Chapter 10 - WHAT MAISIE REMEMBEREDMaisie woke in a dark room.
The walls were white.
The windows were locked.
There was a camera in the corner.
A woman in a gray uniform sat outside the door.
"Where is my daddy?"
The woman said nothing.
"Where's Bunny?"
No answer.
Maisie curled into herself.
She remembered what her mother used to say.
When you're scared, count the things that are real.
Her blanket.
The light.
Her shoes.
The silver ring in her pocket.
The ring had belonged to Claire.
Maisie rubbed it between her fingers.
Then she remembered.
The night her mother died.
There had been rain.
A loud crash.
Her mother had run into the bedroom.
She had knelt beside Maisie's bed.
"Listen to Mommy."
Maisie remembered those words.
"Never forget what you saw."
Then someone had entered.
A woman.
Older.
Silver hair.
Maisie had hidden beneath the bed.
She remembered hearing voices.
Claire had said:
"You promised me you wouldn't come near her."
The woman answered:
"You made this personal."
Then another voice.
A man.
Marcus.
"Mrs. Grant, we have to finish this."
Claire screamed.
The memory ended there.
Maisie pressed the silver ring to her lips.
The woman outside the door opened it.
"Do you know who I am?"
Maisie shook her head.
"You've met me before."
"No."
The woman smiled.
"I'm your grandmother."
Maisie stared.
"Grandma is dead."
The woman's smile disappeared.
"That's what they told you."
Meanwhile, Graham had spent hours searching every legal channel.
Daniel obtained a temporary emergency order.
But the court refused to release Maisie.
The judge cited the behavioral report.
Graham slammed the papers onto the desk.
"It's fabricated."
"Then prove it."
"I will."
Daniel stared at him.
"We found something."
"What?"
"The report was uploaded from a hospital network."
"Which hospital?"
"Saint Catherine."
Graham knew it.
That was where Claire had died.
He looked at the date.
The behavioral report had been created from the hospital's digital system.
Eight days ago.
"Who had access?"
Daniel handed him the list.
Evelyn Hart.
Marcus Bell.
And one more name.
Eleanor Grant.
Graham stared.
"She used a hospital login?"
"Yes."
"She has been alive for fifteen years."
"Apparently she still has credentials."
Graham looked at Sloane.
"How?"
Sloane whispered:
"Because Saint Catherine was where she worked."
Graham's eyes widened.
His mother had once been a hospital administrator.
She had disappeared after the accident.
He had always assumed she had died.
But what if she had been living under a different identity?
What if Claire discovered her?
Daniel spoke.
"There's more."
He pulled out another file.
"Claire's original death certificate has been amended three times."
Graham stared.
"Amended?"
"First cause: cardiac arrest."
"Then?"
"Accidental medication interaction."
"Then?"
"Unknown natural causes."
Graham's face hardened.
"Who requested the changes?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Evelyn Hart."
Sloane whispered:
"That isn't her real name."
Everyone turned.
"What?"
Sloane looked at Graham.
"Evelyn Hart is Eleanor Grant."
Silence.
Graham felt the blood drain from his face.
"My mother is Dr. Evelyn Hart."
Daniel nodded.
"It fits."
Graham sat down.
His mother had been inside the hospital.
She had access to Claire's records.
She had access to Maisie's medical files.
She had access to the trust.
And now she had his daughter.
Graham grabbed his phone.
"What do we do?"
Daniel said:
"We need evidence from the original files."
"What evidence?"
"Proof Maisie was born to Claire."
Graham looked at him.
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"There is something else."
"What?"
"The original newborn record."
Graham leaned forward.
"Where is it?"
Daniel replied:
"At Saint Catherine."
"And?"
"It was sealed."
"By who?"
Daniel's face darkened.
"Your mother."
Graham stood.
"Then we're going there."
Sloane grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
"What?"
"There's a reason Claire never went there herself."
"Why?"
Sloane whispered:
"Because she knew the person who controlled the records was waiting for her."
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was Graham's.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then Maisie's voice came through.
"Daddy?"
Graham nearly collapsed.
"Maisie! Where are you?"
A whisper.
"I'm remembering."
"What?"
"The night Mommy died."
Graham's hands shook.
"What happened?"
Maisie whispered four words.
May you like
"Grandma killed Mommy."
The line went dead.
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