.
As I stepped into the airport terminal with my children, an investigator approached us.
“My name is Detective Harris. We need to ask you some questions, but first, I want you to know your family is safe.”
I nearly collapsed from relief.
Then he showed me a photograph.
It was my mother.
Alive.
Older, thinner, and standing outside a building I didn't recognize.
“When was this taken?” I asked.
“Three weeks ago.”
I shook my head.
“No. I attended her funeral.”
“We believe the death certificate was falsified using records obtained through a private medical company. The person buried under your mother's name was another woman.”
My legs weakened.
The world around me became a blur of announcements, rolling luggage, and strangers hurrying past.
“Why would she do that?”
Detective Harris glanced at Maya.
“Because she discovered an operation involving stolen medical identities and illegal transfers of newborns. She found that your son's records had been accessed before his birth.”
He paused.
“Your husband became involved while trying to investigate the same operation. He was threatened and manipulated into cooperating.”
“Is David a criminal?”
“We're still determining what he knew and when he knew it.”
I hated the uncertainty.
But at least now I understood why he had sounded terrified.
The detective continued.
“Your mother left evidence with someone she trusted. She believed the people behind this operation would target your family if they found it.”
“Maya's music box,” I whispered.
He nodded.
“We believe that's where the original files are hidden.”
Then he showed me another photograph.
This time, it was taken inside a hospital.
A nurse stood beside a newborn's incubator.
The baby's name was printed on a small card.
Leo Bennett.
And standing behind the nurse, looking directly at the camera, was the man we'd just watched being arrested.
Detective Harris lowered the photograph.
“There is one more thing you need to know.”
“What?”
He took a slow breath.
“The operation wasn't created to steal your baby.”
May you like
He looked at Maya.
“It was created to hide the fact that your brother was born alive.”
